Post by $heriff Tom on Dec 10, 2013 8:20:36 GMT -5
1. Gary Sanchez, c
Born: Dec. 2, 1992. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 220. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2009. Signed by: Victor Mata/Raymon Sanchez.
Background: Sanchez either is the last member of the Yankees’ wave of catching prospects—or the beginning of their next wave. Jesus Montero got a taste of the Bronx before being spun to the Mariners for Michael Pineda. Austin Romine has struggled through back problems and concussions, and his progress has stalled. Homegrown products Francisco Cervelli and J.R. Murphy also saw time behind the plate in New York in 2013, but the Yankees have yet to develop a replacement for Jorge Posada, whose final year as the club’s regular catcher was 2010. Sanchez signed in 2009 for a $3 million bonus, large even by Yankees standards, and sported a career .286/.350/.496 batting line with 43 home runs entering 2013, but questions about his conditioning and maturity lingered. His attitude was problematic enough to earn an internal suspension while at low Class A Charleston in 2011. By all accounts, those problems dissipated in 2013, one that ended with Sanchez beneath a raucous dogpile while he and his teammates with Double-A Trenton celebrated an Eastern League championship.
Scouting Report: Sanchez’s bat still rates as the best in the system by a long shot, thanks to effortless, well-above-average raw power and an above-average hit tool. Scouts see his floor as being a .260-.270 hitter with at least 20 home runs annually, which would be all-star caliber production for a catcher. Sanchez can shoot line drives to all fields and has sock to the opposite field as well. His defense has gotten better and he’s quieter behind the plate. He still needs to work on blocking balls, specifically when it comes to pitches in the dirt to his right or left, when he tends to try to use his hands to pick the ball rather than blocking with his getting his body in front of it. He led the Florida State League with 11 passed balls during his time at high Class A Tampa. Sanchez’s arm has been rated as high as an 80 by some scouts, and he led the FSL by throwing out 46 percent of basestealers. He spent the season in better shape and had a better attitude than in the past, and scouts noticed. Sanchez took charge behind the plate and was handling staffs with much more authority than in years past.
The Future: The Yankees threw a roadblock into Sanchez’s path by signing free agent Brian McCann for five years and $80 million. While McCann could mix in time at DH and first base—where Mark Texeira is signed through 2016—it’s difficult to imagine a full-time spot for Sanchez in New York in the near future. For now, he’s ticketed for a return trip to Double-A for 2014, and he gives the Yankees a key trade chip at a premium position.
2. Slade Heathcott, of
Born: Sept. 28, 1990. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Texarkana, Texas, 2009 (1st round). Signed by: Mark Batchko/Tim Kelly.
Background: Littered with run-ins with alcohol, guns and family drama, Heathcott’s past is both checkered and well documented. He’s not shy about the mistakes he’s made, though, and has worked diligently to become a better man as he’s grown up. Less concerning overall but more directly relevant is his extensive injury history. He’s had surgeries on both shoulders, missed time in spring 2013 with patellar tendinitis, and sat out the last 40 games of the season, including Double-A Trenton’s postseason run, with the same issue. After the season, he had surgery on his right knee to repair the damage.
Scouting Report: With a max-effort playing style that evokes Bryce Harper, Heathcott at his best is a speedy slash-hitter who uses the whole field. He does have significant issues with plate discipline, especially when it comes to the recognition of breaking balls. He’d heated up (hitting .306 in July) before the knee problems cropped up in August. He’s a plus defender in center field whose arm remains above-average, even after the operations. He’s a better-than-average runner but needs to learn to better pick his spots when going for steals.
The Future: The Yankees’ signing of Jacoby Ellsbury means that Heathcott may have to move to right field to be a regular in New York. He’ll have to stay healthy first. He’s slated to make his Triple-A debut in 2014.
3. Mason Williams, of
Born: Aug. 21, 1991. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 180. Drafted: HS—Winter Garden, Fla., 2010 (4th round). Signed by: Jeff Deardorff.
