As a perennial contender, the Yankees system often goes overlooked in favor of people fawning over the many superstars currently roaming in the Bronx. Despite that, the system does have some nice pieces and I am excited to dive right in. It’s been almost a full year since I last did these rankings and while not having a MiLB season means it will look eerily similar, there are some new additions and a few risers that are worth keeping an eye on.
Note: These Top 50 lists are all done through a fantasy baseball focused lens. Many players who are ranked higher or lower on other platforms will get a boost here. For example, players who profile as middle relievers or glove-first infielders likely won’t have much fantasy relevance, so they won’t be ranked as high.
1. OF Jasson Dominguez
Age: 17
Highest Level: N/A
There’s no change at the top as Jasson Dominguez, often known as the Martian, still looks like a future superstar. While he is still yet to take an AB of pro ball, many scouts and prospect analysts won’t stop raving about how he has the potential to be a true 5-tool player. The ball explodes off his bat and he displays a natural feel at the plate, meaning if all breaks right he could potentially be the next face of baseball. Be wary that he is still extremely young, so he does have significant risk to go along with the potential.
ETA: 2025
2. RHP Deivi Garcia
Age: 21
Highest Level: MLB
Still a prospect after pitching most of 2020 in the MLB, Deivi Garcia has a plus fastball that sits 93-96 mph with decent movement and outstanding command. His secondary pitches include a curveball that has an extremely high spin-rate and a changeup with good depth, both of which project as plus pitches at the MLB level. He had levels of sustained success in the MLB this year, so look for him to build on that as he becomes more established during the 2021 season.
ETA: Debuted
3. RHP Clarke Schmidt
Age: 24
Highest Level: MLB
Clarke Schmidt debuted with the Yankees in 2020 and struggled during his first cup of coffee. However, there is no reason for concern as he has an outstanding four-pitch mix which includes both a low-80s curveball and high-80s slider, along with a plus fastball and a developing changeup. Schmidt is one of the older prospects on this list at 24 but has only logged 124.2 career minor league innings due to being drafted out of college and losing a season due to Tommy John. Look for him to establish himself with the big club in 2021, whether that be in the bullpen or being the first man up to join the rotation when the inevitable injury bug eventually hits the Bronx.
ETA: Debuted
4. RHP Luis Gil
Age: 22
Highest Level: High-A
The definition of a power arm, Luis Gil definitely has overpowering stuff. He repeatedly pushes triple digits while developing a power curve with a tight spin rate and a decent change that has the potential to become a plus pitch. The downside is Gil sometimes struggles with command, often due to his difficulty in repeating his delivery and release point. If he fixes this, he has a good chance of being a high-impact starter, but he also has significant reliever risk. See if he can make the jump into the upper minors in 2021 and make up for the lost year of development that was 2020.
ETA: 2021
5. OF Estevan Florial
Age: 23
Highest Level: Alternate Training Site
An extremely toolsy outfielder who has struggled to put it all together at times, Estevan Florial has the potential to become a 30/30 outfielder with a plus arm. He has plus-plus speed to go with plus power, but is very raw and struggles to make consistent contact. In 2020, Florial was a part of the Yankees Alternate Training Site, where reports of him continuing to struggle has put some prospect evaluators on pause about his long-term potential. Despite that, I’ll wait to see how he fares in the 2021 minor league season before dumping him any further down prospect lists.
ETA: 2022
6. C Austin Wells
Age: 21
Highest Level: N/A
An offensive-minded catcher drafted in the first round this past draft, Wells can flat out rake. He won Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and hit .357/.476/.560 over his collegiate career. While his bat will carry him to the show, some scouts question as to whether or not he will stick behind the plate. His defense is good but not great, and while I believe the Yankees give him every opportunity to stay there, don’t be surprised if he changes positions if the defense lags behind the bat too much.
