Following the Baby Nats...

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:11 am

I'm really going to enjoy doing this all season. There are a ton of success stories so far (especially my pitching)...we'll use this space to track progress.

Matt Wisler, RHP, San Diego Padres (High-A Lake Elsinore)
One of baseball’s top breakout arms over the last two seasons, Wisler continues to see his stuff and projection tick up. Baseball Prospectus ranked the on-the-rise righty as San Diego’s no. 8 prospect over the winter. It’s safe to say he’d be considerably higher today, as he worked between 92-94 mph during starts in spring training and reached up to 98 late in camp. What was a 3/4 starter projection is now a 2/3 at minimum.

Although Wisler has some funk in his delivery, he repeats well and shows four average-or-better pitches for strikes. He’s off to a fast start at High-A Lake Elsinore, missing bats and tossing five innings of three-hit shutout ball in each of his first two outings. He’ll play the entire season at age 20 and is a definite candidate for a mid-season Double-A look. —Jason Cole

Jorge Bonifacio, RF, Royals (High-A Wilmington):
Jorge Bonifacio doesn’t play much like his slap-hitting brother Emilio. Jorge has natural ability at the plate and uses his strength to exploit mistakes. He has a short swing, a quick trigger, and power to all fields. In the field, he takes good routes to balls and has average range in right field. He also has an absolute cannon and is not afraid to unleash it at any time. Only 19, Bonifacio shows advanced baseball instincts. The Royals will allow him to hone his craft in High-A for the majority of the season. —Zach Mortimer

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Fri Apr 19, 2013 3:42 pm

Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia could be assigned to Double-A Bowie as early as Thursday. The Orioles had considered Single-A Frederick, but he's going to play for the Baysox, as they intended last summer while he was detained in Haiti.

Gotta love that...apparently the dude has been absolutely relaxing around the end of ST and the complexes...

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Fri Apr 19, 2013 3:48 pm

4. Michael Choice, cf, Athletics
Why He’s Here:.385/.514/.808 (10-for-26), 3 HR, 2 2B, 9 RBIs, 11 R, 7 BB, 7 SO, 0-for-1 SB

The Scoop: Choice has shown no ill effects of the broken hand that truncated his 2012 season. Along with his health, Choice finally has his swing where he wants it after spending the last couple years working it over, and he’s off to a .288/.403/.542 start in his first taste of Triple-A. He’s shown patience to go with his power, drawing 10 walks and reaching base at least once in 14 of 15 games.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 8:19 am

Pitching Prospect of the Day: Rafael De Paula, RHP, Yankees (Low-A Charleston): 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K; potential plus-plus fastball, plus-plus curveball, and plus changeup; about ready for a promotion; 17.1 IP, 12 H, 7 ER, 9 BB, 33 K in four starts.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 8:22 am

While certainly not a baby, Henry Urrutia arrived in AA and went 4-12 his first weekend with a 2b, 2 bb's, and an OF assist.

After destroying the complex circuit, Henry just might be the real thing.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:31 am

Having a day...unfortunately my pitching was as bad as my hitting was good.

TEAM CLASS PLAYER, POS AB R H BI AVG
BAL AA Urrutia, Henry RF 4 1 2 2 0.375 HR (1)
KC HiA Bonifacio, Jorge RF 6 0 4 5 0.323 2B (6), 3B (3)
PIT HiA Hanson, Alen SS 4 2 2 0 0 .258 2B (3)
SEA AAA Romero, Stefen DH 5 0 2 2 0.308 2B (2)
SF AA Panik, Joe 2B 4 2 2 1 0 .28 BB (8)
SF AAA Kieschnick, Roger RF 4 1 2 2 0.368 3B (2), HR (4)
STL AA O'Neill, Mike DH 2 2 1 0 0 .268 2B (3), 3 BB (13); Now has 13 BB, 2 Ks this year

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Thu May 02, 2013 10:40 am

• Matt Wisler, rhp, Padres. If you’re looking for a sleeper pitching prospect in the low minors, then Wisler could be your guy. The 20-year-old leads the California League with a 1.04 ERA and 0.77 WHIP after throwing six shutout innings for high Class A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday. He struck out four and allowed just two hits. Wisler has the type of power curveball that evaluators like to see from righthanded starter prospects, having ranked No. 9 in the 16-team Midwest League rankings last year and No. 6 in a deep Padres system.

