BORN: B-T: HT.: WT.: BORN: Bird, Severino hint at ... · PDF fileRighthander Luis Severino...
1
28 BaseballAmerica.com January 1–15, 2016 BY JOSH NORRIS With only one World Series championship since 2000, the Yankees can’t look down on any playoff appearance anymore. So 87 wins and a Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium were posi- tive steps forward for a franchise that had not reached the postseason since 2012. With a team burdened by the high-dollar, high-age players whose productivity had begun to dip, that looks like an accomplishment. First baseman Mark Teixeira, DH Alex Rodriguez and lefthander C.C. Sabathia combined to make $70.5 million in 2015, for more than 32 percent of the team’s total payroll. And while they cer- tainly didn’t live up to their contracts, the trio, Teixeira and Rodriguez especially, produced far more than even the most pinstriped of prognos- ticators could have predicted. Teixeira swatted 31 homers in 111 games before a broken leg ended his season. Rodriguez, perhaps the biggest wild card in the sport after missing more than a year due to his part in the Biogenisis PED scandal, played 151 games and hit 33 longballs to go with an .842 OPS. Led by that duo, the Yankees ranked second in the American League in runs, and when Teixeira went down, New York had a homegrown answer. Greg Bird, a 2010 fifth-round pick, subbed in at first base and hit 11 home runs. And while Sabathia stumbled to 6-10, 4.73, the rest of the team’s rotation showed posi- tive signs, thanks in part to another rookie. Righthander Luis Severino emerged from No. 1 prospect to phenom, going 5-3, 2.89. The rota- tion wasn’t a strength, but it did enough to set up one of baseball’s best bullpens, led by free-agent closer Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances. Now the bad news. New York led the AL East by six games in late July before the Blue Jays remade their roster and blew the Yankees away in early August. Dallas Keuchel three-hit them in a wild-card loss to the Astros on a day that started with Sabathia turning himself in for alcohol rehab. To avoid another ugly ending, the Yankees will have to keep changing and evolving. Two of the biggest changes came in the front office. First, Gary Denbo took over as the team’s farm direc- tor after Mark Newman, who held the position for 18 years and was part of the organization for 26 years overall, retired at the end of the 2014 season. Denbo’s changes to the organization were subtle, the most notable of which was the use of veteran minor league managers, such as Tony Franklin, at the lowest levels, putting more expe- rienced staff with the least experienced players. After the season, Billy Eppler, the team’s assistant general manager, took the Angels’ GM position. When he departed, Eppler took Steve Martone, the team’s pro-scouting manager, and Eric Chavez, a special assistant, with him to Los Angeles. Pro scout Tim Naehring was named as Eppler’s replacement. Now GM Brian Cashman hopes the new blood on the roster and in the front office pro- duces old-time results in the Bronx. Bird, Severino hint at transition Righty Luis Severino graduated to New York, and he and Greg Bird were key rookies on a playoff team TOMASSO DEROSA NEW YORK YANKEES ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW General manager: Brian Cashman. Farm director: Gary Denbo. Scouting director: Damon Oppenheimer. FARM SYSTEM Classification Affiliate W L Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 81 63 Double-A Trenton 71 71 High Class A Tampa 66 72 Low Class A Charleston 66 74 Short-season Staten Island 41 34 Rookie Pulaski 45 23 Rookie GCL Yankees 1 26 32 Rookie GCL Yankees 2 26 34 OVERALL 2015 RECORD 422 403 BEST TOOLS Best Hitter for Average Rob Refsnyder Best Power Hitter Aaron Judge Best Strike-Zone Discipline Rob Refsnyder Fastest Baserunner Jorge Mateo Best Athlete Jorge Mateo Best Fastball Domingo Acevedo Best Curveball James Kaprielian Best Slider Jacob Lindgren Best Changeup Domingo Acevedo Best Control Jaron Long Best Defensive Catcher Luis Torrens Best Defensive Infielder Jorge Mateo Best Infield Arm Jorge Mateo Best Defensive Outfielder Mason Williams Best Outfield Arm Aaron Judge PROJECTED 2019 LINEUP Catcher Gary Sanchez First Base Greg Bird Second Base Jorge Mateo Third Base Eric Jagielo Shortstop Didi Gregorius Left Field Brett Gardner Center Field Jacoby Ellsbury Right Field Aaron Judge Designated Hitter Brian McCann No. 1 Starter Masahiro Tanaka No. 2 Starter Luis Severino No. 3 Starter James Kaprielian No. 4 Starter Michael Pineda No. 5 Starter Rookie Davis Closer Dellin Betances TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE Year Player, Pos. 2015 Org 2006 Phil Hughes, rhp Twins 2007 Phil Hughes, rhp Twins 2008 Joba Chamberlain Tigers 2009 Austin Jackson, of Cubs 2010 Jesus Montero Mariners 2011 Jesus Montero Mariners 2012 Jesus Montero Mariners 2013 Mason Williams Yankees 2014 Gary Sanchez Yankees 2015 Luis Severino Yankees TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE Year Player, Pos. 2015 Org 2006 Ian Kennedy, rhp Padres 2007 Andrew Brackman, rhp Did not play 2008 *Gerrit Cole, rhp Pirates 2009 Slade Heathcott, of Yankees 2010 Cito Culver, ss Yankees 2011 Dante Bichette Jr., 3b (1st round supp.) Yankees 2012 Ty Hensley, rhp Yankees 2013 Eric Jagielo, 3b Yankees 2014 Jacob Lindgren, lhp (2nd round) Yankees 2015 James Kaprielian, rhp Yankees *Did not sign. LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY Hideki Irabu, 1997 $8,500,000 Jose Contreras, 2002 $6,000,000 Andrew Brackman, 2007 $3,350,000 Gary Sanchez, 2009 $3,000,000 Dermis Garcia, 2014 $3,000,000 BACKGROUND: The Yankees signed Mateo for $225,000 in January 2012, and he blazed past injured catcher Luis Torrens to become the jewel of the Yankees’ internation- al signing class of that year. However, Mateo’s development has taken a while. He took time to get out of the Dominican Summer League, in part due to a broken arm in 2012 that limited him to just 14 games. Once he came to the U.S., a broken hand cost him all but 15 games in 2014 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Even so, the Yankees were aggres- sive with