Four Yankee prospects named to AA All Star Game

The Trenton Thunder, the Double-A affiliate for the Yanks, will be sending four players to the All Star Game. The Yankees depth of their farm system is evident in this, as the Thunder are currently 50-28, three games ahead in the Eastern League standings. The four representatives for the July 13th ASG in New Hampshire will be right-hander Yefry Ramirez, lefty Justus Sheffield, SS/2B Thairo Estrada, and first baseman Mike Ford.

Design Credit: Trenton Thunder

Sheffield is one of the top Yankee prospects, as he was acquired from the Indians in the blockbuster Andrew Miller trade last summer. Estrada and Ramirez aren't nearly as well-known as Sheffield, as both are seen as middle-tier prospects trying to prove their worth. Ford is a bit of an unknown, a lefty bat that went to college at Princeton and turns 25 on the Fourth of July.

Sheffield is really starting to find a groove, pitching to a 2.36 ERA over his last eight starts, just two of which were below-average. His ERA stands at 3.14 in 15 games started, as he has a 7-5 record and has struck out 75 in 86 innings. His WHIP is slightly high at 1.34, but his numbers prove he is well-deserving of making the ASG.

Photo Credit: Martin Griff

The unknown of the group, Mike Ford, has turned into an interestingly productive player at first base. He is a very dark-horse candidate to get a call-up from the Yanks this season, especially considering he isn't on the 40-man roster. Ford spent 66 games with Trenton this season before recently being promoted to Triple-A Scranton, where he's been phenomenal. In the 66 games, he slashed .272/.396/.452 with nine homers, 42 RBIs, 12 doubles, and 42 runs scored. His OBP of .396 is what really stands out, as he's known for his unusually brilliant plate discipline (42 walks). His nine games with Scranton so far have included 36 ABs, where he's got a slash line of .306/.432/.750 with 10 RBIs. His four homers and seven walks have largely contributed to his incredible OPS of 1.182.

Infielder Thairo Estrada has proved his worth this season, hitting .319 in 71 games. The Venezuelan-born 21-year old has an OBP of .381 also, as he has three homers, 22 RBIs, and 23 walks. His steal numbers have certainly decreased from past years, as he has just two stolen bases this year in 11 tries, a 18.2% success rate. He has been a very steady contributor at the top of the Trenton lineup all season.

Photo Credit: Martin Griff

Last, Yefry Ramirez, out of the Dominican Republic, has had a very good season. He’s 7-3 in 13 starts with a 3.48 ERA and 66 K’s in 64.2 innings. If you exclude his seven-run effort a week ago, Ramirez has allowed just six runs in his last seven appearances. In 35.1 innings of work, that translates to a shutdown 1.53 ERA. Ramirez’s late surge has helped him represent the Thunder at the ASG.

These four have been integral in the Trenton Thunder success this season and have been the best players on the team. If they continue, look for these guys to become bigger names and be promoted to Triple-A.

Article by: Spencer Schultz
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