• Avisail Garcia, rf, Tigers. The 21-year-old hit the ground running in his rehab assignment with high Class A Lakeland, going 10-for-20 with a homer, two triples and four walks in his past five games.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Fri May 03, 2013 9:45 am

Mike O’Neill, lf, Cardinals: After O’Neill walked twice as often as he struck out at high Class A Palm Beach last year, it was fair to wonder if he could keep up such an on-base-friendly approach against more advanced pitchers.

At Double-A Springfield this season, it turns out, O’Neill isn’t walking twice as often as he strikes out. No, he’s walking six times as often as he strikes out. So baseball’s Mr. OBP has become even more effective at being a pest.

After walking three more times on Wednesday, O’Neill now has drawn 24 free passes in 25 games, while striking out four times. After walking only once in the first six games at Springfield, O’Neill has gone on an 11-game walk streak which includes a BB-to-SS ratio of 15-to-1.

O’Neill also has hit .464 during his walk streak, raising his average to .338, fourth best in the Texas League. It follows that he also leads the league with a .490 on-base percentage and ranks second with 19 runs scored. Nevertheless, O’Neill still faces questions about how he fits in the context of a big league team. He has not played a game in center field this year, and his lack of power (one career pro home run in 763 at-bats) does not exactly fit a corner profile.

But getting on base is a skill, and few are better at that than O’Neill. In fact, there’s not really anyone who comes close to controlling the strike zone like O’Neill. Looking at everyone in affiliated baseball since 2007 with 75 or more at-bats at one level, two things stand out. One is that O’Neill’s skill is rather unique. No one has come close to his 6-to-1 walk-to-strikeout ratio from this year’s limited sample, but he also appears on the list two other times. The other fact isn’t as encouraging for O’Neill: The list generally consists of players who have not had significant big league careers.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Wed May 08, 2013 12:44 pm

Someone no one is talking about is Darnell Sweeney. After being drafted in the 13th round last year, Sweeney raked in the Pioneer league, and was sent to the Midwest League where he produced a very strong stat line of .291/.372/.447 with 17 sb's in 51 games.

After going 4-5 with a double (his 5th), a triple (his 7th!), and a homer (his 3rd) last night, his 2013 stat line in HA Rancho Cucamonga is .287/.348/.516, along with stealing 12 bases at an 80% clip. Sweeney features excellent speed, potential for a good obp (avg hit tool + good eye), and surprising pop for a middle infielder.

Sweeney has the arm and actions to stay at SS, but needs to improve his sloppiness.

If the tools play out, he could become a decent fielding SS who hits at the top of the order.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Fri May 10, 2013 8:44 am

Let's go with another under-the-radar prospect, Rob Refsnyder. After winning the CWS MOP for Arizona in '12, Refsnyder lasted until the Yankees snagged at the back of the 5th round.

All he's done since he started the '13 season is flat out rake. He started the season in LA Charleston, slashing a line of .370/.452/.481, before he was quickly promoted to HA Tampa. He's only done better since the promotion, crushing FSL pitching to the tune of .395/.516/.539. On the season Refsnyder has shown some pop, hitting 12 2b's, 1 3b, and 1 hr. He's also contributed 13 sb's without being caught.

Refsnyder will always have to hit because the defense, even at 2b, is fringy at best. He's athletic, but may ultimately have to move to an OF corner, which would put a lot of pressure on his bat. However, the Yanks will give him every chance to be a 2b...so keeping my fingers crossed.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Fri May 10, 2013 1:01 pm

Back to back on the Hot Sheet...

8. James Paxton, lhp, Mariners
Team: low Class A Peoria (Midwest)
Age: 24
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.90, 2 GS, 10 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 12 SO, 4 BB
The Scoop: See him on the right day and you might think Paxton is going to be a No. 3 starter in the big leagues with two plus pitches in his fastball and his curveball. Other times, his delivery gets out of whack, his control falters and he puts some ugly numbers on the scoreboard. This week was a good one for Paxton, who’s struck out 34 in 31 innings but has also allowed 16 walks and a 4.35 ERA, signs that there is still work to be done before he’s ready to make the final jump to Seattle.

9. Max Fried, lhp, Padres
Team: low Class A Fort Wayne (Midwest)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 5 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 8 SO, 4 BB
The Scoop: The first high school pitcher drafted last year, Fried jumped directly to Fort Wayne and its six-man rotation for his full-season debut. Midwest League batters have had a tough time squaring him up—.200 opponent average, 30 strikeouts in 25 innings—but even young, undisciplined hitters have managed to work 14 walks against Fried. Not to worry—even the best young southpaws must fine-tune their control as they advance. Clayton Kershaw walked 4.6 batters per nine in the ’07 MWL, after all.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Sat May 11, 2013 9:16 am

This is getting to be a lot of fun. Today's update is on Astros prospect Domingo Santana. Despite being one of the youngest players in the league and overcoming an early season injury, Santana has started to show that last year's HA breakout wasn't a fluke.