Mateo in 2015, jumping him over both short-season Staten Island and Pulaski, the system’s new affiliate in the Rookie-level Appalachian League, in favor of low Class A Charleston. Despite the relative lack of expe- rience, Mateo thrived in his first taste of full- season ball. With the RiverDogs, he showed off plenty of tools, the foremost of which was his blazing speed. He stole 71 bases before being moved to high Class A Tampa, where he debuted with a four-hit game and added 11 more steals to finish with 82, the best figure in the minor leagues. At midseason, he was one of the main players rival teams sought when trying to strike a deal with the Yankees. SCOUTING REPORT: Even though he’s nowhere close to a finished product, Mateo still gave evaluators plenty to like in his first year in full-season ball. A wiry strong play- er, the 20-year-old showed above-average range and hands and well above-average arm strength, a combination that gives him plenty of tools to stick at shortstop in the long term. As with any young shortstop, Mateo has areas to iron out. He made 30 errors in 99 games in 2015 (.929 fielding percentage) and needs to learn to slow the game down. Coaches at Charleston worked with Mateo to improve his technique on backhanding balls in the hole to his right. And while his arm strength his plus, his accuracy could stand to improve. At the plate, he needs to develop more of an approach, which is to be expected for someone of his age and experience. When Mateo does learn to refine his plan at the plate, he’ll be able to more frequently tap into the above-average raw power evaluators see. He shoots plenty of balls out of the yard in batting practice all across the field, but he homered just twice in 449 at-bats in 2015. He’s got top-of-the-scale speed on the base- paths, which clearly plays, but he also shows elite, sub-4.0-seconds times to first base out of the righthanded batter’s box. THE FUTURE: Even though he showed well in his brief time at high Class A, Mateo ended the season on the disabled list with an injury sustained while running the bases. He appears headed for Tampa to begin 2016, where he’ll pair up the middle with fellow prospect Abiatal Avelino. If he shows well there, Mateo could move to Double-A Trenton after the all-star break, where he’ll get his first taste of the upper levels at age 21. If he reaches his ceiling, he could be an above-average shortstop in the mold of cur- rent Yankee Didi Gregorius with a little more offensive potential and a little less glove. 2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB Charleston (Lo A) .268 .338 .378 365 51 98 18 8 2 33 36 80 71 Tampa (Hi A) .321 .374 .452 84 15 27 5 3 0 7 7 18 11 SCOUTING GRADES BATTING: 55. POWER: 50. SPEED: 80. DEFENSE: 55. ARM: 60. Based on 20-80 scouting scale—where 50 represents major league average—and future projection rather than present tools. JORGE MATEO, SS BORN: June 23, 1995. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-0. WT.: 188. SIGNED: Dominican Republic, 2012. SIGNED BY: Juan Rosario. TONY FARLOW NO. 1 PROS PECT AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST TOP 10 PROSPECTS FROM THE PAGES OF BASEBALL AMERICA ... TRY BASEBALL AMERICA GET 6 ISSUES FOR $9.95! TRY BASEBALL AMERICA GET 6 ISSUES FOR $9.95! CALL 800-845-2726 9 A.M. 5 P.M., MF. MENTION 6 FOR $9.95 CLICK subnow.baseballamericamag.com CALL 800-845-2726 9 A.M. 5 P.M., MF. MENTION 6 FOR $9.95 CLICK subnow.baseballamericamag.com January 1–15, 2016 BaseballAmerica.com 29 BORN: Dec. 2, 1992. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-2. WT.: 220. SIGNED: Dominican Republic, 2009. SIGNED BY: Victor Mata/Raymon Sanchez. BACKGROUND: Signed for $3 million in 2009, Sanchez had his best year in 2015. His talent has been evident, but his attitude had held him back. Sanchez had been criticized for fluctuating effort and earned in-house sus- pensions for off-field infractions. He turned a corner in 2015 and made his big league debut. SCOUTING REPORT: Sanchez profiles as a front-line catcher with an extremely strong arm producing pop times of 1.8 seconds on throws to second base and plenty of raw power. He has spent years refining his receiv- ing and blocking, and in 2015 he cut his passed-ball rate dramatically. Sanchez performed well offensively as he started using the while field more, and scouts noted he played with more energy. He still has some polish to add as a receiver and could stand to be a little more selective at the plate. THE FUTURE: Sanchez’s strong play in the Arizona Fall League helped engender more confidence, and the Yankees dealt incumbent backup J.R. Murphy to the Twins. That opens the door for Sanchez to earn that job in 2016. If veteran Brian McCann should go down with an injury, the Yankees would be comfortable giving Sanchez the lion’s share of playing time. 2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB Trenton (AA) .262 .319 .476 233 33 61 14 0 12 36 18 50 6 Scranton/W-B (AAA) .295 .349 .500 132 17 39 9 0 6 26 11 28 1 New York (MLB) .000 .000 .000 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2. GARY SANCHEZ, C BORN: April 26, 1992. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-7. WT.: 275. DRAFTED: Fresno State, 2013 (1st round). SIGNED BY: Troy Afenir. BACKGROUND: Drafted with the second of the Yankees’ three first-round picks in 2013, Judge signed for $1.8 million. He wrecked the competition at Double-A Trenton in 2015 to earn a starting spot in the Futures Game. Things got tougher when he moved to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for the second half. SCOUTING REPORT: As would be expected for someone of his muscular, 6-foot-7 stature, Judge can hit a ball a long way. Even so, the Yankees laud him for resisting selling out for power and becoming a one-dimensional hitter. He’s got more feel to hit than one would expect for a man his size. Triple-A pitchers found holes in his swing and he hit just .224 and struck out 29 percent of the time, though he continued to draw walks at a high rate. He’s more athletic than one would expect in right field, running well once underway, and his raw arm strength is well above-average. Refined mechanics would improve this throwing accuracy. THE FUTURE: With Carlos Beltran in the final year of his deal in 2016, Judge still has time to head back to Triple-A to continue refining his skills before he’s needed in the major leagues. The Yankees were unwilling to part with Judge at the 2015 trade deadline, and they expect him to be part of the team’s effort to get younger on the fly. 2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB Trenton (AA) .284 .350 .516 250 36 71 16 3 12 44 24 70 1 Scranton/W-B (AAA) .224 .308 .373 228 27 51 10 0 8 28 29 74 6 3. AARON JUDGE, OF BORN: March 2, 1994. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-4. WT.: 200. DRAFTED: UCLA, 2015 (1st round). SIGNED BY: Bobby DeJardin. BACKGROUND: The Mariners drafted Kaprielian in the 40th round out of high school, but he went to UCLA, serving as a setup reliever for the Bruins’ 2013 national champions, then pitching in the rotation for two years. His $2.65 million bonus is the second-largest in Yankees’ draft history behind 2007 first-rounder Andrew Brackman. SCOUTING REPORT: Kaprielian starts his arsenal with a heavy fastball that sits in the low 90s and topped out at 96 mph in 2015 while he pushed short-season Staten Island to the New York-Penn League championship series. He complements his fastball with his bread- and-butter curveball in the mid-70s as well as a hard slider in the low to mid-80s that projects as a plus pitch. Kaprielian also throws a changeup that behaves a bit like a split-finger fastball for the way it drops straight down instead of fading away from lefthanded batters. He locates all four pitches and has feel for his offspeed stuff. THE FUTURE: Kaprielian’s pitch package plus his college pedigree, athleticism and high- quality makeup give him a future as a mid-rotation starter. The Yankees probably will send him to high Class A Tampa in 2016 to make his full-season debut, with the hope that he’ll finish the year at Double-A Trenton. 2015 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG Yankees2 (GCL) 0 0 11.57 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 2 2 .250 Staten Island (NYP) 0 1 2.00 3 3 0 0 9 8 0 2 12 .229 BORN: March 6, 1994. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-6. WT.: 242. SIGNED: Dominican Republic, 2012. SIGNED BY: Esteban Castillo. BACKGROUND: The Yankees signed Acevedo as an 18-year-old in 2012 out of the Dominican Republic for a bonus of just $7,500. They were attracted to his big frame, arm speed and the big-time velocity that corresponded. Slated to start 2015 at low Class A Charleston, Acevedo had blisters derail his first half. He resurfaced at short-season Staten Island in June before mak- ing up the innings he missed in the Arizona Fall League. SCOUTING REPORT: Acevedo’s calling cards are his massive, physical frame and his elite heat. He regularly sits in the upper 90s with a fastball that boasts late life. He reaches triple digits and peaked at 103 mph on multiple occasions in 2015. He also showed an advanced feel for a changeup before signing, and it’s above-average when his delivery is in sync. The Yankees scrapped Acevedo’s curveball and installed a slider. It sits in the low 80s, and scouts who saw him in fall 2015 would like to see more power. He has issues keeping his delivery together, leading to well below-average command. THE FUTURE: Acevedo is ticketed for low Class A Charleston in 2016, where he’ll work on tightening his slider and harnessing command of his arsenal. If he can accomplish those goals, he’ll keep the light on for his future as a starter. 2015 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG Staten Island (SS) 3 0 1.69 11 11 0 0 48 37 2 15 53 .207 Charleston (Lo A) 0 0 5.40 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 1 1 .286 5. DOMINGO ACEVEDO, RHP 4. JAMES KAPRIELIAN, RHP BORN: Nov. 23, 1994. B-T: L-R. HT.: 6-1. WT.: 180. DRAFTED: HS—Murrieta, Calif., 2013 (4th round). SIGNED BY: David Keith. BACKGROUND: Wade was a top 200 draft prospect out of high school in Southern California and stood out for his ability to get the barrel on the ball and for his smooth play in the field. Wedged between organizational No. 1 prospect Jorge Mateo and Abiatal Avelino on the depth chart, Wade emerged in 2014 after an injury to Avelino gave him extended playing time, and he continued to shine at high Class A Tampa in 2015, when he reached Double-A Trenton as a 20-year-old. SCOUTING REPORT: Wade is a shortstop now, but he may have to move to second base in the future. He has quick feet and solid hands, but he needs to gain strength to develop the arm necessary for shortstop. He’s a line-drive hitter with a short, compact swing who doesn’t project for more power, but could turn singles into doubles with his plus speed and instincts on the basepaths. He split his time between shortstop and second base in the Arizona Fall League and faces an eventual move to the right side of the diamond, in deference to Jorge Mateo. THE FUTURE: Wade appears to be headed back to Trenton, where he’ll continue to work to gain strength and should play shortstop until either Mateo or Avelino move to the upper levels. 2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB Tampa (Hi A) .280 .349 .353 368 51 103 11 5 2 28 39 65 31 Trenton (AA) .204 .224 .265 113 6 23 4 0 1 3 2 24 2 7. TYLER WADE, SS/2B BORN: April 29, 1993. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-5. WT.: 245. DRAFTED: HS—Holly Ridge, N.C., 2011 (14th round). SIGNED BY: Scott Lovekamp. BACKGROUND: The Yankees signed Davis for $550,000 to keep the 2011 14th-round pick away from his commitment as a two-player at East Carolina. They liked him for his big, physi- cal frame and the athleticism that came with being a position player. New York believed that once Davis began to focus on pitching, his stuff would begin to tick up—and it has over the course of the past two seasons. SCOUTING REPORT: The Yankees have tweaked Davis’ delivery to help him utilize his lower half through an increased stride as well as increased extension. The results were higher velocity and more swings and misses on his fastball. Davis has developed an arsenal that corresponds with his sizable frame. He starts his mix with a hard, lively fastball in the 93-95 mph range that peaks a couple ticks higher. He complements it with a sharp-breaking curveball in the mid-70s. He also holds a changeup in the low 80s, which he continued to develop all the way through 2015 instructional league. He throws plenty of strikes, too, which profiles him as a major league rotation piece. THE FUTURE: Davis ended 2015 at Double-A Trenton, and likely will return there to begin 2016. He will continue to refine his repertoire as he works toward his ceiling in the middle of a starting five. 2015 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG Tampa (Lo A) 6 6 3.70 19 19 0 0 97 94 4 18 105 .250 Trenton (AA) 2 1 4.32 6 5 0 0 33 38 1 8 24 .292 6. ROOKIE DAVIS, RHP BORN: March 26, 1991. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-1. WT.: 205. DRAFTED: Arizona, 2012 (5th round). SIGNED BY: Steve Kmetko. BACKGROUND: The Most Outstanding Player in the 2012 College World Series, when he was Arizona’s starting right fielder, Refsnyder signed for a bonus of $205,900. The Yankees shifted him to second base in instructional league that year, and he has played just nine games in the outfield since. He made his major league debut in July 2015, returned to the majors in September and was on the roster for the wild-card loss to the Astros. SCOUTING REPORT: Refsnyder profiles as an offensive-minded second baseman. He worked hard in 2015 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and benefited from the presence of former Giants middle infielder Nick Noonan on the roster. Refsnyder has a smooth swing geared for line drives and power that could play to fringe-average in the future, and some evaluators project even more than that once he gets a chance to play regularly in Yankee Stadium. He probably won’t ever be average at second base, but he has worked enough to make himself playable. Some scouts see him in the mold of former Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy. THE FUTURE: The Yankees’ offseason acquisition of Starlin Castro to play second base, not to mention the presence of Dustin Ackley, likely consigns Refsnyder to Scranton to begin 2016. Adding position versatility could make him attractive to the big league club. 2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB Scranton/W-B (AAA) .271 .359 .402 450 66 122 28 2 9 56 56 73 12 New York (MLB) .302 .348 .512 43 3 13 3 0 2 5 3 7 2 8. ROB REFSNYDER, 2B BORN: April 1, 1998. B-T: B-R. HT.: 6-0. WT.: 176. SIGNED: Venezuela, 2014. SIGNED BY: Esteban Castillo. BACKGROUND: The Yankees signed Garcia for $1.35 million in 2014 and pushed him to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League as a 17-year-old in 2015, a sure sign of how highly he’s regarded. He rewarded their faith with one of the strongest showings in the league. Garcia ranked as the No. 7 international prospect in 2014, then spent the offseason training in Miami, adding strength and flexibility thanks to a focus on plyometrics. SCOUTING REPORT: Much as when he signed, Garcia still draws raves for his switch- hitting ability and feel to hit from both sides of the plate. He walked (24) more than he struck out (19) in the GCL, showing an exception feel for the strike zone for his age. Garcia has worked hard to improve his speed and explosiveness, which has translated into improved defense at shortstop. He has fluid infield actions, and his speed and arm also grade as plus, though he needs refinement on the bases and experience in the field. THE FUTURE: If everything clicks, Garcia has the potential to be a five-tool player, with some scouts even giving him future average power. The Yankees were aggressive with Jorge Mateo, another prized shortstop, in 2015 and could follow that template with Garcia. If not, he appears headed for short-season Staten Island after extended spring training. 2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB DSL Yankees-1 (R) .667 .750 .667 6 3 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 GCL Yankees-1 (R) .281 .396 .347 121 20 34 6 1 0 19 25 19 6 9. WILKERMAN GARCIA, SS BORN: Dec. 29, 1994. B-T: L-L. HT.: 6-0. WT.: 185. DRAFTED: HS—Dexter, Ga., 2013 (18th round). SIGNED BY: Darryl Monroe. BACKGROUND: The Yankees handed Fowler a $278,000 bonus to keep the 2013 18th- rounder from a commitment to Louisville, and he broke out in 2015. He began at low Class A Charleston and pushed his way up by hitting .307 in his first 58 games. When moved to high Class A Tampa, Fowler kept hitting and showed the same intriguing mix of hitting, speed and defense. SCOUTING REPORT: The Yankees have center-field depth in the minors, but Fowler stands out as having the best power-speed mix. He runs excellent routes in center field and takes a quick first step, too, which makes him appear even speedier than his home-to-first times would indicate. Fowler hasn’t shown it in games much, but he has enough raw power in his lefthanded bat, according to some scouts, to one day develop average power when he’s done developing. Fringy arm strength is his only tool that ranks as below-average. Add it all up and scouts can see an everyday center-field job in Fowler’s future if everything clicks. THE FUTURE: Fowler’s blue-collar approach and all-around tools showed in the Arizona Fall League, where he started as a member of the taxi squad and finished as a member of Surprise’s full roster. He set himself up for a jump to Double-A Trenton in 2016. 2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB Tampa (Hi A) .307 .340 .419 241 35 74 9 3 4 31 11 47 18 Trenton (AA) .289 .328 .370 246 29 71 11 3 1 39 15 43 12 10. DUSTIN FOWLER, OF AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST TOP 10 PROSPECTS
Transcript of BORN: B-T: HT.: WT.: BORN: Bird, Severino hint at ... · PDF fileRighthander Luis Severino...
28 BaseballAmerica.com January 1–15, 2016 BaseballAmerica.com
BY JOSH NORRIS
With only one World Series championship since 2000, the Yankees can’t look down on any playoff appearance anymore. So 87 wins and a Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium were posi-tive steps forward for a franchise that had not reached the postseason since 2012.