Background: The son of former Patriots wide receiver Derwin Williams, Mason’s grandfather Walt “No Neck” Williams finished his 10-year big league career with the Yankees. Coming off surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder that ended his 2012 season early, Williams entered the 2013 season as the system’s No. 1 prospect but had a rough season that went poorly from the start, with a DUI arrest in April.
Scouting Report: When he was on the field, Williams didn’t show the same tools he had in 2012, particularly at the plate, where he rarely made hard contact and adopted an Ichiro-style slapping approach. Scouts thought Williams had gained weight—most evident in his inability to catch up to quality fastballs—and lost speed. He didn’t turn in good times to first base, either, because of less effort. Williams’ well-above-average defense didn’t suffer as much, as evaluators uniformly praise his range, instincts and routes. The Yankees gave Williams a change of scenery toward the end of the season when they shipped him to Double-A Trenton, where he struggled at the plate at times but still helped the Thunder win the Eastern League crown.
The Future: Williams ought to start the 2014 season back in Trenton if Slade Heathcott graduates to Triple-A. Much like Heathcott, Williams’ future in pinstripes is muddled by the team’s acquisition of Jacoby Ellsbury.
4. J.R. Murphy, c
Born: May 13, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Bradenton, Fla., 2009 (2nd round). Signed by: Jeff Deardorff/Brian Barber.
Background: Signed for $1.25 million as a second-round pick in 2009, Murphy played both catcher and third base early in his career but has become a durable option behind the plate. He caught a minor league-leading 105 games in 2013 while having his best offensive season, and he made his major league debut in September. Murphy was behind the plate at Yankee Stadium for Mariano Rivera’s final major league pitch.
Scouting Report: Murphy doesn’t have a plus tool, but he has sharpened his skills in the minors. After years of hard work, he improved his footwork and his release in 2013, which contributed to gunning down 48 percent of basestealers at Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He’s become a much better, quieter receiver, though he can get a little bit stabby behind the plate at time. His line-drive bat produces consistent solid contact to the gaps with fringe-average power, and the Yankees project him as a potential future .280 hitter with 10-12 homer power. He’s become a below-average runner.
The Future: The Brian McCann contract, plus the ascent of Gary Sanchez to Double-A, puts the squeeze on Murphy’s chances to be a regular. He’ll compete with holdovers Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine for a backup role in New York in 2014 and will likely return to Triple-A if he falls short.
5. Eric Jagielo, 3b
Eric Jagielo (Photo by Tomasso DeRosa)
Born: May 17, 1992. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 195. Drafted: Notre Dame, 2013 (1st round). Signed by: Mike Gibbons.
Background: Jagielo started for three seasons at Notre Dame, slamming 13 homers as a sophomore and 13 more in the Cape Cod League before ranking sixth in the nation in on-base percentage (.500) as a junior. He played the last stretch of the spring with a strained quad muscle, which meant that as soon as the Yankees signed him for $1.875 million after popping him with the first of three first-round selections, he went on the disabled list. He stayed there until making his debut on June 27 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before moving north to the short-season New York-Penn League.
Scouting Report: With his sweet lefty stroke, Jagielo is made for Yankee Stadium. He’s a polished hitter with above-average vision at the plate that allows him to turn on fastballs and stay back on breaking pitches. He has the ability to make hard contact to all fields, as well as above-average power that projects to 20-25 home runs at his peak. Most of the questions surrounding Jagielo center on his defense. He’s a below-average runner with fair agility and footwork, though scouts believe he has the hands, actions and arm strength for third base.
The Future: Jagielo figures to start 2014 at low Class A Charleston but could earn a spot at high Class A Tampa. A polished college bat, he should quickly move past 2011 top pick Dante Bichette Jr., who has struggled the past two years at Tampa.
6. Aaron Judge, of
Born: April 26, 1992. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-7. Wt.: 255. Drafted: Fresno State, 2013 (1st round). Signed by: Troy Afenir.
Background: Judge’s physicality earned him football scholarship offers out of high school, when he was a 31st-round pick of the Athletics, as well as comparisons to NBA slam-dunk champion Blake Griffin. But he’d hit just six home runs his first two seasons at Fresno State before bopping 12 and slugging .655 as a junior. The Yankees took him 32nd overall and signed him for $1.8 million, but a torn quad muscle in his right leg halted his pro debut before it began.