There will always be some holes in his game (swing & miss, limited defensive profile), but nights like last night highlight the outstanding power potential and discerning eye. Last night Domingo rocked 3 homers and posted 5 rbi's, pushing his stat line to a robust .264/.366/.598 on the season with 7 homers and adding 4 stolen bases without being caught.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Thu May 16, 2013 3:48 pm

AA as a level is often a group of top prospects who have not yet matured into the men it takes them to be a successful MLBer. Henry Urrutia is a man amongst boys.

Despite taking a while to get clearance to play in America, the $778,000 signing bonus the Orioles paid to get Urrutia looks to be well worth it. Urrutia shows a live bat, a good approach, and good control of the strike zone.

So far he has dominated the Eastern League to a slash line of .372/.430/.628, ripping 14 extra base hits in 78 at-bats. Despite teams finally getting scouting reports on Urrutia, he is only getting stronger. He is 10 for his last 18, with 4 xbh's and 2 bb's in that run.

Urrutia has the glove and arm to play a corner position or 1b, and appears to have the hit tool to hold his own at the MLB level. The Orioles were hoping he could handle CF, but that doesn't look like it will work. Urrutia's power will have to carry to upper levels to have a big impact at the MLB level, and he has not yet answered those questions.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Fri May 17, 2013 8:51 am

• Max Fried, lhp, Padres. The first high school pitcher drafted in 2012, Fried peeled off his second consecutive scoreless appearance for low Class A Fort Wayne on Wednesday. This time he went six innings in a day game versus Bowling Green, allowing four hits and striking out four. Fried permitted nary a hit or a run over 5 2/3 in his previous start, and thanks to 11 2/3 straight scoreless frames his ERA stands at 2.35 after six Midwest League starts.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Thu May 23, 2013 8:57 am

Alen Hanson, SS, Pirates (High-A Bradenton): 4-5, 2B, 2 3B, 3 R, RBI, K; plus runner; plus bat speed; plays the game with a bit of swagger; will eventually have to move to the right side of the infield; I want to see him against Double-A pitching; .400/.429/.700 and 5 2B, 2 3B, and HR in last 40 at-bats.

Dorssys Paulino, SS, Indians (Low-A Lake County): 3-5, 2B, 3B, 2 R, RBI; potential plus hit tool; at least average power; plus runner; will move off of shortstop at some point; hopefully this big night will get him out of an early-season funk.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Thu May 23, 2013 4:09 pm

More light reading...

If you’re looking for the best pair of position prospects on a minor league club, you can take a look at Triple-A Tacoma, where Nick Franklin and Mike Zunino hit in the same lineup. Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson roam the same outfield in Double-A Chattanooga and Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick cover plenty of ground in Double-A Jacksonville’s outfield.

But the combination of shortstop Alen Hanson and Gregory Polanco with high Class A Bradenton is hard to top as far as prospect duos, which they showed again on Wednesday.

Polanco, who ranked 51st on the Baseball America preseason Top 100 Prospects list, went 4-for-5 with a double and his sixth home run of the season. Hanson, ranked 61st on the Top 100, went 4-for-5 with a double, two triples and two stolen bases. For Polanco, the big day was a continuation of what’s been an excellent start to his 2013 season. For Hanson, it’s another sign that he’s put a slow start behind him. Hanson is hitting .388 with eight extra base hits in his past 13 games, raising his batting average 50 points to .287 and his slugging percentage nearly 100 points to .409.

Jose Ramirez, rhp, Yankees: Ramirez was one of the stars of spring training for the Yankees, as a mid-to-high 90s fastball gets plenty of notice in short stints. Some of Ramirez’s warts (command problems at times, too many deep counts against hitters and a lack of deception to his delivery) are less apparent in spring training.

To his credit, Ramirez has built off of his solid 2012 Florida State League season by being arguably Double-A Trenton’s ace this season. The Yankees have been very cautious with his workload, holding him to 80 pitches or so, which explains why he’s only worked five innings in three of his six starts this season.

