Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #5

Prospects Month is winding down as we're well into our final week of the month. Today we will showcase our #5 prospect inside the New York Yankees system, Mr. Robert Refsnyder. Refsnyder is coming to Yankees camp ready to compete for the second base job and/or a bench position out of Spring Training. 

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Refsnyder:

Robert Refsnyder, 2B Video: Refsnyder was below the radar as an amateur, going in the 5th round in 2012 out of the University of Arizona. He played right field in college and was seen as a potential reserve. The Yankees saw a little more and moved him to second base, where he’s fringy to average defensively now. The bat has played more than expected, with a huge 2014 in Double-A and Triple-A at age 23, flashing advanced feel to hit and bat control with average raw power and an above average hit tool.

Refsnyder’s swing is a little awkward, but he makes it work: he starts with high hands and has a high leg kick, but it’s controlled and he loads his hands lower late, allowing him to have a short, direct stroke. The expectation is that he’ll compete for the second base job this year and if the bat, power and defense all play as expected, this could be a solid everyday player.

Note: I split the 45 and 40 FV groups further with 45+ and 40+. Clarkin and Refsnyder are the 45+ FV prospects and Austin, DeCarr, Wade, DeLeon and Flores are the 40+ FVs.

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5. Robert Refsnyder
6. Gary Sanchez
7. Jacob Lindgren
8. Ian Clarkin
9. John Ryan Murphy
10. Luis Torrens
11. Tyler Austin
12. Bryan Mitchell
13. Miguel Andujar
14. Eric Jagielo
15. Jake Cave
16. Austin DeCarr
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

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #6

Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 6th best prospect in the farm system,Gary Sanchez. Not too long ago Sanchez was the Yankees Top Prospect and it wasn't even close. This goes to show you just how deep the Yankees system is getting year in and year out and is less of a knock on Sanchez.

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Sanchez:

Gary Sanchez, C Video: You’d think the toolsier, older catcher that’s proven at a higher level would be above Torrens, but the red flags on Sanchez are starting to worry scouts. Youthful mistakes and lack of maturity are expected for kids that get $3 million when they turn 16, but scouts are still regularly using expletives to describe Sanchez’s makeup. Multiple sources have been telling me for multiple years that Sanchez appears to have no interest in catching, despite having the raw tools to catch and a 70 arm. He’s a 30 runner at best that flashes 70 raw power with a max effort swing in BP, but it plays more to 60 in games.  While there’s some associated prospect fatigue with him being on the radar for so long and not quite breaking out, he’s performed well statistically in Double-A at the same age as a college junior.

Sanchez has above average bat speed and bat control, but still varies his approach from pitch-to-pitch so his results don’t always match the raw tools.  Most scouts assume he’ll become a 1B/DH, like previous huge bonus July 2nd Yankees catching prospect Jesus Montero, and there’s still the tools for a 50-55 bat and 60 game power, which is enough to be an everyday bat anywhere you put him.  That said, some people just don’t want to bet on the makeup changing and Montero’s path gives a compelling case to steer clear of Sanchez.

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6. Gary Sanchez
7. Jacob Lindgren
8. Ian Clarkin
9. John Ryan Murphy
10. Luis Torrens
11. Tyler Austin
12. Bryan Mitchell
13. Miguel Andujar
14. Eric Jagielo
15. Jake Cave
16. Austin DeCarr
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

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #7

Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 7th best prospect in the farm system, Jacob Lindgren. Lindgren looks to be knocking on the door to the Bronx after being drafted with the Yankees first pick in the 2014 MLB First Year Players Draft. Lindgren has already been nicknamed the strikeout factory and I personally cannot wait to see him in the Bronx in 2015 and beyond. 

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Lindgren:

Jacob Lindgren, LHP

Current Level/Age: AA/21.9, 5’11/180, L/L
Drafted: 55th overall (2nd round) in 2014 out of Mississippi State by NYY for $1.018 million bonus
Fastball: 55/60, Slider: 60/65, Changeup: 45/50, Command: 45/50

Scouting Report: To give you an idea of how much Lindgren improved in his junior season at Mississippi State, I saw him pitch as a sophomore and he was so generic that I didn’t even pull out my camera to get a couple pitches to refer back to later.  He was a starter and mostly worked 87-90 mph with average stuff and some moxie. He was a 6th-10th round type prospect, maybe lower, but he noticed in side sessions, summer ball and scrimmages that he was more comfortable and threw significantly harder in short stints, sitting in the low-90’s on the Cape in short bursts. Lindgren went to his coaches and said he wanted to be relief only in his junior year and hit 96 mph in the fall before his draft spring, letting scouts know they had a new prospect to follow.

