New York Yankees 2019 Top 10 Prospects Podcast

Image credit: Justus Sheffield (Photo by Mike Janes/Four Seam Images)

The Yankees Top 10 2019 Prospects

Click here to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

The Yankees system has a different look to it this winter. 

There isn’t a blue-chipper on the immediate horizon, which is a departure from years past, when the likes of Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar all impacted New York’s roster upon their arrival. 

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t loads of interesting talent. 

New York is adding international talent in bulk and most of it is still very, very young. Seven of the 10 prospects in the top 10 began 2018 at A-ball or lower, which Josh Norris pointed out on Baseball America’s prospect podcast.  

At the top are two more familiar names — Justus Sheffield and Estevan Florial. 

Sheffield, in particular, is a player on the periphery of a shot in New York’s starting rotation.

“There’s still a little bit of development to do for Justus Sheffield,” Norris said on the podcast. “He’s close. But I wouldn’t say he’s there yet.”

And whether he gets there at all with the pitching-needy Yankees was another point of debate on the pod. 

Norris said it’s not out of the question the Yankees package their top two prospects, Sheffield and Florial, for a pitcher akin to a Madison Bumgarner or Zack Greinke. 

“If the price for someone like a Sale or a Bumgarner or a guy like that is there, and your cost is Sheffield and Florial, then send them on over,” Norris said, “that’s easy.” 

The podcast also touched on several others, like rising righty Michael King, who is now New York’s No. 6 prospect. He posted a 1.79 ERA across three levels this season, striking out 152 batters while walking just 29 as he ascended from high-A to Triple-A. 

Norris believes King will get “a long look” in spring training as the Yankees try to fill out their rotation. 

“In the six years I’ve done this system, I think he has given me the widest range of outcomes,” Norris said. “I’ve heard anything from seventh inning reliever to Roy Halladay-lite. So it was tough figuring out what he is.”

The pod also touched on Albert Abreu, Anthony Seigler and the Yankees’ increased success on the international market juxtaposed to a less-than-stellar recent draft record.