To Protect James Kaprielian or to Not Protect James Kaprielian

Contrary to popular belief the Greedy Pinstripes is not the only shop in town covering the New York Yankees and their minor league affiliates. I say that with extreme sarcasm but there are some publications out there that truly either think that or at the very least act like it. That’s not me and that’s not us. We strove to be different and do it our way when we started this blog over five years ago and I think we’ve done a pretty damn good job at it personally, but I am clearly bias on the matter truth be told. I said all that to say this. I’m not afraid and have never been afraid to read other people’s work and I absolutely have no problem giving credit where credit is due which leads me to Lou DiPietro’s recent article YESNetwork.com regarding James Kaprielian, the upcoming decision on whether to add him to the 40 man roster and whether to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft or not. Here are my thoughts on his article which can be seen on the YESNetwork.com.

As we all know the Yankees right-handed pitching prospect underwent Tommy John surgery last week which will keep him out at least until the halfway point of the 2018 season. This is important because the Yankees have until after the 2018 season to decide whether they should and will add Kaprielian to the 40 man roster as a way of protecting him from being taken by other teams in the annual Rule 5 Draft. This, in my opinion, should not even be up for discussion. Protect Kaprielian, period.

Kaprielian missed basically the entire 2016 season with a right flexor strain in his elbow and will miss all of this season as well with the elbow injury but don’t think that will deter teams from taking him in the Rule 5 Draft. If history has taught us anything it is that Kaprielian will be taken regardless, whether it is in the Major League phase or the minor league phase of the draft. In his article DiPietro points out that the Yankees have lost pitchers like Ty Hensley in the minor league phase in recent years and Hensley has had many more injuries and is farther away from the Majors than Kaprielian is today. Without a doubt if Kaprielian is left unprotected one of the other 29 teams in the league will snatch him up, there is zero doubt in my mind.

There’s some pitchers and players you take a chance with in the Rule 5 Draft, Dietrich Enns for example this past season who I thought would ultimately be taken and wasn’t, and there are others you absolutely cannot take a chance with, Miguel Andujar from this winter for example, and Kaprielian is definitely more of the latter than the former. So for now, and I doubt my mind changes much between now and October of 2018, you must protect Kaprielian on the 40 man roster.

What say you? Leave it below in the comments section or tweet us @GreedyStripes with your thoughts. 

James Kaprielian Elbow Injury Update

UPDATE: Tommy John surgery it is. Damn. Kaprielian will miss the entire 2017 season.

We reported earlier this week that the New York Yankees top pitching prospect James Kaprielian would be heading to see a doctor regarding elbow discomfort and pain for the second consecutive season and this week Yankees GM Brian Cashman gave us an update. Here is the update on Kaprielian the best I can bring it to you with baited breath.

All signs point to elbow surgery unfortunately which likely means another year of development for Kaprielian will be down the drain. No word yet on what kind of surgery, to the best of my knowledge he has not seen a Tommy John specialist as of the time of this writing but that information isn’t always readily available either, but it’s going to involve his pitching elbow and his elbow flexor so it’s not good news whatsoever regardless of where the surgery is going to occur.

Kaprielian pitched well in the Arizona Fall League last year and pitched well during spring training this season including a two-inning appearance against the Toronto Blue Jays where he struck out three without allowing a run but the elbow has once again started acting up. Kaprielian seemed healthy all winter and spring long so the Yankees organization is clearly puzzled by the reoccurrence so stay tuned to see what’s wrong and what surgery the righty is likely to take. We’ll have it here for you.

Also to the person who emailed me directly and called him “Ty Hensley 2.0” please stop. Just stop. Thanks.

What Did the Yankees Lose in the Rule 5 Draft?

This is the busiest and most stressful, and wonderful of course as the Christmas song states, time of the year for me and my family. For that I apologize because I am a bit behind on my news so this morning and for most of today I’ll be trying to play catch up a bit. We begin with the Rule 5 Draft that happened on Thursday which saw the Yankees lose seven of their players to other teams, four in the Major League phase and three in the Minor League phase.

In the Major League phase the Cincinnati Reds took catcher Luis Torrens second overall and immediately traded him to the San Diego Padres, the Arizona Diamondbacks took RHP Tyler Jones 7^th, the Milwaukee Brewers took LHP Caleb Smith 9^th and immediately traded him to the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates took LHP Tyler Webb 13^th. Meanwhile in the minor league phase the Tampa Bay Rays took RHP Ty Hensley 4^th, the Kansas City Royals took RHP Kelvin Magallanes 15^th and the Chicago Cubs took infielder Kevin Cornelius.

Losing Torrens hurts a bit as he was once thought of to be the Yankees best catcher in the system, including Kyle Higashioka and Gary Sanchez. Torrens hasn’t hit much and he has missed parts or all of the last two seasons with shoulder injuries (torn labrum surgery) but he is still just 20-years old and was ranked as high as 17^th on Yankees Top 20 Prospects lists by MLB.com and Baseball America. I can’t see how a player who has played just 49 games in Low-A Ball can stick on a roster for an entire season, especially in the National League, and I can’t see why they would want him to as that would surely stunt his development in a huge way but there may be some sort of loophole or under-the-table type agreement where the Yankees are offered him back and refuse or something like that. Who knows?

Losing Webb, a MLB-ready left-handed relief pitcher, isn’t the biggest loss but that’s what I am saying now. Give the Yankees bullpen another injury or three and we may be all missing Webb here in a few months. He was almost a lock to be picked and he isn’t coming back without an injury or an implosion in Spring Training. Good luck to him in Pittsburgh.

