Thursday, February 12, 2015

ICYMI: Rob Refsnyder Ranks 13th in International League Prospects


Baseball America released they're top 20 prospect in the International League, I was intrigued.

First of all, the International League is AAA, meaning players at that level could contribute to the big club very soon. It's not like we're seeing a high ranking for a guy that's still in single A ball, who likely won't even sniff MLB action for years.

Secondly, the player for Scranton that appeared on the list has been mentioned as somebody that could make the Yankees' 2015 Opening Day roster. That guy is Rob Refsnyder.

While the list itself (as well as lists for every league in the minors, at every level) is free to look at, you'd have to pay for the scouting reports. But since other places copy and paste the scouting reports, so will I...
“Refsnyder’s short, powerful stroke from the right side is polished, and when combined with a keen batting eye, he projects to hit for average and get on base at a high rate.”
The write-up also notes that Refsnyder “lacks fluidity and must improve his double-play pivot skills.” One scout said he is “a work in progress, but the bottom line is he can hit.”

All of that makes me believe that, while he probably shouldn't be a starter for the Yankees right away, Refnsyder should get a spot on the bench next season. That way he can learn from the best, be that coaches and players, and possibly take over a larger role in 2016 when a starting spot is likely available.

And finally, with his experience at both 2B and RF, Refsnyder would likely get plenty of playing time even in New York. He's almost a younger version of Martin Prado.

Yankees Release 2015 Spring Training Schedule


The New York Yankees 2015 Spring Training gets started with a road game on March, 3 in Clearwater, Florida as they take on the Philadelphia Phillies. On March, 4 the Yankees will host that same Phillies squad at George M. Steinbrenner Field at home in Tampa. This will be just two of a total of 33 exhibition spring training games in the Grapefruit League in 2015, 16 of them coming at home in GMS Field.

Yankees pitchers and catchers report to camp on February, 20 and will hold a workout the next day while positional players will report to camp on February, 25 and will hold their first workout the next day. The final game of Spring Training will be a day game at home against the Washington Nationals on April, 3 before the season gets started on April 6.

CLICK HERE for the full schedule. 

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #17


Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 18th best prospect in the farm system, Tyler Wade. Let's see what Jeff Levin has to say about this pick. Love you buddy! lol.

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Wade:

Tyler Wade, SS Video: Wade took a big step forward this year to scouts outside the organization, but was a Yankee favorite for some time after drafting him in the 4th round in 2013. Wade took the opportunity when the more hyped Abiatal Avelino was injured or struggling at Low-A last year and the lefty-hitting Wade performed very well for a 19-year-old in full season ball.  Wade is an above average to plus runner with the tools to stick at shortstop and the internal clock and instincts to get the most out of his tools. He’s more of a contact type hitter and power isn’t a big part of his game, but lefty hitting shortstops that hit when they’re young for the league aren’t easy to find.

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17. Tyler Wade
18. Juan DeLeon
19. Dante Bichette Jr. 
20. Domingo German
21. Slade Heathcott
22. Nick Rumbelow
23. Jose Ramirez
24. Ramon Flores
25. Gosuke Katoh
26. Chasen Shreve
27. Taylor Dugas
28. Johnny Barbato

Throw Back Thursday: Meet a Prospect Eury Perez

It's throwback Thursday so let's take a look at a former Yankee just for fun, Eury Perez.


Eury Perez was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees on Monday from the Washington Nationals and was immediately added to the 40 man roster. While Perez was officially a member of the Yankees on Monday you're REALLY not an official member until we do one of these for you so it's time for Perez to earn his first stripe right here. This is meet a prospect, the Eury Perez edition.

Eury Eduardo Perez was born on May 30, 1990 in San Luis, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Perez came up in the Washington Nationals organization and participated in the All Star Futures Game as recently as 2010. Eury was added to the 40 man roster for the Nationals after the 2011 season and was ultimately protected from the Rule 5 Draft.

Perez is a speedy type outfielder who is unlikely to hit for much power at all. In 2010 Perez stole 64 bases and followed that up with 45 in 2011, and 51 in 2012. Perez thanks to his speed is considered to be an above average defender and can play all three of the outfield positions. Perez's speed is ranked as an 80 on the normal 20-80 scale which is rare for any player to achieve.

Perez is adequate with the bat at least in Triple-A where he combined for a .301/.354/.411 triple slash in the Nats farm system in 2014. Perez was designated for assignment on September 18 of this year after the Nationals claimed Pedro Florimon from the Minnesota Twins. Perez fell all the way to the Yankees and is now a member of the greatest organization in the world after the team claimed him, designated Josh Outman for assignment, and added Perez to their 40 man roster.

Looking at the 2015 Draft: 17th Best Prospect



Continuing our look at the 2015 MLB First Year Players Draft we take a look at the #17 ranked prospect expected to enter the draft. As always we will include the mini scouting report from MLB.com as we introduce the #17 prospect, Phil Bickford. Bickford is a RHP from the Community College of Southern Nevada. 

Here is the write up from MLB.com:

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55

As a California high school senior in 2013, Bickford took off late in the spring and vaulted not only into the first round, but all the way to the 10th overall pick. He declined to sign with the Blue Jays for reasons that never have been fully explained and made his way to Cal State Fullerton, where his stuff was more pedestrian during his freshman season. It kicked back up again in the Cape Cod League, where scouts voted him the summer circuit's best prospect, prompting him to abruptly transfer to Southern Nevada so he'd be eligible for the 2015 Draft.

After showing an explosive 90-96-mph fastball in 2013, Bickford pitched more at 88-92 last spring. The velocity and life on his heater returned when he pitched in relief in the Cape, as he worked from 93-98 mph and struck out 42 hitters in 27 2/3 innings.

Bickford's slider also improved in the Cape, showing signs of becoming a plus pitch, but he'll have to learn to improve and trust his changeup. He has an athletic delivery and fills the strike zone, so there's no reason not to project him as a starter -- provided he can maintain the stuff he displayed in the Cape when he pitches in a junior college rotation this spring.

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17. Phil Bickford
18. Mike Nikorak
19. Kyle Cody
20. Cody Ponce
21. Riley Ferrell 
22. Chris Betts
23. James Kaprielian
24. Jake Lemoine
25. Beau Burrows
26. Richie Martin
27. Kyle Tucker
28. D.J. Stewart

USA Top 100 Players You Need to Know: 26-50


Earlier in the week we brought you the USA Today’s Top 100 Players that you needed to know list showcasing the #76 - #100 slots. As a reminder this list is to gauge more of how much of an impact each player will have and their MLB readiness and less of a Top Prospects List per se. One member of the New York Yankees made the list on the #26 - #50 list and his name was Robert Refsnyder.



37. Rob Refsnyder, 2B, Yankees: Is Stephen Drew really the solution at second base? The Yankees seldom trust a rookie with a starting spot, but Refsnyder, 23, or even Jose Pirela could come out of the farm system to take over the job. Quite simply, Refsnyder can hit, with reasonable power for a middle infielder and a high contact rate. He's average defensively but also can play the outfield, which enhances his chances of nudging onto the roster initially in a bench role.

This Day in New York Yankees History 2/12: Bud Chastises A Rod


On this day in 2009, only three days after Alex Rodriguez shocked the world with his steroid use admission, Commissioner Bud Selig chastised the Yankees star, and all players who have used steroids, for bringing shame to the game. The same game that was revived by steroid users like Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa after the game was run into the ground by a salary cap wanting greedy Bud Selig that cancelled the season and the World Series because the Yankees were doing well.