Up until about four years ago the Yankees had a thoroughly unproductive farm system that failed to produce low-cost complementary players, nevermind impact big leaguers. Brett Gardner and David Robertson were the best the farm system had to offer from 2006, the year after Robinson Cano arrived, to 2014, the year before Luis Severino arrived. Gardner and Robertson are forever cool with me, but yeah. The system was not productive.

The Yankees overhauled their player development system in 2014 and, since then, they’ve become a star factory. Severino in 2015, Gary Sanchez in 2016, Aaron Judge in 2017, Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar in 2018. Impact player after impact player. That doesn’t include guys like Chad Green, Jordan Montgomery, and Jonathan Holder either. The Yankees were desperate for a Montgomery type from 2006-14. Now he’s almost an afterthought.

Due to graduations and trades the Yankees currently have a weakened farm system that is heavy on pitching and heavy on players in the lower minors. It’s not a bad system, necessarily, it’s just short on potential impact talent close to the big leagues. The Yankees have a lot of high-end prospects below High Class-A, which is both exciting and scary. Exciting because another wave of talent is on the horizon. Scary because lower level prospects are high-risk.

This year’s top 30 prospects list includes eight teenagers. Last year’s had five. Eleven of last year’s top 30 prospects are not eligible for this year’s list. They’ve either graduated to the big leagues or are no longer in the organization. Four others dropped out of the top 30 for development/performance reasons. That means half the top 30 has turned over. Exciting! New names are fun. At the same time, it’s a reminder the great farm system of a year or two ago is no more.

I have now been ranking Yankees prospects here at RAB for 13 years (!) and I swear, it gets harder each year. The game is constantly changing and it can be difficult to keep up. Ranking prospects is all about preference. Upside or probability? Tools or performance? Everyone balances those things differently, and once you think you’ve figured it out, some prospect comes along and changes your mind. There is no correct way to rank prospects. Prospect lists are glorified opinion columns.

Obligatory reminder: I am not an expert and I most certainly am not a scout. I’m just a guy who reads a lot and has opinions, and has decided to share those opinions with you on my free-of-charge blog. I’m wrong about players and prospects all the time. I mean, all the time. I once ranked Aaron Judge as the fourth best outfield prospect in the system. True story. Make sure you bookmark this post and laugh at it repeatedly, otherwise what’s the point?

Anyway, all of my top 30 lists are right here. I use the MLB rookie limits of 130 at-bats and 50 innings to determine prospect eligibility. I don’t worry about service time because it’s too much of a headache to track. All headshots come from MLB.com or MiLB.com unless noted otherwise. This year’s top 30 prospects are after the jump. Enjoy.

No. 30: DERMIS GARCIA, 1b/3b(/rhrp?)

DOB: January 7th, 1998 (age 21)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-3, 200 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Signed July 2014 out of the Dominican Republic ($3.2M bonus)

2018 Stats: .241/.320/.444 (117 wRC+), 15 HR, 30.6 K%, 9.9 BB% (363 PA at A-)

Projected 2019 Level: High-A

The Good: There are only two players in the organization with more raw power than Garcia and they both hit in the middle of the big league lineup. Dermis has true 80 power on the 20-80 scouting scale. The ball jumps off his bat and keeps carrying. Forty-five home runs in 231 pro games for a kid who tuned only 21 last month is bonkers. Garcia knows the strike zone and his best tool on defense is his rocket throwing arm, which is so good the Yankees had him throw bullpen sessions late last season in an attempt to develop him into a two-way player. He never did pitch in a game, however. The power and the arm are as good as it gets.

The Bad: Dermis hasn’t made much progress with his pitch recognition and swing-and-miss issues. His strikeout rate (31.6% career) has more to do with his propensity to swing and miss at pitches in the zone than it does chasing bad pitches out of the zone. Garcia knows a ball from a strike, but he takes such a huge hack that he misses hittable pitches more than you’d like. Defensively, Garcia is not particularly mobile and his reactions are not great at third base, and he played his final 58 games last year at first base (or DH). If the two-way experiment doesn’t pan out, Dermis is looking at a future as a bat-only right-handed first base/DH type, which is a scary thing at his age.

2019 Outlook: He did just turn 21, and it would be foolish to give up on any prospect that age, but the clock is starting to tick on Garcia. You can’t teach this kind of power, but there’s not much else here to support that power, and there has been minimal progress cutting down on the swing-and-miss. Dermis figures to go to High-A Tampa this year and, with any luck, new hitting coordinator Dillon Lawson will work his pitch recognition magic and we’ll see that long-awaited breakout season.

No. 29: KYLE HOLDER, ss

DOB: May 25th, 1994 (age 24)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-1, 185 lbs., left/right

Acquired: 2015 supplemental 1st round, 30th overall ($1.8M bonus) (compensation pick for David Robertson)

2018 Stats: .257/.317/.350 (88 wRC+), 3 HR, 10.2 K%, 7.3 BB% (442 PA at A-/A+/AA)

Projected 2019 Level: Double-A and Triple-A

The Good: Holder’s glove is Major League ready. He plays near flawless defense thanks to tremendous range and athleticism, soft hands, and a strong and accurate arm. Holder (no relation to Jonathan) makes shortstop look very easy. The Yankees have had him play some second base because they make all their shortstop prospects play second base, and he’s handled it well. Versatility is nice but playing Holder anywhere other than short feels like a waste. He’s so good defensively. On offense, his game is about making contact, which he does with a compact lefty swing.

The Bad: There’s not much evidence Holder will hit long-term. He is on the heavy side of the platoon and he does make contact with ease, but Holder doesn’t hit the ball with much authority and he’s not an especially swift runner either. His offensive game is slash-and-dash without the dash, basically. Holder spent time away from the organization last year following his brother’s death, and he also missed time with a fractured vertebrae and a concussion. It was a difficult year for him with a lot of missed development time.

2019 Outlook: Even though his defense gives him a chance to carve out a career as a utility guy — I feel like Holder’s only possible long-term roles with the Yanks are trade chip and what Adeiny Hechavarria did last year — time is running out for Holder to show he can be something more. He was passed over in the Rule 5 Draft this offseason and he’ll have to show something with the stick to either earn a 40-man roster spot or a Rule 5 Draft selection after the season. Holder played only 32 games with Double-A Trenton last season. He’ll return there to begin 2019 and I’m sure the Yankees would love to be able to bump him up to Triple-A Scranton at midseason.

No. 28: STEPHEN TARPLEY, lhrp

DOB: February 17th, 1993 (age 25)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-1, 235 lbs., right/left

Acquired: Player to be named in Ivan Nova trade with Pirates (August 30th, 2016)

2018 Stats: 2.06 ERA (2.74 FIP), 26.5 K%, 10.1 BB% (78.2 IP at AA/AAA/MLB)

Projected 2019 Level: Triple-A and MLB

The Good: A shoulder injury led to Tarpley’s big breakthrough. Following some shoulder trouble early in 2017, the Yankees moved Tarpley to the bullpen full-time, and they also had him to begin to use a sinker because his velocity had dipped. Last year his velocity returned and now he has a quality low-to-mid-90s sinker that helped him to post the minor’s highest ground ball rate (68.1%) in 2018 (min. 60 IP). It’s not a Zack Britton sinker but it’s very good. Tarpley pairs the sinker with a mid-80s slider and an upper-70s curveball. Lefties get the slider and righties get the curve. Being a starting pitcher with a four-seamer wasn’t working. A reliever with a sinker? That landed Tarpley on the ALDS roster.

The Bad: Tarpley has had arm trouble throughout his career and, despite his strong overall strikeout rate last season, neither the slider nor the curveball is a legitimate putaway pitch. He gets his outs by chucking sinkers and letting his defense makes plays, which can work fine. Tarpley’s control is not the best, partly because the sinker moves so much that he struggles to harness it at times. Walks and balls in play are a risky combination for a late-inning reliever. I see Tarpley’s upside as more middle reliever than high-leverage guy.

2019 Outlook: The Britton and Adam Ottavino additions mean the Yankees only have two open bullpen spots, barring injury, so Tarpley’s chances of the making the Opening Day roster aren’t great. Not with Tommy Kahnle and Luis Cessa out of options. That said, I’m certain we’ll see him in the big leagues this summer. Tarpley is set for up-and-down duty. He pitched his way onto the ALDS roster last year. Pitching his way into a full-time MLB role this year is possible.

