New York Yankees: Full Overview of Yankees’ Farm System and Prospects for 2013
By
(Featured Columnist) on February 11, 2013
Yankees’ Top Prospect Mason Williams made huge strides in 2012. Will he keep it up in 2013? Courtesy of Kevin Pataky, MILB.com
At the big league level, the New York Yankees enter the 2013 season in a unique position. They will still be competitive and may possibly be a playoff team because there is plenty of talent still on the roster.
The issue is—and this was quite apparent at times last year—that the Yankees are very old. Their roster is comprised of players on the downside of their careers, like Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez (if he plays again), Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, et al.
Another problem that the franchise faces has to do with financesl. Obviously, the Yankees are never not going to have money, but ownership said last year (h/t New York Times) that it is looking to get the payroll down to $189 million by 2014.
When you have a roster comprised of aging and expensive players, it is going to be hard to do a lot of wheeling and dealing that can help plug holes that come up during the season.
While there is good talent in the minor league system, many of the team’s top prospects are still not going to be ready for at least another year. This team has done a good job of adding high-upside athletes in recent years, but a few players whose rise through the ranks exposed holes in their game have left them without a lot of youth to bet on in 2013.
Here is an in-depth look at the state of the Yankees’ farm system heading into 2013. This slideshow will take a look at prospects who could be big-league contributors this season as the best players that this system has to offer.
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Yankees’ Top Prospect Mason Williams made huge strides in 2012. Will he keep it up in 2013? Courtesy of Kevin Pataky, MILB.com
At the big league level, the New York Yankees enter the 2013 season in a unique position. They will still be competitive and may possibly be a playoff team because there is plenty of talent still on the roster.
The issue is—and this was quite apparent at times last year—that the Yankees are very old. Their roster is comprised of players on the downside of their careers, like Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez (if he plays again), Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, et al.
Another problem that the franchise faces has to do with financesl. Obviously, the Yankees are never not going to have money, but ownership said last year (h/t New York Times) that it is looking to get the payroll down to $189 million by 2014.
When you have a roster comprised of aging and expensive players, it is going to be hard to do a lot of wheeling and dealing that can help plug holes that come up during the season.
While there is good talent in the minor league system, many of the team’s top prospects are still not going to be ready for at least another year. This team has done a good job of adding high-upside athletes in recent years, but a few players whose rise through the ranks exposed holes in their game have left them without a lot of youth to bet on in 2013.
Here is an in-depth look at the state of the Yankees’ farm system heading into 2013. This slideshow will take a look at prospects who could be big-league contributors this season as the best players that this system has to offer.
Note: All ages and stats courtesy of MiLB.com unless otherwise noted.
Best of the Best Prospect List
Slade Heathcott has made great strides on and off the field to get where he is. Courtesy of Tampa Bay Yankees (via MILB.com)
No. 1: Mason Williams, Outfielder
Age: 22
2012 Stats
69 G, .304/.359/.489, 84 H, 19 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 21 BB, 33 K, 19 SB (Low A)
22 G, .277/.302/.422, 23 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 14 K, 1 SB (High A)
Williams is the best athlete in the system with his solid, yet still raw, five-tool skill set. He continued to translate those raw skills into results last season, showing better plate discipline and pitch recognition. He is not likely to hit for a lot of power, as his body is not very big and his swing is tailored more towards making contact.
That said, if Williams continues to improve his pitch selection then he could turn into a player who hits 15 homers per season.
Defensively, Williams definitely has the speed and range to play center field. Yet he has an average throwing arm, and he does need to improve the routes that he takes to the ball if he wants to stay in center.
Williams also missed the last month of the 2012 season with a torn labrum.
