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The New York Yankees seem to always be a team that is over-ranked by its own fans every year but the fans have been pretty dead on the past few years as the Yankees have a legitimately good system that has a handful of top talent and a lot of depth.
Below are my top 16 prospects with 2012 opening day age, position, and comments on each player. Below the top 16 is a small list of additional notable names. Enjoy.
| Player | Comments | |
| 1 | Manny Banuelos (21-LHP) | He has ace potential but lost command of his pitches in 2011 and needs to get his feel for pitching back if he wants to regain that ace status. His fastball sits 90-93 with a potential plus change-up and a curveball that flashes above-average. When he is on he is one of the best in the minors. |
| 2 | Gary Sanchez (19-C) | As an 18 year old in A-ball he showed potentially plus power and walked in more than 10% of his PAs. He does strike out a lot but projects as a plus power bat down the road even if his future is not at catcher, although I think he has a chance to stay behind the plate. He is probably the top prospect I am excited to see in the FSL in 2012. |
| 3 | Dellin Betances (24-RHP) | Huge kid with an overpowering fastball that sits 92-96 as a starter and touches high-90s in short stints and pairs it with a curveball that flashes plus. He struggles with command and repeating his delivery. He has one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in the game but his floor is also that of a reliever, albeit a power arm. |
| 4 | Mason Williams (20-OF) | If you like tools and projection then this is your guy. He has legitimate 5-tool potential in CF with a plus arm and plus speed. He has plenty of room to fill out his wiry frame and add power to go with his well above-average hit tool. He could be the top prospect in this system in a year or two if he progresses as many think he will. If you want a really good in-depth report please check out BullpenBanter’s report on him. |
| 5 | Dante Bichette, Jr. (19-3B) | Plus power in BP and an advanced approach at the plate for such a young hitter. He has made adjustments that lead many to believe he can stick at 3B and if he can he has the chance to be an All-Star and better player than his dad down the road. |
| 6 | Jose Campos (19-RHP) | He has put up impressive numbers in his first two seasons in pro ball thanks to above-average control and command, a 90-93 mph fastball, a slider that is at least average, and a developing third pitch. He keeps the ball down and has the chance to be a solid mid-rotation starter. |
| 7 | Ravel Santana (19-OF) | Lots of tools and room to add more muscle in his frame. He projects as a potential above-average regular in RF with a solid combination of power and speed and a good approach for a young hitter. He has above-average arm and range. He is still a long way away and his ankle injury was pretty serious. If he can recover look for him to appear on more people’s radars. |
| 8 | Tyler Austin (20-3B) | The big third baseman put up a big triple-slash line in 201 PAs as a 19 year old last season. He runs very well for his size, stealing 18 bases without being caught. He does have some plate discipline issues and there are some questions about his ability to stick at 3B but if he can he could be a top 5 guy in this system soon. |
| 9 | J.R. Murphy (20-C) | More mixed reports on him than most prospects I have read about. I missed him in the FSL so I am only going on reports that he has been able to handle catcher so far and the potential in the bat is there to be an above-average regular at the position. He has some patience issues and the bat is still a work in progress but he is young. |
| 10 | Slade Heathcott (21-OF) | Has all the tools to be a 4 or 5-tool CFer but they have not translated fully to games situations. He strikes out a lot and is still raw overall. His constant shoulder problems are becoming a concern. |
| 11 | Austin Romine (23-C) | Made some strides with his approach at the plate, improving his walk and strikeout rate at Double-A, but the bat is still in question. The glove might be good enough to play right now. He looks like a very good backup who can play a long time in the Majors. |
| 12 | David Phelps (25-RHP) | Has the repertoire, control, and just enough stuff to succeed in the back of a rotation but I really feel he could flourish in the pen. I wouldn’t move him there until he proves he cannot stick in the rotation I have my doubts he can. |
| 13 | Cito Culver (19-SS) | I have real doubts about the bat but he can take a walk and has 20+ stolen base potential. His glove and arm are above-average for SS and he reminds me of Jason Bartlett, which is not a bad thing. |
| 14 | Adam Warren (24-RHP) | A solid chance he ends up as a trade chip and in the back of someone else’s rotation or in the pen where his stuff ticks up a bit. |
| 15 | Angelo Gumbs (19-2B) | Has gap power and tools that could lead to double digit homeruns and 20+ stolen bases and has shown the ability to take a walk. He is still raw on both sides of the ball and needs refinement but he could be a rising prospect. |
| 16 | Nik Turley (22-RHP) | An injury to his hand set him back last year but he commands all of his pitches well but none of them are above-average. He could be a back-end starter but needs a test in Double-A to see if his stuff can get more advanced hitters out. |
A few more names to watch: Brett Marshall (RHP), Jake Cave (OF), Ben Gamel (OF)
-Jonathan C. Mitchell can be found writing about the Tampa Bay Rays at DRaysBay and the Florida Marlins at ESPN’s SweetSpot site Marlins Daily. You can follow him on twitter at @FigureFilbert. Be sure to follow MLBdirt at @MLBdirt
Filed under: On the Farm - Prospects Tagged: | 2012 Top Prospects, Adam Warren, Angelo Gumbs, Austin Romine, Ben Gamel, Brett Marshall, Cito Culver, Dante Bichette, David Phelps, Dellin Betances, Gary Sanchez, J.R. Murphy, Jake Cave, Jose Campos, Manny Banuelos, Mason Williams, New York Yankees, Nik Turley, Prospects, Ravel Santana, Slade Heathcott, Tyler Austin
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I saw the young SI yankees play last summer and i think that Gumbs has much more than gap power. I could put a potential 60 on his power potential as I saw him hit a laser that looked like a Weeks or Sheffield HR. Great bat speed, easily the best on the team.
[...] MLB Dirt [...]
I read and re~read the same comments on Cito Culver on his power. since he was 15 16 years he has been hitting 400+++ ft bombs in high school. He has power his struggle will be centering the ball(MLB fastballs)
hits off speed stuff ok thats good offspeed Great arm for short excellent glove sometimes lazy on routine plays. He has really big games 1 day and the next game you say he is ok
[...] Manny Banuelos (LHP – NYY) [...]