Smith is also a left-handed reliever but he hasn’t pitched above Double-A during his minor league career. He is going to be a tough “stick” on the defending World Series champs roster but at this point in the game it doesn’t hurt to try. The Cubs obviously see something in him that other teams did not or they wouldn’t have used their selection on him.

Moving on to the minor league phase and the loss of Ty Hensley. As a fan and as a follower of his true determination, hard work and class this is crushing to me personally to lose him. I have the utmost respect for him and his family, especially his wonderful mother, but on the baseball side of things I don’t know whether to be upset or not. Since being drafted in 2012 Hensley has thrown just 42.1 professional innings and is not in the middle of rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery since the draft. Throw a few other injuries on that pile including a hip and a hernia surgery and Houston, well now Tampa, we have a problem.

Magallanes is in Rookie ball and admittedly a name I had never heard before the draft while Cornelius is an organizational depth player at this point for the Cubs. They aren’t huge losses yet I hope they prove me wrong and get the playing time they need while in Kansas City and Chicago respectively.

As a reminder the four players in the Major League phase have to stick on the team’s 25 man roster all season long or they have to be offered back to the New York Yankees. This is not the case obviously in the Minor League phase, Hensley and company are no longer members of the organization going forward.

ICYMI: The Yankees & The 2017 Rule 5 Draft

EDIT: After being handed the smack down in the comments section and delving a little deeper into some stats and research I found that both Gio Gallegos and Dietrich Enns have done far better than I originally thought. I still don't think they are protected because of the 40 man crunch that is going on in the Bronx right now but I cannot say anymore that they are 100% locks to not be protected either. Hat tip to Jeff Levin from the comments sections for the heads up and the correction.

The New York Yankees youth movement is in full effect and with the excitement of seeing the likes of Tyler Austin, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge and others comes the tough decisions that come along with stockpiling talent down in the minor leagues. The toughest decision of all tends to always come down to who should you protect and who should you leave unprotected from the Rule 5 Draft every winter. The Yankees have quite a few notable prospects that could be up for grabs this winter so here is who they are and who I think the Yankees will and should protect. If you disagree or if I miss anyone please leave it below in the comments section.


The list of Rule 5 Draft eligible players this winter include Miguel Andujar, Jorge Mateo, Jake Cave, Kyle Higashioka, Dietrich Enns, Gio Gallegos, Brady Lail, Tyler Webb, Dante Bichette Jr., Rashad Crawford, Cale Coshow, Cito Culver, Ty Hensley, Mark Montgomery and Luis Torrens. It’s also worth mentioning that both Higashioka and Culver are set to become minor league free agents at the end of the season as well so the Yankees are at risk of losing them all together if they are not Rule 5 protected. So who gets protected and who doesn’t?


You have to think that both Andujar and Mateo are givens to be protected. I highly doubt either are technically MLB ready but they are also loaded with talents and I could see a team sacrificing their development for a year to keep them on the bench as a pinch hitter, pinch runner or defensive replacement just to keep them within their organization. Those are the easy ones. The list of players I don’t believe will be protected due to being at low risk of being taken are Bichette, Crawford, Coshow, Culver, Hensley and Montgomery. Those also seems close to being locks for me. Now for the hard part, the players stuck in the middle.


Cave was left unprotected last year and was taken by the Cincinnati Reds only to be handed back after spring training and with the absolute log jam in the Yankees outfield right now (barring an offseason trade) I can see him being left unprotected once again this offseason, and taken once again this offseason. Dietrich Enns, Gio Gallegos and Brady Lail remind me a lot of Rookie Davis who was protected last year and then traded. They aren’t blowing competitors away and knocking on the door in Triple-A but they are some of the best pitching prospects the Yankees have so any of the three could be protected, or maybe they won’t. I believe the toughest decision though will come down to the two Yankees catchers Luis Torrens and Kyle Higashioka.





Higashioka seems to be a late bloomer and has become a legitimate prospect for the Yankees while Torrens remains one of, if not the, top Yankees catching prospect in all of the farm affiliates. The problem with Torrens is that he is a good two or three years away from the Major Leagues. The talent is there, see what I said above about Andujar and Mateo, so he could be protected but I just can’t see it. I would personally protect Torrens and try to work out something on the side with Higashioka, see Mason Williams and Slade Heathcott for recent examples of this type of “release” then re-sign tactic the Yankees have employed to circumvent the 40 man roster, if at all possible. If not I think Higashioka will be protected and Torrens will be left out there for anyone to snatch up.

The Yankees & The 2017 Rule 5 Draft

The New York Yankees youth movement is in full effect and with the excitement of seeing the likes of Tyler Austin, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge and others comes the tough decisions that come along with stockpiling talent down in the minor leagues. The toughest decision of all tends to always come down to who should you protect and who should you leave unprotected from the Rule 5 Draft every winter. The Yankees have quite a few notable prospects that could be up for grabs this winter so here is who they are and who I think the Yankees will and should protect. If you disagree or if I miss anyone please leave it below in the comments section. 

The list of Rule 5 Draft eligible players this winter include Miguel Andujar, Jorge Mateo, Jake Cave, Kyle Higashioka, Dietrich Enns, Gio Gallegos, Brady Lail, Tyler Webb, Dante Bichette Jr., Rashad Crawford, Cale Coshow, Cito Culver, Ty Hensley, Mark Montgomery and Luis Torrens. It’s also worth mentioning that both Higashioka and Culver are set to become minor league free agents at the end of the season as well so the Yankees are at risk of losing them all together if they are not Rule 5 protected. So who gets protected and who doesn’t? 

