Top 5 Prospects for 2015: New York Yankees
This 30-part series will look at the projected Top 5 freshmen contributors for each big league club for the year ahead. The rankings take into consideration a mixture of ceiling, readiness and potential playing time allocation, which is to say some players with lower ceilings may be ranked ahead of others with higher ceilings because they project to have a greater impact in the coming season.
In a Nutshell: New York doesn’t have the deepest system but it continues to produce big league contributors and its Class of 2015 could be one of the best in the Majors — if the rookies are given enough playing time to strut their stuff.
1. Jacob Lindgren, LHP: The club’s second-round pick in 2014, Lindgren allowed just 12 hits in 25.0 innings of work while pitching at four different levels of affiliated ball. The under-sized lefty also showed his dominance by striking out 48 batters and kept the ball almost solely on the mound when contact was actually made. Lindgren and Luis Severino (see below) could make for a dominating tandem of high-leverage relievers in the years to come.
2. Rob Refsnyder, 2B/OF: I originally had Refsnyder ranked first but the addition of Stephen Drew pushes him down ever so slightly. The rookie may begin his big league career in a utility role with his ability to play both the infield and the outfield (although neither remarkably well). He showed good pop with 58 extra base hits (137 games) in 2014 and also has the ability to hit for average. Drew, and his superior defence, will take a bite out of Refsnyder’s playing time early in the year but look for that to end in the second half.
3. Luis Severino, RHP: Severino started to gain attention in 2013 and then had a full breakout season in 2014 when he pitched at three different levels — and topped out at Double-A. Just 20, he combines swing-and-miss stuff (127 Ks in 113.1 IP) with above-average control (27 walks) for his age. The downside to Severino is that, despite his success, he has a smallish frame and a delivery that suggests he’s headed for (high-leverage) relief work.
4. Aaron Judge, OF: Judge Dredd might be an appropriate nickname for this hulking outfielder who stands 6-7 and weighs in at 230 pounds. He tore through two A-ball levels in 2014 while getting on base at a crazy clip (.419) and flashing his massive raw power (17 homers). Because he has such a long swing path, strikeouts are going to happen even with good bat speed and he whiffed 131 times in as many games. Judge, 22, could help make Carlos Beltran (or dare I say Alex Rodriguez) expendable by the second half of the year.
5. Greg Bird, 1B: Mark Teixeira is not a safe bet to stay healthy (let alone effective) all year, so Bird may see some big league action in 2015 despite having just 27 games of experience above A-ball. The former fifth round pick has massive power from the left side and followed up his 20-homer campaign in 2013 with 36 bombs in ’14 while playing in leagues known for favoring pitchers. He’ll open the year in Double-A where he’ll look to polish his defense, increase his contact rate and get more consistent against southpaw hurlers.
Marc Hulet has been writing at FanGraphs since 2008. His work focuses on prospects and fantasy. Follow him on Twitter @marchulet.
Nice to see some names that carry some excitement for the Yankees in a post like this. It’s been a while. Now go get Moncada!!
Bird didn’t hit 36 bombs in ’14, unless I missed something..
Bird didn’t hit that many home runs last season… not even close, he was returning from injury and it took him a little bit to hit his stride, but he played great in the second of the year and in the AzFL
I know some pitchers excel at contact management, but Lindgren getting all those ground outs to the pitcher really is something.
I’m definitely a Greg Bird fan, but he hit 20 HR in 2014, not 36.
What’s the difference?
16
…Actually Bird hit 14 HR in 102 games last year. 7 of those home runs coming in AA in 27 games to end the season.
The AFL is a thing.
Lindgren and Severino will have virtually no fantasy value next year or any year in the foreseeable future (unless Severino sticks in the rotation).
An impact fantasy player for 2015 that should have been mentioned is Ramon Flores. With Ichiro out of the picture, the Yankees outfield looks thin to me. Ellsbury, Gardner, Beltran (who will DH some) is it, and then Chris Young? Flores, who has been picking up some buzz recently, could have a shot at a role next year if injuries take place.
@jb82mets
Lindgren could have value in holds leagues.
I disagree. Not sure why people keep thinking Severino will be a reliever. Until he fails as a starter, he is and will be one. That hasn’t happened yet. If all holds true, he will likely begin the season in AA before quickly moving to AAA by June. Making him easily a late season starter. Also, given how injury prone the Yankees starters have been, Severino could be pushed up quicker than expected due simply to a lack of suitable alternatives. Outside of Bryan Mitchell the Yankees lack depth at SP. If injuries cause havoc (which it did last year…and the year prior) the Yankees will need their 6th, 7th, and possibly 8th starters. Therein pushing Severino into a possible earlier call up than wanted.
I would not be so quick to assume Severino goes to the bullpen. This is a high potential arm that could stick in the rotation, as early as this year. And while he doesn’t need to be drafted in fantasy on draft day, he could be a very useful FA pick up later on.
The “in a nutshell” part seems to be opposite of Kiley Macs’ breakdown of the farm.
I assume Gary Sanchez is just too buried in the depth chart to be mentioned? What if McCann gets hurt?
Romine and Murphy would get playing time before Sanchez.