Updated Yankees Top 10 prospect rankings after Juan Soto trade

3. Chase Hampton

Chase Hampton is now the system's top pitching prospect, and most evaluators were actually aligned on that even before Drew Thorpe departed. Thorpe was the 2023 MLB Pipeline Pitching Prospect of the Year based on his otherworldly changeup, but Hampton's arsenal seems a little more complete. After 145 Ks in 106.2 innings last year, he'll try to build on his breakout between Double- and Triple-A again this summer.

4. Everson Pereira

Pereira's in an odd spot. His cup of coffee, meant to spark the Yankees, was largely bereft of highlights. Expectations weren't through the roof for the outfielder's glorified exhibition showcase, but they still weren't met. It's hard to envision a spot for Pereira as a starter for the Yankees moving forward, especially if Soto signs long-term, and it's now up to the team to decide between carrying him as a final bench piece or giving him everyday minor-league reps. Seems like an easy decision, yet also a pretty big bummer.

5. Roderick Arias

Arias has the potential to be the biggest breakout name in the system this summer, as long as the player in the No. 6 spot doesn't capture those honors. One of the preeminent bonus babies in the system (No. 1 in the 2022 international class), he'll get his first taste of full-season ball in 2024 after his FCL breakout was derailed by a hand injury last summer. We've heard about him forever, but he's still just 19 years old.

6. George Lombard Jr.

Lombard Jr. was not the consensus pick for the Yankees in the 2023 draft's first round; that would be Sammy Stafura, the local shortstop who went to Cincinnati. Somehow, the Yankees spent the whole draft process eyeballing shortstop, despite a laundry list of names already locked down at the position in the system. It's time to see what made Lombard Jr.'s pedigree so special.