You have to think that both Andujar and Mateo are givens to be protected. I highly doubt either are technically MLB ready but they are also loaded with talents and I could see a team sacrificing their development for a year to keep them on the bench as a pinch hitter, pinch runner or defensive replacement just to keep them within their organization. Those are the easy ones. The list of players I don’t believe will be protected due to being at low risk of being taken are Bichette, Crawford, Coshow, Culver, Hensley and Montgomery. Those also seems close to being locks for me. Now for the hard part, the players stuck in the middle. 

Cave was left unprotected last year and was taken by the Cincinnati Reds only to be handed back after spring training and with the absolute log jam in the Yankees outfield right now (barring an offseason trade) I can see him being left unprotected once again this offseason, and taken once again this offseason. Dietrich Enns, Gio Gallegos and Brady Lail remind me a lot of Rookie Davis who was protected last year and then traded. They aren’t blowing competitors away and knocking on the door in Triple-A but they are some of the best pitching prospects the Yankees have so any of the three could be protected, or maybe they won’t. I believe the toughest decision though will come down to the two Yankees catchers Luis Torrens and Kyle Higashioka. 

Higashioka seems to be a late bloomer and has become a legitimate prospect for the Yankees while Torrens remains one of, if not the, top Yankees catching prospect in all of the farm affiliates. The problem with Torrens is that he is a good two or three years away from the Major Leagues. The talent is there, see what I said above about Andujar and Mateo, so he could be protected but I just can’t see it. I would personally protect Torrens and try to work out something on the side with Higashioka, see Mason Williams and Slade Heathcott for recent examples of this type of “release” then re-sign tactic the Yankees have employed to circumvent the 40 man roster, if at all possible. If not I think Higashioka will be protected and Torrens will be left out there for anyone to snatch up.

Cotts, Coke, Hensley & Left-Handed Yankees Pitchers

A few key notes from a few key left-handed Yankees pitchers today:

Neal Cotts has been signed to a minor league deal after opting out of his minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Cotts was assigned to Triple-A Scranton and will presumably be a LOOGY for Joe Girardi before long.

Phil Coke was designated for assignment and has cleared waivers. The Yankees have outrighted and assigned Coke to Scranton but I don't think that necessarily means 100% that he is staying with the organization.

Ty Hensley had a "setback" with his Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2016 season. No one has said a second Tommy John surgery is coming but it sounds like a second Tommy John surgery is coming.

James Kaprielian placed on MiLB DL with elbow inflammation

Yankees' top pitching prospect James Kaprielian landed on the minor league disabled list Monday with inflammation in his right elbow. Kaprielian, who had been pitching for High-A Tampa, was the team's first round pick (16th overall) in last year's amateur draft. The team announced that the injury will be "treated conservatively," and rightly so, considering this type of issue if often the precursor to the dreaded TJ surgery. The plan is to have Kap rest and eventually begin a throwing program, but at the moment the organization declined to offer a timetable for his return.

This is a crushing blow not just because of Kaprielian's prominence as a prospect, but because he had a legitimate chance to step into the rotation in the second half if everything went smoothly. One of the most attractive aspects of Kaprielian as a draft choice was that he's basically a finished product. He was expected by many to receive a brief tuneup at each level on his way up the ladder and reach the big leagues by August assuming there were no obstacles. This injury completely throws that possibility out the window. Even if the inflammation subsides with rest, the best case scenario, he will be treated with kid gloves and likely have a fairly cautious workload.

Even worse, Kaprielian had been far exceeding expectations in his early work as a professional. He's reportedly been sitting in the 97-99 range with his fastball, an insane jump from the 88-92 offering he had in college. In his first three starts, he's struck out 22 and walked just three in 18 innings of work, allowing just three earned runs.

Elbow issues have become something of an epidemic among Yankees' farmhands in the early going, with Jacob Lindgren, Nick Rumbelow, Branden Pinder, Domingo German, and Ty Hensley among those dealing with one.

Image Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

Reliever Jacob Lindgren Placed on DL with Elbow Injury

Source: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America

Jacob Lindgren, the Yankees second round pick in the 2014 draft, was placed on the disabled list by the High-A Tampa Yankees Saturday with an undisclosed elbow injury. It’s been a disappointing start to the year for Lindgren, who went from an early favorite to break camp in the New York bullpen to being demoted in the first round of roster cuts in spring training. Ranked the 11th best prospect in the organization by MLB.com, Lindgren missed the second half of 2015 following elbow surgery in June.

 He was never known for having strong control, but it’s been abysmal in the last two months. Lindgren walked nine batters and hit one in his seven innings of work for Tampa. A lingering issue with his elbow would be a welcome explanation for his struggles. Lindgren’s pure stuff has been as good as advertised since the team drafted him. He combines a mid-90’s heater with an absolutely filthy wipeout slider. The only thing holding him back from becoming a late inning option for New York is his control.

 The team hasn’t released any information as to the extent of the injury, but hopefully this is not another TJ surgery. Four prominent Yankees’ MiLB arms have suffered torn UCLs in the past month, including Nick Rumbelow, Branden Pinder, Domingo German, and Ty Hensley.

Branden Pinder Considering Tommy John Surgery to Repair UCL Tear

An MRI revealed Saturday that RHP Branden Pinder has a partially torn UCL in his right elbow. No decision has been made yet, but he will likely undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the tear. Even if he opts for rehab, Pinder will almost certainly be shelved for the 2016 season. If he does choose the surgery route, it's possible he will not return until June of 2017, and that's assuming everything goes well.

Pinder was called up last week to replace LHP Tyler Olson. He's only made one appearance for the Yankees this season, giving up two runs in a rocky eighth inning in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Athletics. This news comes less than two weeks after it was announced fellow reliever Nick Rumbelow will also miss the 2016 campaign with a UCL tear. Pitching prospects Domingo German and Ty Hensley are two more Yanks who have undergone Tommy John in the past month.