No. 27: TANNER MYATT, rhsp

DOB: May 21st, 1998 (age 20)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-7, 220 lbs., right/right

Acquired: 2018 11th round, 337th overall ($147,500 bonus)

2018 Stats: 5.40 ERA (5.00 FIP), 29.7 K%, 12.2 BB%, (18.1 IP PA at Rk/SS)

Projected 2019 Level: Extended Spring Training and Short Season

The Good: Myatt is the quintessential Yankees pitching prospect. He’s super tall and he throws super hard. After training at a biomechanics lab since his sophomore year of high school, Myatt came out of college with a 96-99 mph fastball that routinely touches 101 mph. The pitch has exceptional life and finish through the strike zone. Between the velocity, the life, and the fact he releases the ball that much closer to the plate due to his size, Myatt’s fastball gets on hitters very quickly. His go-to secondary pitch is a hard curveball that flashes out-pitch potential on its best days. The tools are there for Myatt to be an effective power reliever should starting not work out.

The Bad: At 6-foot-7, repeating his delivery can be a challenge for Myatt, leading to fewer strikes than you’d like. He’s young and he’s tall and it’ll probably take him several years to get comfortable with his mechanics and repeat them consistently. Myatt’s changeup shows promise but it is a clear third pitch behind his fastball and curveball, the latter of which lacks overall consistently. Myatt is more than an arm strength prospect but not that much more.

2019 Outlook: Myatt will likely head to Extended Spring Training this season so he can work on his delivery and develop consistent mechanics. An assignment to Staten Island once their season begins in late-June is the logical follow up. (Photo via Pinstriped Prospects)

No. 26: PABLO OLIVARES, of

DOB: January 27th, 1998 (age 21)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-0, 160 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Signed July 2014 out of Venezuela ($400,000 bonus)

2018 Stats: .322/.391/.442 (142 wRC+), 6 HR, 16.7 K%, 7.2 BB% (276 PA at A-/A+)

Projected 2019 Level: High-A and Double-A

The Good: Olivares has emerged from the flaming dumpster that is the 2014-15 international spending spree to become a quality prospect with a chance to carve out a long-term big league role as at least a fourth outfielder. His best tool is his hit tool, which is above-average and on par with prospects ranked much higher on this list. Olivares has great barrel awareness — that’s the hip new way to say he consistently gets the fat part of the bat on the ball — and a controlled aggression at the plate. He doesn’t expand the zone but will jump all over a hittable pitch out over the plate. In the field Olivares makes up for good but not great speed with great instincts, good routes, and a quick first step. His arm is just okay and would likely relegate him to left if he has to move to a corner. He also adds value with heady baserunning. Olivares is a smart, well-rounded player who plays above his tools and helps his team in a number of ways.

The Bad: The single biggest knock against Olivares is his power, or lack thereof. He’s bigger than his listed weight (probably closer to 175-180 lbs. at this point) but he still doesn’t have the strength to hit the ball out of the park consistently. Olivares is also an extreme pull hitter — his 56.9% pull rate was 28th highest among the 1,607 players with at least 250 plate appearances in the minors last year (spray chart) — which is not the right profile for him. Can’t make yourself that easy to defend if you’re not hitting the ball over the fence. Given his overall hitting ability, he should be spraying the ball to all fields rather than yanking everything to left. The talent is there for Olivares to post a high batting average with a strong on-base percentage. He just has to stop trying to hit like a power hitter.

2019 Outlook: Olivares annihilated the Low-A South Atlantic League last season but his year was cut short when he took a pitch to the hand in July, ending his season. There have been no updates on his recovery, which isn’t unusual for a low minors prospect, but he should be okay for Spring Training if it was a fracture. If he’s not, he’ll go to Extended Spring Training with the rehab group. Once he’s healthy, he’ll go to High-A, and possibly earn a midseason promotion to Double-A. Olivares will be Rule 5 Draft eligible again after the season and could put himself in position to be added to the 40-man roster with a strong, healthy season.

No. 25: LUIS GIL, rhsp

DOB: June 3rd, 1998 (age 20)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-3, 176 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Jake Cave trade with Twins (March 16th, 2018)

2018 Stats: 1.96 ERA (3.55 FIP), 33.8 K%, 15.4 BB% (46 IP at Rk/SS)

Projected 2019 Level: Low-A

The Good: Within the last two years or so the Yankees have made relatively minor trades for prospects either in the Dominican Summer League (Gil, Juan Then) or who have yet to make their pro debut (Ronald Roman). Other teams have done this as well (the Padres traded for Fernando Tatis Jr. before he played a pro game) and the idea is acquiring a player very early in his career, before he breaks out and raises his stock. Gil had the breakout year last year, when he worked with a mid-to-upper-90s fastball that touched 101 mph with an excellent spin rate. His arm is quick and loose, and that velocity comes very easily. Gil’s curveball also features a high spin rate and is a legitimate out-pitch on its best days.

The Bad: Gil is extremely raw and it starts with his delivery, which he doesn’t repeat well. That leads to subpar control and nonexistent command. Gil’s curveball has a long way to go to become a reliable second pitch and only last year did he begin to work on a changeup. Both secondary pitches are very much a work in progress. Gil missed the entire 2016 season while with the Twins with shoulder surgery, though, given his current velocity, it’s safe to say he’s come back well. It’s still something to keep in mind. At this point Gil is little more than an arm strength prospect who’s shown the ability to spin a breaking ball. Because he’s a good athlete and doesn’t throw max effort to get to that velocity, the hope is he’ll iron out his delivery and control, and harness his secondary pitches in time.

2019 Outlook: An assignment to Extended Spring Training is possible. My hunch is Gil is ticketed for Low-A Charleston though, and he’ll spend the entire season there. He is a long-term project who figures to spend a full season at each level. It would take rapid improvements for him to become someone who earns consideration for midseason promotions.

No. 24: FRANK GERMAN, rhsp

DOB: September 22nd, 1997 (age 21)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-2, 195 lbs., right/right

Acquired: 2018 fourth round, 127th overall ($347,500 bonus)

2018 Stats: 2.08 ERA (1.39 FIP), 34.2 K%, 5.0 BB% (30.1 IP at Rk/SS)

Projected 2019 Level: Low-A and High-A

The Good: The Yankees have already worked their arm strength magic with German. He sat mostly 90-94 mph in college before pitching in the 94-96 mph range with a few 98s during his pro debut last year. The Yankees have also helped him firm up his breaking ball into a true slider, and German’s power mid-80 changeup is a quality third pitch. With good size and good athleticism and a repeatable delivery, German has little trouble throwing the ball over the plate. Three pitches with control is a nice little get in the fourth round.

The Bad: Despite the strikeout rate last year, neither the slider nor the changeup is a legitimate putaway pitch at this point. German is still working to gain consistency with both, especially the slider, which too often lacks that snappy break. He also must improve his overall command and pitch to the corners more often going forward. That’s not uncommon for someone this early in his career though. If the slider and/or changeup take a step forward, German’s prospect stock could skyrocket.

2019 Outlook: My hunch is German will follow the development path of another recent Yankees’ fourth round pick: Jordan Montgomery. That means splitting his first full pro season between Low-A Charleston and High-A Tampa and his second between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton. That would be ideal. German could probably handle an assignment to High-A right now. The numbers crunch figures to push him to Low-A to begin the year though, which is no big deal. I don’t expect him to remain with Charleston long. (Photo via @MiLB)

No. 23: JOSH BREAUX, c

DOB: October 7th, 1997 (age 21)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-1, 220 lbs., right/right

Acquired: 2018 second round, 61st overall ($1.4975M bonus)

2018 Stats: .269/.289/.352 (88 wRC+), 0 HR, 18.4 K%, 3.5 BB% (114 PA at Rk/SS)

Projected 2019 Level: Low-A and maybe High-A

The Good: Similar to Gary Sanchez, Breaux’s best tools are his power at the plate and his throwing arm behind it. He’s a right-handed hitter with exceptional power potential who hits the ball a mile in batting practice. His arm stands out most though, as he pitched in the upper-90s and touched 100 mph in junior college. Breaux is just now focusing on catching full-time and his overall receiving is solid. He blocks well and shows aptitude for the position. The power and arm are two well-above-average tools and that’s a pretty great starting point for a catcher. Breaux showed enough on the mound in JuCo that pitching could be a legitimate fallback plan as well.