Scouting Report: If his 6-foot-7 frame didn’t give it away, Judge is a physical beast, and has earned physical comparisons with Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton. He shows impressive batting-practice power thanks to his strength and leverage, though some scouts are worried about how well it will translate into games. At his height, it’s hard for his swing path to be short, and he’s not expected to be more than a .260 hitter. He has slightly-above-average speed (he led Fresno State in stolen bases) and a strong arm, and while he can play center field, he profiles better on a corner.
The Future: The Yankees had not spent a first-round pick on a college bat since 2001 (John-Ford Griffin) before taking Eric Jagielo and Judge in 2013. A healthy Judge ought to join Jagielo at low Class A Charleston in 2014, and while Jagielo is more polished, Judge has more upside.
7. Ian Clarkin, lhp
Born: Feb. 14, 1995. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 186. Drafted: HS—San Diego, 2013 (1st round). Signed by: Dave Keith.
Background: Clarkin helped USA Baseball’s 18U national team win gold at the 2012 IBAF World Championship in South Korea, spinning six strong innings in the final to beat Canada. His strong spring pushed him into first-round consideration in 2013, and the Yankees took him with the third of their three first-rounders. He made waves for saying he “couldn’t stand” the Yankees while growing up, but a $1,650,100 bonus offer made that moot. He’s the first prep lefthander the Yankees have drafted in the first round since taking Brien Taylor No. 1 overall in 1991.
Scouting Report: At his best, Clarkin shows three average to above-average pitches. His fastball sits 90-92 mph and touches 94. He flashes a plus curveball with sharp bite and downer action, and he located it well to both sides of the plate as an amateur. He spent time sharpening an inconsistent changeup in instructional league, but the pitch has shown fading action, and he sells it with good arm speed. He’s shown willingness to pitch inside and has a competitive streak.
The Future: Clarkin spent a significant number of days on the disabled list after signing. He twisted his right ankle slipping on a baseball during a workout in Tampa but returned in late August to pitch in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. An assignment to low Class A Charleston in 2014 isn’t out of the question for Clarkin, but a more likely path is extended spring training and a trip to short-season Staten Island.
8. Greg Bird, 1b
Born: Nov. 9, 1992. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 215. Drafted: HS—Aurora, Colo., 2011 (5th round). Signed by: Steve Kmetko.
Background: Though he spent his prep days catching future Oriole Kevin Gausman at Grandview High in Aurora, Colo., Bird was not long for the position. The Yankees bought him out of his Arkansas commitment for $1.1 million in 2011, then gave him a brief look at catcher after he signed and quickly converted him to first base full-time in 2013. He became the first lefthanded hitter for low Class A Charleston to reach 20 home runs since it became a Yankees affiliate while also leading the minors with 107 walks.
Scouting Report: With backstopping in his past, Bird was able to focus more on his offense, where he flourished in 2013. Easily the Yankees’ breakout player of the year, he has a mature offensive approach. He led the South Atlantic League with a .428 on-base percentage, remembers pitch sequences and started to learn which pitches he could drive, hitting 13 of his 20 homers in the second half. Bird’s hit tool is more advanced than his power, and some scouts and SAL managers questioned his future power, noting that his swing has little loft and lacks premium bat speed. Back problems helped prompt his move to first base, and they limit his athleticism and defensive ability, where he has limited range but adequate arm strength. He’s a below-average runner.
The Future: Bird draws comparisons with the Yankees’ primary first baseman in 2013, Lyle Overbay. He’s slated for high Class A Tampa in 2014.
9. Luis Severino, rhp
Born: Feb. 20, 1994. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 195. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2011. Signed by: Juan Rosario.
Background: Most high-profile Yankees signings out of Latin America follow a faster path than Severino, who didn’t sign until he was 17. He received a $225,000 bonus and pitched in the Dominican Summer League in 2012. The Yankees significantly altered his development path in 2013, though, promoting him to low Class A Charleston after he shined in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.