While New York still have more bullpen depth than most clubs, it is considerably thinner than it was coming out of spring training. Pinder and Rumbelow were perhaps the two most successful members of the "Scranton Shuttle" in 2015. Missing an entire season when you are on the cusp of establishing yourself as a major league regular is a nasty blow. RHP Nick Goody was called up Friday to replace Pinder on the 25 man roster. A decision on the TJ surgery should be announced in the next day or two.

The Yankees Emerging Pitching Prospects

The New York Yankees seem to have a plan that can be easily deciphered if you just pay attention. Think about the weakest link in the Yankees system and then wait until the next draft or international signing period, the team will go hard on that specific position until they are stacked at the position. The organization has done that with the catcher position, the outfield position and are currently doing that with the shortstop and middle infield positions. The next wave of stockpiling though seems to be the starting rotation and we are starting to see dividends of this finally with James Kaprielian and Domingo Acevedo. Those names you know, these names you may not.

None of these guys may be Top 50 prospects right now nor are they household names in many Yankees fans homes but I believe they will be by the time we reach Prospects Month 2017. This begins with Daniel Alvarez, the Venezuelan teenager recently added to the organization. Alvarez pounds the zone with a 92 MPH fastball and a highly advanced curveball that is only going to get better as he matures both in mind and in body.

Also from Venezuela is Luis Cedeno who throws a ton of strikes in a much smaller frame. In size he reminds me of Luis Severino and he throws a 95 MPH fastball with a breaking ball that needs some work going forward. His ceiling is probably that of a #2 or #3 starter at best.

The Yankees broke the bank and went all-in on the international market in recent years and probably the best arm to come from the spending spree was RHP Luis Medina. Medina is already hitting 100 MPH as a 16-year old kid and his ceiling is absolutely sky high because of it. His command needs work and so does his secondary stuff, what 16-year old pitcher doesn't need polish and work though, and he will look to do that in the Dominican Summer League this season.

While the Yankees added a top-end arm from the international market with Medina they added another potential ace from the draft in Jose Mesa Jr. Mesa, the son of a former MLB pitcher by the same name, was a 24th round pick by the Yankees in 2012 and the team's patience is beginning to pay off. Mesa has added two-to-three MPH on his fastball since being drafted and has worked on his secondary pitches making them, at worst, average. New York experimented with Mesa out of the bullpen but are now toying with the idea of moving him into the starting rotation in 2016.

The final piece that came to the Yankees via the draft is RHP Garrett Mundell who was drafted in the 24th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. Mundell signed almost immediately and was able to throw 26 combined innings between Pulaski and Charleston last season. Mundell did not allow a single earned run in his two stops while boasting a 91-93 MPH fastball, a nice breaking ball and an even better splitter when he uses it.

Finally you have the reclamation projects that miss a ton of time due to various injuries will missing out on very important development years. This list begins and ends with Ty Hensley. Hensley is said to be back on the mound throwing after being viciously attacked, after having hip surgery and Tommy John surgery all in about two calendar years. Hensley has to stay healthy to climb back to the top and I'm rooting for him to do just that.

Another reclamation project is former 11th round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft Caleb Frare. Frare, a southpaw, has missed the last two seasons with various arm injuries including Tommy John surgery and basically had his debut season in 2015. Frare blew away competition with a 96 MPH across two A-Ball levels in 2015 out of the bullpen and will be eased back into the starting rotation with his health in mind.

We finish with Dallas Martinez who was one of the best Yankees pitching prospects that many people had never heard of as recently as two seasons ago but a serious shoulder injury derailed his development. Martinez came back in 2015 with the Gulf Coast Yankees and posted solid numbers although his velocity took a bit of a dip initially. Martinez did reach 95 MPH on more than once occasion by the end of the season after starting with an 85 MPH fastball so the arm and shoulder finally look healthy and poised for a breakout in 2016.

Looking Back at 10 Years of Yankees #1 Draft Picks

2006 – Ian Kennedy RHP

Round- 1st

Overall Pick- 21

MLB Debut: 2007 

2007 – Andrew Brackman RHP

Round- 1 

Overall Pick- 30

MLB Debut: n/a

2008 – Gerrit Cole - RHP (did not sign)

Round- 1st

Overall Pick- 28

MLB Debut: 2013 (Pittsburgh)

2009 – Slade Heathcott - OF

Round- 1st

Overall Pick- 29

MLB Debut: 2015

2010 – Cito Culver SS

Round- 1st

Overall Pick- 32

MLB Debut: n/a

2011 – Dante Bichette Jr. 3B

Round- Compensation A

Overall Pick- 51 

MLB Debut: n/a

2012 – Ty Hensley RHP

Round- 1st

Overall Pick- 30

MLB Debut: n/a

2013 – Eric Jagielo 3B

Round- 1st

Overall Pick- 26

MLB Debut: n/a

2014 – Jacob Lindgren LHP

Round- 2nd

Overall Pick- 55

MLB Debut: 2015

2015 – James Kaprielian RHP

Round- 1st

Overall Pick- 16

MLB ETA: Late 2016/Early 2017

ICYMI:Ty Hensley. My Role Model. My Inspiration

Many of my friends have always wondered why I laugh in the face of Karma. Karma is not a real thing it’s just something they tell you to try and keep you in check, to keep you in line and to make you at least think about being a good person. If karma were a real thing how do the biggest liars, cheats and crooks go on to live these seemingly luxurious and simple lives? Why does it always seem like the best people in the world and the people who do everything right because that’s the way they were brought up, people like Ty Hensley, continue to get crapped on day after day?