The Bad: The similarities to Sanchez end at the power and arm. Breaux doesn’t make consistent contact because he takes a max effort swing and sells out to get to his power. He doesn’t square the ball up as often as you’d like. With experience, hopefully he’ll learn he can take a more controlled swing and still hit the ball out of the park because he’s so strong. Breaux is also lacking plate discipline, so his overall approach at the plate needs refinement. He must continue to work on his all-around defense as well. His defense is better, but Breaux’s profile is similar to former Yankees prospect Peter O’Brien.

2019 Outlook: Pretty good chance the Yankees send Breaux to Low-A Charleston to begin his first full professional season. A late-season promotion to High-A Tampa is a possibility, though I expect him to spend most of the season with the RiverDogs. (Photo via MLB.com)

No. 22: RAIMFER SALINAS, of

DOB: December 31st, 2000 (age 18)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-0, 175 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Signed December 2017 out of Venezuela ($1.85M)

2018 Stats: .108/.313/.135 (60 wRC+), 0 HR, 20.8 K%, 14.6 BB% (48 PA at Rk)

Projected 2019 Level: Extended Spring Training and Short Season

The Good: The Yankees spent their leftover Shohei Ohtani money on several players during the 2017-18 offseason, with most of it going to Salinas. He stands out most for his bat and advanced approach, which equals walks and good hitter’s counts. Salinas has bat speed and the hitting acumen to use the entire field, and he does have some over-the-fence power as well. The potential exists for Salinas to be a total package hitter at his peak. High average, high on-base, lots of power. Defensively, his best tool is a well-above-average arm.

The Bad: Salinas is a good runner and a sound defender, though he’s quite raw in the outfield, and needs to improve his reads and routes. He also has a tendency to show off his arm and make poor throwing decisions, which is something that can be corrected with experience. We are talking about a just turned 18-year-old, remember. Most notably, Salinas’ pro debut was limited by injuries last year. He missed time with a knee and finger trouble.

2019 Outlook: The knee and finger injuries are not expected to delay Salinas in Spring Training. He’ll be a full player at the outset. Because he’s so young, starting 2019 in Extended Spring Training before moving to one of the short season leagues is the obvious path this year. A return to the Gulf Coast League is possible. I think Pulaski or Staten Island is more likely. (Photo via @JesseSanchezMLB)

No. 21: RYDER GREEN, of

DOB: May 5th, 2000 (age 18)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-0, 200 lbs., right/right

Acquired: 2018 third round, 97th overall ($997,500 bonus)

2018 Stats: .203/.316/.392 (101 wRC+), 3 HR, 36.8 K%, 11.6 BB% (95 PA at Rk)

Projected 2019 Level: Extended Spring Training and Rookie

The Good: The first thing everyone notices about Green is his power. He has premium bat speed and recorded very high exit velocities during showcase events in pro parks as an amateur. The raw power legitimately projects out to 30+ homers annually. Green is more than a one-dimensional slugger too. He’s a great athlete who runs well and can handle center field, and has a strong arm suited for right field should he have to move to a corner. It all adds up to a tantalizing combination of power, speed, and defense.

The Bad: The one thing Green does not do — at least not yet — is make consistent contact. He sells out for power and will swing through pitches in the strike zone. His plate discipline is good and when he gets the bat on the ball, it goes a long way. Green just doesn’t get the bat on the ball often enough. The swing-and-miss issues are the only thing holding him back. He can impact the game in a lot of ways.

2019 Outlook: Because he’s fresh out of high school and has a significant flaw in his contact ability, Green is a safe bet to begin the 2019 season in Extended Spring Training. An assignment to one of the short season leagues, possibly Pulaski, will follow once their season begins in June. As talented as he is, Green may be a slow mover as he works to hone his contact ability. (Photo via WBIR-TV)

No. 20: JOSH STOWERS, of

DOB: February 25th, 1997 (age 21)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-1, 200 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Sonny Gray three-team trade with Reds, Mariners (January 21st, 2019)

2018 Stats: .260/.380/.410 (126 wRC+), 5 HR, 23.4 K%, 15.2 BB% (244 PA at A-)

Projected 2019 Level: Low-A and High-A

The Good: Stowers has a wide array of skills that give him a pretty good chance to carve out some sort of big league role long-term. He’s short to the ball from the right side and slashes the ball from line to line, and has few holes in his swing. Stowers knows the strike zone and draws plenty of walks, allowing him to wreak havoc on the bases with his above-average speed. Defensively, he has center field speed and athleticism. The ability is there for Stowers to post a good batting average, a good on-base percentage, and plenty of steals while saving runs in the outfield.

The Bad: That sweet right-handed swing doesn’t produce much over-the-fence power because Stowers doesn’t hit the ball in the air often enough. Also, his reads and instincts in center field need work. Right now his speed allows him to outrun his mistakes. That won’t fly as he climbs the ladder. Stowers has a weak throwing arm, so if he doesn’t improve in center, he’ll have to move to left. The lack of pop and uncertain future in center limit Stowers’ ceiling.

2019 Outlook: Stowers played three years at Louisville and two summers in premier wood bat leagues, so he’s going to full season ball this year. I think Low-A Charleston is more likely than High-A Tampa, but, even then, I’d expect him to get to Tampa before long. Stowers strikes me as someone who splits this season between the two Single-A levels then next year between Double-A and Triple-A.

No. 19: FREICER PEREZ, rhsp

DOB: March 14, 1996 (age 22)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-8, 240 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Signed December 2014 out of the Dominican Republic ($10,000 bonus)

2018 Stats: 7.20 ERA (6.08 FIP), 16.3 K%, 15.5 BB% (25 IP at A+)

Projected 2019 Level: High-A and possibly Double-A

The Good: Last season was a lost year for Perez, who made six starts before needing season-ending shoulder surgery. Before the injury he showed his usual two excellent pitches (mid-to-upper-90s fastball and hammer curveball) and two other quality pitches (slider and changeup). On his best days Perez goes to the mound with four very good to great pitches and is a handful for hitters. He’s huge, so he releases the ball that much closer to the plate, and there’s some funk in his delivery, which allows him to hide the ball well. He does a good job throwing strikes too, last year’s walk rate notwithstanding. Perez has top of the rotation upside and is a very uncomfortable at-bat, especially for righties.

The Bad: The shoulder surgery, which robbed Perez of a year of development time. The good news is there was no structural damage in his shoulder. His labrum, rotator cuff, and capsule were all intact. The surgery only removed bone spurs, which, all things considered, is about as good as shoulder surgery gets. It’s not good, of course. It’s just less bad. Aside from the injury Perez still has to gain consistency with his delivery, which is not uncommon for a pitcher this tall. It would also be cool to see him develop the slider or changeup into a reliable third pitch, something he can count on every fifth day. Perez was an older international signing (he signed at 18) and he lacks the experience typical of pitchers his age, and he now missed just about a full season. It’s a bump in the road, for sure.

2019 Outlook: There have been no updates on Perez since the shoulder surgery, which is not terribly surprising for a non-40-man roster minor leaguer in Single-A ball. If he’s ready to go come Spring Training, I imagine he’ll head back to High-A Tampa to begin the season. If he’s not, starting with the rehab group in Extended Spring Training before returning to Tampa is the likely path. Either way, the Yankees won’t push Perez too aggressively following shoulder surgery. This is a big year for him. He’ll be Rule 5 Draft after the season.