Scouting Report: Equipped with a loose arm, Severino has raw stuff that is as good as any Yankees farmhand, and he has shown the ability to throw plenty of strikes with three pitches. His fastball sits between 93-95 mph and touches the upper 90s often. He has shown a tendency to fall in love with radar-gun readings and overthrow, and he’s better working down in the zone and inducing groundballs. While Severino’s mid-80s slider was his top secondary pitch before he signed, he has developed a solid changeup since signing, and it’s presently the better of the two. His slider still flashes plus but remains inconsistent.
The Future: Severino provided a bright spot in a bleak season for Yankees pitching prospects. His three-pitch mix and strike-throwing ability allows him to profile as a starter. After spending his final four starts with the RiverDogs, he’s slated to return there to start 2014.
10. Gosuke Katoh, 2b
Born: Oct. 8, 1994. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 180. Drafted: HS—San Diego, 2013 (2nd round). Signed by: Dave Keith.
Background: A UCLA signee and friend of Ian Clarkin while growing up in San Diego, Katoh elevated his draft stock with an outstanding performance at the Area Code Games in 2012. He followed that with a strong senior year at Rancho Bernardo High with a .451 average, and he surprised scouts with his developing power, swatting eight homers. The Yankees took him in the second round and quickly inked him for $845,700. Katoh continued to rake in pro ball, tying for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League home run lead (six) while pacing it in triples (five) and ranking second in slugging (.522).
Scouting Report: Katoh may be lean, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t strong. He has plenty of strength in his forearms, which is where he generates his thump despite choking up on the bat, and he has average power potential. He’s a slick, graceful defender around the bag at second base, so much so that the Yankees may try him at shortstop in the future despite his below-average arm. He’s a plus runner who’s still learning to translate that into steals as a pro. Katoh has plenty of patience at the plate, leading to both walks and strikeouts, and he was vulnerable to chasing the high fastball now and again.
The Future: The Yankees’ last wave of middle infielders, 2010 draftees Cito Culver and Angelo Gumbs, haven’t progressed. Katoh will jump to low Class A Charleston, which likely will mute his power, for his full-season debut in 2014.
Born: Dec. 2, 1992. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 220. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2009. Signed by: Victor Mata/Raymon Sanchez.
Background: Sanchez either is the last member of the Yankees’ wave of catching prospects—or the beginning of their next wave. Jesus Montero got a taste of the Bronx before being spun to the Mariners for Michael Pineda. Austin Romine has struggled through back problems and concussions, and his progress has stalled. Homegrown products Francisco Cervelli and J.R. Murphy also saw time behind the plate in New York in 2013, but the Yankees have yet to develop a replacement for Jorge Posada, whose final year as the club’s regular catcher was 2010. Sanchez signed in 2009 for a $3 million bonus, large even by Yankees standards, and sported a career .286/.350/.496 batting line with 43 home runs entering 2013, but questions about his conditioning and maturity lingered. His attitude was problematic enough to earn an internal suspension while at low Class A Charleston in 2011. By all accounts, those problems dissipated in 2013, one that ended with Sanchez beneath a raucous dogpile while he and his teammates with Double-A Trenton celebrated an Eastern League championship.
Scouting Report: Sanchez’s bat still rates as the best in the system by a long shot, thanks to effortless, well-above-average raw power and an above-average hit tool. Scouts see his floor as being a .260-.270 hitter with at least 20 home runs annually, which would be all-star caliber production for a catcher. Sanchez can shoot line drives to all fields and has sock to the opposite field as well. His defense has gotten better and he’s quieter behind the plate. He still needs to work on blocking balls, specifically when it comes to pitches in the dirt to his right or left, when he tends to try to use his hands to pick the ball rather than blocking with his getting his body in front of it. He led the Florida State League with 11 passed balls during his time at high Class A Tampa. Sanchez’s arm has been rated as high as an 80 by some scouts, and he led the FSL by throwing out 46 percent of basestealers. He spent the season in better shape and had a better attitude than in the past, and scouts noticed. Sanchez took charge behind the plate and was handling staffs with much more authority than in years past.