Lindgren’s numbers were completely stupid in relief for the Bulldogs: 55.1 innings, 23 hits, 25 walks, 100 strikeouts. He was sitting 91-94 and hitting 95 mph with a 65 slider, usable but rarely used changeup and average command. After signing, the Yankees sent him from Rookie ball to Low-A to High-A to Double-A, and Lindgren’s combined line continued being stupid: 25 innings, 12 hits, 13 walks, 48 strikeouts. In the span of a year, he went from generic pitchability lefty in the SEC to completely untouchable in Double-A and arguably the best relief prospect in the game. He also was part of the Mississippi State bullpen’s rap group The Bench Mobb (Lindgren’s rap name is Chunky) with predictable results at 1:55 of the track.

About the Ranking: I had Lindgren near the end of the top 10 this entire process, then a couple scouts told me to move Lindgren up and started asking me would I trade Lindgren for (some player I had below him). I had already thought about the value of starters/hitters versus relievers, but the didn’t realize that Lindgren isn’t just a reliever, but a slam-dunk big league contributor in 2015 that could be closer-level by the end of the year.  Mateo is ranked just below Lindgren and his most notable experience is a few weeks in instructs that we don’t even have stats from. Mateo will go to Low-A next year, with the hope that he’ll be big league ready in 3-4 years. Mateo’s upside is higher, but there’s waiting time, risk and very little other than raw tools to judge by. Lindgren may have racked up 5+ wins and be in his arbitration years before Mateo even makes it on the 40-man roster.

Summation: I feel like a Lindgren for Mateo trade this offseason, while obviously impossible, would reflect the higher-than-expected value we’re seeing the industry put on prospects that might be a 50 next year with six years of control.  It’s implicit in these lists that when players have the same grade or are within a few spots of each other, you can feel free to flip the order a bit, but I think this is where Lindgren belongs.

This means that 25 pro innings shot Lindgren from the 55th best prospect in his draft class to 15th or 20th. Prospect writers are hesitant to jump a player that much that quickly after a pretty comprehensive draft ranking process months earlier; this is a bias I talked about around the 16 minute mark in this week’s podcast that I’m trying to get past. Maybe his value craters next year and future draft studies just see him as a bust that looked good for a minute, but there’s significant trade value here and that’s the definition of a good pick: creating value.

FV/Role/Risk: 50, Late Setup/Closer, Low (2 on 1-5 scale)
Projected Path: 2015: AA/AAA/MLB, 2016: MLB

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7. Jacob Lindgren
8. Ian Clarkin
9. John Ryan Murphy
10. Luis Torrens
11. Tyler Austin
12. Bryan Mitchell
13. Miguel Andujar
14. Eric Jagielo
15. Jake Cave
16. Austin DeCarr
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

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #8

Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 8th best prospect in the farm system, Ian Clarkin.  Clarkin I think could be the future in the Yankees starting rotation from the left side. I am thinking the next CC Sabathia in his prime or Andy Pettitte. I could be over-hyping him but I think that highly of him. 

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Clarkin:

Ian Clarkin, LHP Video: Clarkin doesn’t have the typical projectable frame of most 1st round prep arms, but he has more feel and current stuff than his peers. After going 33rd overall in 2013, Clarkin had a nice full season debut in 2014, working 90-93 and hitting 95 mph, with an above average to plus curveball and a changeup that drastically improved to now regularly flash average. There’s 3rd/4th starter upside here and there’s reason to optimistic as Clarkin is young for his level and is getting results and ground balls due to above average stuff and feel.

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8. Ian Clarkin
9. John Ryan Murphy
10. Luis Torrens
11. Tyler Austin
12. Bryan Mitchell
13. Miguel Andujar
14. Eric Jagielo
15. Jake Cave
16. Austin DeCarr
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

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #9

Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 9th best prospect in the farm system, John Ryan Murphy. Murphy is penciled in right now to become the Yankees backup catcher in 2015 and will likely lose his prospect status sometime in 2015. We're into the Top 10 ladies and gentleman and this is where things truly get interesting. 