No. 18: GARRETT WHITLOCK, rhsp

DOB: June 11th, 1996 (age 22)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-5, 190 lbs., right/right

Acquired: 2017 18th round, 542nd overall ($247,500 bonus)

2018 Stats: 1.86 ERA (3.60 FIP), 24.9 K%, 8.4 BB% (120.2 IP at A-/A+/AA)

Projected 2019 Level: Double-A and Triple-A

The Good: A back strain hampered Whitlock during his draft year in college and the Yankees bet an 18th round pick and a quarter-million bucks on him returning to form in 2018. That is exactly what happened. Last year Whitlock showed the same low-to-mid-90s sinker he had before the back problem, and the Yankees had him add a four-seamer to use up in the zone to change eye levels. Whitlock also tightened up his breaking ball and it is now a true slider rather than the slurvy pitch he threw in college. He also has a good changeup and a deceptive delivery that makes it difficult to pick up the ball. Four pitches with good control is a heck of a pickup in the 18th round.

The Bad: I’m not sure Whitlock has an out-pitch. The slider and changeup are good rather than great. I’d like to see one of them turn into a swing-and-miss offering. The biggest development goal remaining for Whitlock is improving his command. He doesn’t have much trouble throwing strikes but he needs to do a better job staying out of the middle of the plate with his fastball and closer to the zone with his secondary pitches. Lower minors hitters will chase those sliders and changeups way out of the zone. Upper level hitters will not. Long story short, Whitlock has to better pitch to the edges of the strike zone going forward. He’s either too much in the zone or too far out of the zone.

2019 Outlook: Whitlock carved up Single-A hitters last season and that puts him in line to open 2019 in what is shaping up to be a prospect-laden Double-A Trenton rotation. He could find himself in Triple-A before the end of the season.

No. 17: DOMINGO ACEVEDO, rhsp

DOB: March 6th, 1994 (age 24)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-7, 250 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Signed November 2012 out of the Dominican Republic ($7,500 bonus)

2018 Stats: 2.99 ERA (3.22 FIP), 20.0 K%, 7.6 BB% (69.1 IP at SS/AA)

Projected 2019 Level: Double-A, Triple-A, and MLB

The Good: Acevedo is tantalizing. He is physically huge and his fastball has been clocked as high as 103 mph, though that was a long time ago, and now he’s more 93-96 mph with the occasional 98 mph. His best secondary pitch remains a tumbling changeup he’ll throw to both righties and lefties. Acevedo has made progress with his slider but it still lags behind the changeup. For a big guy with delivery that does not qualify as fluid (look at this), Acevedo throws strikes with relative ease. Getting the ball over the plate has never been a problem. Close your eyes and it’s easy to dream big on Acevedo.

The Bad: We’re still waiting for Acevedo to improve his breaking ball and refine his command. Without a reliable slider and something more than “throw the ball over the middle of the plate” control, it’ll be tough to remain a starter long-term. The breaking ball and the command have been the top developmental priorities for Acevedo for years now, and while he’s made some progress, it’s not as much as I’d hoped. Also, he has an injury history. Last season it was blister, concussion, and biceps trouble. In the past he’s had shoulder problems. Only once in his career has Acevedo thrown as many as 100 innings in a season (133 in 2017). I admit to some level of prospect fatigue here — I’ve been following Acevedo for a long time now — but I’m waiting for that step forward, and it hasn’t come.

2019 Outlook: Acevedo has thrown 144 innings with Double-A Trenton the last two years, all with very good results. Normally that would suggest he is ticketed for Triple-A Scranton to begin the season. The RailRiders have a stacked rotation though and it could push Acevedo back to Trenton for a few weeks. The Yankees did call Acevedo up for one day to serve as an emergency long man last year, though he didn’t get into a game. I think he’s in for a few shuttle rides this summer. I think we’re getting to point where, for Acevedo to have an impact for the Yankees, it’ll be as a reliever or trade chip.

No. 16: MATT SAUER, rhsp

DOB: January 21st, 1999 (age 20)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-4, 195 lbs., right/right

Acquired: 2017 second round, 54th overall ($2.4975M bonus)

2018 Stats: 3.90 ERA (3.93 FIP), 15.9 K%, 6.4 BB% (67 IP at SS)

Projected 2019 Level: Low-A

The Good: Sauer came the Yankees as a project. A project with a big arm, but a project nonetheless. The Yankees helped him clean him up his delivery in Extended Spring Training last year, most notably improving his tempo and arm action, and the result was much improved control. The command isn’t there yet — Sauer is still unable to dot the corners consistently — but he now does a better job getting the ball over the plate, and that’s a big step. Sauer’s fastball sits in the 92-95 mph range and will touch 97 mph, and although his slider was his best secondary pitch in high school, the Yankees have had him focus on his power curveball in pro ball, and it flashes legitimate putaway potential on its best days.

The Bad: Still a few things. For one, Sauer still has a long way to go to develop even average command. The progress he made last year with his control was a step in the right direction. It was only the first step in a long journey though. Secondly, Sauer’s changeup lags quite a bit behind the fastball and curveball. That’s not uncommon for pitchers a year out of high school, though it is something he has to improve to remain a starter. Three, there were days Sauer sat in the 89-92 mph range last year, so he’s still building up the strength necessary to get through a full season. And four, Sauer is closer to maxed out physically than his listed height and weight would lead you believe. It’s not that he’s gained weight, it’s just that he doesn’t have much more room to fill out, meaning the fastball probably is what it is. He’s more of a finished product physically than most just turned 20-year-olds.

2019 Outlook: Sauer held his own with Staten Island last year — he didn’t miss as many bats as I expected, but he held his own — and I expect the Yankees to move him up to Low-A Charleston this year. A return trip to Extended Spring Training could be in the cards, but, if so, I think it’s more likely he goes to Charleston in the first half rather than wait for the short season leagues to begin in June. Either way, I’d bet on Sauer finishing the year in Low-A. He’s a one level at a time pitching prospect. (Photo via @MLBPipeline)

No. 15: NICK NELSON, rhsp

DOB: December 5th, 1995 (age 23)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-1, 195 lbs., right/right

Acquired: 2016 fourth round, 128th overall ($350,000 bonus)

2018 Stats: 3.55 ERA (3.12 FIP), 27.5 K%, 12.1 BB% (121.1 IP at A-/A+/AA)

Projected 2019 Level: Double-A and Triple-A

The Good: A two-way player in college, Nelson had made significant velocity gains since turning pro and focusing on pitching full-time. He’s now 94-96 mph regularly with some 98s, and his heater has some sink on it as well. Nelson’s go-to secondary pitch is a knockout low-80s curveball that misses bats aplenty, and the Yankees had him begin to work on a cutter late last season. His delivery is fairly clean and Nelson is total bulldog on the mound. He is fearless and doesn’t give up the ball easily.

The Bad: Nelson is working on a changeup that will fall off the table on occasion (like this), but it is not yet reliable or consistent. He is, for all intents and purposes, a fastball/curveball guy with a show-me changeup and a nascent cutter. Also, Nelson has presently below-average control and command. Throwing the ball over the plate and especially living on the corners can be a challenge. Given the lack of a third pitch and lack of control, as well as his mentality, Nelson seems headed for the bullpen long-term. Moving to the bullpen used to have a stigma. Not so much nowadays.

2019 Outlook: The Yankees figure to keep Nelson in the rotation for the time being. He ripped through High-A last season and is on track to open this season with Double-A Trenton. If all goes well, a midseason promotion to Triple-A Scranton is likely. Nelson will be Rule 5 Draft eligible next winter and the first few months of this season will determine whether he gets added to the 40-man roster or used as trade bait so the Yankees force some other team to make that 40-man roster decision.

No. 14: THAIRO ESTRADA, ss

DOB: February 22nd, 1996 (age 22)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 5-foot-10, 185 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Signed July 2012 out of Venezuela ($49,000 bonus)

2018 Stats: .192/.210/.231 (21 wRC+), 0 HR, 21.0 K%, 0.0 BB% (81 PA at A+/AAA)

Projected 2019 Level: Triple-A and MLB

The Good: Estrada, at least prior to last year’s lost season, projected as a rich man’s version of former Yankees utility infielder Ronald Torreyes. He makes easy contact like Torreyes, but Estrada has more power and generally hits the ball harder. He’s also more willing to take a walk (2018 walk rate notwithstanding) and is more dangerous on the bases thanks to his speed and instincts. Estrada is also a very good defender at shortstop. His defense is his best tool, in fact. All of his movements in the field look natural and he has good hands and a strong arm. The Yankees have had Estrada play some second and third base over the years and he’s handled those positions well.