ETA: 2023
7. RHP Miguel Yajure
Age: 22
Highest Level: MLB
Miguel Yajure is different from many of the other arms in the Yankees system. He isn’t raw with overpowering talents but instead polished and very much under control with his command. That isn’t to say he won’t become dominant though as Yajure comfortably sits 92-95 mph with an outstanding changeup. He also has a plus cutter and a curveball that have the potential to be at least league average. His true best tool however is his command, which is excellent and allows him to go deep into starts. Yajure made his MLB debut in 2020 and had success over 7 IP. Look for him to begin the season in AAA before being among the first reinforcements in the Bronx.
ETA: Debuted
8. OF Antonio Cabello
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie
A former catcher, Antonio Cabello tore up the GCL in 2018 before struggling a little bit in Pulaski. He has elite bat speed to go along with his plus speed and arm. He also has received outstanding praise for his gamesmanship and baseball knowledge, likely due to his background as a catcher. Defensively, he should be able to stick in center field long term but will need to continue to find success against better pitching if he hopes to move up the ladder.
ETA: 2024
9. 2B/SS Maikol Escotto
Age: 18
Highest Level: Rookie (DSL)
Another international signee from the J2 class, Maikol Escotto is the first infielder on this list. He tore up the DSL in 2019, slashing .315/.429/.552, with 8 HR, 26 RBI, and 13 SB in 45 games. The true test will be when he comes stateside, as too many players have had success in the Dominican Republic only to struggle stateside. Despite that, I am a big believer in Escotto, as he has excellent bat-to-ball skills and has shown good power. He also has good speed as evidenced by his stolen bases, and seems like he could be a solid all-around player.
ETA: 2024
10. OF Kevin Alcantara
Age: 18
Highest Level: Rookie (DSL)
Talk about a toolsy kid. Kevin Alcantara stands at 6-foot-6 and 190 pounds with room to grow as an 18-year-old. He currently has plus speed but also has potential for a plus arm, power, and hit tool. At times his swing can get long, but he has shown that he is willing to put the work in and make adjustments. Given his age and size, he is naturally very raw but has the potential for superstardom, should he manage to put it all together.
ETA: 2025
11. RHP Luis Medina
Age: 21
Highest Level: High-A
The Yankees love hard-throwing RHPs with room to grow, and Luis Medina certainly fits the profile of a hard-throwing international signee. He sometimes struggles with command, but should he master his control he will be one to watch. Both of his secondary pitches, a change and curve, grade as plus pitches and have the potential to be weapons at the MLB level. Medina truly is a boom-or-bust prospect, with the potential to become an ace or flame out in the minors. It really does come down to if he can learn to command his pitches.
ETA: 2022
12. RHP Yoendrys Gomez
Age: 21
Highest Level: Low-A
Yoendrys Gomez signed out of Venezuela in 2016 and has been slowly moving through the Yankees system. He has a solid three-pitch mix which includes a fastball that ranges from 92-97 mph, a 12-6 curveball, and a changeup that is behind the others. If he continues to develop his changeup, he could turn into a decent mid-rotation starter, however, Gomez has significant reliever risk if he only focuses on his two main pitches. Gomez also needs to improve his command a touch if he hopes to remain on the starter track.
ETA: 2023
13. OF Canaan Smith
Age: 21
Highest Level: Low-A
Canaan Smith is someone who is constantly undervalued. In 2019, he excelled at Low-A Charleston to the tune of .307/.405/.465 with 32 doubles, 11 homers, and 16 steals in 124 games. He profiles as a corner outfielder who can give you 25/15 with a very high on-base percentage. In leagues that use OBP over AVG, he can be ranked even higher, as he has an outstanding eye and isn’t afraid to take a walk. Look for him to start 2021 in High-A, where it will be interesting to see if he can continue his success there.
ETA: 2023
14. OF Anthony Garcia
Age: 20
Highest Level: Rookie
A pure power bat, Anthony Garcia will be putting light towers past the fences on notice with his mammoth power from both sides of the plate. The one note of concern is his 41% strikeout rate, which needs to come way down if Garcia hopes to continue to have success at more advanced levels. If he cuts down on those strikeouts, look for him to profile as an above-average corner bat who will be good for 40-plus homers per season.