But on Wednesday, Ramirez’s control deserted him completely for the first time this season. He gave up five walks in only 1 2/3 innings, eventually being lifted after he walked three batters and gave up a two-run double in the second inning. While Ramirez’s command still needs to improve, his control troubles on Wednesday are uncharacteristic of the righthander’s normal stuff. Ramirez had walked only five batters in his first five starts—while he’s sometimes wild in the zone, he rarely has trouble throwing strikes.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:30 am

Sonny Gray, RHP, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento)

This year has seen Gray return to form from his days as one of the top arms in the country at Vanderbilt. He’s improved his pacing through his motion, and has seen a sharp improvement in the command of each of his offerings, which took a step backward in 2012. His best weapon has been his big, hard 12-to-6 curve, which plays as a plus-or-better offering that he can drop in the zone or bury. It’s the very definition of a swing-and-miss pitch, and PCL hitters have had difficulty picking it up out of his hand. His off-speed offering is an average, straight change and he’ll mix in a quality slider on occasion that flashes above average. The fastball, while lacking great plane, is explosive, and he can dial it up as high as 97 mph. Gray works the bottom shelf without mercy, elevating later in counts and wielding his curve as a put-away hammer. At this point, there is very little left for him to work on at the minor-league level, and A’s fans should look forward to seeing him in Oakland in the not-too-distant future. He’s a potential front-end arm and could realize that potential quickly upon arrival. —Nick Faleris

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 1:51 pm

Tyler Naquin, cf, Indians: When the Indians drafted Naquin with their first-round pick (15th overall) last year, scouts felt they were getting a quality hitter with a good approach but not much power. That’s been exactly what he has given the Indians so far at high Class A Carolina, where he’s hitting .315/.375/.475 with four home runs in 53 games. That fourth home run came yesterday as Naquin capped off a three-day stretch in which he went 8-for-14 with four extra-base hits.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 1:29 pm

RHP Rafael De Paula • Yankees
Low Class A Charleston (South Atlantic)

The 22-year-old De Paula toyed with younger South Atlantic League competition in May, striking out 44 against just 29 baserunners. Not only does he lead the minors with 83 strikeouts, but he ranked second in the SAL with a .176 opponent average and fourth with a 1.01 WHIP as May drew to a close. De Paula’s stuff, results and age argue for a second-half promotion.
W L ERA GS IP H R ER HR SO BB SO/9 BB/9 SO/BB WHIP
5 0 1.69 6 32.0 18 6 6 1 44 11 12.4 3.1 4.00 0.94

RHP Sonny Gray • Athletics
Triple-A Sacramento (Pacific Coast)

A mechanical overhaul didn’t agree with Gray, the 18th pick in the 2011 draft, resulting in a 4.14 ERA and 1.7 K-BB ratio at Double-A last season. Armed with his familiar Vanderbilt delivery and one of the best curveballs in the Pacific Coast League this season, he ranked second in the circuit with 65 strikeouts and third with a 2.40 ERA.
W L ERA GS IP H R ER HR SO BB SO/9 BB/9 SO/BB WHIP
3 2 1.94 7 41.2 36 11 9 1 46 12 9.9 2.6 3.83 1.15

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 8:50 am

Position Prospect of the Day: Henry Urrutia, OF, Orioles (Double-A Bowie): 4-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI. I had a great conversation with a front-office member about Urrutia, in which the FOM said, “He can hit, but everything else is still a work in progress.” He spoke to the fact that Urrutia was very raw in all aspects of the actual game. His ability in the outfield and running the bases were two weaknesses that he singled out. Overall, we both agreed that the hit tool may be enough to get him to the big leagues, but he will need to add polish to his game; .375/.405/.550 with 1 2B and 2 HR in last 40 at-bats.

Other notable prospect performances from June 4:

“The Good”
Maikel Franco, 3B, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 3-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI; potential solid-average hit tool; potential plus hit tool; plus arm; stock on the rise; .295/.342/.554 with 23 2B, 1 3B, and 11 HR in 224 at-bats.
Matt Purke, LHP, Nationals (Low-A Hagerstown): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K; plus fastball; potential plus slider; average changeup; extreme injury concerns (shoulder).

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:41 pm

No. 6 Tyler Naquin, cf, Indians
Team: high Class A Carolina (Carolina)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .407/.414/.667 (11-for-27), 4 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1-for-2 SB

The Scoop: We often talk about players who exceed or fail to meet expectations. Naquin is one who is performing right in line with what was expected when the Indians drafted him 15th overall last year. Seen as the best pure hitter in the 2012 draft, Naquin hasn’t seen his average dip below .289 on any day this season. Naquin doesn’t have many other plus tools, but his ability to barrel the ball should have him on the fast track through the Indians system.