This post is going to be half rant and half raising up for Mr. Hensley because this young man, his mother and his entire family are truly incredible. They are role models and they are my inspiration for how you should be, not because karma dictates it. Ty has been dealt a crap hand since being drafted in the first round by the New York Yankees and has done nothing but keep his head down, keep on working and keep that smile on his face. From the abnormality in his shoulder, to the hip injuries and surgeries, to being attacked brutally to now his Tommy John surgery Ty has never held a pity party or even questioned why, he’s taken what he has been dealt and has actually been thankful for it.

I got actual goosebumps reading his statement on Facebook when he said that he was grateful that he had the Tommy John surgery and not somebody else because he knew he could handle it and that he could and would come back for it. That’s like the ultimate selfless attitude and after interviewing him for the blog and checking in from time to time with him on Twitter and such you know it’s not just because a camera is watching. Ty is genuine and you can tell he gets a lot from his awesome mother Marci. They are such kind souls and don’t ask for anything and in turn get a ton of prayers and support from everyone, Yankees fans or not.

So I leave you with this. If you’re looking for a true inspiration or a role model in sports for your children to follow, Ty Hensley is your man. He is so Derek Jeter except for he’s better in one area, he’s accessible by the fans. He’s never not once answered or at least acknowledged a tweet, a message, whatever and has always shown nothing but respect and a humble nature through it all. Ty, I look up to you and I adore you as a person and as a member of the New York Yankees family. If I can be half the person you are and bring my children up half as well as your mother did with you then I think I’m going to be pretty blessed in the world. Once again my thoughts, my prayers, warm wishes and my sincere gratitude goes out to you. You are truly a warrior, you are truly a role model and you are truly my inspiration for life. Keep on fighting Ty and we’ll see you in the Bronx before you know it! 

Sincerely, 

Daniel Burch

RiverDogs Announce 2015 Opening Day Roster

Roster highlighted by highly-touted shortstop Mateo; USC’s Jordan Montgomery

CHARLESTON, SC-- With Opening Day this week, the New York Yankees have revealed the players who will don Charleston RiverDogs uniforms to open the 2015 season on April 9 at The Joe against the Lexington Legends.

Luis Dorante returns at the helm of the RiverDogs for the second-consecutive season and fields a team that has 10 players with prior experience in Charleston. Featured returners include the talented double-play combo of second baseman Gosuke Katoh and shortstop Abiatal Avelino and outfielder Dustin Fowler who tallied nine homers in a RiverDogs uniform during the 2014 campaign. Former University of South Carolina Gamecocks pitcher Jordan Montgomery will also be a RiverDog.

Highly touted shortstop Jorge Mateo breaks camp and heads to Charleston after spending the 2014 season with the Gulf Coast Yankees. Mateo (Yankees No. 3 prospect, Baseball America and MLB.com) signed with the Yankees in 2012, but made his U.S. debut last season playing in 15 games with the Gulf Coast League Yankees where he hit .276 with six extra-base hits and 11 stolen bases. His speed on the bases and range in the field highlight the great potential for his inaugural season in the South Atlantic League.

Avelino (Yankees No. 15 prospect, Baseball America, No. 21 MLB.com) returns to the RiverDogs’ roster after logging 53 games in Charleston during the 2014 season. He hit .232 with 15 extra-base hits and 11 stolen bases. His arm is well above average and defense solid as he committed just seven errors from one of the most-important spots on the diamond.

Katoh (Yankees No. 28 prospect, MLB.com) logged 121 games with the RiverDogs in 2014, third most on the team, and hit .222 with 28 extra-base hits, 37 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 30 attempts. He ranked second in the SAL with 71 walks.

Surrounding Katoh, Avelino, and Mateo on the corners of the diamond will be third baseman Allen Valerio and first baseman Connor Spencer. Valerio played the hot corner in 42 of his 43 Gulf Coast League games and committed just nine errors in the field. His offense was solid as he hit .292 with 19 extra-base hits, 24 RBI and an OBP of .404. Spencer, an 8th round pick by the Yankees in the 2014 draft, made his pro debut with Staten Island and paced the Yankees by hitting .364 with 14 doubles, a triple, and 11 RBI in 51 games in the New York-Penn League.

Jose Javier rounds out the infielding core for the RiverDogs. He spent 2014 with the Staten Island Yankees in the New York-Penn League where he hit .241 with 2 homers and 16 RBI.

Fowler, Austin Aune, Chris Breen, and Brandon Thomas will patrol the outfield at The Joe to begin the 2015 season. The duo of Fowler and Thomas, which combined for 14 home runs, 80 RBI, and 25 stolen bases, returns to Charleston for this season and will again split time in center. Aune and Breen both advance from Staten Island and will spend most of their time in the corner outfield spots for the RiverDogs. Aune, a second-round pick of the Yankees in 2012 hit .218 with 4 homers, and 23 RBI for the SI Yankees. Breen, a 12th rounder from the 2012 draft, crushed a team-high 8 homers and hit .281 with 16 doubles, 5 triples and 28 RBI in 63 games.

A pair of backstops break camp and head to the Lowcountry. Eduardo de Oleo returns to the South Atlantic League after playing in 78 games with the ‘Dogs in 2014. The 22-year old catcher clubbed a team-high 12 home runs and threw out a team-high 21 base stealers in his first year of A-ball. Alvaro Noriega makes up the other half of the catching duo and advances from the Gulf Coast League where he hit .252 and threw out 17 opposing base stealers.

The RiverDogs’ pitching staff is highlighted by native South Carolinian and former South Carolina Gamecock Jordan Montgomery who returns to his home state with the RiverDogs. The left-handed pitcher hails from Sumter and was selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of last year’s draft. He went 1-1 with a 3.79 ERA across 19.0 innings in 10 games (seven starts) between Staten Island and the Gulf Coast Yankees 2. Montgomery’s three-year college career saw him go 20-7 with a 2.87 ERA over 253.2 innings with the Gamecocks. The southpaw attended Sumter High School and earned 2011 Gatorade Player of the Year honors in South Carolina and was named to the 2011 All-USA baseball squad by USA Today. He tallied a perfect 11-0 record with a minuscule 0.38 ERA and struck out 114 batters over 74.1 innings during his senior season.