ETA: 2024
15. SS Alexander Vargas
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie (DSL)
A defense-first shortstop who is paper-thin, Alexander Vargas is great defensively and has decent bat-to-ball skills at the plate. He is a plus runner with 15 steals, but he has little to no power and needs to get stronger if he wishes to continue to advance within the system. If he does this, he could develop into a solid speedster who occasionally provides a little pop with the bat and can be a regular on your fantasy team.
ETA: 2024
16. RHP Osiel Rodriguez
Age: 18
Highest Level: Rookie (DSL)
Rodriguez was one of the top prospects in the 2017 J2 class but hasn’t pitched much since signing due to a significant shoulder injury. When he has pitched, he has shown the potential to be a frontline starter with four plus pitches, including a fastball that runs up to 97 mph, a curve and slider which each give hitters a different look, and a changeup that has the potential to develop splitter-like action. However, he sometimes struggled to repeat his delivery which led to control problems, sometimes inflating the number of runners he would allow on base.
ETA: 2024
17. SS Anthony Volpe
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie
A solid all-around prospect, Anthony Volpe has good bat-to-ball skills and makes significant contact to all fields. He is still developing his power but should give a solid AVG and OBP at the MLB level. Defensively, he has an outstanding baseball IQ along with quick hands and an arm that will play around the diamond. Look for Volpe to move to full-season ball in 2021 where he should be able to continue to put up solid offensive numbers and continue to climb up the minor-league ladder.
ETA: 2023
18. OF Raimfer Salinas
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie (GCL)
Another young toolsy OF in rookie ball, Raimfer Salinas has solid bat speed and makes consistent contact to all fields. He should be able to stick in CF long term and has the potential to go 25/25 at the MLB level if everything clicks for him. Defensively, he has a plus arm and reads the ball well off the bat. Look for him to start the season in extended spring training, before potentially moving up to full-season if all goes well.
ETA: 2024
19. RHP Roansy Contreras
Age: 21
Highest Level: Low-A
Roansy Contreras has the textbook look of a mid-level starter. His fastball sits 92-97, but plays up due to his high spin rate and ability to get it to jump out of his hand. As for his secondary pitches, Contreras’ curveball is ahead of his changeup, which he needs to develop further if he wishes to continue to have success. His curveball currently sits in the mid-70s and has good, late-breaking action. Look for Contreras to make the jump to Tampa in 2021 and continue to progress through the minors.
ETA: 2022
20. OF Everson Pereira
Age: 19
Highest Level: Short-season A
Everson Pereira was solid in the Advanced Rookie Appalachian League in 2018 before struggling as a young 18-year-old in the NYPL in 2019. He has impressive bat speed with a gap-to-gap approach, spraying line drives all around the field. Defensively, he has the tools to stick in CF where he gets good reads off the bat, takes solid routes, and has an arm that will play. Look for Pereira to try and earn a spot in Low-A with a solid spring training. If he struggles, he will likely stay in extended before debuting in full-season ball.
ETA: 2024
21. 2B/OF Trevor Hauver
Age: 22
Highest Level: N/A
Drafted in the third round out of Arizona State in 2020, Hauver played mainly outfield in college but the Yankees seem keen to try him as a second baseman to start in the minors. He projects as a solid hitter whose bat should at least put him on prospect radars. In OBP leagues, he gets a bump as he has shown the ability to get on base. In terms of power, I could see him hitting 20 HRs in the majors if everything breaks right for him.
22. C Anthony Seigler
Age: 21
Highest Level: Low-A
Another contact hitter from both sides of the plate, Anthony Seigler is a gap-to-gap hitter who will rack up his share of doubles while occasionally putting one over the fence. While he will never be a speedster, Seigler has good speed for a catcher and shouldn’t clog up the bases. Defensively, Seigler excels and has a gold-glove future behind the plate due to his strong receiving skills and plus arm. He is still extremely young and also played only 30 games in 2019 due to injury, so look for him to return to Low-A to start 2021 before potentially moving up to Tampa.