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Murphy:

J.R. Murphy, C Video: Murphy is somewhere around Refsnyder as an upper level position player ready to contribute to the big league team, but scouts are a little more wary of Murphy’s chance to become an everyday player. He’s a 50 hit, 40 power type without a ton of offensive impact, but he’s better defensively, with a plus arm and at least average defensive skills. Some scouts still see some aspects of defense for him to work on, but indications from the analytical folks are that he’s an above average framer, so if that holds up and he reaches his offensive upside, there could be an everyday catcher here.

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9. John Ryan Murphy
10. Luis Torrens
11. Tyler Austin
12. Bryan Mitchell
13. Miguel Andujar
14. Eric Jagielo
15. Jake Cave
16. Austin DeCarr
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

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #10

Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 10th best prospect in the farm system, Luis Torrens. We're into the Top 10 ladies and gentleman and this is where things truly get interesting. 

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Torrens:

Luis Torrens, C Video: Torrens is still a ways off–he’ll go to Low-A as a 19 year old next year–but he flashes a Jason Kendall like skillset. Torrens shows the ability for an average to above bat, enough power to punish a mistake (there’s a homer from instructs in the linked video), solid athleticism to stick behind the plate, a plus arm and good feel for the game.  The Venezuelan was converted to catching full-time after signing for $1.3 million in the 2012 July 2nd class and has taken to it well so far.

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10. Luis Torrens
11. Tyler Austin
12. Bryan Mitchell
13. Miguel Andujar
14. Eric Jagielo
15. Jake Cave
16. Austin DeCarr
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

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #11

Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 11th best prospect in the farm system, Tyler Austin. I feel like I am disrespecting Mr. Austin by ranking him so high after a good 2014 season but this ranking is more a testament to how deep the Yankees system is becoming and less of a knock on Austin. Austin is a great prospect but he just missed out on the Top 10 this season.

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Austin:



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11. Tyler Austin
12. Bryan Mitchell
13. Miguel Andujar
14. Eric Jagielo
15. Jake Cave
16. Austin DeCarr
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

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #12

Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 12th best prospect in the farm system, Bryan Mitchell. Mitchell is knocking on the door in the Bronx and is ready to get his first real shot and opportunities in the 2015 season.

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Mitchell:

Bryan Mitchell, RHP Video: Mitchell has been maddeningly inconsistent with his feel and command, but got a cup of coffee in 2014 and looks ready to contribute in the big leagues in some way. Mitchell reminds me of Chris Tillman and that’s the 3rd/4th starter upside you’re hoping for here. Mitchell sits 92-94 and will run it up to 98 mph at times, with a knockout curveball that’s plus when he stays on top of it and a cutter and changeup that are both average at times.  He’s becoming more of a pitcher rather than thrower and could become a starter, but also has the stuff to break into the big leagues as a late inning reliever.

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12. Bryan Mitchell
13. Miguel Andujar
14. Eric Jagielo
15. Jake Cave
16. Austin DeCarr
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

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #13

Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 13th best prospect in the farm system, Miguel Andujar. I think Andujar has a lot of growing to do and a lot of maturing to do but if he puts it all together he could be pretty special.

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Andujar:

Miguel Andujar, 3B Video: Andujar is an exciting young player that had a solid full-season debut, turning in league average offensive numbers in Low-A at age 19.  He has above average bat speed and an easy plus arm, with fringy speed, a chance to be at least average defensively at third and solid average raw power.  There’s plenty to project as an everyday player given the upside and youth, but there’s still a long way to go.

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13. Miguel Andujar
14. Eric Jagielo
15. Jake Cave
16. Austin DeCarr
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

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #14

Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 14th best prospect in the farm system, Eric Jagielo. Honestly I am not as high on Jagielo as most people are, and I know you cannot tell by his ranking, but this in my eyes is a make or break season for him. I know how crazy that sounds in his third professional season but he was exposed for much of the 2014 season and I can see his stock plummeting with a repeat in 2015. 

