3 Yankees prospects who should break out in 2022

2. Beck Way

22-year-old wipeout right-hander Beck Way should have the reins taken off him in 2022 after making his debut in the Yankees’ system last season.

It went … very well, though the mileage on Way’s arm was limited; he threw just 63.1 innings total in 18 starts, striking out 83 in the process.

Way, a fourth-rounder in 2020, toiled mostly at Low-A Tampa by nature last season, limiting hits (just 23 in 47 innings), but struggling with walks (an unsightly 29) en route to a 3-1 record and a 2.68 ERA.

His first taste of High-A Hudson Valley, after he earned an initial promotion, didn’t go exactly as planned — though he struck out an insane 29 men in 16.1 innings, he allowed a 7.71 ERA and the control issues did not dissipate, leading to an unsightly 1.65 WHIP in a small sample size.

Currently ranked 22nd in the Yankees’ farm, per MLB Pipeline, Way put himself on the map with a dominant Cape Cod League tenure, proving himself against top competition in a wood-bat league. According to experts, there’s still room for him to put on more strength and play his fastball up — even though it already touches 97.

Way has both an ideal frame and a high-level arsenal at a young age. It’s possible he eventually becomes a two-pitch reliever with a wipeout slider, but for now, it seems quite likely that he could be 2021’s Ken Waldichuk, posting obscene strikeout numbers between High-A and Double-A.