ETA: 2023
23. RHP Alexander Vizcaino
Age: 23
Highest Level: High-A
Alexander Vizcaino has a plus fastball that can reach triple digits and a devastating changeup that is 90-plus mph to go along with a developing curve that has the potential to be at least an average pitch. The problem is that he struggles with command, meaning his stuff often fails to reach its full potential. If he refines his command, he could become a No. 3 starter in the big leagues. However, if he fails to do so, he may wind up in the bullpen or simply being a depth piece.
ETA: 2022
24. RHP Michael King
Age: 25
Highest Level: MLB
The opposite of most guys on this list, Michael King is an older prospect who focuses on control and command rather than overpowering stuff. His control can be considered elite with his fastball, which sits 92-95 mph and generates a ton of ground balls. Both of his secondary pitches, a slider, and a changeup, also grade out as at least average with plus control. King debuted all the way back in 2019 but has struggled both times he’s made it up to the big club. Look for him to take a step forward in 2021 or be relegated to AAA depth.
ETA: Debuted
25. RHP Albert Abreu
Age: 25
Highest Level: MLB
A former top prospect, Albert Abreu made his Bronx debut in 2020, and unfortunately, it did not go as planned. Despite that, he has what some consider to be four plus pitches, including a fastball that tops out at 101 with movement and a nasty slider that moves away from right-handers. At times he struggles with command, which leads some to believe he will be better suited in the pen; however, I believe his stuff is good enough to start if he continues to develop and progress.
ETA: Debuted
26. LHP T.J. Sikkema
Age: 22
Highest Level: Short-season A
After 12 RHPs to start this list, T.J. Sikkema clocks in as the top lefty in the Yankees system. He also throws from a lower arm slot, where he usually sits 89-91 with good crossfire movement. His slider has a very high spin rate that has the potential to be a wipeout pitch out of the pen. Sikkema has one of the highest floors in the Yankees system and could move up the ladder very quickly where he should be a dominant left-handed reliever or a back of the rotation starter.
ETA: 2021
27. RHP Beck Way
Age: 21
Highest Level: N/A
A Junior College prospect, Way has a mid 90s fastball and complements it with a plus changeup and a developing slider. If all breaks right, he could be a back-end starter however at this point I foresee him being starter depth. He was a 4th Round draft pick in 2020.
28. C Josh Breaux
Age: 23
Highest Level: Low-A
A big bat from behind the plate, Josh Breaux will put up massive power numbers along with a massive amount of strikeouts. However, he will need to cut those down if he would like to continue to progress up the minor leagues. Defensively, Breaux had a plus arm but struggles with his receiving and blocking. Overall, he has potential but is very raw.
ETA: 2023
29. RHP Nick Nelson
Age: 23
Highest Level: MLB
Nick Nelson is a high strikeout pitcher who made his debut in 2020, which always means he has the potential to break out in a bigger way than expected. Currently, Nelson has a solid four-pitch mix which includes a fastball that sits 94-98, and three secondary pitches that are still developing. Look for him to return to Triple-A to start in 2021, where he will serve as organizational depth until injuries allow him to get back to New York.
ETA: Debuted
30. 2B Josh Smith
Age: 23
Highest Level: Short-season A
Josh Smith is your typical solid across the board middle infielder, who will do everything well but nothing exceptional. At the plate, he sprays the ball all over the field with a line drive approach and makes consistent contact within the strike zone. As he was drafted out of college, he is older than a lot of his peers so look for him to advance to at least Low-A in 2021 with the possibility of Tampa later this year.
ETA: 2023
31. OF Ryder Green
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie
Ryder Green has the potential to become an above-average right fielder in the Bronx but to do that must cut down on his strikeouts, as he tends to try and hit everything and expand the zone at times. He also often struggled to make consistent contact within the zone, rolling over into ground balls frequently. Look for Green to continue to harness his tools as he transitions into full-season ball in 2021.