Other members of the pitching staff include 2014 draftees Jordan Foley, Sean Carley, Justin Kamplain, Joe Harvey, and Andre Del Bosque.

The righty Foley was selected in the fifth round and is the second-highest draftee from the class of 2014 on the RiverDogs roster. He began his professional career last season with the Gulf Coast Yankees 2 and Staten Island Yankees and went 0-2 with a 4.10 ERA in 13 games across the two levels. Foley was initially drafted by the Yankees out of high school in the 26th round of the 2011 draft, but opted to attend and play baseball at Central Michigan University. Carley was selected in the 14th round out of West Virginia University, in his hometown of Morgantown, WV. The righty compiled a 1-4 record with a 5.19 ERA in 12 games, 6 starts, across two levels below the South Atlantic League.

Kamplain and Harvey were taken back-to-back in the 18th and 19th rounds respectively. Both pitched together in Staten Island before the lefty Kamplain progressed to Charleston to finish the season out. He started six games for the RiverDogs and went 0-0 with a 2.78 ERA in 22.2 innings in the South Atlantic League. Harvey had a stellar pro debut out of the bullpen and finished his first season 0-2 with two saves and a 1.74 ERA in 15 games between the Gulf Coast Yankees and Staten Island. Del Bosque was selected in the 38th round of the draft and pitched in four GCL games during his first pro season.

Right-handed pitcher Domingo Acevedo (Yankees No. 30 prospect, MLB.com) rounds out the four players on the roster recognized as top 30 prospects by either Baseball America or MLB.com. Acevedo is regarded as the hardest thrower in the Yankees system working 95-97 MPH and hitting 100 MPH on occasion. He started five games for the Gulf Coast Yankees 2 and went 0-1 with a 4.11 ERA across 15.1 innings striking out 21 hitters and walking just six. He will begin the season on the disabled list.

Rony Bautista, Cale Coshow, and Chaz Hebert is a trio of returners that make their way back to the Lowcountry following their 2014 stints with the RiverDogs. Bautista made his debut with Charleston on May 12th and made 10 appearances out of the ‘pen for Dorante’s club before he finished the season in relief for Staten Island. Coshow’s season took him to three stops across the Yankees’ minor league system, the second of which was Charleston. The burly righty pitched in six games out of the bullpen and went 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA. Of the returners on staff, Hebert made the most appearances last season with 15. The southpaw went 3-3 with a 2.49 ERA in 65.0 innings with the RiverDogs.

Righty David Palladino spent the last two seasons with Staten Island, but makes his way to Charleston’s staff to open up the 2015 campaign. The Yankees’ fifth-round pick of the 2013 draft and Emerson, New Jersey native earned a career-high six wins in 14 games last season, which marks the highest total of wins on the RiverDogs’ opening day staff.

Caleb Frare, Joey Maher, and Yoel Espinal round out the RiverDogs’ 13-man active pitching staff that will be under the tutelage of former RiverDog and current pitching coach Tim Norton (2005). Neither pitcher made has pitched in a game since 2012. Frare was drafted by the Yankees in the 11th round of the 2012 draft and went 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA in 10 GCL appearances during his first pro season, but missed both 2013 and 2014 seasons due to Tommy John surgery. Espinal was signed as a Minor League Free Agent in 2014 following his release from the Detroit Tigers. He looks to rebound from injury and get the 2015 campaign off on the right foot. Maher, a native of Bedford, NH, pitched for the Gulf Coast Yankees 2 team and went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 3.1 innings pitched.

Pitchers Ty Hensley, Dallas Martinez, and Jose Pena along with infielder Ty McFarland are on the 60-day disabled list, but have been placed on the RiverDogs roster. Former Citadel standout and Greenville, South Carolina native, infielder Bo Thompson is on the RiverDogs roster as well, but remains on the suspended list.

Ty Hensley. My Role Model. My Inspiration

Many of my friends have always wondered why I laugh in the face of Karma. Karma is not a real thing it’s just something they tell you to try and keep you in check, to keep you in line and to make you at least think about being a good person. If karma were a real thing how do the biggest liars, cheats and crooks go on to live these seemingly luxurious and simple lives? Why does it always seem like the best people in the world and the people who do everything right because that’s the way they were brought up, people like Ty Hensley, continue to get crapped on day after day?

This post is going to be half rant and half raising up for Mr. Hensley because this young man, his mother and his entire family are truly incredible. They are role models and they are my inspiration for how you should be, not because karma dictates it. Ty has been dealt a crap hand since being drafted in the first round by the New York Yankees and has done nothing but keep his head down, keep on working and keep that smile on his face. From the abnormality in his shoulder, to the hip injuries and surgeries, to being attacked brutally to now his Tommy John surgery Ty has never held a pity party or even questioned why, he’s taken what he has been dealt and has actually been thankful for it.

I got actual goosebumps reading his statement on Facebook when he said that he was grateful that he had the Tommy John surgery and not somebody else because he knew he could handle it and that he could and would come back for it. That’s like the ultimate selfless attitude and after interviewing him for the blog and checking in from time to time with him on Twitter and such you know it’s not just because a camera is watching. Ty is genuine and you can tell he gets a lot from his awesome mother Marci. They are such kind souls and don’t ask for anything and in turn get a ton of prayers and support from everyone, Yankees fans or not.

