Yankees' top ten pitching prospect update through mid-May

The Yankees have a top-three farm system in all of baseball even with the graduation of a handful of players due to their contributions at the MLB level. The strength of their farm system at the moment is, by far, pitching. According to MLB.com’s rankings, 23 of the Yankees top 30 prospects are pitchers. With an influx of young offensive players becoming major leaguers in the Bronx in recent seasons, such as, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, Clint Frazier, Greg Bird, Miguel Andujar, Tyler Austin, Tyler Wade, and Gleyber Torres, the Yankees’ front office has made it a point to try to build up their pitching depth and have successfully done so. Here is an update on the Yankees’ top ten pitching prospects.

Photo Credit: Louriann Mardo-Zayat

Stats are as of May 16, and MLB.com rankings were used.

Justus Sheffield #3, Triple-A and Double-A, 22-years old

W-L	IP	ERA	K	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	K:BB
1-3	36.1	2.23	48	1.10	5.0	11.9	2.40

The Yankees top-rated pitching prospect and 48th in all of baseball, Justus Sheffield has been solid in his second full season in the Yankee minor league system. He was recently promoted to Triple-A, after a solid first five starts in Trenton. He is still struggling with command as displayed by his 5.0 BB/9, but has continued to flash swing and miss stuff and has been able to prevent his walks from hurting him. Sheffield has showed he belongs at Triple-A, and once he cuts down on the walks, could be an impact starter in the major league rotation. Sheffield is currently on the 7-day DL with left shoulder tightness, but should only miss one more start as the injury is not seen as major.

Albert Abreu #4, High-A, 22-years old

W-L	IP	ERA	K	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	K:BB
1-0	12.2	2.13	15	1.03	3.6	10.7	3.00

The hard throwing right-hander that the Yankees acquired in exchange for Brian McCann has started off his 2018 on the right track as he has accumulated a solid ERA, WHIP, and strikeout rate through his first three outings. Abreu has never made more than 16 starts in a season and only surpassed the 100-inning mark once, so 2018 is going to be his year to prove he can perform as a starting pitcher with a large workload. The #74 prospect in all of baseball has the makings of power reliever, but could even more valuable as a future frontline starter.

Chance Adams #5, Triple-A, 23-years old

W-L	IP	ERA	K	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	K:BB
0-2	33.1	5.67	32	1.44	3.8	8.6	2.29

The 75th prospect in all of baseball has not been able to replicate his success from 2017, so far, in 2018. He is allowing three times as many home runs as he did a year ago, and that is really hurting him as the rest of his numbers are pretty similar to his outstanding 2017 season. He has plenty of time to rebound, but his struggles could result in players, such as, Justus Sheffield and the up and coming Erik Swanson, who I wrote about earlier in the week, passing him on the Yankees’ depth chart.

Photo Credit: NJ.com

Luis Medina #6, Rookie Ball, 19-years-old

The 100mph throwing 19-year-old has yet to pitch in 2018, but is destined for a breakout year in the lower levels of the Yankees farm system. He features three solid pitches including his flamethrower fastball and a nasty curveball. Medina has received comparisons to Luis Severino, and some scouts believe he is more advanced than Severino was at his age. Medina could soar up these rankings by season’s end.

Freicer Perez #7, High-A, 22-years old

W-L	IP	ERA	K	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	K:BB
0-4	25.0	7.20	20	1.88	6.8	7.2	1.05

Perez is off to an even worse start than Adams is in 2018. He’s allowing almost two baserunners an inning and is allowing homers and walks at an alarming rate. Perez’s command has been almost non-existent as evidenced by his walk rate and the fact that he has five wild pitches in only 6 starts. Perez posted a sub-3.00 ERA last season for Charleston and is just not the same pitcher this season. He was placed on the DL on May 10 due to an undisclosed injury, which is likely an excuse to try to determine what is ailing the formerly successful youngster.

Domingo Acevedo #8, Double-A, 24-years old

W-L	IP	ERA	K	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	K:BB
0-1	10.1	2.61	8	1.16	6.1	7.0	1.14

Acevedo has been on the disabled list since he made his first two starts in April with a blister on his right index finger. According to NJ.com, he should be close to returning, but an exact date has not been set. Acevedo struggled a bit with command in his first two starts, but posted all-around solid numbers to start the season. He is on the older-side compared to some of the other Yankees’ pitching prospects, but should join the Triple-A rotation once he makes a few more starts from Trenton and proves he is 100% healthy.

Dillon Tate #10, Double-A, 24-years old

W-L	IP	ERA	K	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	K:BB
1-2	35.1	3.82	30	1.10	2.5	7.6	3.00

After a disastrous 2016 season with the Texas Rangers, Tate has rebuilt his high-stock, since he joined the Yankees’ system. Although his ERA is not too flashy on the surface, he has started off 2018 on the right track by keeping his home run and walk rates similar to those he posted in his successful 2017 season. Tate is tied for the second lowest K:BB ratio and has the second lowest BB/9 among the Yankees’ pitching prospects discussed in this article. Tate is similar to Acevedo in a sense that he could see Triple-A by season’s end. That rotation already features Chance Adams and Justus Sheffield, but do not be surprised if Tate joins them once he has more starts at the Double-A level.

Photo Credit: Martin Griff

Matt Sauer #11, 19-years old and Clarke Schmidt #12, 22-years old

Neither Sauer or Schmidt have pitched yet in 2018. Sauer posted a 5.40 ERA in rookie ball last summer, and will likely see more action there once their season begins later this year. Schmidt is currently on the minor league 60-day DL as he is still on the road to recovery after he went under the knife last April for Tommy John Surgery. Schmidt is a talented pitcher, but the Yankees will be very cautious with him after making him their 16th overall pick in last year’s draft. Expect Schmidt to see game action sometime in June or July. Both pitchers are extremely gifted, but only time will tell if these 2017 draft picks will live up to the hype.

Jonathan Loaisiga #13, Double-A and High-A, 23-years old

W-L	IP	ERA	K	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	K:BB
4-0	30.0	1.50	38	1.00	0.9	11.4	12.67

You know the Yankees believed in Loaisiga, when they added him to the 40-man roster before he played a game above the Low-A level, and he has not disappointed. The Nicaraguan stud has dealt with an abundance of injuries since the Giants originally signed him as an 18-year-old in 2013, but is proving the Yankees’ patience is going to pay off based on his start to 2018. After 20 innings in Tampa, the Yankees were convinced he was ready for Double-A where he has not skipped a beat as he has posted a sub-2.00 ERA in two starts. He is rising through the ranks fast and is likely being overlooked in terms of his prospect ranking in the Yankees’ system. He is definitely someone to keep an eye on as a possible September call-up.

Article by: Ryan Thoms

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