ETA: 2024
32. SS Oswald Peraza
Age: 20
Highest Level: Low-A
Oswald Peraza is another typical all-around middle infielder who does everything well but nothing exceptional. He has decent speed with 23 SBs, should be able to develop good power, and makes consistent contact. Despite all this, for Peraza to become an everyday player, he will need to break out in a big way, which is something I, unfortunately, struggle to see him doing. Look for him to advance to High-A in 2021 where he should be a solid if unspectacular player. He is ranked much higher by MLB and frankly, I struggle to see why.
ETA: 2022
33. RHP Garrett Whitlock
Age: 24
Highest Level: AA
Garrett Whitlock definitely profiles as a reliever, as his low sidearm delivery produces a fastball that generates a ton of ground balls and a slider that generates significant swing and miss. Sitting at 6-5, Whitlock creates a unique look for hitters and often forces them to hit the ball somewhere other than the sweet spot of the barrel. Look for him to advance to Triple-A in 2021 with a promotion to New York potentially on the horizon.
ETA: 2021
34. RHP Matt Sauer
Age: 21
Highest Level: Low-A
Matt Sauer has a decent amount of potential but has unfortunately been bitten by the injury bug to start his professional career. In 2019, Sauer only pitched two games before undergoing Tommy John but showed a solid fastball and a plus curveball, along with a developing slider. He has the potential to be a mid-rotation starter in the big leagues if everything breaks right for him. Look for him to return to Low-A once he comes back from injury, before eventually making his way up to Tampa.
ETA: 2023
35. C Antonio Gomez
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie (DSL)
A young catcher in the DSL, Antonio Gomez performed well in 2019 to the tune of .288/.351/.442 in 15 games. He is a strong defensive catcher with a plus-plus arm and solid receiving skills. I envision him continuing to develop his bat and predict that this time next year he will be a lot higher than 36 on this list.
ETA: 2024
36. RHP Nolan Martinez
Age: 22
Highest Level: Low-A
Nolan Martinez has a lot of raw potential, including having a very high spin rate that makes his fastball appear that much better. Despite this, he has struggled as a pro because of injuries and not fully progressing as he should. I am a little bit down on Martinez compared to some other writers, but, hopefully, he proves me wrong and becomes a mid-level starter.
ETA: 2022
37. 2B Ezequiel Duran
Age: 21
Highest Level: Short-season A
A power first second basemen, Ezequiel Duran led the NYPL with 13 homers in 2019 and will definitely be able to hit at the next level. He also has decent speed and defensive tools but is prone to frequent strikeouts. Look for Duran to work on that as he continues to progress to the next level. He should open 2020 in Low-A and it will be interesting to see if his power will translate to the more advanced pitching.
ETA: 2022
38. OF Josh Stowers
Age: 23
Highest Level: Low-A
Josh Stowers has excellent plate discipline and can hit the ball to all fields but doesn’t project as having much power. Defensively, he has decent speed but might be relegated to a corner OF position in the future, where his arm will still play and his speed will help him become an elite defender. Look for him to move to Tampa in 2021 where it will be a make-or-break year for Stowers.
ETA: 2022
39. OF Brandon Lockridge
Age: 23
Highest Level: Low-A
Another 23-year-old OF who played in Low-A, Brandon Lockridge is a pure speedster who has plus-plus speed in the outfield and on the bases. He also has developing power, which makes him an intriguing power-speed combo that you usually wouldn’t find this low down on prospect lists. Look for Lockridge to advance to Tampa in 2021 where it will be interesting to see if his bat and power can keep up with his speed against more advanced pitching.
ETA: 2023
40. RHP Frank German
Age: 23
Highest Level: High-A
If all breaks right, Frank German could be a back-of-the-rotation starter due to his mid-90s fastball, tight slider, and a deceiving changeup. He can repeat his delivery well and should continue to advance through the system. However, nothing really excites me about German, so 2021 will be a big year for him to see if he can break out.