So I leave you with this. If you’re looking for a true inspiration or a role model in sports for your children to follow, Ty Hensley is your man. He is so Derek Jeter except for he’s better in one area, he’s accessible by the fans. He’s never not once answered or at least acknowledged a tweet, a message, whatever and has always shown nothing but respect and a humble nature through it all. Ty, I look up to you and I adore you as a person and as a member of the New York Yankees family. If I can be half the person you are and bring my children up half as well as your mother did with you then I think I’m going to be pretty blessed in the world. Once again my thoughts, my prayers, warm wishes and my sincere gratitude goes out to you. You are truly a warrior, you are truly a role model and you are truly my inspiration for life. Keep on fighting Ty and we’ll see you in the Bronx before you know it! 

Sincerely, 

Daniel Burch

Ty Hensley Had Tommy John Surgery

So here I was checking Facebook before I went to take a shower and I read a post from my friend Marci Hensley, the mother of Yankees prospect Ty Hensley. Marci broke the news that Ty went under the knife last Tuesday to get Tommy John surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews. 

Another setback and another season lost for Ty. A damn shame, it's always the good ones that get the short straw in life and Ty is definitely one of the good guys. 

What is Wrong w/ the World?

What in the hell is wrong with the world today? Anyone with a Twitter account can tell you that Yankees prospect Ty Hensley is a great guy. The young man is truly humble and truly appreciate of everywhere he has been, everyone who is a fan and appreciates everything that he has. That’s not based on what he says when the cameras are on that’s based on phone calls, Tweets, direct messages, etc. It shows in the way he carries himself, the way he still continues to interact with his fans, the media, etc. that you can tell it’s not just a big PR move, the word genuine comes to mind.

That brings me to the shocking news that broke that Hensley was attacked “brutally” over the holidays which left him unconscious and hospitalized. Hensley has since been released from the hospital with multiple jaw fractures and is recovering at home with his family. No word on why the attack happened, whether it was a robbery, etc. and the family asks for privacy at this time. Obviously our thoughts and our prayers go out to Ty and his wonderful mother who you can see passed down her own “genuine” demeanor to her son. We also hope and pray that whoever is responsible for this heinous act is brought to justice and forced to pay for what they have done.

This is terrible and it couldn’t have happened to a better person and that’s a shame, a damn shame. 

Prospects Month: Top 28 Yankees Prospects List #17

Continuing our look at The Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 prospects list as a part of Prospects Month we name our #17 prospect, Ty Hensley!

Here is the complete up to date list. Check back every day as the list fills out and we continue our look at the prospects in the New York Yankees system during Prospects Month here on TGP.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17. Ty Hensley
18. Luis Severino
19. Abiatal Avelino
20. Rob Refsnyder
21. Nik Turley
22. Cito Culver
23. Ramon Flores
24. Mark Montgomery
25. Rookie Davis
26. Jake Cave
27. Ben Gamel
28. Angelo Gumbs

Exclusive Interview With Prospect Ty Hensley

Today we bring to you a injury update and an interview with 2012 first round draft pick Ty Hensley as the latest part of Prospects Month here on The Greedy Pinstripes. Ty had hip surgery last season and missed the entire season in 2013 and looks to be back better than ever in 2014. I won't make you wait any longer so here is the interview. 

The Greedy Pinstripes: We won't make the fans wait any longer than they have to, how is the rehab going? Everything on schedule for 2014?

Ty Hensley: Yes I'm feeling better and better every day and I am more than ready and anxious for this season to start. I feel a lot better than I did before i had my surgeries.

TGP: Biggest baseball inspiration growing up as a kid?

TH: My father. Given his baseball background and knowledge, he was the one who got me hooked. Him, and my favorite players Roger Clemens and Chipper Jones.

TGP: I don't really need to ask because I follow your stuff on Twitter a lot but how important is family to you?

TH: Family is the most important thing in my life behind my faith. I know that no matter what happens they have my back and always want what is best for me. They taught me everything I know and have molded me into the man I am today. I have the best family out there, 

I couldn't ask for better.

TGP: I respect the hell out of you for being religious and being so open about it. How do you think your faith has helped you in your life and in your career?

TH: Appreciate that.  It's gotten me through everything I have ever done. Tough or easy. I know I always have the man upstairs to talk to and he always listens. He has surrounded me with incredible people and has always given me a reason to believe. My relationship with God has grown tremendously after this last year. This last year was a lot harder than a lot of people know. They will someday, but I couldn't have possibly made it through without God.

TGP: Did you play any other sports or positions in baseball growing up?

TH: Yes, I played all over the field in baseball and actually could have pursued that professionally if I chose to. I also played quarterback in football and could have gone to a few D1 schools to play. I also played basketball, but needless to say I was not very good!

TGP: What do you do during the offseason to keep yourself occupied?

TH: Catch up with old friends, lift, run, hang with my family, hunt, and recently I have been receiving training in a form of martial arts known as krav maga. After the season I will pick it up again because it is such a good workout and is good knowledge to have in defensive situations.

TGP: Favorite restaurant to eat at?

TH: A local sports bar in Lawrence, Kansas called "Henry T's". Best wings on the planet!

TGP: I see your a walking dead fan. Have you read the books or the comics? Oh and by the way please back off Maggie, I saw her first, thanks :)

TH: Haha, nope I just watch the show, I am obsessed.

TGP: I think this answer may be obvious but in my time around social media I have noticed there are two kinds of fans when it comes to prospects. You have the "prospect humpers" (myself being a self professed prospect humper) and a name yet to be determined (due to my lack of creativity) describing those who want to sell all the prospects off for the 37 year old "sure thing." Which category do you think yourself as a fan falls into?