The Bag: Injuries turned 2018 into a total loss for Estrada. For starters, he got shot in the hip during a robbery last January, and it wasn’t until June that the bullet was removed. Estrada also dealt with wrist and back trouble during the season. The good news is he was healthy enough to participate in the Arizona Fall League. The bad news is he looked slow in the desert (understandable, I think) and lost an entire development year at age 22, for all intents and purposes. Thairo has to make up for a lot of lost at-bats this season.

2019 Outlook: Following a healthy offseason, Estrada will report to big league camp next week and begin the process of getting back to where he was at the end of 2017. Tyler Wade is ahead of him on the infield depth chart, so Estrada figures to spend just about the entire 2019 season with Triple-A Scranton, and that’s for the best. He needs to play and play a lot after last season. That said, if there’s a need in the Bronx, the Yankees will call him up. To me, it seems the preferred path is a full season (and postseason) with the RailRiders before a September call-up. Thairo has the tools to be a serviceable starting middle infielder in the big leagues. With the Yankees, I’m not sure he’ll ever be anything more than a utility guy, which could turn him into trade bait.

No. 13: TREVOR STEPHAN, rhsp

DOB: November 25th, 1995 (age 23)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-5, 225 lbs., right/right

Acquired: 2017 third round, 92nd overall ($797,500 bonus)

2018 Stats: 3.69 ERA (3.60 FIP), 26.8 K%, 7.3 BB% (124.1 IP at A+/AA)

Projected 2019 Level: Double-A and Triple-A

The Good: Stephan is as straightforward as pitching prospects get. He lives in the 92-96 mph range with his fastball, which is more of a running two-seamer than a straight four-seamer, and the pitch has clocked in at 98 mph on more than one occasion. A low-80s slider is his go-to secondary pitch and he throws two versions of it. One is a sweepy slider with big break away from righties. The other has shorter break, almost like a cutter. Stephen generates a lot of swings and misses, especially with his fastball, partly because he throws across his body and hides the ball well. He’s an intense competitor on the mound. Sometimes too intense. Try to throw the ball through a wall when he’s in a jam intense.

The Bad: Although he threw 124.1 innings last year and got good results, Stephen didn’t make much progress with his changeup, which has its moments but is largely inconsistent. The delivery is not pretty as well. It helps Stephan hide the ball but is not especially conducive to painting the corners. Between the lack of a changeup, a delivery that might not hold up for 90+ pitches every fifth day, and that intensity, Stephan looks more like a future reliever now than he did at this time last year.

2019 Outlook: Double-A hitters gave Stephan some trouble last season and I expect him to return to that level to begin 2019. I imagine the Yankees are hoping he’ll fare better this time around and earn a midseason promotion to Triple-A Scranton. There is no indication the Yankees will move Stephan to the bullpen just yet. That’s fine. Let him start so he can rack up innings and work on that changeup. If the Yankees do move him into a relief role though, Stephen could be overwhelming in short stints and force his way into the big league picture quickly.

No. 12: CLARKE SCHMIDT, rhsp

DOB: February 20th, 1996 (age 22)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-1, 200 lbs., right/right

Acquired: 2017 first round, 16th overall ($2.1843M bonus)

2018 Stats: 3.09 ERA (2.61 FIP), 33.0 K%, 6.6 BB% (23.1 IP at Rk/SS)

Projected 2019 Level: High-A and Double-A

The Good: The Yankees selected Schmidt with their first round pick two years ago even though he had Tommy John surgery a few weeks before they draft. They were willing to be patient with him. Schmidt completed his rehab last year and, when he returned to game action, he still had the same low-to-mid-90s fastball and wipeout mid-80s slider he had before elbow reconstruction. He can sweep that slider across the plate and also bury it straight down in the dirt, so much so that it’ll sometimes look like a curveball. Schmidt’s changeup shows promise but is a work in progress. The Yankees were comfortable selecting Schmidt with their top pick despite the injury because he’s a dedicated worker and a bulldog on the mound. He attacked his rehab and came back strong.

The Bad: Schmidt has already gotten hurt again. It was his oblique this time and it ended his comeback season in late-August, costing him a stint in the Arizona Fall League. I’m glad it’s not anything with his arm. It is another injury though. Schmidt’s thrown 83.1 innings over the last 30 months or so. That’s a lot of lost reps. And, even before Tommy John surgery, his delivery was a little robotic, which led to control problems. First and foremost, Schmidt needs to get healthy. Once he does that, his goals will be developing consistency with his delivery, improving his changeup, and improving his command.

2019 Outlook: Assuming the oblique doesn’t slow the start of Schmidt’s spring or regular season, the Yankees are expected to turn him loose this year. That means an assignment to High-A Tampa to begin the year with an eye on a midseason promotion to Double-A Trenton. The Yankees won’t overload Schmidt in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, but he is going to pitch and begin advancing through the system. The reins are off. (Photo via @MiLB)

No. 11: CHANCE ADAMS, rhsp

DOB: August 10th, 1994 (age 24)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-1, 220 lbs., right/right

Acquired: 2015 fifth round, 153rd overall ($330,000 bonus)

2018 Stats: 4.92 ERA (4.81 FIP), 22.2 K%, 11.7 BB% (120.2 IP at AAA/MLB)

Projected 2019 Level: Triple-A and MLB

The Good: The core four-pitch mix remains. Adams works in the low-to-mid-90s with his four-seam fastball and pairs it with a mid-80s slider, a mid-80s changeup, and an upper-70s curveball. The slider is his best and most consistent secondary pitch, and, during his brief big league cameo, he showed above-average spin rates on the fastball and two breaking balls. It’s probably more accurate to call Adams a two-pitch pitcher with two other show-me pitches than it is to call him a four-pitch pitcher. He does have four pitches though and that’s not nothing.

The Bad: There was a lot of bad for Adams last season. For starters, he had surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow during the offseason, then, when he returned to mound, his stuff was never as crisp as it had been in the past. It didn’t improve as he got further away from surgery either. The slider and curveball didn’t have as much bite and the fastball lost some zip. As a result Adams saw his strikeout rate decline and his walk rate increase, and his overall Triple-A numbers sink even though he was repeating the level. Three homers in 7.2 big league innings didn’t exactly assuage any concerns about him being homer prone at the highest level. Injuries and lost stuff led to a terrible 2018 season. I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt with this ranking and assuming he’ll be back closer to himself following a normal offseason.

2019 Outlook: Adams will report to Spring Training and compete for one of the final bullpen spots, though the smart money is on him returning to Triple-A, where he’ll look to regain his pre-2018 form. He figures to ride the Scranton shuttle all year.

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Update (February 18th): I got lazy and assumed Tyler Wade had exhausted the MLB rookie limit of 130 at-bats, and never bothered to check. Turns out he is at 124 at-bats and thus prospect-eligible. My bad. I’ve added a write-up and slotted Wade in where I would’ve had him in the top 30.

No. 11A: TYLER WADE, ss

DOB: November 23rd, 1994 (age 24)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-1, 185 lbs., left/right

Acquired: 2013 fourth round, 134th overall ($371,300 bonus)

2018 Stats: .241/.310/.347 (85 wRC+), 5 HR 22.0 K%, 8.6 BB% (478 PA at AAA/MLB)

Projected 2019 Level: Triple-A and MLB

The Good: Wade is one of the best athletes and fastest runners in the organization. He’s a natural shortstop with good hands and plenty of range and quickness for the position, and he’s a burner on the basepaths. He flies around the bases. Wade’s offensive game is built around slash-and-dash and drawing walks, then using his legs to create headaches. The Yankees have moved Wade all around the field and he’s taken to the outfield well, though his inexperience shows up from time to time. The total package here is a very good (and versatile) defender and baserunner who puts up pesky at-bats near the bottom of a contender’s lineup.

The Bad: In his limited big league time pitchers have knocked the bat out of Wade’s hands. He’s been overmatched by big velocity and has expanded the strike zone more his minor league track record would lead you to believe. It’s a limited sample size (133 plate appearances spread across 107 days on the active roster) but it happened. Wade has minimal power potential — to his credit, he knows his game and doesn’t try to sell out for power — and his arm is merely good and not great. It’s a poor fit for third base in anything more than an emergency, and any loss of arm strength might force a move off shortstop. Bottom line, at some point Wade has to make the most of his MLB opportunities.