The Future: The Yankees threw a roadblock into Sanchez’s path by signing free agent Brian McCann for five years and $80 million. While McCann could mix in time at DH and first base—where Mark Texeira is signed through 2016—it’s difficult to imagine a full-time spot for Sanchez in New York in the near future. For now, he’s ticketed for a return trip to Double-A for 2014, and he gives the Yankees a key trade chip at a premium position.
2. Slade Heathcott, of
Born: Sept. 28, 1990. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Texarkana, Texas, 2009 (1st round). Signed by: Mark Batchko/Tim Kelly.
Background: Littered with run-ins with alcohol, guns and family drama, Heathcott’s past is both checkered and well documented. He’s not shy about the mistakes he’s made, though, and has worked diligently to become a better man as he’s grown up. Less concerning overall but more directly relevant is his extensive injury history. He’s had surgeries on both shoulders, missed time in spring 2013 with patellar tendinitis, and sat out the last 40 games of the season, including Double-A Trenton’s postseason run, with the same issue. After the season, he had surgery on his right knee to repair the damage.
Scouting Report: With a max-effort playing style that evokes Bryce Harper, Heathcott at his best is a speedy slash-hitter who uses the whole field. He does have significant issues with plate discipline, especially when it comes to the recognition of breaking balls. He’d heated up (hitting .306 in July) before the knee problems cropped up in August. He’s a plus defender in center field whose arm remains above-average, even after the operations. He’s a better-than-average runner but needs to learn to better pick his spots when going for steals.
The Future: The Yankees’ signing of Jacoby Ellsbury means that Heathcott may have to move to right field to be a regular in New York. He’ll have to stay healthy first. He’s slated to make his Triple-A debut in 2014.
3. Mason Williams, of
Born: Aug. 21, 1991. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 180. Drafted: HS—Winter Garden, Fla., 2010 (4th round). Signed by: Jeff Deardorff.
Background: The son of former Patriots wide receiver Derwin Williams, Mason’s grandfather Walt “No Neck” Williams finished his 10-year big league career with the Yankees. Coming off surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder that ended his 2012 season early, Williams entered the 2013 season as the system’s No. 1 prospect but had a rough season that went poorly from the start, with a DUI arrest in April.
Scouting Report: When he was on the field, Williams didn’t show the same tools he had in 2012, particularly at the plate, where he rarely made hard contact and adopted an Ichiro-style slapping approach. Scouts thought Williams had gained weight—most evident in his inability to catch up to quality fastballs—and lost speed. He didn’t turn in good times to first base, either, because of less effort. Williams’ well-above-average defense didn’t suffer as much, as evaluators uniformly praise his range, instincts and routes. The Yankees gave Williams a change of scenery toward the end of the season when they shipped him to Double-A Trenton, where he struggled at the plate at times but still helped the Thunder win the Eastern League crown.
The Future: Williams ought to start the 2014 season back in Trenton if Slade Heathcott graduates to Triple-A. Much like Heathcott, Williams’ future in pinstripes is muddled by the team’s acquisition of Jacoby Ellsbury.
4. J.R. Murphy, c
Born: May 13, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Bradenton, Fla., 2009 (2nd round). Signed by: Jeff Deardorff/Brian Barber.
Background: Signed for $1.25 million as a second-round pick in 2009, Murphy played both catcher and third base early in his career but has become a durable option behind the plate. He caught a minor league-leading 105 games in 2013 while having his best offensive season, and he made his major league debut in September. Murphy was behind the plate at Yankee Stadium for Mariano Rivera’s final major league pitch.
Scouting Report: Murphy doesn’t have a plus tool, but he has sharpened his skills in the minors. After years of hard work, he improved his footwork and his release in 2013, which contributed to gunning down 48 percent of basestealers at Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He’s become a much better, quieter receiver, though he can get a little bit stabby behind the plate at time. His line-drive bat produces consistent solid contact to the gaps with fringe-average power, and the Yankees project him as a potential future .280 hitter with 10-12 homer power. He’s become a below-average runner.