No. 2: Gary Sanchez, Catcher
Age: 20
2012 Stats
68 G, .297/.353/.517, 78 H, 19 2B, 13 HR, 56 RBI, 11 SB, 22 BB, 65 K (Low A)
48 G, 279/.330/.436, 48 H, 10 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 4 SB, 10 BB, 41 K (High A)
Sanchez’s biggest question mark is whether or not he can stay behind the plate. This is not a Jesus Montero situation, where Sanchez will be too big for the position, but his defense comes and goes. He had 18 passed balls last season (via Baseball Reference).
Considering his age and throwing arm, which is fantastic, Sanchez will be given the benefit of the doubt.
And when you look at his bat, it is hard not to love what Sanchez could turn into. He is already showing power in games, and he has shown himself to be a good baserunner, despite not having a lot of speed. He stole 15 bases last season.
Sanchez’s swing is very good, as he loads quickly and gets the bat through the zone in a hurry. He does swing and miss a little more than you would like, but again, he’s just 20 years old and played in High A last season.
No. 3: Slade Heathcott, Outfielder
Age: 22
2012 Stats
5 G, .235/.409/.353, 4 H, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 5 BB, 4 K, 2 SB (Rookie)
60 G, .307/.378/.470, 66 H, 16 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 20 BB, 66 K, 17 SB (High A)
Heathcott’s rise through the system has been a slow climb, as he has battled serious personal problems that included alcohol abuse. Those personal demons have kept the world from seeing what he is capable of doing on the field—though that is obviously low on the totem pole in the grand scheme of things.
On the field, Heathcott continues to make strides. He still has to prove that he can play an entire season, as he has never had more than 298 at-bats in a season since being drafted.
An incredible athlete, Heathcott can run, hit for power and is more than capable of playing center field in the future. He does need to work on his swing, as his pitch recognition is not very good and he strikes outs too much (231 times in 755 career at-bats) to project as an average hitter.
No. 4: Tyler Austin, Outfielder
Age: 21
2012 Stats
70 G, .320/.405/.598, 85 H, 22 2B, 5 3B, 14 HR, 54 RBI, 37 BB, 68 K, 17 SB (Low A)
2 G, .500/.571/1.000, 3 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K (Rookie)
36 G, .321/.385/.478, 43 H, 13 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 12 BB, 28 K 6, SB (High A)
2 G, .286/.375/.286, 2 H, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K (Double A)
Austin has succeeded at every level that he has played at as a professional. That is both a blessing and a curse, because you want to see what a young player will do when he is forced to make adjustments.
Because he uses a contact approach to hitting, Austin is going to have a very limited power ceiling. Yet he does have a great eye and tremendous bat speed to be a plus hitter.
Austin will continue to develop as a right fielder, which limits his ceiling because there isn’t enough power in his bat for this position. But if he can hit .300 with a great on-base percentage and above-average defense, the team will be able to live with some limitations in the bat.
No. 5 Ty Hensley
Age: 19
5 G (4 starts), 1-2, 3.00 ERA, 12 IP, 8 H, 8 R (4 ER), 1 HR, 7 BB, 14 K
After the first four players on the list, it really is a crapshoot regarding who you can put at No. 5. If you believe in the upside of Jose Campos, and that he will stay healthy, he could be at this spot. Manny Bauelos still has upside and is young, but too many questions about his arm make it hard to put him in the top 5.
Ultimately, Hensley gets the nod, even though he has very limited professional experience after being drafted by the Yankees in the first round of last June’s draft. But even he has injury concerns, as he was forced to sign a below-slot deal due to shoulder abnormalities (h/t Jim Callis of Baseball America).
Hensley has a great pitcher’s frame, at 6’4″, 220 pounds, and an above-average fastball. Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com wrote that his offspeed stuff needs a lot of work, and in the case of his changeup, he will need to begin throwing it more in order to be a starter.
The ceiling for Hensley as a No. 3 starter is there. It is just a matter of getting experience and showing what he can do before we have any idea what he will become.
Once again, where is even one prospect that can play everyday and help the Yankees in 2013? EDB
SD Yankee Report 