2019 Outlook: At this point it seems Wade will be nothing more than an up-and-down depth infielder for the Yankees — this will be his final minor league option year — who pinch-runs more than anything late in the season. A good defensive infielder who, prior to 2018, had a good track record of getting on base could be a useful trade chip at some point. Wade will compete for a bench spot in Spring Training but is stuck long-term behind infielders with higher ceilings at the MLB level.

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No. 10: LUIS MEDINA, rhsp

DOB: May 3rd, 1999 (age 19)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-1, 175 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Signed July 2015 out of the Dominican Republic ($280,000 bonus)

2018 Stats: 6.25 ERA (6.46 FIP), 25.5 K%, 25.0 BB% (36 IP at Rk)

Projected 2019 Level: Extended Spring Training and Short Season

The Good: Medina’s raw stuff is the best in the organization. He parks his fastball in the 95-97 mph range and has touched 101 mph several times as a pro. His curveball is a low-80s hammer and his upper-80s changeup is a sneaky good third pitch. Medina spins the ball well and, when he’s going right, he can miss bats in the zone with three different pitches. Few teenagers offer pure stuff this good.

The Bad: Pretty much everything else. Medina is making progress with his delivery but he still struggles to repeat it, and, because of that, he has trouble finding the plate. A lot of trouble finding the plate. Last season’s extreme walk rate — Medina walked 46 batters in 36 innings with Pulaski — is indicative of his present control, not small sample noise. Medina has the highest upside of any starter in the system, but he needs a lot of work and is a very long way away from reaching his ceiling. He’s a long-term project, for sure.

2019 Outlook: Given his age and non-existent strike-throwing ability, Medina is a safe bet to begin the year back in Extended Spring Training before joining one of the short season leagues in June. After back-to-back years with Pulaski, a move up to Staten Island seems likely. I wouldn’t completely rule out Medina seeing Low-A Charleston at some point in 2019. I just don’t think it’s very likely. Also, he’s going to be Rule 5 Draft eligible after the season. I don’t see the Yankees adding him to the 40-man roster — he’d have to take a monumental step forward with his command — but would another team take a chance on him? Don’t rule it out. The Blue Jays Rule 5’d an 18-year-old this winter. Teams are increasingly willing to roll the dice on long shot talent in the Rule 5 Draft nowadays.

No. 9: MIKE KING, rhsp

DOB: May 25th, 1995 (age 23)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-3, 210 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Garrett Cooper/Caleb Smith trade with Marlins (November 20th, 2017)

2018 Stats: 1.79 ERA (2.76 FIP), 24.4 K%, 4.7 BB% (161.1 IP at A+/AA/AAA)

Projected 2019 Level: Triple-A and MLB

The Good: I’m not sure any starting pitcher in the minors had a better statistical season than King in 2018. The Yankees undid some mechanical changes implemented by the Marlins — they let King go back to being the guy he was in college, basically — and he dominated at three levels, putting himself on the cusp of the big leagues. King gets his outs primarily with a 91-93 mph sinking two-seam fastball that will occasionally touch 95 mph. He commands the pitch very well to both sides of the plate — King likes to throw it inside to lefties for the comeback called strike (like this) — and down in the zone. A fading changeup is his top secondary pitch, and he also throws a slider and a new cutter the Yankees helped him pick up late last season. King studies hitters and is extremely prepared for his starts, has a durable frame, a repeatable delivery, and very good command. Pretty rad.

The Bad: There’s no clear cut out-pitch here. King has four pitches but the two-seamer is easily his most effective offering. The changeup and slider both have their moments, and the cutter is coming along nicely. King just doesn’t have that knockout secondary pitch he can lean on for strikeouts or weak contact. He’s going to have to gain consistency with something, either the changeup or slider (or cutter) to keep hitters honest against the two-seamer. King is talented and athletic enough to do it. It’s just something that has to be done. A good sinking two-seamer will only take you so far.

2019 Outlook: Thanks to last season’s dominance King will be in camp as a non-roster invitee this spring, and there’s a very good chance he’ll make his MLB debut at some point this summer. He’s going to be Rule 5 Draft eligible after the season and I don’t think the Yankees would hesitate for a second to add him to the 40-man roster and call him up early if he’s the best option. King will get a look in camp, then likely return to Triple-A Scranton and work on his secondary pitches while awaiting a calling up.

No. 8: ALBERT ABREU, rhsp

DOB: September 26th, 1995 (age 23)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-2, 175 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Brian McCann trade with Astros (November 17th, 2016)

2018 Stats: 5.20 ERA (4.75 FIP), 22.7 K%, 9.8 BB% (72.2 IP at Rk/A+/AA)

Projected 2019 Level: Double-A and Triple-A, maybe MLB

The Good: In terms of pure stuff, Abreu is as good as any prospect in the system. He works up in the zone with an easy 93-98 mph fastball that has touched triple digits. His hard slider is his most consistent secondary pitch but his power curveball is the most promising long-term. That pitch generates a lot of empty swings. Abreu also has a quality changeup he uses regularly. He’s a bona fide four-pitch pitcher and all four pitches miss bats. There is a lot to dream on here.

The Bad: Abreu has injury and command problems, both of which ostensibly stem from his delivery, which he doesn’t repeat well. Including the Arizona Fall League and winter ball, Abreu has thrown 173.2 innings in his two years with the Yankees, and he’s missed time with lat trouble and multiple bouts of elbow inflammation. (He also missed time with an appendectomy last year, which is just bad luck.) Gaining consistency with his control, his command, and his secondary pitches are the primary developmental goals going forward. That’s a longer list than you’d like for a guy who just turned 23, though age isn’t a huge concern. Dellin Betances wasn’t a full-time big leaguer until age 26, after all.

2019 Outlook: Around the injuries Abreu has spent most of the last two seasons with High-A Tampa. The Yankees had him make one spot start with Double-A Trenton at the end of the regular season and I expect him to begin this coming season with Trenton. In a perfect world he’d split the year between Double-A and Triple-A, then make his MLB debut as a September call-up. Abreu is on the 40-man roster — 2019 will be his second minor league option year — and full healthy year would be a welcome sight.

No. 7: ROANSY CONTRERAS, rhsp

DOB: November 7th, 1999 (age 19)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-0, 175 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Signed July 2016 out of the Dominican Republic ($250,000 bonus)

2018 Stats: 2.42 ERA (3.70 FIP), 24.0 K%, 8.4 BB% (63.1 IP at SS/A-)

Projected 2019 Level: Low-A and likely High-A

The Good: The Yankees were able to sign Contreras, the top ranked Dominican pitcher for the 2016-17 international signing period, despite being limited to $300,000 bonuses as part of the penalties for their ill-fated 2014-15 international spending spree. Contreras is a three-pitch pitcher who has seen his fastball jump from the low-90s as an amateur into the 93-96 mph range as a pro, with some scattered 98s along the way. He locates the heater well too. His high-spin curveball is the better and more consistent of his two secondary pitches right now, though Contreras gets very good fade on his changeup and he’ll throw it at any time, even to righties. What really makes Roansy stand out is his maturity. He has good pitchability and he knows out to set hitters up. He also has very good mound presence and doesn’t get rattled when things start to go wrong. The total package (stuff, control, smarts) is among the very best in the farm system.

The Bad: Not much beyond the whole “he’s still an inexperienced 19-year-old” kid thing. Contreras has to become more consistent with everything. Fastball location, his curveball and changeup, repeating his delivery, holding runners, the works. Contreras doesn’t have a big build and, even at 19, he doesn’t have a ton of projectability remaining. There might not be any more velocity coming with the fastball, which isn’t a big deal, really.

2019 Outlook: Contreras so thoroughly dominated college-aged kids with Staten Island last season that the Yankees had to move him up to Low-A Charleston to give him a challenge. He’ll go back to Charleston to begin the season and could move up to High-A Tampa at midseason. Contreras will play the entire 2019 minor league season at age 19.