The Future: The Brian McCann contract, plus the ascent of Gary Sanchez to Double-A, puts the squeeze on Murphy’s chances to be a regular. He’ll compete with holdovers Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine for a backup role in New York in 2014 and will likely return to Triple-A if he falls short.
5. Eric Jagielo, 3b
Eric Jagielo (Photo by Tomasso DeRosa)
Born: May 17, 1992. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 195. Drafted: Notre Dame, 2013 (1st round). Signed by: Mike Gibbons.
Background: Jagielo started for three seasons at Notre Dame, slamming 13 homers as a sophomore and 13 more in the Cape Cod League before ranking sixth in the nation in on-base percentage (.500) as a junior. He played the last stretch of the spring with a strained quad muscle, which meant that as soon as the Yankees signed him for $1.875 million after popping him with the first of three first-round selections, he went on the disabled list. He stayed there until making his debut on June 27 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before moving north to the short-season New York-Penn League.
Scouting Report: With his sweet lefty stroke, Jagielo is made for Yankee Stadium. He’s a polished hitter with above-average vision at the plate that allows him to turn on fastballs and stay back on breaking pitches. He has the ability to make hard contact to all fields, as well as above-average power that projects to 20-25 home runs at his peak. Most of the questions surrounding Jagielo center on his defense. He’s a below-average runner with fair agility and footwork, though scouts believe he has the hands, actions and arm strength for third base.
The Future: Jagielo figures to start 2014 at low Class A Charleston but could earn a spot at high Class A Tampa. A polished college bat, he should quickly move past 2011 top pick Dante Bichette Jr., who has struggled the past two years at Tampa.
6. Aaron Judge, of
Born: April 26, 1992. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-7. Wt.: 255. Drafted: Fresno State, 2013 (1st round). Signed by: Troy Afenir.
Background: Judge’s physicality earned him football scholarship offers out of high school, when he was a 31st-round pick of the Athletics, as well as comparisons to NBA slam-dunk champion Blake Griffin. But he’d hit just six home runs his first two seasons at Fresno State before bopping 12 and slugging .655 as a junior. The Yankees took him 32nd overall and signed him for $1.8 million, but a torn quad muscle in his right leg halted his pro debut before it began.
Scouting Report: If his 6-foot-7 frame didn’t give it away, Judge is a physical beast, and has earned physical comparisons with Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton. He shows impressive batting-practice power thanks to his strength and leverage, though some scouts are worried about how well it will translate into games. At his height, it’s hard for his swing path to be short, and he’s not expected to be more than a .260 hitter. He has slightly-above-average speed (he led Fresno State in stolen bases) and a strong arm, and while he can play center field, he profiles better on a corner.
The Future: The Yankees had not spent a first-round pick on a college bat since 2001 (John-Ford Griffin) before taking Eric Jagielo and Judge in 2013. A healthy Judge ought to join Jagielo at low Class A Charleston in 2014, and while Jagielo is more polished, Judge has more upside.
7. Ian Clarkin, lhp
Born: Feb. 14, 1995. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 186. Drafted: HS—San Diego, 2013 (1st round). Signed by: Dave Keith.
Background: Clarkin helped USA Baseball’s 18U national team win gold at the 2012 IBAF World Championship in South Korea, spinning six strong innings in the final to beat Canada. His strong spring pushed him into first-round consideration in 2013, and the Yankees took him with the third of their three first-rounders. He made waves for saying he “couldn’t stand” the Yankees while growing up, but a $1,650,100 bonus offer made that moot. He’s the first prep lefthander the Yankees have drafted in the first round since taking Brien Taylor No. 1 overall in 1991.
Scouting Report: At his best, Clarkin shows three average to above-average pitches. His fastball sits 90-92 mph and touches 94. He flashes a plus curveball with sharp bite and downer action, and he located it well to both sides of the plate as an amateur. He spent time sharpening an inconsistent changeup in instructional league, but the pitch has shown fading action, and he sells it with good arm speed. He’s shown willingness to pitch inside and has a competitive streak.
The Future: Clarkin spent a significant number of days on the disabled list after signing. He twisted his right ankle slipping on a baseball during a workout in Tampa but returned in late August to pitch in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. An assignment to low Class A Charleston in 2014 isn’t out of the question for Clarkin, but a more likely path is extended spring training and a trip to short-season Staten Island.