11. Henry Urrutia, rf, Orioles
Team: Double-A Bowie (Eastern)
Age: 26
Why He’s Here: .429/.429/.762 (9-for-21), 3 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 0 BB, 6 SO

The Scoop: He’s a 26-year-old in Double-A, yes, but what Urrutia is doing is fairly remarkable. For one, this is the U.S. pro debut for the Cuban defector after signing with the Orioles last year. Then keep in mind that Urrutia was among the group of Cubans with Jorge Soler and Omar Luis whose agents had them take up permanent residency in Haiti to try to get around the bonus pools that were about to begin on July 2, 2012 (although with Urrutia’s age and Serie Nacional experience, he would have been exempt anyway). That ended up causing visa problems for Urrutia, which meant he was stuck in Haiti, unable to do much to stay sharp on the field. Now that he’s arrived, he’s been one of the best hitters in the Eastern League, batting .343/.409/.538 in 37 games. International scouts did question Urrutia’s power to be an everyday corner outfielder, but there’s definitely something here with the bat.

No. 13 Maikel Franco, 3b, Phillies
Team: high Class A Clearwater (Florida State)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .381/.435/.714 (8-for-21), 1 HR, 4 2B, 6 RBIs, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 SO

The Scoop: Hitting for power is the most important thing a corner prospect can do, and that’s exactly what Franco has done this season with Clearwater. He leads the Florida State League in hits (67) and extra-base hits (35), courtesy of 11 homers, 23 doubles and a triple. Just as importantly, he has toned down his pull-only hitting approach and now drives the ball straightaway with regularity.

IN THE TEAM PHOTO

Brandon Drury, 3b, Diamondbacks: Byron Buxton may lead the Midwest League in almost everything, but Drury’s not far behind in many categories. The least-known piece of the package the D-backs received from the Braves in the Justin Upton deal, the 20-year-old Drury has torn up the MWL to the tune of a .320/.349/.557 line for the season, and he hit .409 (9-for-22) with four homers, three doubles and a triple this week.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Tue Jun 11, 2013 8:52 am

Brandon Drury, 3B, Diamondbacks (Low-A South Bend): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K. The throw-in prospect in the Justin Upton deal, Drury has impressed so far this season. He is making consistent contact and showing present power. I would look for him to head west after the Midwest League All-Star game; .333/.405/.917 with 4 2B, 1 3B, and 5 HR in last 36 at-bats.

Maikel Franco, 3B, Phillies (High-A Clearwater): 2-5, HR, R, RBI, K. Franco has answered many questions for scouts this season in High-A. The biggest one: Would he strikeout too often? Franco has responded to the critics by only striking out 14 percent of the time. Franco has also been able to maintain his power by providing having a .243 ISO. He looks to be the future at the hot corner in Philadelphia; .333/.400/.611 with 4 2B and 2 HR in last 36 at-bats.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 5:11 pm

• Maikel Franco, 3b, Clearwater. Now that Miguel Sano has been promoted to Double-A New Britain, the title of best slugging third baseman in the Florida State League belongs to Franco. He has accepted the crown with a flourish, hitting a pair of home runs for Clearwater on Wednesday night, giving him 14 this year. Playing in a tougher league to hit home runs, Franco has equalled his 2012 home run total in less than half as many games. With his two home runs, Franco also leapfrogged Javier Baez to join Nick Ramirez in a two-way tie for second in the FSL in home runs. With Sano and his league-leading 16 home runs gone, Franco, Baez and Ramirez likely will battle for the home run lead before long.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:50 am

petelunchbox (Handsome City): Are there any players who have basically come out of no where this year to the point where they are a top 50 type prospect? For example someone like Gregory Polanco last year.

Jason Cole: You could say perhaps Raul Adalberto Mondesi, coming off his short-season resume last season. Sonny Gray has done a very nice job of reclaiming his prospect status (if not even surpassing it out of college).

Mario66 (Toronto): Speaking of short guys, if it's found that Bartolo Colon has been using articial means to maintain his physique, could Sonny Gray step in tomorrow and be a solid, #3-type starter?

Jason Cole: There may be some initial growing pains but I think he could have some success this season and will be that. I've missed him personally this season, but gotten a lot of reports and all have been very good. The velocity has been good, the life on the fastball good, the angle a little better, the curveball sharper. After I got a lot of very iffy (with a couple solid) reports in 2012, they've been consistently very, very good this year.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:52 am

Shawnykid23 (CT): Who seems to have the highest ceiling of Kyle Gibson, Jesse Biddle, J.R. Graham?

Jason Cole: Weird question because I think Graham has the highest ceiling of that group just barely, though he also has the highest chance to end up in the bullpen. Biddle is second of that group for me, with Gibson third.