TH: Well, since i am currently a prospect i would definitely be a "humper" (odd as that is to say). 

TGP: What current Major League player do you think you compare to the most?

TH: I don't really like comparisons now because this past year i have realized everyone is different and that I am a completely different pitcher as far as my body goes than a year ago… In a good way! so I'm still trying to figure this out!

TGP: I know you probably don't think of things like this but how long before you think we could see you in the Major Leagues? I have your ETA down as late 2016, is that accurate?

TH: I have no idea, but what I do know is that wherever I am I will work to stay healthy, perform to the best of my abilities, and stay positive. I will be ready when they call for me there. Thats all I can hope to do and the rest will take care of itself.

TGP: If you could be the Yankees GM for a day what would you do? Don't have to really be realistic here. 

TH: Haha tough to answer this question.. Guess thats why they let Mr. Cashman make all the calls and he does a very good job.

TGP: We'll finish with this one, where do you see yourself in life and your career in five years?

TH: Living out my dream of being the best Major League Baseball player that my talents will possibly let me be. That's the only thing that I know I want at the moment and that is all I'm focused on!

TGP: I just wanted you to know that we really appreciate you Ty. We as fans and blog owners see far too many beat writers and players and such who do not understand what social media is for. You are always open to talk on Twitter and have been gracious enough to give us two interviews now and we just wanted you to know that we, and our readers, certainly appreciate it. Thank you. 

TH: No problem at all, my pleasure! You do a great job! 

A big thank you goes out to Ty Hensley for doing this interview for us and a bigger thank you goes out to Mike and Marci Hensley for raising such a great man! We appreciate you taking the time out of your rehab and offseason schedule to do this for us and our readers, thank you. You can follow Ty on Twitter by following @TyHensley17. 

Expected Minor League Assignments From Newman

Chad Jennings of LoHud interviewed Yankees Vice President Mark Newman over the phone, SEEN HERE, and Mr. Newman was nice enough to give us some expected minor league assignments for some of our bigger names. Obviously minor league camp is some two months away so these are not set in stone nor are they concrete but this can give all you prospects guys something to look forward to and give you a general idea of what the Yankees are thinking.

Eric Jagielo - High A Tampa Yankees
Aaron Judge - High A Tampa Yankees
Gosuke Katoh - Staten Island Yankees
Slade Heathcott - Trenton or Scranton, depending on his rehab

For the entire write up from Jennings click the link above. There is some speculation on Jose Campos, Manny Banuelos, Ty Hensley, Ian Clarkin, Michael Pineda, and other minor league assignment thoughts. Also Chad touches on the winter league games including the show that Zoilo Almonte put on and gives us a Tyler Austin update, it's a good read so check it out.

New York Yankees Farm System Update

With the recent report that GM Brian Cashman and the Yankees brass will begin to look at why the New York Yankees farm system has been less than stellar lately I found this as the perfect time to get a general prospects update. This is just weeks after Hal Steinbrenner called a board meeting asking the same questions on why the Yankees have not produced impact players, the farm system is lacking in depth, etc. This sounds like bad news for the scouting director Damon Oppenheimer, Vice President of Baseball Operations Mark Newman, and maybe even a Nardi Contreras after the Killer B's debacle.

Here is the latest news and musings from around the Yankees farm:

Mark Montgomery, the Yankees best relief pitching prospect by far, has started throwing off of a mound recently after a couple bouts with shoulder fatigue and other various shoulder related issues. Snap Dragon Monty continued his missing bats ways with an 11.03 K/9 ration in 40 IP's for the Scranton Wilkes Barre Railriders. Seems to me like he would be a good winter league candidate to build back his arm strength and stamina while getting the shoulder healthy.

Dellin Betances has asked the Yankees for permission to pitch in Winter Ball in the Dominican Republic this year to remain sharp and work on mechanics in preparation for his make or break 2014 season. Dellin is out of options so he will either be in the Yankees bullpen next season or on another team because, right now, there is no way he is clearing waivers to get off the 40 man roster.

Eduardo Nunez is also planning on playing Winter Ball this year as well to work on his defense and gain some more at bats. Nunez was hit harder than any Yankee not named Derek Jeter this year, in my opinion, so he could use the work to continue his development. The problem is do you work him at short stop, third base, or somewhere else? Personally he is my starting third basemen on Opening Day if Alex Rodriguez's suspension is held up but that is just me.

Gosuke Katoh has a tear in a finger ligament in his hand during the Instructional League down in Tampa. He has seen a specialist in New York and is expected to sit out at least four weeks to let the finger heal. Katoh will head to the Instructional League in the Dominican Republic assuming his finger is healed in time.

2012 first round pick in the MLB First Year Player's Draft Ty Hensley has started a throwing program since a hip surgery that made him miss the entire 2013 season. Hensley has finished with physical therapy but is not quite ready to start throwing off a mound yet.

Slade Heathcott, Tommy Kahnle, and Chase Whitley lead a pretty signifcant group of Yankees players that will need to be protected from the Rule 5 draft or be left unprotected for the draft. Protection for the Rule 5 draft requires the Yankees adding these players to the 40 man roster. Heathcott seems like the obvious choice to be added to the 40 man roster especially after the Yankees let go of Melky Mesa late in the season. Whitley is a AAA right handed reliever that the Yankees have a dime a dozen of so he may get left unprotected and ultimately end up elsewhere after a strong 2013 season.

Omar Luis is considered to be a top ten sleeper pick this year in the Rookie Gulf Coast League and is a prospect to watch in 2014. Luis is a right handed pitcher that can already touch 95 MPH comfortably with swing and miss stuff with a slider and a change up to go with his heater. Luis finished the season with a 12.2 K/9 ratio although he did walk a few too many batters for comfort.