With a team burdened by the high-dollar, high-age players whose productivity had begun to dip, that looks like an accomplishment. First baseman Mark Teixeira, DH Alex Rodriguez and lefthander C.C. Sabathia combined to make $70.5 million in 2015, for more than 32 percent of the team’s total payroll. And while they cer-tainly didn’t live up to their contracts, the trio, Teixeira and Rodriguez especially, produced far more than even the most pinstriped of prognos-ticators could have predicted.
Teixeira swatted 31 homers in 111 games before a broken leg ended his season. Rodriguez, perhaps the biggest wild card in the sport after missing more than a year due to his part in the Biogenisis PED scandal, played 151 games and hit 33 longballs to go with an .842 OPS.
Led by that duo, the Yankees ranked second in the American League in runs, and when Teixeira went down, New York had a homegrown answer. Greg Bird, a 2010 fifth-round pick, subbed in at first base and hit 11 home runs.
And while Sabathia stumbled to 6-10, 4.73, the rest of the team’s rotation showed posi-
tive signs, thanks in part to another rookie. Righthander Luis Severino emerged from No. 1 prospect to phenom, going 5-3, 2.89. The rota-
tion wasn’t a strength, but it did enough to set up one of baseball’s best bullpens, led by free-agent closer Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances.
Now the bad news. New York led the AL East by six games in late July before the Blue Jays remade their roster and blew the Yankees away in early August. Dallas Keuchel three-hit them in a wild-card loss to the Astros on a day that started with Sabathia turning himself in for alcohol rehab.
To avoid another ugly ending, the Yankees will have to keep changing and evolving. Two of the biggest changes came in the front office. First, Gary Denbo took over as the team’s farm direc-tor after Mark Newman, who held the position for 18 years and was part of the organization for 26 years overall, retired at the end of the 2014 season. Denbo’s changes to the organization were subtle, the most notable of which was the use of veteran minor league managers, such as Tony Franklin, at the lowest levels, putting more expe-rienced staff with the least experienced players.
After the season, Billy Eppler, the team’s assistant general manager, took the Angels’ GM position. When he departed, Eppler took Steve Martone, the team’s pro-scouting manager, and Eric Chavez, a special assistant, with him to Los Angeles. Pro scout Tim Naehring was named as Eppler’s replacement.
Now GM Brian Cashman hopes the new blood on the roster and in the front office pro-duces old-time results in the Bronx.
Bird, Severino hint at transition
Righty Luis Severino graduated to New York, and he and Greg Bird were key rookies on a playoff team
TOMA
SSO
DERO
SA
NEW YORKYANKEES
ORGANIZATION OVERVIEWGeneral manager: Brian Cashman.Farm director: Gary Denbo.Scouting director: Damon Oppenheimer.
FARM SYSTEMClassification Affiliate W LTriple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 81 63Double-A Trenton 71 71High Class A Tampa 66 72Low Class A Charleston 66 74Short-season Staten Island 41 34Rookie Pulaski 45 23Rookie GCL Yankees 1 26 32Rookie GCL Yankees 2 26 34OVERALL 2015 RECORD 422 403
BEST TOOLSBest Hitter for Average Rob RefsnyderBest Power Hitter Aaron JudgeBest Strike-Zone Discipline Rob Refsnyder Fastest Baserunner Jorge Mateo Best Athlete Jorge MateoBest Fastball Domingo AcevedoBest Curveball James KaprielianBest Slider Jacob LindgrenBest Changeup Domingo AcevedoBest Control Jaron LongBest Defensive Catcher Luis TorrensBest Defensive Infielder Jorge MateoBest Infield Arm Jorge Mateo Best Defensive Outfielder Mason WilliamsBest Outfield Arm Aaron Judge
PROJECTED 2019 LINEUPCatcher Gary SanchezFirst Base Greg BirdSecond Base Jorge MateoThird Base Eric Jagielo Shortstop Didi GregoriusLeft Field Brett GardnerCenter Field Jacoby EllsburyRight Field Aaron JudgeDesignated Hitter Brian McCannNo. 1 Starter Masahiro TanakaNo. 2 Starter Luis SeverinoNo. 3 Starter James KaprielianNo. 4 Starter Michael PinedaNo. 5 Starter Rookie DavisCloser Dellin Betances
TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADEYear Player, Pos. 2015 Org2006 Phil Hughes, rhp Twins2007 Phil Hughes, rhp Twins2008 Joba Chamberlain Tigers2009 Austin Jackson, of Cubs2010 Jesus Montero Mariners2011 Jesus Montero Mariners2012 Jesus Montero Mariners2013 Mason Williams Yankees2014 Gary Sanchez Yankees2015 Luis Severino Yankees
TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADEYear Player, Pos. 2015 Org2006 Ian Kennedy, rhp Padres2007 Andrew Brackman, rhp Did not play2008 *Gerrit Cole, rhp Pirates2009 Slade Heathcott, of Yankees2010 Cito Culver, ss Yankees2011 Dante Bichette Jr., 3b (1st round supp.) Yankees2012 Ty Hensley, rhp Yankees2013 Eric Jagielo, 3b Yankees2014 Jacob Lindgren, lhp (2nd round) Yankees2015 James Kaprielian, rhp Yankees*Did not sign.
LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORYHideki Irabu, 1997 $8,500,000Jose Contreras, 2002 $6,000,000Andrew Brackman, 2007 $3,350,000Gary Sanchez, 2009 $3,000,000Dermis Garcia, 2014 $3,000,000
BACKGROUND: The Yankees signed Mateo for $225,000 in January 2012, and he blazed past injured catcher Luis Torrens to become the jewel of the Yankees’ internation-al signing class of that year. However, Mateo’s development has taken a while. He took time to get out of the Dominican Summer League, in part due to a broken arm in 2012 that limited him to just 14 games. Once he came to the U.S., a broken hand cost him all but 15 games in 2014 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Even so, the Yankees were aggres-sive with Mateo in 2015, jumping him over both short-season Staten Island and Pulaski, the system’s new affi liate in the Rookie-level Appalachian League, in favor of low Class A Charleston. Despite the relative lack of expe-rience, Mateo thrived in his fi rst taste of full-season ball. With the RiverDogs, he showed off plenty of tools, the foremost of which was his blazing speed. He stole 71 bases before being moved to high Class A Tampa, where he debuted with a four-hit game and added 11 more steals to fi nish with 82, the best fi gure in the minor leagues. At midseason, he was one of the main players rival teams sought when trying to strike a deal with the Yankees.
SCOUTING REPORT: Even though he’s nowhere close to a fi nished product, Mateo still gave evaluators plenty to like in his fi rst year in full-season ball. A wiry strong play-er, the 20-year-old showed above-average range and hands and well above-average arm strength, a combination that gives him plenty of tools to stick at shortstop in the long term. As with any young shortstop, Mateo has areas to iron out. He made 30 errors in
99 games in 2015 (.929 fi elding percentage) and needs to learn to slow the game down. Coaches at Charleston worked with Mateo to improve his technique on backhanding balls in the hole to his right. And while his arm strength his plus, his accuracy could stand to improve. At the plate, he needs to develop more of an approach, which is to be expected for someone of his age and experience. When Mateo does learn to refi ne his plan at the plate, he’ll be able to more frequently tap into the above-average raw power evaluators see. He shoots plenty of balls out of the yard in batting practice all across the fi eld, but he homered just twice in 449 at-bats in 2015. He’s got top-of-the-scale speed on the base-paths, which clearly plays , but he also shows elite, sub-4.0-seconds times to fi rst base out of the righthanded batter’s box.
THE FUTURE: Even though he showed well in his brief time at high Class A, Mateo ended the season on the disabled list with an injury sustained while running the bases. He appears headed for Tampa to begin 2016, where he’ll pair up the middle with fellow prospect Abiatal Avelino. If he shows well there, Mateo could move to Double-A Trenton after the all-star break, where he’ll get his fi rst taste of the upper levels at age 21. If he reaches his ceiling, he could be an above-average shortstop in the mold of cur-rent Yankee Didi Gregorius with a little more off ensive potential and a little less glove.
2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SBCharleston (Lo A) .268 .338 .378 365 51 98 18 8 2 33 36 80 71Tampa (Hi A) .321 .374 .452 84 15 27 5 3 0 7 7 18 11
SCOUTING GRADES
BATTING: 55.POWER: 50.SPEED: 80.
DEFENSE: 55.ARM: 60.
Based on 20-80 scouting scale—where 50 represents major league average—and future projection rather than present tools.
JORGE MATEO, SSBORN: June 23, 1995. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-0. WT.: 188.SIGNED: Dominican Republic, 2012.SIGNED BY: Juan Rosario.
TONY
FARL
OW
NO. 1PROSPECT
AMERICANLEAGUE EAST TOP 10 PROSPECTS
AMERICAN LEAGUE EASTTOP10PROSPECTS
FROM THE PAGES OF BASEBALL AMERICA ...
TRY BASEBALL AMERICA GET
6 ISSUES FOR $9.95!
TRY BASEBALL AMERICA GET
6 ISSUES FOR $9.95!
CALL 800-845-2726 9 A.M. 5 P.M., MF. MENTION 6 FOR $9.95
CLICK subnow.baseballamericamag.com
CALL 800-845-2726 9 A.M. 5 P.M., MF. MENTION 6 FOR $9.95
CLICK subnow.baseballamericamag.com
January 1–15, 2016
BaseballAmerica.com 29
BORN: Dec. 2, 1992. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-2. WT.: 220. SIGNED: Dominican Republic, 2009. SIGNED BY: Victor Mata/Raymon Sanchez.BACKGROUND: Signed for $3 million in 2009, Sanchez had his best year in 2015. His talent has been evident, but his attitude had held him back. Sanchez had been criticized for fluctuating effort and earned in-house sus-pensions for off-field infractions. He turned a corner in 2015 and made his big league debut. SCOUTING REPORT: Sanchez profiles as a front-line catcher with an extremely strong arm producing pop times of 1.8 seconds on throws to second base and plenty of raw power. He has spent years refining his receiv-
ing and blocking, and in 2015 he cut his passed-ball rate dramatically. Sanchez performed well offensively as he started using the while field more, and scouts noted he played with more energy. He still has some polish to add as a receiver and could stand to be a little more selective at the plate. THE FUTURE: Sanchez’s strong play in the Arizona Fall League helped engender more confidence, and the Yankees dealt incumbent backup J.R. Murphy to the Twins. That opens the door for Sanchez to earn that job in 2016. If veteran Brian McCann should go down with an injury, the Yankees would be comfortable giving Sanchez the lion’s share of playing time. 2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SBTrenton (AA) .262 .319 .476 233 33 61 14 0 12 36 18 50 6Scranton/W-B (AAA) .295 .349 .500 132 17 39 9 0 6 26 11 28 1New York (MLB) .000 .000 .000 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2. GARY SANCHEZ, C
BORN: April 26, 1992. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-7. WT.: 275. DRAFTED: Fresno State, 2013 (1st round). SIGNED BY: Troy Afenir.BACKGROUND: Drafted with the second of the Yankees’ three first-round picks in 2013, Judge signed for $1.8 million. He wrecked the competition at Double-A Trenton in 2015 to earn a starting spot in the Futures Game. Things got tougher when he moved to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for the second half. SCOUTING REPORT: As would be expected for someone of his muscular, 6-foot-7 stature, Judge can hit a ball a long way. Even so, the Yankees laud him for resisting selling out for power and becoming a one-dimensional
