With the offseason in full swing, here are the top 10 MLB prospects for both the New York Mets and Yankees.
By Patrick Brewer
Now that many of the biggest free agents are off the board, attention has turned to how teams will look next season, and what holes remain to be filled. At this point, many teams have a general idea of their true talent level, and where they currently stand.
One somewhat uncertainty, lies in the minor leagues.
Around this time of year, just about every big time baseball news site releases prospect lists for each and every team. Here at EliteSportsNY, things are no different. However, this prospect list has a little bit of a twist on it.
Here are the Top Ten prospects in the New York Yankees AND New York Mets minor league systems. You heard right, both teams prospects thrown together in one list.
10. Marcos Molina, RHP, Mets
With the promotions of pretty much all of the Mets most talented pitching prospects, Marcus Molina is really the best of the rest in the Mets minor league system.
Molina has a strong mid-90s fastball, a slider that could profile as a plus pitch, and a changeup that he shows strong command of. Overall, Molina is nothing flashy, but he does demonstrate strong command and a great mound presence.
At only 20 years of age, Molina still has a lot of room to grow and improve, and could certainly be a starting rotation pitcher in the future.
9. Matt Reynolds, SS, Mets
Yet another shortstop by trade, Matt Reynolds may be the most boringly consistent of any player on this list. Reynolds has never been flashy, and doesn’t truly excel in any facet of the game, but he is a solid all around infielder.
Reynolds has a good approach at the plate, and is able to hit for a high average. He lacks a lot of power potential, but does have enough gap power to make some impact.
In the field, Reynolds is once again nothing superb, but he does enough to get the job done on routine plays.
With both Rosario and Cecchini above him in the minor league depth chart, it appears likely Reynolds moves to second or third base in the long term.
8. James Kaprielian, RHP, Yankees
With Luis Severino now out of the Yankees minor league system, RHP James Kaprielian has now taken his place as the most impressive Yankee pitching prospect.
Kaprielian comes with a strong frame, strong command, and a very advanced feel for pitching. Despite being only 21 years old, he is well advanced for his age.
While his ceiling may not be as high as some other pitching prospects, his floor looks to be a pretty safe bet as a number three starter.
Kaprielian lacks overwhelming stuff, but has enough good pitches to make him a solid rotation member somewhere down the line.
7. Gary Sanchez, C, Yankees
After a quite impressive showing in the Arizona Fall League, catcher Gary Sanchez has solidified his position in the Yankees organization.
Sanchez is most known for having amazing power potential, a fact he readily showed during the Fall League. He also has one of the best catcher arms in the entire minor league system.
Sanchez does have shortcomings in his consistency at the plate, not to mention his glove work behind it, but the ceiling is relatively high for the young catcher.
If everything falls right for Sanchez, he certainly has All Star potential in the long term.
With the trade of John Ryan Murphy this offseason, the Yankees have made it pretty clear that they think Sanchez is ready to be on a Major League roster as soon as next season.
It looks like he will be given that chance.
6. Dominic Smith, 1B, Mets
As it currently stands, Dominic Smith looks to be the heir apparent to Lucas Duda at first base.
While he is still likely a few seasons away, Smith made great strides over the last season. Not only is Smith strong at the plate, but he also profiles as an above average defender in the future.
He has good hands and good instincts at first base, and also has pretty good range as well.
One question mark that has followed Smith is whether or not he will be able to hit for power at the big league level. His power has developed slowly in the minors, although the Mets still feel it will increase over time as he develops further.
Either way, Smith profiles as an above average future first baseman if all comes together.
5. Gavin Cecchini, SS, Mets
Another shortstop for the Mets, who appears further along than Rosario, is Gavin Cecchini.
Cecchini has had a slow development due to injury problems, but he has recovered from those injuries and been able to have strong showings over the last few seasons.
He is consistent overall at the plate, with some potential to still develop more power over the long term. While not flashy in the field or on the bases, Cecchini has enough talent in both areas to be a consistent everyday player.
If Cecchini stays consistent in his development, he also has the makings of being an everyday shortstop for the Mets, leaving them with two long term options at short going forward.
4. Jorge Mateo, SS, Yankees
With the void left by Derek Jeter, it has been tough for the Yankees to replace the legend’s production. While it is too soon to crown anyone Jeter’s heir apparent, Jorge Mateo may have the best chance of doing so.
Even though Mateo is generally known as a well rounded player, he is known best for his nearly top flight speed.
Graded 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale, Mateo’s speed allows him to run wild on the bases and cover a lot of ground while playing shortstop. His speed helps greatly with his range, and his strong arm makes him a sure thing as a plus defender.
The one question mark with Mateo comes with his ability to make consistent contact, but if he can do so, he should be an everyday starter in the Yankees infield long term, although that is still a few years away.
3. Amed Rosario, SS, Mets
A player with potentially more upside than Nimmo, but that comes with less polish, is shortstop Amed Rosario.
Rosario has consistently played above his age level everywhere he’s gone, yet he has still been able to show consistent performance.
He displays a good approach with good instincts at the plate, but still has some room for improvement.
In the field, Rosario shows great speed and range and has one of the strongest arms of any player in the Mets system.
While Rosario is still several years away from getting a Major League shot, he has all the makings of the Mets shortstop of the future at some point.
2. Brandon Nimmo, OF, Mets
Now that Michael Conforto has gotten his major league career underway, Brandon Nimmo appears to be the next position player in line to make his way to New York.
Nimmo may be the most well rounded and consistent of all the Mets prospects, with above average grades in pretty much every aspect of his game.
He is known for his advanced approach at the plate, and has consistently shown great patience at the plate, as his career OBP closer .400 would attest.
Nimmo is consistent in all aspects of his game, and can show versatility with the ability to play all three outfield positions.
While not at all flashy, he should still be able to be a significant contributor for the Mets in the short and long term.
1. Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees
With the 2015 promotions of Rob Refsnyder, Luis Severino and Greg Bird, it doesn’t get better than Aaron Judge in the New York Yankees minor league system.
With the build of a football tight end, Judge may be the most physically imposing prospect in all of minor league baseball.
Judge has a massive amount of natural power, but is a more balanced hitter than one would anticipate.
While he does not have anything above average speed or average defense in the outfield, he does have a cannon for an arm to go along with his ability at the plate.
Judge does still have a little bit left to show, but he very well could see himself in New York sometime in 2016.