Five obscure facts about former New York Yankees' prospects

SHARE TWEET REDDITCurrent prospects are hot, but facts about these former New York Yankees prospects might just be more interesting.Twenty-seventeen is the year of the prospect for the New York Yankees.We’ve discussed day after day the potential of these prospects and the impact they are likely to make in the future.In today’s day and age, we know everything about these prospects. They post their workouts on social media and share their journey to the big leagues. RELATED: Travis Wood could be a last-minute option for the New York Yankees However, back in the 1990’s, prospects were not common knowledge to a regular baseball fan. Unless someone like Derek Jeter or Bernie Williams came up, they would rarely be talked about.Well, times have certainly changed, haven’t they? But today we are going to discuss some of the most obscure, possibly insane facts about some of the former Yankees prospects.And trust me … you won’t want to miss these. They might be a trivia questions one day.Without further adieu, here are five of the strangest facts about former Yankees prospects.Embed from Getty Images5. Mike Lowell was a product of the Yankees systemThat’s right, the same Mike Lowell that destroyed the Yankees in 2003. The same Lowell that found himself beloved by Boston Red Sox fans for the rest of his career.Lowell was drafted by the Yankees in the 20th round of the MLB draft in 1995 and actually made his major league debut with the Yankees.In his short-lived introduction to the Bronx, Lowell played in eight games in 1998 and by 1999, he was traded away to the Florida Marlins.Prospects often bounce around before they make their appearance in the big leagues but Lowell is one that is fairly popular who has been forgotten in the farm system.In 1999, he was ranked fifth in the Yankees farm system. Now retired, he is a four-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion.New York possibly missed the boat on that one. Oh well, they still managed to win four World Series while he only got two.Embed from Getty Images4. Mariano Rivera was never trained as a pitcherThe Sandman turned out to be the best reliever that baseball has ever seen. However, he didn’t start out that way.When he was signed on an amateur Yankees contract in 1990, Rivera had no formal training as a pitcher. However, scouts saw him as a talent that could easily have success in the major leagues.Rivera, who played in an amateur league as a shortstop, was called in to pitch in relief during a playoff game. And thus, the Sandman was born.Obviously, after heading over to the United States from his home country of Panama, Rivera worked on his improving his pitching. After failing as a starter, his shift to the bullpen worked out for the Yankees for years.So just remember, kids. If you try something by mistake and are good at it, there is still hope for you! Just ask the greatest closer of all-time.Embed from Getty Images3. Ruben Rivera and Jesus Montero were the only two prospects since 1983 to be ranked No. 1 for three straight seasonsWho?Ruben Rivera had it made. Unfortunately, his opportunity just wasn’t with the Yankees.Rivera, the cousin of Mariano Rivera, showed incredible promise in the outfield but only played 51 games for the Yanks. Even worse, his second go-around with the Yankees ended with an ugly off-field incident.Montero was more recent, earning the #1 spot on the Yankees prospect list from 2010-2012. However, Montero couldn’t quite handle the pressure that comes with playing in New York.Even after being traded to the Seattle Mariners, he still couldn’t live up to the hype. In four years in Seattle, he batted .247 with only 24 home runs.The stories of prospect busts are sad, but these two just never could figure out how to succeed in the major leagues.Embed from Getty Images2. Tyler Austin was originally drafted as a catcherWe are expecting to see some Tyler Austin in the infield but he originally would have been at another position.That’s right, the first baseman vying for the starting position could have potentially been fighting with Gary Sanchez for a starting catcher spot. With the Yankees signing Chris Carter yesterday, he might even be contending for a spot in right field.The bottom line is, it’s hard to imagine Austin as a catcher. If he stuck with that position, he might not even be close to making a splash in the majors.Austin is a player who had battled adversity in his career, including a fight against cancer and being designated for assignment by the Yankees after the 2015 season. However, Austin dealt with it all and now finds himself in the thick of a position battle.Just imagine…Austin could be battling Gary Sanchez instead of Greg Bird. Not that either is an ideal situation.Embed from Getty Images1. John Elway was the Yankees number one prospect in 1983Yup, that John Elway. The Denver Broncos football legend was highly ranked in the Yankees farm system before he decided to go another direction.Didn’t know that? Don’t worry, not many people did.Elway was originally drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1981 MLB draft and played part-time with them. He was also selected in 1983 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts. While talented at both, Elway had a real shot to make a difference for the Yankees.There are several athletes that play multiple sports, but it is extremely unlikely that one could be as dominant at both as Elway was. In 42 games with a small team affiliate of the Yankees, he slashed a .318/.432/.464 line with 25 RBIs.While it’s a small sample size, it showed promise for what could have been with Elway.Prospects are great on the outside, but if we take a chance to learn a little bit more, we might be pleasantly surprised. 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