hitter. He’s got more feel to hit than one would expect for a man his size. Triple-A pitchers found holes in his swing and he hit just .224 and struck out 29 percent of the time, though he continued to draw walks at a high rate. He’s more athletic than one would expect in right field, running well once underway, and his raw arm strength is well above-average. Refined mechanics would improve this throwing accuracy. THE FUTURE: With Carlos Beltran in the final year of his deal in 2016, Judge still has time to head back to Triple-A to continue refining his skills before he’s needed in the major leagues. The Yankees were unwilling to part with Judge at the 2015 trade deadline, and they expect him to be part of the team’s effort to get younger on the fly. 2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SBTrenton (AA) .284 .350 .516 250 36 71 16 3 12 44 24 70 1Scranton/W-B (AAA) .224 .308 .373 228 27 51 10 0 8 28 29 74 6
3. AARON JUDGE, OF
BORN: March 2, 1994. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-4. WT.: 200. DRAFTED: UCLA, 2015 (1st round). SIGNED BY: Bobby DeJardin.BACKGROUND: The Mariners drafted Kaprielian in the 40th round out of high school, but he went to UCLA, serving as a setup reliever for the Bruins’ 2013 national champions, then pitching in the rotation for two years. His $2.65 million bonus is the second-largest in Yankees’ draft history behind 2007 first-rounder Andrew Brackman. SCOUTING REPORT: Kaprielian starts his arsenal with a heavy fastball that sits in the low 90s and topped out at 96 mph in 2015 while he pushed short-season Staten Island to
the New York-Penn League championship series. He complements his fastball with his bread-and-butter curveball in the mid-70s as well as a hard slider in the low to mid-80s that projects as a plus pitch. Kaprielian also throws a changeup that behaves a bit like a split-finger fastball for the way it drops straight down instead of fading away from lefthanded batters. He locates all four pitches and has feel for his offspeed stuff. THE FUTURE: Kaprielian’s pitch package plus his college pedigree, athleticism and high-quality makeup give him a future as a mid-rotation starter. The Yankees probably will send him to high Class A Tampa in 2016 to make his full-season debut, with the hope that he’ll finish the year at Double-A Trenton. 2015 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG Yankees2 (GCL) 0 0 11.57 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 2 2 .250Staten Island (NYP) 0 1 2.00 3 3 0 0 9 8 0 2 12 .229
BORN: March 6, 1994. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-6. WT.: 242. SIGNED: Dominican Republic, 2012. SIGNED BY: Esteban Castillo.BACKGROUND: The Yankees signed Acevedo as an 18-year-old in 2012 out of the Dominican Republic for a bonus of just $7,500. They were attracted to his big frame, arm speed and the big-time velocity that corresponded. Slated to start 2015 at low Class A Charleston, Acevedo had blisters derail his first half. He resurfaced at short-season Staten Island in June before mak-ing up the innings he missed in the Arizona Fall League. SCOUTING REPORT: Acevedo’s calling cards are his massive, physical frame and his elite
heat. He regularly sits in the upper 90s with a fastball that boasts late life. He reaches triple digits and peaked at 103 mph on multiple occasions in 2015. He also showed an advanced feel for a changeup before signing, and it’s above-average when his delivery is in sync. The Yankees scrapped Acevedo’s curveball and installed a slider. It sits in the low 80s, and scouts who saw him in fall 2015 would like to see more power. He has issues keeping his delivery together, leading to well below-average command. THE FUTURE: Acevedo is ticketed for low Class A Charleston in 2016, where he’ll work on tightening his slider and harnessing command of his arsenal. If he can accomplish those goals, he’ll keep the light on for his future as a starter. 2015 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG Staten Island (SS) 3 0 1.69 11 11 0 0 48 37 2 15 53 .207Charleston (Lo A) 0 0 5.40 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 1 1 .286
5. DOMINGO ACEVEDO, RHP
4. JAMES KAPRIELIAN, RHP
BORN: Nov. 23, 1994. B-T: L-R. HT.: 6-1. WT.: 180. DRAFTED: HS—Murrieta, Calif., 2013 (4th round). SIGNED BY: David Keith.BACKGROUND: Wade was a top 200 draft prospect out of high school in Southern California and stood out for his ability to get the barrel on the ball and for his smooth play in the field. Wedged between organizational No. 1 prospect Jorge Mateo and Abiatal Avelino on the depth chart, Wade emerged in 2014 after an injury to Avelino gave him extended playing time, and he continued to shine at high Class A Tampa in 2015, when he reached Double-A Trenton as a 20-year-old. SCOUTING REPORT: Wade is a shortstop
now, but he may have to move to second base in the future. He has quick feet and solid hands, but he needs to gain strength to develop the arm necessary for shortstop. He’s a line-drive hitter with a short, compact swing who doesn’t project for more power, but could turn singles into doubles with his plus speed and instincts on the basepaths. He split his time between shortstop and second base in the Arizona Fall League and faces an eventual move to the right side of the diamond, in deference to Jorge Mateo. THE FUTURE: Wade appears to be headed back to Trenton, where he’ll continue to work to gain strength and should play shortstop until either Mateo or Avelino move to the upper levels. 2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB Tampa (Hi A) .280 .349 .353 368 51 103 11 5 2 28 39 65 31Trenton (AA) .204 .224 .265 113 6 23 4 0 1 3 2 24 2
7. TYLER WADE, SS/2B
BORN: April 29, 1993. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-5. WT.: 245. DRAFTED: HS—Holly Ridge, N.C., 2011 (14th round). SIGNED BY: Scott Lovekamp.BACKGROUND: The Yankees signed Davis for $550,000 to keep the 2011 14th-round pick away from his commitment as a two-player at East Carolina. They liked him for his big, physi-cal frame and the athleticism that came with being a position player. New York believed that once Davis began to focus on pitching, his stuff would begin to tick up—and it has over the course of the past two seasons. SCOUTING REPORT: The Yankees have tweaked Davis’ delivery to help him utilize his lower half through an increased stride as well