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Jagielo:Eric Jagielo, 3B Video: Jagielo is a pretty straightforward prospect: he has plus power from the left side and the hope is he’ll have a 50 bat and 50 defense at third base, but both are a little fringy right now for scouts. If it all clicks, he’s an above average regular and those two tools hold at fringy or below average, he’s a borderline 45/50 FV first baseman.  Jagielo was the first of three first round picks in 2013 (26th overall) as he was the most advanced at the time, but the two chosen behind him (Judge and Clarkin) were upside plays that have both played well so far. Jagielo had a scare in instructs after being hit in the face by a fastball, breaking a bone, but every indication is he’ll be fine and ready for Spring Training.

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14. Eric Jagielo
15. Jake Cave
16. Austin DeCarr
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

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #15

Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 15th best prospect in the farm system, Jake Cave.

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Cave:

Jake Cave, CF Video: Cave is a bit of a sleeper in the system, and didn’t have a ton of draft hype as a 6th round overpay that got $800,000 out of a Virginia high school in 2011. Cave has the plus speed to stick in center field and a contact stroke with enough power to hit mistakes out of the park.  One Yankees official said there’s a little Colby Rasmus to Cave’s game, with a little less raw tools and a little more feel. He’s performed well at every stop and has been young for the level. He should head to Double-A and/or Triple-A next year with a chance to break in the bigs as a reserve and a shot to become an everyday player.

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15. Jake Cave
16. Austin DeCarr
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

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #16

Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 16th best prospect in the farm system, Austin DeCarr. 

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on DeCarr:

Austin DeCarr, RHP Video: DeCarr was the Yankees 2nd pick this year, signing in the 3rd round for an above slot $1 million after being in contention for their first pick, which ended up being Lindgren. DeCarr is an interesting case as a post-grad student who blew up on the showcase circuit the summer after his senior year. The Yankees tried to sign him as an undrafted free agent last summer, but DeCarr wanted to play the year out and see where it got him. His stuff improved in the spring, sitting 91-94 and hitting 96 mph with an above average to plus curveball, but his fringy changeup and command wavered at times while his feel for the curveball also came and went.  There’s a chance for two plus pitches and a mid-rotation starter, but DeCarr is a year older than his prep counterparts and looked more like a late inning reliever to some scouts this spring.

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16. Austin DeCarr
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

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

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #18

Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 18th best prospect in the farm system, Juan DeLeon. DeLeon marks the first prospect from the big International spending spree to be showcased on the list this season which is pretty cool. 

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on DeLeon:

Juan DeLeon, RF Video: DeLeon was my favorite prospect of the Yankees’ July 2nd haul when he signed, even though he only got the third highest bonus ($2 million), behind Dermis Garcia and Nelson Gomez. He has very quick hands, with easy plus bat speed and arm strength to go with above average foot speed and power potential. As with some of his young peers facing players five years older than them, DeLeon would get out of control at the plate at times in instructs, but he made hard contact when he stayed within himself and didn’t hesitate to show off his arm in right field. It’s too early to know for sure, but there’s a good chance he’ll join the best players from the July 2nd class in the GCL in 2015. This may sound crazy, but DeLeon’s Dominican trainer, who goes by “Banana,” is known for developing advanced hitters and DeLeon is continuing that trend.

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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

Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 Prospects List: #19

Prospects Month is in full swing and we're already up to our 19th best prospect in the farm system, Dante Bichette Jr. I know I am probably higher on him them most and I almost put Ty Hensley here, or anywhere after him, but I needed to see more from Hensley. I felt the same way about Bichette Jr. coming into the season in 2014 and he bounced back in a big way in my opinion. Disagree if you want but D is #19 for me. 

Here is the write up from Kyle McDaniel on Bichette Jr.:

Dante Bichette, 3B Video: Bichette is the son of the slugger by the same name; Junior came on late in his draft spring out of an Orlando-area high school to be a sandwich round pick. He’s had a hard time since signing of controlling his at times out of control swing that produces above average bat speed and raw power. He’s slowly making progress by having a more controlled two strike approach, but the Yankees would like to see him use that approach on every swing. After some fiddling, he seems to be close to dialing it in, but he has an adjustment period at each level and still hasn’t tapped into his power in games as much as he could. He’s also fringy at third base, with some scouts wanting to move his above average arm to right field, but the Yankees will leave him at third, as they see enough tools to be average with some work.

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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