No. 6: DEIVI GARCIA, rhsp

DOB: May 9th, 1999 (age 19)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 5-foot-10, 163 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Signed July 2015 out of the Dominican Republic ($200,000 bonus)

2018 Stats: 2.55 ERA (2.60 FIP), 35.5 K%, 6.8 BB% (74 IP at A-/A+/AA)

Projected 2019 Level: High-A and Double-A

The Good: Last season Garcia made larger gains with his control and command than anyone could’ve reasonably expected. He went from 12.0% walk rate from 2016-17 to a 6.8% walk rate in 2018, and while minor league walk rates are notoriously fickle, scouting reports indicate real improvement. Garcia’s stuff has always been very good. He’s a low-to-mid-90s fastball guy with a knockout curveball, both of which feature the high spin rates the Yankees love. Also, Garcia improved his changeup quite a bit last season, to the point now where it’s a reliable third pitch. Between the raw stuff and improved control, Deivi got real interesting real quick last year.

The Bad: Garcia’s size is a legitimate obstacle to long-term MLB success. Very few 5-foot-10 right-handers have prolonged success in the big leagues. The game is skewing small now, mostly on the position player side though (Jose Altuve, Mookie Betts, Alex Bregman, Jose Ramirez, etc.), and Deivi will be bucking an awful lot of history if he manages to carve out a big league career as a starting pitcher. He is only 19 and a growth spurt could still be coming. Otherwise he’ll have to be an exception to have MLB success at that size.

2019 Outlook: Garcia made one Double-A Trenton spot start to close out 2018 but I don’t think he’ll begin 2019 at that level. Not at age 19 and not after making only six starts with High-A Tampa. A return to Tampa to begin 2019 — until the weather warms up at least — before a midseason bump back up to Trenton is the likely path here. A late season Triple-A Scranton cameo could be in the cards if Garcia continues to blow everyone away. Deivi will be Rule 5 Draft eligible after the season.

No. 5: ANTONIO CABELLO, of

DOB: November 1, 2000 (age 18)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 5-foot-10, 160 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Signed December 2017 out of Venezuela ($1.35M)

2018 Stats: .308/.427/.522 (168 wRC+), 5 HR, 20.8 K%, 14.1 BB% (192 PA in Rk)

Projected 2019 Level: Extended Spring Training and either Short Season or Low-A

The Good: Shohei Ohtani rejected the Yankees before listening to their pitch, and once that happened, the Yankees turned around and gave the leftover international bonus money to several prospects, include Cabello. He signed as a catcher but was immediately moved to center field for two reasons. One, his athleticism was going to waste behind the plate, and two, his bat is far ahead of his defense at catcher. He’ll be able to move through the system much more quickly as an outfielder. Cabello is very advanced at the plate — his innate hitting ability has drawn comparisons to Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Juan Soto when they were the same age, which is lofty praise and creates unfair expectations given what those two have accomplished — with a quick bat as well as hitting smarts and good plate discipline. He takes at-bats like a veteran. Cabello is a well-above-average runner who flies around the bases and in the outfield, though he’s on the short side and can look a little awkward when he’s at full speed. The total package is tantalizing and points to an impact all-around player with All-Star ability.

The Bad: First and foremost, Cabello is recovering from shoulder surgery. He dislocated his left (non-throwing) shoulder diving for a ball in the outfield during the final week of the minor league regular season and they had to operate. There have not been any updates on his rehab — that isn’t at all unusual for a prospect this far down the minor league ladder — but shoulder surgery is never a minor thing, especially when it involves a hitter’s front shoulder. As for his game, Cabello is still quite raw in the outfield due to his inexperience. His routes and angles need work. His throwing arm is below-average and his worst tool, which also contributed to the move from out behind the plate. Offensively, Cabello’s swing is quite level right now, so he’ll have to add some launch angle to turn his bat speed into above-average game power. Outfield routes and swing loft are things that can be improved with experience. The arm? Not so much.

2019 Outlook: Assuming the shoulder is doing well post-surgery, the Yankees figure to bring Cabello along slowly in Spring Training. That’s why I think he’s going to start the season in Extended Spring Training, just to make sure the shoulder is healed and they’re not pushing a prized prospect too hard. Depending when he’s cleared for full game action, the Yankees could send him to either Pulaski or Staten Island (late-June return) or Low-A Charleston (earlier return). The health of the shoulder is the top priority. If Cabello can finish the season at Low-A, great. If he doesn’t get there until 2020, that’s okay too. He just turned 18, remember. (Photo via @MLBpipeline)

No. 4: EVERSON PEREIRA, of

DOB: April 10, 2001 (age 17)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-0, 191 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Signed July 2017 out of Venezuela ($1.5M)

2018 Stats: .263/.322/.389 (88 wRC+), 3 HR, 32.8 K%, 8.2 BB% (183 PA in Rk)

Projected 2019 Level: Low-A

The Good: The Yankees made Pereira the crown jewel of their July 2017 international signing class and he had a growth spurt soon after signing. The winter after signing his contract he went from 5-foot-11 and 165 lbs. to 6-foot-0 and 191 lbs., and with that added bulk came increased power potential. Pereira’s offensive tools are all high-end. He projects to hit for average and power from the right side, as well as draw enough walks to post strong on-base percentages. Pereira is a very good runner and that serves him well on the bases and in center field, where he has good range and a strong arm. The Yankees pushed him aggressively in his first pro season, sending him to the rookie Appalachian League league, where he was essentially a high school junior facing kids fresh out of college or with a year of pro ball already under their belt, and he held his own.

The Bad: Like any other 17-year-old kid, Pereira is quite raw in all facets of the games. Experienced pitchers were able to get him to expand the zone a little too often last summer, and with that growth spurt and newfound power came a tendency to sell out to get to it. Pereira has a very well-rounded skill set and he’s a heady ballplayer with good instincts. He just has a lot to learn, and he has a long way to go to get to the big leagues from where he is now.

2019 Outlook: Pereira is talented enough and mature enough to handle an Opening Day assignment to Low-A Charleston — starting the year as a 17-year-old in Low-A would be rare but not unprecedented (Nationals shortstop Luis Garcia did it just last season) — though the Yankees could play it conservatively and hold him back in Extended Spring Training for a few weeks. I think a Low-A assignment is likely though. If not on Opening Day, then once the weather warms up.

No. 3: ANTHONY SEIGLER, c

DOB: June 20, 1999 (age 19)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-0, 200 lbs., both/both (!)

Acquired: 2018 first round, 23rd overall ($2.8159M bonus)

2018 Stats: .266/.379/.342 (108 wRC+), 1 HR, 12.6 K%, 14.7 BB% (95 PA in Rk)

Projected 2019 Level: Low-A

The Good: Seigler is pretty much everything teams look for in a modern baseball player. He’s very athletic, he’s very instinctive, and he has a diverse skill set. First and foremost, Seigler is a switch-thrower. He switch-pitched in high school Pat Venditte style, but he’s a catcher going forward, and his (right) arm unleashes strong and accurate arms from behind the plate. Seigler is a quality receiver — he drew raves for the way he caught all those big velocity arms the Yankees have during Instructional League — and he’s mobile behind the dish. Offensively, he’s a true switch-hitter capable of doing damage from both sides of the plate, though he has more over-the-fence power as a righty. Seigler goes up to the plate with a plan and he makes quick adjustments from at-bat to at-bat. He projects as a good average/good on-base hitter who excels defensively. Also, Seigler is as tough a player you’ll find. He’s a grinder with leadership qualities, so much so that he requested a Spanish-speaking roommate last summer so he could learn the language and better communicate with teammates.

The Bad: Injuries struck in Seigler’s relatively short pro debut. He missed more than two weeks with a hamstring problem and his season ended a week early after he took a foul tip to the face mask and suffered a concussion. The good news: Seigler was healthy enough to be a full participant in Instructional League. The bad news: A concussion is still a concussion, and the last thing you want is a young catcher to develop concussion issues. If the concussions force him out from behind the plate, he’s agile enough to handle third base. Clearly though, catcher is where he’s most valuable. The biggest question with Seigler’s on-field play is his long-term power potential. Power is difficult to project these days because changes to the MLB ball have become unpredictable, but, generally speaking, Seigler is believed to be more of a 10-15 homer type than a 20+ homer type.