as increased extension. The results were higher velocity and more swings and misses on his fastball. Davis has developed an arsenal that corresponds with his sizable frame. He starts his mix with a hard, lively fastball in the 93-95 mph range that peaks a couple ticks higher. He complements it with a sharp-breaking curveball in the mid-70s. He also holds a changeup in the low 80s, which he continued to develop all the way through 2015 instructional league. He throws plenty of strikes, too, which profiles him as a major league rotation piece. THE FUTURE: Davis ended 2015 at Double-A Trenton, and likely will return there to begin 2016. He will continue to refine his repertoire as he works toward his ceiling in the middle of a starting five. 2015 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG Tampa (Lo A) 6 6 3.70 19 19 0 0 97 94 4 18 105 .250Trenton (AA) 2 1 4.32 6 5 0 0 33 38 1 8 24 .292
6. ROOKIE DAVIS, RHP
BORN: March 26, 1991. B-T: R-R. HT.: 6-1. WT.: 205. DRAFTED: Arizona, 2012 (5th round). SIGNED BY: Steve Kmetko.BACKGROUND: The Most Outstanding Player in the 2012 College World Series, when he was Arizona’s starting right fielder, Refsnyder signed for a bonus of $205,900. The Yankees shifted him to second base in instructional league that year, and he has played just nine games in the outfield since. He made his major league debut in July 2015, returned to the majors in September and was on the roster for the wild-card loss to the Astros.SCOUTING REPORT: Refsnyder profiles as an offensive-minded second baseman. He worked
hard in 2015 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and benefited from the presence of former Giants middle infielder Nick Noonan on the roster. Refsnyder has a smooth swing geared for line drives and power that could play to fringe-average in the future, and some evaluators project even more than that once he gets a chance to play regularly in Yankee Stadium. He probably won’t ever be average at second base, but he has worked enough to make himself playable. Some scouts see him in the mold of former Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy. THE FUTURE: The Yankees’ offseason acquisition of Starlin Castro to play second base, not to mention the presence of Dustin Ackley, likely consigns Refsnyder to Scranton to begin 2016. Adding position versatility could make him attractive to the big league club.2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB Scranton/W-B (AAA) .271 .359 .402 450 66 122 28 2 9 56 56 73 12New York (MLB) .302 .348 .512 43 3 13 3 0 2 5 3 7 2
8. ROB REFSNYDER, 2B
BORN: April 1, 1998. B-T: B-R. HT.: 6-0. WT.: 176. SIGNED: Venezuela, 2014. SIGNED BY: Esteban Castillo.BACKGROUND: The Yankees signed Garcia for $1.35 million in 2014 and pushed him to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League as a 17-year-old in 2015, a sure sign of how highly he’s regarded. He rewarded their faith with one of the strongest showings in the league. Garcia ranked as the No. 7 international prospect in 2014, then spent the offseason training in Miami, adding strength and flexibility thanks to a focus on plyometrics. SCOUTING REPORT: Much as when he signed, Garcia still draws raves for his switch-
hitting ability and feel to hit from both sides of the plate. He walked (24) more than he struck out (19) in the GCL, showing an exception feel for the strike zone for his age. Garcia has worked hard to improve his speed and explosiveness, which has translated into improved defense at shortstop. He has fluid infield actions, and his speed and arm also grade as plus, though he needs refinement on the bases and experience in the field. THE FUTURE: If everything clicks, Garcia has the potential to be a five-tool player, with some scouts even giving him future average power. The Yankees were aggressive with Jorge Mateo, another prized shortstop, in 2015 and could follow that template with Garcia. If not, he appears headed for short-season Staten Island after extended spring training. 2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB DSL Yankees-1 (R) .667 .750 .667 6 3 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 5GCL Yankees-1 (R) .281 .396 .347 121 20 34 6 1 0 19 25 19 6
9. WILKERMAN GARCIA, SS
BORN: Dec. 29, 1994. B-T: L-L. HT.: 6-0. WT.: 185. DRAFTED: HS—Dexter, Ga., 2013 (18th round). SIGNED BY: Darryl Monroe.BACKGROUND: The Yankees handed Fowler a $278,000 bonus to keep the 2013 18th-rounder from a commitment to Louisville, and he broke out in 2015. He began at low Class A Charleston and pushed his way up by hitting .307 in his first 58 games. When moved to high Class A Tampa, Fowler kept hitting and showed the same intriguing mix of hitting, speed and defense. SCOUTING REPORT: The Yankees have center-field depth in the minors, but Fowler stands out as having the best power-speed
mix. He runs excellent routes in center field and takes a quick first step, too, which makes him appear even speedier than his home-to-first times would indicate. Fowler hasn’t shown it in games much, but he has enough raw power in his lefthanded bat, according to some scouts, to one day develop average power when he’s done developing. Fringy arm strength is his only tool that ranks as below-average. Add it all up and scouts can see an everyday center-field job in Fowler’s future if everything clicks. THE FUTURE: Fowler’s blue-collar approach and all-around tools showed in the Arizona Fall League, where he started as a member of the taxi squad and finished as a member of Surprise’s full roster. He set himself up for a jump to Double-A Trenton in 2016. 2015 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SBTampa (Hi A) .307 .340 .419 241 35 74 9 3 4 31 11 47 18Trenton (AA) .289 .328 .370 246 29 71 11 3 1 39 15 43 12
10. DUSTIN FOWLER, OF
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST TOP 10 PROSPECTS
AMERICANLEAGUEEAST TOP 10PROSPECTS
![Big Band - Nivaldo No Choro [Severino]](https://static.fdocuments.us/doc/165x107/577cc0eb1a28aba711919a3d/big-band-nivaldo-no-choro-severino.jpg)
