One of the very many things I love about Baseball, and one of the few things Manfred can’t get rid of, is that they have a farm system.  A true minor league.  Basketball has the G League but it’s only one level and only 2 or 3 guys on the team are actually on the NBA clubs’ teams.  The NHL has the AHL but again, it’s only one level and the best prospects play Major Junior hockey until they are 20 years old.  With baseball, as soon as you are drafted and sign with the team (rather than go to college) you enter their minor league system.  I love seeing who the Yankees have coming up through their system.  I love following prospects and figuring out who is good and who isn’t.   Sometimes I am better at it than Cashman is.  I remember begging them to call up Severino when he was dominating the minors.  Or looking forward to the big kid Judge who keeps mashing long balls on every level.  I usually follow the top prospects but I love finding guys who come out of nowhere.  Like when I was clamoring for Rob Refsnyder to get called up and looking forward to Garrett Whitlock getting the call.  They are both productive players for the Red Sox now.  So, here we are.  Another season of Prospect watching.  I have to preface this by pointing out that I am doing this mostly through stats and I don’t get to see these guys actually play.  I always say the best way to tell if a player in any sport is good or not is to watch them play day in and day out.  I just have no way of doing that so I have to rely on stats.  So here we go…

Spencer Jones—The Yankees top prospect (outside of the Martian) was untouchable in the offseason and rightfully so.  He has started the year in AA Somerset but if his start is any indication, he won’t be there long.  After starting the season injured, Jones is getting off on the right foot.  Through 11 games Jones is hitting .348 with 2 home runs, 8 RBIs, 3 doubles, a triple, 5 walks and 12 strike outs.  Not too shabby.  A little light on the power numbers so far but we know that will come.  The .348 average is impressive but probably not sustainable.  The Strike outs are still a little high but with his size, they are always going to be an issue (see Judge, Aaron). 

Brock Selvidge—I have to admit I had not heard of Selvidge until this spring training.  Selvidge was the guy who started for the Yankees in the prospects game against Toronto.  The Lefty grabbed my attention in that game.  After cruising through the first few innings, Brock gave up a lead off triple.  The kid then locked in and struck out the next three hitters and left the runner at third.  That impressed me and made me think the Yankees might have something here.  Guys who will battle like that will always be more valuable than their stats say they are.  Guys like Cone and Pettitte.  Selvidge is also in AA Somerset and is off to a good start as well.  He’s only gotten better and better in each of his 4 starts.  His last start was a 7 inning 0 run, 2 hit, 0 walk 11 strike out gem.  So far this season he has given up 4 earned runs in 21 innings for a 1.71 ERA.  (quick aside, he has given up 4 unearned runs.  The Patriots defense must be awful, they have given up 20 unearned runs in 21 games so far this season).  He has allowed 7 base on balls and racked up 26 strike outs.  You really can’t ask for more 4 starts into the season.  Like Jones, if he keeps this up, he won’t be in AA for long. 

George Lombard—Last year’s first round pick is off to a bit of an interesting start.  He is only hitting .237 in his 16 games so far but has a .438 OBP.  It’s kind of ridiculous to have an on base percentage 200 points higher than your batting average.  He has reached base in all but one game and has a 4 walk game, two 3 walk games and three 2 walk games.  Clearly, he has a great batting eye.  He has 20 walks and only 19 strike outs so far.  The 18-year-old doesn’t have much power yet as he has only 2 extra base hits, both of them doubles.  He is also 9-1 stealing bases.  He is hitting .333 vs lefties but really needs to improve verse same side pitchers.  The kid has also played all over the infield, which can hurt his hitting having to adjust to a new position every few games as a young player. 

Ben Rice—Rice was off to a good start but then went through a 0 for 17 stretch hurt his numbers.  Playing both catcher and 1^st base, Rice is hitting .256 through 20 games so far for, you guessed it, AA Summerset.  (I’m starting to wish I lived in NJ and could go to these games) The lefty it actually hitting 31 points higher against lefties than he is righties thus far.  He has 9 home runs and 3 doubles but only 9 RBIs, which is low for someone with that many homers.  24 Ks and 13 BBs is about what you would expect from him.  I think it is interesting that they still have him playing both first and catching.  It would be a great option to have if he can make it to the big leagues as a first baseman but be able to also be a third catcher.  There would be strategic advantages to having a player like that.   

Caleb Derbin—Derbin is off to a hot start in AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Here after known as AAA Scranton).  Derbin is playing all over the field.  He has games at 2B, SS, 3B, LF, and even a game in Center.  The Speedy utility player doesn’t have much power, only 2 long balls, but he definitely puts his speed to use.  He has 9 doubles and a triple all ready and has stolen 12 in 13 attempts.  He has an impressive 21 RBIs which shows he can hit when it matters.  He also has an impressive 21 walks to 14 strike outs.  It has only been 26 games, and that’s a small sample size, but at what point to the Yankees consider calling this kid up.  I know you usually don’t want young guys sitting on the bench in the Majors when they can play every day in the minors but at some point, you have to make the move.  The Yankees don’t have much of a bench.  He would be great as a pinch runner.  He plays everywhere.  And he hits.  He hit .304 at three levels last season and he even hit .313 in spring training.  Clearly if someone in the line up goes down, he needs to be the guy they need to call up as a replacement, but I don’t know if they shouldn’t be looking to add him to the roster before that. 

Those are the five guys I will following all season.  If some one else starts to stand out I will add them to the list.  There are other top prospects in the Yankees system but these are the ones I am interested in so far.