ETA: 2021
41. 1B Dermis Garcia
Age: 22
Highest Level: High-A
Well, this is a rare sighting, as prospect No. 43 is the first corner infielder in the Yankees’ system. Dermis Garcia, like most 1B prospects, has significant raw power and the potential to put up 40-plus bombs per season. Unfortunately, he also tends to struggle to make consistent contact and is prone to strikeouts. Defensively, he has a cannon for an arm but is only adequate at 1B, leading some to believe he could have a future on the mound if he is unable to cut down his strikeouts.
ETA: 2022
42. 1B Chris Gittens
Age: 26
Highest Level: Double-A
An older 1B prospect, Chris Gittens did nothing short of rake in Double-A during the 2019 season. He had an OBP of almost .400, with 23 HRs which led him to be named the Eastern League MVP. At the plate, he generates plus power while remaining consistent throughout the zone which leads me to believe he could have a solid MLB career. Look for him to get a shot in 2021, whether that be in New York or via some sort of trade to a team with less depth.
ETA: 2021
43. OF Jacob Sanford
Age: 23
Highest Level: Short-season A
A Canadian kid from Nova Scotia, Jacob Sanford has plus bat speed and has the potential to develop into an everyday corner outfielder. He has a very strong work ethic which allows him to continue to develop, meaning there is a good chance he is higher on this prospect list during the mid-season update.
ETA: 2023
44. RHP Glenn Otto
Age: 24
Highest Level: High-A
I see Glenn Otto as a potentially devastating late-game reliever due to his plus fastball and electrifying curveball. His curve is a true 12-6, meaning he sometimes struggles to control it but can get hitters to break out their sand wedge when it is working. I am higher on Otto than most, mainly because I believe in the value of quality relievers, but I still expect Otto to move up prospect boards while moving into the upper minors in 2021.
ETA: 2022
45. RHP Jio Orozco
Age: 23
Highest Level: High-A
Jio Orozco is a solid if not spectacular prospect who has three average to above-average pitches and commands the ball well. He has clean mechanics, where he can repeat his delivery and thus get consistent results. Look for him to advance to Double-A in 2021 where if all goes well, we could see Orozco being well on his way to a back-end starter role.
ETA: 2022
46. OF Isiah Gilliam
Age: 24
Highest Level: AA
Isiah Gilliam is a solid switch-hitter with more pop from the right side, where he is also a better contact hitter. Defensively, Gilliam rates out as average or above average across the board but doesn’t stick out in any one category, which leads me to believe he is a fourth outfielder at best.
ETA: 2022
47. LHP Jake Agnos
Age: 22
Highest Level: Short-season A
I could see Jake Agnos being fast-tracked to the big leagues as a reliever, where his plus curveball will complement his fastball as a dominant two-pitch mix. Agnos also has a history of success, having being named the AAC’s 2019 pitcher of the year.
ETA: 2022
48. SS Hoy Jun Park
Age: 24
Highest Level: Double-A
A solid all-around shortstop, Hoy Jun Park could have sneaky double-digit power and will contribute solid defense at multiple infield spots. He also possesses plus speed which he should utilize more in the future. Look for him to begin the year at Triple-A, where his performance will dictate if he remains on pace to become a starter or fills into a utility infielder role.
ETA: 2021
49. SS Wilkerman Garcia
Age: 22
Highest Level: High-A
A multi-million dollar signing in 2015, Wilkerman Garcia has slowly progressed through the Yankees system and is working his way towards AA. He has a line drive approach, where he generates a decent amount of contact and can get on base at a good clip. Defensively, he should have no problem sticking at shortstop. Look for him to move towards the upper minors in 2021 where he will have to prove he can be more than a defense-first utility infielder.
ETA: 2023
50. UTIL Roberto Chirinos
Age: 20
Highest Level: Rookie
An all-around player with above average speed, Chirinos is behind several others on the Yankees depth chart but has good defensive flexibility which should enhance the chance he gets to the big league level. Offensively, he is more of a gap to gap hitter at the moment, however should he add more in-game power I wouldn’t be surprised if he climbed this list quickly.
ETA: 2023
Photos by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Michael Packard (@designsbypack on Twitter & IG)