The 2024 minor league regular season has come to an end.  Thus, this will be my last Prospect watch of the year.  The Yankees had some high-end prospects this year and most of them had good seasons.  It’s going to be interesting to see how many of the young players get a chance to make the Show next season and if any of them are traded for improvements to the Big-League roster.  Let’s see how they ended the 2024 campaign.   

Jasson Dominguez—Outfield—AAA Scranton—The Martian has been called up to the Majors.  Hopefully this will be the last time he ever appears on my Prospects watch. 

Ben Rice—Catcher/First Base—AAA Scranton—After being returned to the minors, Rice had a really big September.  In 19 games he hit .269 with 9 home runs, 23 RBIs, 20 Runs, a Double, a Stolen base, and 17 walks to 16 Ks.  He had a .421 OBP and a 1.107 OPS.  That is how you go back and don’t pout about being demoted but show them you are still working on getting back to the Show.  Hopefully Ben learned what he needs to work on to be this kind of hitter in the Majors and spends the off season doing just that.  I don’t know what Rizzo’s plans are for next season or if he is in the Yankees plans but you would think Rice will get a chance to earn the first base job in the spring.

TJ Rumfield–1st Base–AAA Scranton—Hopefully Rice’s competition comes from fellow prospect Rumfield.  TJ also had a really nice September.  In 14 games he hit .356 with 3 home runs, 11 RBIs, 7 Runs, and a .442 OBP.  For the season he hit .297 with 15 longs balls, 73 RBIs, 27 2 baggers, 77 Runs, and 49 walks to 81 Ks in 121 games.  He doesn’t have the power that Rice has but he is a better contact hitter.  He is also a natural first baseman where as Rice is a converted catcher. 

Caleb Durbin—Infielder—AAA Scranton—Durbin returned to action in September but didn’t really get going again until the last week.  He finished the season on a 4-game hitting streak.  Here is something that scares me about Caleb, he hit 7 of his 10 home runs in the last 90 days.  His batting average has fallen to .264 in that time and in September he struck out more than he walked.  I really hope he is not selling out for power now.  Not everyone has to be a power hitter, hit high average and low strike out rate is the type of hitter the Yankees can use.  Hopefully he returns to that type of hitter.  For the season he hit .275 with 10 dingers, 25 doubles, 2 triples, 60 RBIs, 31 Stolen bases, 53 walks and only 40 Ks in only 90 games.  He spent a lot of time rehabbing this season, I would think if he can stay healthy, he would put up better, more consistent numbers.   

Spencer Jones—Outfielder–AA Somerset—Jones ended his streak of sucking every other month when he hit .282 in September with 5 homers, 5 doubles, 2 triples, and 11 RBIs in 18 games.  If he finds his consistency, he will be the hitter everyone thinks he can be.  Hopefully it’s in Sacramento but that’s another discussion for another time.  For the season the big lefty hit .262 with 19 round trippers, 30 2 baggers, 6 triples, 82 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases.  He also struck out a ridiculous 204 times in 126 games.  That really, really needs to come down if he wants to be a Major League hitter. 

Brock Selvidge—Pitcher—AA Somerset—As I mentioned last time, Brock had a season ending injury.  I have no idea what the injury is, we can only hope Brock will be ready to go next spring.

George Lombard—Shortstop—A+ Hudson Valley—George adjusted pretty nicely to his new level.  In the 12 games he played in September he hit .283 with 7 doubles and a .389 OBP.  Small sample size but that’s pretty good.  The 19-year-old finished his first full professional season (he played 13 games last season) hitting .233 with 5 homers, 29 doubles, 2 triples, 49 RBIs, and 39 stolen bases.  He got better with each month until he was promoted, but then, as I mentioned, he finished strong.  All in all, a nice first season for the former first round pick. 

Well, that does it for this years Prospect watch.  Come back next year as we continue to follow these young players and others who pique my interest.