Alexander Vargas

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #28 prospect in 2018
  When the Yankees signed Vargas for $10,000 in 2014, they did so because of the changeup he'd already developed and the projection they assumed would come as he matured. He missed 2016 with Tommy John surgery (check this) and was challenged this year with time at low Class A Charleston. He didn't overpower hitters there, but he certainly performed, with 34 strikeouts against just five walks in 48.1 innings. His changeup, which he throws in the mid-80s, is still his out pitch, and he uses it with confidence against both lefthanders and righthanders. He's still working on developing his slider, which shows potential but has more horizontal break than depth at this point. The major question with Vargas involves his projectability. Some see a 20-year-old who performed well this year at high Class A and could eventually add more strength to his 6-foot-4 frame, thus turning the low-90s fastball into something more in the mid-90s. Others see an already maxed-out body, which would severely limit his ceiling. If everything clicks, he could be a back-end type of starter because of his ability to fill up the zone.