2019 Outlook: Teams tend to take it slow with young catchers but Seigler is the rare high school backstop who could jump right into full season ball in his first full professional season. It’s always possible the Yankees will hold him back in Extended Spring Training to begin the season. My guess is they push him to Low-A Charleston, have him share time behind the plate with Josh Breaux, and see how he handles it. Spending the entire season at the level is the most likely outcome. Promoting a 20-year-old catcher to High-A at midseason would be quite aggressive.

No. 2: JONATHAN LOAISIGA, rhsp

DOB: November 2nd, 1994 (age 24)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 5-foot-11, 165 lbs., right/right

Acquired: Signed February 2016 as a minor league free agent

2018 Stats: 3.57 ERA (2.88 FIP), 29.7 K%, 5.9 BB% (80.2 IP at Rk/A+/AA/MLB)

Projected 2019 Level: Triple-A and MLB

The Good: A meteoric rise, this has been. Loaisiga went into the 2018 season with 103.2 career innings under his belt and having barely pitched above rookie ball, then he was in the big leagues in June because he so impressed the Yankees with his stuff and composure. Loaisiga sits comfortably in the mid-90s with his fastball and has touched as high as 98 mph. Both his slurvy mid-80s breaking ball — it’s sometimes sweepy like a slider and snappy like a curveball — and power upper-80s changeup generate swings and misses, and Loaisiga’s confident enough to throw any pitch in any count. His command and control are quite good too. Loaisiga normally doesn’t have any trouble filling up the strike zone. He’s also a tough kid who doesn’t rattle easy. He had to battle through a lot of adversity to get to where he is now.

The Bad: There are two negatives with Loaisiga and they’re related. He has a long injury history and, as a result, he has very limited experience. We’re talking 184.1 total innings in six pro seasons. Loaisiga had shoulder trouble earlier in his career and also Tommy John surgery in 2016. Also, last season he missed more than a month with a shoulder issue that required a cortisone shot. It is a long and scary injury history. Loaisiga’s raw stuff and pitchability are awfully impressive. Health is a skill though, and at his size — official heights and weights are often wildly inaccurate but, in Loaisiga’s case, 5-foot-11 and 165 lbs. is pretty much dead on — it is entirely possible Loaisiga will never have it. He certainly hasn’t had it to date.

2019 Outlook: Believe it or not, Loaisiga has never pitched in Triple-A. The Yankees called him up straight from Double-A last season and he returned there after being sent down (and the shoulder thing). Chances are he’ll spend the season as an up-and-down arm — Loaisiga could be as high as sixth on the rotation depth chart — and my hunch is the Yankees would carry him in the Opening Day bullpen if he’s one of their best options. Loaisiga absolutely has the stuff and command to start, and it’s easy to argue he should go to Triple-A to build up innings. It’s looking less and less likely that he has the durability to start though. Getting something out of him before the next injury is the way to go, even if that means using him in relief.

No. 1: ESTEVAN FLORIAL, of

DOB: November 25th, 1997 (age 21)

Height, Weight, Bats/Throws: 6-foot-1, 185 lbs., left/right

Acquired: Signed March 2015 out of the Dominican Republic ($200,000 bonus)

2018 Stats: .283/.377/.422 (130 wRC+), 6 HR, 24.6 K%, 12.8 BB% (325 PA at Rk/A+)

Projected 2019 Level: High-A and Double-A

The Good: Florial is not lacking physical ability. He’s a tremendous athlete with four already above-average tools in his speed, throwing arm, defense, and raw power. Florial has quick hands and the ball explodes off his bat to all fields, and he does a good job staying within the strike zone. He’ll take a walk if that’s what the pitcher gives him. In the field Florial is already a very good center fielder and he’s still improving as he gains experience. He was much more efficient with his route running this past season. Florial has the potential to be an impact player at the plate, in the field, and on the bases. He can do almost anything on the field.

The Bad: The one thing Florial can not do is make contact consistently. Pitch recognition issues are the root cause. He swings and misses a bunch, including against pitches in the strike zone, largely because breaking balls give him fits. Florial knows a ball from a strike. He can’t always tell a fastball from a breaking ball though, so it’s unclear how much he’ll tap into his raw power in games. Pitch recognition is the only thing holding Florial back. He has All-Star caliber tools across the board otherwise.

2019 Outlook: Florial lost close to two months last season to wrist surgery and, even when healthy, he didn’t blow anyone away with his performance like he did a year ago. It’s tough to know exactly how much the wrist hampered his performance — there’s a pretty good chance he played through some discomfort before the surgery — but we know for certain it cost him development time. He’ll likely return to High-A Tampa this season just to make sure his feet are underneath him. A midseason promotion to Double-A is in the cards. Florial will be Rule 5 Draft eligible after the season.

* * *

Since returning to prominence two years ago the Yankees have dipped into their farm system and traded away a lot of prospects — a lot of prospects — for immediate help at the big league level. The Yankees developed an excellent homegrown core and now they’re supplementing it. Trading prospects is part of that.

The “where would this guy rank had the Yankees not traded him?” question comes up multiple times each year, so here’s what the expanded top 30 list would look like had the Yankees never made those trades these last two years. The traded prospects are ranked based on the players they are today. Not the players they were when the Yankees traded them.

LHSP Justus Sheffield (traded to Mariners for James Paxton) OF Estevan Florial RHSP Jonathan Loaisiga C Anthony Seigler OF Everson Pereira OF Antonio Cabello RHSP Deivi Garcia RHSP Roansy Contreras OF Blake Rutherford (traded to White Sox for David Robertson, Todd Frazier, Tommy Kahnle) OF Dustin Fowler (traded to Athletics for Sonny Gray) RHSP Albert Abreu RHSP Dillon Tate (traded to Orioles for Zack Britton) RHSP Mike King RHSP Jorge Guzman (traded to Marlins for Giancarlo Stanton) 2B Nick Solak (traded to Diamondbacks for Brandon Drury) 2B Shed Long (flipped from Reds to Mariners in Sonny Gray three-team trade) SS Jorge Mateo (traded to Athletics for Sonny Gray) RHSP Luis Medina RHSP Chance Adams RHSP Clarke Schmidt RHSP Trevor Stephan RHSP Erik Swanson (traded to Mariners for James Paxton) SS Thairo Estrada RHSP Nick Nelson RHSP Matt Sauer RHSP James Kaprielian (traded to Athletics for Sonny Gray) RHSP Domingo Acevedo RHSP Taylor Widener (traded to Diamondbacks for Brandon Drury) RHSP Garrett Whitlock RHSP Freicer Perez OF Josh Stowers OF Ryder Green OF Raimfer Salinas C Josh Breaux OF Billy McKinney (traded to Blue Jays for J.A. Happ) SS Jose Devers (traded to Marlins for Giancarlo Stanton) OF Dom Thompson-Williams (traded to Mariners for James Paxton) RHSP Luis Rijo (traded to Twins for Lance Lynn) RHSP Frank German RHSP Luis Gil OF Pablo Olivares RHSP Tanner Myatt LHRP Stephen Tarpley SS Kyle Holder 1B/3B Dermis Garcia

IF Abi Avelino (Andrew McCutchen trade), RHRP Cody Carroll (Britton trade), LHSP Ian Clarkin (Robertson, Frazier, Kahnle trade), RHSP Juan De Paula (McCutchen trade), LHRP Caleb Frare (to White Sox for international bonus money), RHRP Gio Gallegos (Luke Voit trade), RHSP Zack Littell (Jaime Garcia trade), and LHSP Josh Rogers (Britton trade) don’t fit into that top 45 anywhere. They would’ve still been on the outside looking in.

We don’t know what’ll happen with Sheffield and Paxton yet, but, overall, the Yankees don’t really miss any of the prospects they traded away in recent years. They’ve kept the right guys (remember how many fans wanted Aaron Judge traded following his strikeout-filled 2016 debut?) and traded the right guys. At the moment this strikes me as a 15-20 range farm system among the 30 teams. I think it could be a top ten system again as soon as next year thanks to all those lower level teenagers. Even if only a few click, the farm system is back to being among the game’s best.