8. Greg Bird, 1b
Born: Nov. 9, 1992. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 215. Drafted: HS—Aurora, Colo., 2011 (5th round). Signed by: Steve Kmetko.
Background: Though he spent his prep days catching future Oriole Kevin Gausman at Grandview High in Aurora, Colo., Bird was not long for the position. The Yankees bought him out of his Arkansas commitment for $1.1 million in 2011, then gave him a brief look at catcher after he signed and quickly converted him to first base full-time in 2013. He became the first lefthanded hitter for low Class A Charleston to reach 20 home runs since it became a Yankees affiliate while also leading the minors with 107 walks.
Scouting Report: With backstopping in his past, Bird was able to focus more on his offense, where he flourished in 2013. Easily the Yankees’ breakout player of the year, he has a mature offensive approach. He led the South Atlantic League with a .428 on-base percentage, remembers pitch sequences and started to learn which pitches he could drive, hitting 13 of his 20 homers in the second half. Bird’s hit tool is more advanced than his power, and some scouts and SAL managers questioned his future power, noting that his swing has little loft and lacks premium bat speed. Back problems helped prompt his move to first base, and they limit his athleticism and defensive ability, where he has limited range but adequate arm strength. He’s a below-average runner.
The Future: Bird draws comparisons with the Yankees’ primary first baseman in 2013, Lyle Overbay. He’s slated for high Class A Tampa in 2014.
9. Luis Severino, rhp
Born: Feb. 20, 1994. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 195. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2011. Signed by: Juan Rosario.
Background: Most high-profile Yankees signings out of Latin America follow a faster path than Severino, who didn’t sign until he was 17. He received a $225,000 bonus and pitched in the Dominican Summer League in 2012. The Yankees significantly altered his development path in 2013, though, promoting him to low Class A Charleston after he shined in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.
Scouting Report: Equipped with a loose arm, Severino has raw stuff that is as good as any Yankees farmhand, and he has shown the ability to throw plenty of strikes with three pitches. His fastball sits between 93-95 mph and touches the upper 90s often. He has shown a tendency to fall in love with radar-gun readings and overthrow, and he’s better working down in the zone and inducing groundballs. While Severino’s mid-80s slider was his top secondary pitch before he signed, he has developed a solid changeup since signing, and it’s presently the better of the two. His slider still flashes plus but remains inconsistent.
The Future: Severino provided a bright spot in a bleak season for Yankees pitching prospects. His three-pitch mix and strike-throwing ability allows him to profile as a starter. After spending his final four starts with the RiverDogs, he’s slated to return there to start 2014.
10. Gosuke Katoh, 2b
Born: Oct. 8, 1994. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 180. Drafted: HS—San Diego, 2013 (2nd round). Signed by: Dave Keith.
Background: A UCLA signee and friend of Ian Clarkin while growing up in San Diego, Katoh elevated his draft stock with an outstanding performance at the Area Code Games in 2012. He followed that with a strong senior year at Rancho Bernardo High with a .451 average, and he surprised scouts with his developing power, swatting eight homers. The Yankees took him in the second round and quickly inked him for $845,700. Katoh continued to rake in pro ball, tying for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League home run lead (six) while pacing it in triples (five) and ranking second in slugging (.522).
Scouting Report: Katoh may be lean, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t strong. He has plenty of strength in his forearms, which is where he generates his thump despite choking up on the bat, and he has average power potential. He’s a slick, graceful defender around the bag at second base, so much so that the Yankees may try him at shortstop in the future despite his below-average arm. He’s a plus runner who’s still learning to translate that into steals as a pro. Katoh has plenty of patience at the plate, leading to both walks and strikeouts, and he was vulnerable to chasing the high fastball now and again.
The Future: The Yankees’ last wave of middle infielders, 2010 draftees Cito Culver and Angelo Gumbs, haven’t progressed. Katoh will jump to low Class A Charleston, which likely will mute his power, for his full-season debut in 2014.
