In the second installment of our Players Likely to Debut series, the focus shifts to the New York Yankees. If you didn’t see Monday’s list, here’s a look at where it all started.
AL East: Red Sox
Below, you will find a list of three prospects from their organization. Each prospect will also have a number score next to their name — this number will represent the estimated amount of time we anticipate that player seeing at the big-league level. Players that have already made their big-league debut will not be included on this list.
BREAKDOWN OF TIME ON ROSTER SCORES:
1 — September call-ups / guys that are likely to see less than 20-25 games on the roster
2 — 1/4 of the season (roughly 40 games on roster)
3 — 1/2 of the season (roughly 80 games on roster)
4 — 3/4 of the season (roughly 120 games on roster)
5 — Full season on the MLB roster
NEW YORK YANKEES
Position — Name (Time on Roster Score)
The Yankees’ system is loaded with several pitching prospects we could see make their debut in 2021. In addition, the club has a few positional players with high ceilings, despite most of them being a year or two away. New York has good pitching depth in their system that could provide an impact in 2021 since they, once again, look like early favorites in the AL East.
RHP-Luis Medina (1)
The 6-foot-3 right-hander spent time at the alternate site in 2020, and there was a reason for that. He flashes three plus pitches, a fastball that touched 102mph, a power curve, and a changeup. Plus, as Kyler Peterson discussed on his live look back in April 2019, he “will not be able to get past advanced hitters until control is refined.” He is projected to start the season at the Yankees’ new Double-A affiliate in Somerset, NJ. If he can work on the control of his secondary pitchers, there’s a chance you could see him in September.
RHP-Luis Gil (1)
Another hard-throwing right-handed starter in the Yankees system, Gil made two starts in the Dominican Winter League for Tigres del Licey. Just like Medina, the primary focus is to work on control. His slider was making headlines at the Yankees’ alternate site, which is a good compliment to his plus fastball. Gil is expected to join Medina at Double-A Somerset.
RHP-Alexander Vizcaino (2)
Vizcaino got a 40-man roster spot this off-season, and rightfully so. The right-hander, who turns 24 years old in May, turned heads with 101 strikeouts in 87.2 innings at Charleston in 2019 before earning a promotion to Tampa. Traditionally a starter in the minors, he spent the spring of 2020 pitching out of the bullpen. He throws a fastball, slider, and a plus changeup. He’s one of the best athletes in the Yankees system and like the previously mentioned arms, also posses a fastball with heat. He might be the closest of the group and may earn a call up to the Yankees bullpen if he can succeed in Double-A.
Notable:
A 2020 first-round draft pick, Austin Wells could be a fast riser in the Yankees’ system. The catcher hit .308 for Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape Cod League in 2019 so adjusting to wood bats should not be an issue. It would be a long shot for Wells to get a September call up — as he is not on the 40-man roster — but he is a player to watch.
Another name that was added to the 40-man roster this off-season, righty Roansy Contreras is also a long shot to get a September bump. Pitching at High-A for the first time, you’ll want to monitor his success as he could climb quickly.
Photo Credit: Newsday