Tyler Austin

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Yankees #16 prospect in 2017
  Even before he was drafted, Austin had been through a lot. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in high school and had surgery to remove the tumor. Little more than a week after the surgery, he played in a high school showcase. The Yankees drafted Austin in the 13th round in 2010 and gave him a $130,000 bonus to forgo a Kennesaw State commitment. He rocketed through the lower levels of the system and earned a place on the 40-man roster in 2014, but injuries and struggles stalled his career and led to him being designated for assignment after the 2015 season. Finally healthy in 2016, Austin found success at Triple-A and made history in his major league debut when he and Aaron Judge became the first teammates to go back-to-back with home runs in their first big league at-bats. Austin showed all-fields power and patience in the minors, though he struck out at a 40-percent clip once he got to the majors. He is an average defender in right field and at first base, and could win a job in a utility role with the Yankees out of spring training.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #16 prospect in 2015
  The 2014 season was a tale of two halves for Austin, who spent 2013 dealing with nagging tenderness in his right wrist. He came back for Double-A Trenton's run to the Eastern League championship, but the pain cropped up again in the Arizona Fall League, and again during 2014 spring training. Over the first three months, it looked as if Austin's power was sapped. After July 1, however, he hit .302/.353/.483 with six of his nine homers and more than half of his extra-base hits. His exit velocity also crept to above-average as the year wore on. Besides getting healthy, Austin also lowered his hands at the plate, which the Yankees believe helped him as well. His defense, speed and arm in the outfield are all average, and he has dabbled at first and third base over the past few seasons. Austin's short, quick swing and power is what will get him to the big leagues, and if his power resurgence is real, then his potential as an everyday outfielder looks more realistic than it did a year ago. He likely will head to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2015, where he'll once again team up with Slade Heathcott and Ramon Flores.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #17 prospect in 2014
  The Yankees looked for big things from Double-A Trenton's outfield of Austin, Ramon Flores and Slade Heathcott, but injuries again frustrated Heathcott, while Flores and Austin had modest seasons. Austin slugged .373 with just 23 extra-base hits in 366 plate appearances, with the caveat being that he missed a month and a half with a wrist injury that he may have been playing with long before he told anyone. Austin looked rejuvenated down the stretch, hitting .304 in the Eastern League playoffs to help the Thunder win their third league title. He played just four games in the Arizona Fall League, however, before the wrist started barking again and he had to be shut down. He received a cortisone shot, and the wrist will bear watching, especially as it pertains to his future power potential. When healthy, Austin has showcased a quick, compact swing with power potential, though it was negated by his early struggles with breaking pitches, especially sliders from righties. Austin was to play first base in the AFL and may get more time there in 2014, though the Yankees say they still view him as a profile corner outfielder. He's slated to return to Trenton in 2014.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #4 prospect in 2013
  Austin was diagnosed with testicular cancer the summer after his junior year in high school, which led to a poor senior season. He fell to the 13th round, where the Yankees stole him and signed him for $130,000 in 2010. Austin had a breakout year in his first try at full-season ball in 2012. Shrugging off a mild concussion that kept him out of the Futures Game, he batted .322/.400/.559 and reached Double-A. He homered in a losing cause in Trenton's Eastern League finals loss. The Yankees' most advanced young hitter, Austin mixes physical maturity with athleticism. He has a short, quick swing and good balance at the plate, usually staying back and trusting his fast hands. His relatively flat stroke limits his home run potential to an extent, but some scouts believe he'll tap into solid power down the line. Though just an average runner, he has the quick first step and savvy to steal 10-15 bags annually in the big leagues. A corner infielder in his first two seasons, Austin found a home in right field in 2012, exhibiting solid range and a plus arm. The game is probably too fast for him at third base, though he'd make a fine first baseman. Austin will begin 2013 back in Double-A. The lack of a young, righthanded bat in New York will open an opportunity for him to move fast if he continues to hit.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #20 prospect in 2012
  A decorated amateur player, Austin was an Aflac All-American the summer after his junior year in high school. But 2010 was an epic year in Georgia with five prepsters drafted in the first round, and he got a bit lost in the shuffle. He wound up dropping to the 13th round and signed for $130,000, then broke his left wrist when he was hit by a pitch in his second pro game. His bat proved too advanced for the Gulf Coast League last summer, so New York promoted him to Staten Island, where he batted .429 in the playoffs to help the Little Yanks win the title. Strong and physical, Austin has above-average pull power and a fairly advanced approach. He's not afraid to work counts or use the whole field. He's a solid athlete with average speed and excellent instincts that helped him steal 20 bases (including the postseason) while being caught only once in 2011. Austin's future value is tied into his defense. He was primarily a catcher in high school but hasn't caught as a pro, instead working at third and first base. His arm, which is a tick above-average, is his best defensive attribute. His newness at third showed as he made 11 errors in just 29 games (playoffs included). Austin's shaky instincts and footwork at third contributed to his miscues, and he'll likely to play a lot more first base down the line. That's likely to happen this year in low Class A. Austin's speed gives him a chance to man an outfield corner as well.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Florida State League #8 prospect in 2012
  Austin sustained a concussion when a pitch hit in the helmet during his FSL game, knocking him out of the Futures Game and sidelining him for three weeks. The layoff didn't affect his prowess at the plate, as he continued to show excellent hand-eye coordination with good power to all fields. He finished the season with a .331 career batting average in pro ball. Austin's most notable asset may be his ability to make adjustments from at-bat to at-bat. He also shows good instincts on the bases, where he knows how to read pitchers and pick his spots. Though he has just average speed, he has succeeded in 41 of his 43 career steal attempts. A catcher in high school and a corner infielder in 2011, Austin found a home in right field this year. He has a plus arm and average range.
