ProfileHt.: 5'11" / Wt.: 162 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High
Track Record: When he was an amateur, Serna piqued the Yankees' interest with his combination of outstanding feel to pitch, a quick arm and gumption on the mound. He signed in May of 2021 and spent his first pro campaign in the Dominican Summer League. He moved to the states in 2022 and opened eyes with his pitchability and dynamic changeup while helping lead his team to the Florida Complex League championship. Serna ranked as the third-best prospect in the FCL.
Scouting Report: Serna works with a four-pitch mix headlined by an excellent changeup that could get to a true double-plus grade and was pegged by internal evaluators as the system's best. Serna's strength gains have led corresponding velocity boosts on his fastball. The pitch, which sat in the mid 80s when he signed, averaged around 91 mph and scraped 94 last season. Scouts also noticed that he did a good job driving the pitch in the lower parts of the strike zone. He finishes the mix with a pair of breaking balls--a high-spin curveball and a high-70s slider--that each flash average. He commands the mix exceptionally well, especially for someone his age, and projects to have plus control. The only thing that gives scouts pause is a longer, hooking arm action, but it has not presented an impediment thus far.
The Future: Serna will move to Low-A next year. If he can continue adding strength, his combination of stuff and pitchability could lead to a midrotation future.
Track Record: When he was an amateur, Serna piqued the Yankees' interest with his combination of outstanding feel to pitch, a quick arm and gumption on the mound. He signed in May of 2021 and spent his first pro campaign in the Dominican Summer League. He moved to the states in 2022 and opened eyes with his pitchability and dynamic changeup while helping lead his team to the Florida Complex League championship. Serna ranked as the third-best prospect in the FCL.
Scouting Report: Serna works with a four-pitch mix headlined by an excellent changeup that could get to a true double-plus grade and was pegged by internal evaluators as the system's best. Serna's strength gains have led corresponding velocity boosts on his fastball. The pitch, which sat in the mid 80s when he signed, averaged around 91 mph and scraped 94 last season. Scouts also noticed that he did a good job driving the pitch in the lower parts of the strike zone. He finishes the mix with a pair of breaking balls--a high-spin curveball and a high-70s slider--that each flash average. He commands the mix exceptionally well, especially for someone his age, and projects to have plus control. The only thing that gives scouts pause is a longer, hooking arm action, but it has not presented an impediment thus far.
The Future: Serna will move to Low-A next year. If he can continue adding strength, his combination of stuff and pitchability could lead to a midrotation future.
Track Record: When he was an amateur, Serna piqued the Yankees' interest with his combination of outstanding feel to pitch, a quick arm and gumption on the mound. He signed in May of 2021 and spent his first pro campaign in the Dominican Summer League. He moved to the states in 2022 and opened eyes with his pitchability and dynamic changeup while helping lead his team to the Florida Complex League championship. Serna ranked as the third-best prospect in the FCL.
Scouting Report: Serna works with a four-pitch mix headlined by an excellent changeup that could get to a true double-plus grade and was pegged by internal evaluators as the system's best. Serna's strength gains have led corresponding velocity boosts on his fastball. The pitch, which sat in the mid 80s when he signed, averaged around 91 mph and scraped 94 last season. Scouts also noticed that he did a good job driving the pitch in the lower parts of the strike zone. He finishes the mix with a pair of breaking balls--a high-spin curveball and a high-70s slider--that each flash average. He commands the mix exceptionally well, especially for someone his age, and projects to have plus control. The only thing that gives scouts pause is a longer, hooking arm action, but it has not presented an impediment thus far.
The Future: Serna will move to Low-A next year. If he can continue adding strength, his combination of stuff and pitchability could lead to a midrotation future.
Midseason Update: The Yankees signed Serna in May 2021 and it hasn't taken him long to open eyes in and out of the organization. The righthander is rail-thin now but has already shown big-time velo gains with a fastball that now sits around 92 and has touched a couple of ticks higher. His best offspeed pitch is his changeup, which already has been likened to some of the best in the minors. He shows outstanding pitchability for his age and pounds the zone with all four of his offerings.
Career Transactions
Tampa Tarpons placed RHP Luis Serna on the full-season injured list.
RHP Luis Serna assigned to Tampa Tarpons from FCL Yankees.
Download our app
Read the newest magazine issue right on your phone