Up until 2010, the New York Yankees and the words ‘Farm System’ were rarely used in the same sentence.
Just as the Yankees do with everything and anything, the task of building up a reputable farm system was met with relentless determination to do whatever it took to be deemed one of the best.
As I go through a zillion stats and video clips, some prospects stood out more than others.
Based on all my tireless research and notes from whom I liked down in Tampa, I present my New York Yankees All-Prospect Team.
This list covers all fielding positions and the DH, but not pitching as that talent deserves it’s own article.
**SIDE NOTE: The Yankees looked for certain distinct traits during the 2009-2010 drafts, as they grabbed more overall athletic players with risk, instead of grabbing guys with more definite talent but less upside. This seemed to baffle other teams scouts, as it made no sense when the Yankees could have waited and gotten a majority of these youngsters in later rounds.
Either the Yankees front office is trying to build a young bench, while hoping one or two turn into Brett Gardners’…. OR they will be used as pure trade-bait with no intentions of ever making them the future of the Yankees. Most of these prospects have the potential to be legitimate players, but getting them there is another story. This is purely just my opinion.
CATCHER: Gary Sanchez
This was not an easy choice, but 18-year-old Gary Sanchez has all the best traits of Austin Romine‘s defense and Jesus Montero‘s bat.
The Yankees gave Sanchez $3 million to obtain his talents, but that is a lot of money for a teenager and it can bring distractions. If Sanchez continues to work hard he will be a premier catcher and hitter in the majors.
Sanchez is 6’2″ and 190 pounds, which is a great size to be efficient behind the plate. He has advanced defensive skills, a strong throwing arm but he needs continual practice to perfect using them all together.
He already has above average power offensively and as Sanchez matures physically, so should his bat. Whether Sanchez can mentally stay in check through it all could be his greatest downfall, but my bet is in 2010 he will be one of the top five prospects in baseball.
DH/1B: Jesus Montero
Sorry, but I just don’t see Jesus Montero remaining behind the plate as a catcher. Especially if he stays in pinstripes it just isn’t happening, with all the talent the Yankees have at his position.
This spring did not help the highly coveted Montero’s reputation that he could hit or play defense. It was really ugly and defensively Montero is not a natural catcher, especially standing at 6’5″ and 230 pounds.
Montero has proven himself enough with his bat in the minors to be rated one of the top ten prospects across baseball. I bet some people might have a different vote post-Spring Training.
Montero will be my DH/1B, but that is all. My guess is Montero will never see the Bronx in any other role than as a DH. Montero could possibly, yet highly unlikely be manning first-base down the road too.
There is no other 1B prospect down on the Yankee farm that provides a bat like Montero’s. He can manage first-base just as well as any other youngster because he can hit and this team needs some reliable power.
Should I take that last sentence back??
No, only because these players are all so underdeveloped and this is part of the learning curve to get to the bigs.
2B: Corban Joseph
Second baseman Corban Joseph is said to have the best bat of all the Yankee prospects, behind Jesus Montero.
Even though the Yankees have another 2B prospect, David Adams, who is better defensively, he has been injury prone. Other then his plus arm, Adams is average or below Joseph in most other categories but not by much. He was the player that hindered the Mariners decision on trading Cliff Lee.
Joseph is not ideal either but with hard work, along with hitting the gym to build strength he could be a good second baseman who can hit.
3B: Brandon Laird
Prospect Brandon Laird is currently manning third-base in Scranton, but is on the 40-man roster.
Laird keeps defying odds, as scouts have always wondered if this kid could really make it to the bigs.
Through hard work and constantly improving himself, has shut his naysayers up. The only thing he really needs to improve is his patience at the plate because when he is in the zone Laird can hit for power, as well as average.
Laird won the 2010 Eastern League MVP award and his big brother, Gerald, is currently a MLB catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. I presume as a back up to Molina.
SHORTSTOP: Cito Culver
Most scouts wondered why the Yankees took shortstop Cito Culver in the first round of the 2010 draft. Admittedly, I agreed at the time because Culver’s bat was not even close to being where his defensive abilities were.
The only other shortstop the Yankees ever drafted out of high school was Derek Jeter, so whatever they saw must have been dynamite. Culver, like Jeter is a natural athlete and has baseball instincts. Cito is an above-average defender, with a better than plus arm. But I am sure the fact that he is a switch-hitter got the Yankee scouts dreaming big things.
After reading about Culver, I was in tears. This kid has been literally through hell and back, but baseball remained a constant and an escape from harsh realities.
Culver’s father is in jail for burning down the family’s home on Easter back in 2008. Mr. Culver will remain behind bars for at minimum another six years. Cito, his mother and sisters managed to escape.
Culver is a special kid, who works hard and he wants to be the shortstop of the New York Yankees. Well, I think this young man will go get it.
OF: Slade Heathcott
Outfielder Slade Heathcott is described as Austin Jackson, but with way more potential. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: All-Prospect Team Position by Position’ »
This will be a long summer in the Bronx if the bats don’t wake up 