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #4 prospect in 2012
  Austin entered the season residing in the shadow of higher-touted Charleston teammates Gary Sanchez, Mason Williams and Dante Bichette Jr. He passed them all as a prospect while making a seamless transition to the outfield. With a balanced approach, terrific hand-eye coordination and good strength, Austin makes hard contact with solid power to all fields. He's an average runner with uncanny instincts on the bases, and he went 17-for-19 stealing in the SAL. He exhibits average range and plus arm strength in right field after catching in high school and playing the infield corners last year. "He plays hard," Febles said. "He has a great approach at the plate. He's a gamer. This is the kind of kid you want on your team. He has the ability and the desire, and that's a great combination."
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  Ranked New York-Penn League #8 prospect in 2011
  After signing for $130,000 as a 13th-round pick last summer, Austin broke his wrist in his second pro game. In his first extended taste of pro ball, he began 2011 by hitting .390 in the Gulf Coast League before anchoring the middle of Staten Island's lineup in the second half. He capped his year by batting .429 in the playoffs. An intelligent hitter, Austin has solid plate discipline and handles offspeed pitches well for a teenager. He has above-average raw power and is capable of hitting balls out of the park to all fields. Drafted as a catcher, Austin has transitioned to third base, where his instincts and footwork are improving and his plus arm is an asset. He's still working on becoming a more aggressive defender. He's a solid runner with good instincts.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #77 prospect in 2013

• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  The 2014 season was a tale of two halves for Austin, who spent 2013 dealing with nagging tenderness in his right wrist. He came back for Double-A Trenton's run to the Eastern League championship, but the pain cropped up again in the Arizona Fall League, and again during 2014 spring training. Over the first three months, it looked as if Austin's power was sapped. After July 1, however, he hit .302/.353/.483 with six of his nine homers and more than half of his extra-base hits. His exit velocity also crept to above-average as the year wore on. Besides getting healthy, Austin also lowered his hands at the plate, which the Yankees believe helped him as well. His defense, speed and arm in the outfield are all average, and he has dabbled at first and third base over the past few seasons. Austin's short, quick swing and power is what will get him to the big leagues, and if his power resurgence is real, then his potential as an everyday outfielder looks more realistic than it did a year ago. He likely will head to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2015, where he'll once again team up with Slade Heathcott and Ramon Flores.
• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: A draft steal who signed for $130,000 in 2010, Austin had a breakout year in his first try at full-season ball in 2012. Shrugging off a mild concussion that kept him out of the Futures Game, he batted .322/.400/.559 and reached Double-A. He homered in a losing cause in Trenton's Eastern League finals loss. Scouting Report: The Yankees' most advanced young hitter, Austin mixes physical maturity with athleticism. He has a short, quick swing and good balance at the plate, usually staying back and trusting his fast hands. His relatively flat stroke limits his home run potential to an extent, but some scouts believe he'll tap into solid power down the line. Though just an average runner, he has the quick first step and savvy to steal 10-15 bags annually in the big leagues. A corner infielder in his first two seasons, Austin found a home in right field in 2012, exhibiting solid range and a plus arm. The Future: Austin will begin 2013 back in Double-A. The lack of a young, righthanded bat in New York will open an opportunity for him to move fast if he continues to hit.