The Yankees farm system is represented, but their prospect pipeline clearly isn’t deep.
On Friday, MLB Pipeline released its top 100 prospects for 2021. The New York Yankees have two players that made the list, both of whom are promising and have high ceilings.
However, the fact that the Yankees have just two guys on here is further proof of something that the baseball world has already known: the Yankees’ farm system isn’t in great shape.
Even so, let’s take a look at New York’s best prospects.
32. Jasson Dominguez, OF
Jasson Dominguez is 17 years old and hasn’t played a second of professional baseball, but he’s already considered to be one of the best prospects in the game. He’s the most raved-about international prospect of the past several years.
The switch-hitting outfielder throws with his right hand and brings a lot to the table. Standing at 5’10” Dominguez is on the shorter side, but weighs 190 lbs. and is built like a tank.
17-year-old Jasson Dominguez is sending balls into orbit again pic.twitter.com/0pCepqlDFZ
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) January 27, 2021
He was signed by the Yankees in July 2019 for a franchise-record $5.1 million. Dominguez is expected hit for both power and average because of his strength, smooth swing, and plate discipline.
Dominguez could actually end up becoming a five-tool player. He’s very fast so he’s good on the basepaths and can cover a lot of ground in the outfield, especially in center field. He also has great arm strength.
Dominguez’s ETA is 2024, but if he meets expectations, he should be MLB-ready sooner.
88. Clarke Schmidt, RHP
The Yankees needed some pitching help during the 2020 season, and that meant that Clarke Schmidt would make his MLB debut. Schmidt has had an eventful few years since beginning his professional baseball career.
Tommy John surgery served as an obstacle in Schmidt’s path, and he ended up making his debut in 2020 after having pitched just 114 total innings in the minors. This was obvious.
Schmidt posted a 7.11 ERA in three games and looked like he wasn’t ready yet.
His two-seam and four-seam fastballs are really good, but his breaking ball curve is his best pitch. His changeup is also solid and is sometimes a plus pitch for him.
However, Schmidt needs to work on his command, and this was a problem for him in the majors. In any event, Schmidt isn’t far off, at all.
The Yankees’ window to win is open now and they’re constantly one of the best teams in the league, so it does make sense that their farm system isn’t the strongest. However, the farm system being so weak does cause problems with regard to prospective trades and the team’s future.
1. Making trades is difficult if a team doesn’t have appealing prospects. The Yankees likely already have and will continue to miss out on opportunities to conduct business with other organizations if they have nothing to offer. Plain and simple.
2. Yes, the Yankees have been serious contenders and likely will be for the next few years, but some players will age and some will need to be paid sooner rather than later.
Keeping this team together for several years, as is, obviously isn’t possible, so the Yankees will need at least some good prospects if they hope to have a decent future.
