New York Yankees Prospects That Are Putting Pressure On Veterans

The New York Yankees have remarkable prospects knocking on the door that could lead to some contention with the veterans of the organization. 

Welcome to 2016, where the New York Yankees have a surplus of young (!) talent with their eyes glued on the major leagues.

Some are rated higher than others, yet the farm system in New York is the best in baseball and some are starting to put the pressure on veterans to play their part or be told to have a seat.

Last year, we saw a prime example when Gary Sanchez went on a monstrous tear thus forcing former starting catcher and 12-year veteran Brian McCann to a full-time DH role.

Now, there are even more youngsters making a fine impression on the organization and are putting long-time major leaguers on watch. If you don’t perform to the “Yankee” standard, there’s a kid that will be presented with an opportunity to do so.

In no particular order of significance, here are those kids that will have those old timers think twice before falling victim to a slump.

Gleyber Torres

OK, let’s start with the prospect that required some stretching for this slideshow.

Through 10 games in the Arizona Fall League, the Yankees’ number two prospect Gleyber Torres is slashing .306/.405/.611 with an OPS of 1.016 and three home runs. In 36 at-bats, the 19-year-old Venezuelan totaled 22 bases, tied for the most in the league with at least 10 games played.

Although listed as a shortstop, New York is testing the 19-year old at second base at this stage of his career. Perhaps they consider Didi Gregorius to be the long-term option at short? Whatever the reason is, Torres is doing a fine job over there and is on a tear in the AFL.

Take note, Starlin Castro.

The last two AFL MVP’s were Yankees’ prospects and made their major league debuts in the same year. Albeit, Torres is much younger than Greg Bird and Gary Sanchez, but remember the Cubs’ prospect that forced Castro out of Chicago?

The highly praised project Addison Russell forced himself into the picture with a .295/.350/.508 slash line with 13 homers in 2014 and by 2015, he had moved Castro from shortstop to second before general manager Theo Epstein shipped him to the Bronx.

So, while Torres has much more developing to do, the career .282 minor league hitter sure can drive himself into at least major league consideration if he carries his tremendous AFL performance into the 2017 regular season.

He may not be able to drive out one of three shortstops in Yankees’ history to hit at least 20 HR and bat over .275 (Didi), but may be able to force Brian Cashman to wager options for a second baseman who owns a -2.1 career wins above average.

Miguel Andujar

Flying under the radar throughout the majority of his minor league career, Miguel Andujar is making a serious run at being considered the Yankees’ future third baseman.

In 130 games between Tampa and Double-A Trenton slashing .273/.332/.410 with an OPS of .742 and 12 home runs. No, not incredible, but he has been a standout performer down in the AFL.

Through 11 games, he is 14-for-38 (.366) with the best OBP (.468) in the league. Currently, he’s the seventh-best prospect in the Yankees’ system and the eighth-best third base prospect in all of baseball.

With his demonstration of offensive consistency and showcasing his plus arm at the hot corner, Chase Headley needs to be on the lookout. Do we project Andujar to replace Headley in 2017? No. However, at this time a year ago, Gary Sanchez was expected to be nothing more than a backup catcher in 2016.

The Yankees’ top catching prospect played in just 71 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre then was promoted to the bigs before converting Brian McCann into a bench player.

Headley, who is clearly the present and not the future, could easily be shifted to a backup role or even be dealt in an Ivan Nova-like deal (sell-low) if Andujar kicks off his 2017 with an unmistakable tear.

Clint Frazier

New York’s number one prospect, Clint Frazier, has undoubtedly grasped all the attention since he arrived in the deal that sent Andrew Miller to Cleveland.

Overall in 2016, the fifth pick in 2013’s June Amateur Draft slashed .263/.335/.447 with an OPS of .782 and 16 home runs in 119 games.

Although not jaw-dropping, his strikeout rate has declined rapidly since his professional debut three years ago while MLB Pipeline suggests the ceiling of an All-Star thanks to his raw power and lightening quick hands.

Frazier’s rise and major league ETA of 2017 has put the longest-tenured Yankee, Brett Gardner, on notice and if he is not dealt by Opening Day, one better believe that a surge by Frazier and another average year by Gardner would punch his ticket out of the Bronx.

In 2016, Yankees’ outfielders ranked 19th in batting average and 26th in OPS but it would have been much more inadequate if it weren’t for Carlos Beltran’s All-Star first half.

The lack of production from Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury had an undeniable effect on the entire lineup and while Cashman instituted change in the infield and behind the dish, his most ineffective players remained untouched.

It’s close to impossible to deal the contract of Ellsbury, yet Gardner may be on his way out. With that, you have to keep a close eye on Frazier who may put the pressure on the Yankees’ GM to deal Gardner either this offseason or the deadline to bring improvement to the club.

The kid has a ton of talent and we all paid witness to what Gary Sanchez did in the second half of last season. Perhaps Frazier plays that role of a kid who comes up halfway through and really gives the team some energy while perhaps sparking a run. That all depends on if he can channel his potential in the Electric City.

All in all, 2017 seems like it’s going to be very similar to that of 2016. A lot of pieces of the puzzle missing, a questionable rotation, and still a few veterans not producing like they once did.

That’s where the kids come in to make their mark, as they did when the organization shifted its methodology on Aug. 1.

Which prospect, if any, do you think will force a veteran out of their spot in 2017? Let your voice be heard in the comments below.

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