Gary Sanchez stole the show with 20 home runs in 53 games last season. In early May of 2017, Aaron Judge is pacing the big leagues with 15 shots. The New York Yankees still have potential breakout players waiting in the wings. Here are five studs who deserve our attention in the coming years as they navigate Scranton and/or Trenton.
Future New York Yankees Stars Rising
Triple-A: Scranton RailRiders
Outfielder Clint Frazier
Acquired via Andrew Miller Trade in July 2016
Frazier struggled out of the gate, hitting just .224 in the month of April, and striking out 20 times in 17 games. But in May, it appears he has turned a corner. Frazier has 13 RBI and is getting on base at a .377 clip during the season’s second month. With the current outfield logjam, it’s tough to envision Frazier being with the big club this year, especially if the Yankees are still in the playoff picture late in the year.
Outfielder Dustin Fowler
Drafted in 18th Round of 2013 Draft
From a first round draft pick to an 18th rounder. Fowler has flown under the radar most of his Yankee career, and quietly earned a spot on the Triple-A squad after a nice showing in Spring Training. In 36 games with the RailRiders, he’s already hit five homers, driven in 11 runs, and is hitting to a great .898 OPS. There are still a few issues to be ironed out, such as Fowler’s 31:11 K:BB totals and his 5:4 SB:CS ratio. However, it’s only a matter of time before he starts to climb, nay, soar up those prospect boards.
Double-A: Trenton Thunder
Second Baseman Thairo Estrada
Signed as an International Free Agent in 2012
You’re probably lying if you say you’ve heard of Thairo Estrada. He was signed as in international free agent in 2012 for a grand total of $49,000. Estrada is finally turning a corner in his first year in Trenton. Through 38 games, Estrada’s posted a great .424 on base percentage, and an (arguably) even better .882 OPS. His numbers do not pop off the charts, but they are consistent, a quality that is extremely important when evaluating minor leaguers. Thairo has walked just as many times as he has struck out (14). Unfortunately for him, the Yankees have a pretty good second baseman in Starlin Castro. For now, Estrada is busy becoming one of the Yankees’ best-kept secrets.
Shortstop Gleyber Torres
Acquired from Cubs in Aroldis Chapman trade
Now here’s a prospect you have definitely heard of. Venezuelan-born Gleyber Torres was the main piece in the Chapman trade last July. After an impressive showing in the end of 2016, Torres was placed into the conversation of best prospect in baseball. Most lists have him slotted in at either #2 or #3. He got off to a scalding start in 2017 before being placed on the 10-day DL. But Gleyber is back. On the season, he’s clubbed five home runs and driven in 18. The former second baseman was turned into a shortstop when he came to New York, and so far he’s been flawless at the 6 hole in 79 chances. By comparison, Torres committed a startling 19 misplays for the Cubs’ High-A affiliate last season. The start to his pinstripe career has prompted Brian Cashman to hint at a potential 2017 call up, although it’s unlikely.
Third Baseman Miguel Andujar
Signed as International Free Agent
Joe Girardi put it simply when asked about the 215-pound third baseman: “We like him an awful lot.” Andujar impressed so much during Spring Training that he was, at one point, seriously threatening Chase Headley to win the starting third base job. The Daily News opined that Andujar could prevent the Yankees from pursuing Orioles’ superstar Manny Machado after 2019, when the latter becomes a free agent. While Headley ended up winning the hot corner battle, Andujar has continued where he left off this Spring in Trenton. He has driven in a team-high 27 runs and has pounded out ten doubles and four homers. Given his aforementioned physique and power skills, Andujar projects to be a prototypical middle of the order hitter. Considering third base is one of few positions the Yanks are thin at, it is possible we could see Miguel in the Bronx this September.
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