New York Yankees 2020 Midseason Top 30 Prospects Update

To see every team’s Top 30 prospects list, click here.

STATE OF THE SYSTEM

The Yankees’ system is filled with upside, but most of it is at the lower levels and still very raw. The 2020 season would have been huge for many of the team’s young Latin American players like SS Alexander Vargas and OFs Kevin Alcantara, Everson Pereira and Antonio Cabello as well as recent draftees like SS Anthony Volpe and C Anthony Seigler. The cancellation of the minor league season means those players and plenty of others will miss out on much-needed innings and at-bats.

1. Jasson Dominguez, OF

Dominguez made it stateside to spring training, but because of the canceled minor league season will have to wait until 2021 to make his official professional debut. When he does, he’ll get his first chance to show off one of the most exciting collections of tools in the system.

2. Clarke Schmidt, RHP

Schmidt was extremely impressive in spring training before baseball shut down and again in summer camp once it restarted. He was optioned to the team’s alternate training site at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but could make his big league debut in 2020.

3. Deivi Garcia, RHP

Like Schmidt, Garcia was expected to make his big league debut sometime in 2020 if everything went well with his last few bits of minor league seasoning. Garcia still needs to improve his command, but he’ll get a chance to work on that element of his game at the team’s alternate training site.

4. Luis Gil, RHP

One of the most electric pitchers in the system, Gil reached high Class A in 2020 and earned a spot on the team’s 40-man roster. He brings a big-time fastball from an easy delivery and used the season to sharpen his changeup. The development of that pitch will be a focal point in determining whether he remains a starter.

5. Oswald Peraza, SS

The Yankees really like Peraza and moved him aggressively to low Class A when a need arose at the level late in 2019. They see him as a player who can stick at shortstop and provide offensive impact as well.

6. Austin Wells, C

The Yankees have plenty of history with Wells, whom they also drafted as a high schooler. Two years later, with Wells a draft-eligible sophomore, they picked him again with the 28th overall pick and signed him for $2.5 million. Wells is an offensive-minded catcher with the tools to hit for both average and power as well as more speed than expected. With input from both the amateur scouting and player development departments, the Yankees believe Wells can stick at catcher.

7. Anthony Volpe, SS

Volpe’s pro debut was cut short by a bout with mononucleosis, but he still showed flashes of the skills that made him a first-round pick last year. He has a line-drive swing geared to make plenty of contact, which should make him an asset in a high-strikeout era. He also has the defensive chops to remain up the middle.

8. Luis Medina, RHP

Medina began to turn a corner at the end of 2019 and earned a spot on the team’s 40-man roster. He’s part of the team’s 60-man player pool and will use the time at the alternate site to make sure his progress from 2019 sticks into 2021.

9. Roansy Contreras, RHP

Contreras has the highest floor of the Yankees’ high-end righthanders who pitched at low Class A Charleston in 2019. He has the combination of a potentially plus fastball and changeup, which he complements with a curveball that could be above average.

10. Alexander Vizcaino, RHP

One of the Yankees’ biggest prospect breakouts in 2019, Vizcaino showcased a vastly improved changeup to pair with a mid-90s fastball. With further improvement of his slider, which currently projects as fringe-average, he will improve his chances of remaining a starter.

11. Albert Abreu, RHP
12. Miguel Yajure, RHP
13. Yoendrys Gomez, RHP
14. Michael King, RHP
15. Estevan Florial, OF
16. Beck Way, RHP
17. T.J. Sikkema, LHP
18. Canaan Smith, OF
19. Matt Sauer, RHP
20. Everson Pereira, OF
21. Antonio Cabello, OF
22. Kevin Alcantara, OF
23. Antonio Gomez, C
24. Alexander Vargas , SS
25. Anthony Seigler, C
26. Ezequiel Duran, 2B
27. Josh Smith , 2B
28. Trevor Hauver, 2B
29. Raimfer Salinas, OF
30. Nick Nelson, RHP

SYSTEM STRENGTHS

As usual, the Yankees are rich with high-end righthanded pitching prospects. Six of their Top 10 Prospects fit that bill, including upper-level arms like Schmidt (No. 2) and Garcia (No. 3), who each could make their major league debuts in 2020.

SYSTEM WEAKNESSES

The Yankees have just one lefthanded pitching prospect among their Top 30 (T.J. Sikkema) and no corner infield prospects in their Top 30. The closest corner infielders they have are Chris Gittens and Dermis Garcia, who each offer big-time power but are strikeout-prone.

PLAYER POOL TIDBITS

As a team expecting to make a deep playoff run, the Yankees packed their pool mainly with players who could help this season. Schmidt and Garcia could see action, as could upper-level relievers Brooks Kriske and Daniel Alvarez. Kriske was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason.

HURTING

RHPs Matt Sauer and Garrett Whitlock are each recovering from Tommy John surgery.