Yankees’ Infield Quartet Could Be Future of the Bronx
No matter the year, the New York Yankees are expected to be in the running for a division title. While their 2021 roster may seem talented, the Yanks have found themselves 10 games out of first, hovering around .500 for most of the season. In their current state, they have a 37.9% chance of making the playoffs, playing to fourth place in the AL East. With the recent absence of Luke Voit, DJ LaMahieu saw most of his time at first base, making the Yankees askers on the trade market for middle-infield help. Shortstop Gleyber Torres has struggled, producing a .290 wOBA and 82 wRC+, with other infielders such as Gio Urshela and Rougned Odor playing to about league average.
Brian Cashman will have to decide the trajectory of the organization at the deadline, with an unlikely chance the Yankees are sellers. Currently, New York ranks 18th in Baseball America’s Organizational Talent Rankings. This means that mid-level prospects will have to step-up and make strides towards the big leagues. We are about half of the way done the season and the Yankees possess some of the hottest Minor League hitters. While three of the four rank inside of the Yanks’ Top 30, none of these players are labeled as baseball’s top prospects. Here are four Yankees’ infield prospects that may pave their way to the Bronx in the next couple of years:
2B Trevor Hauver, Tampa Tarpons (Low A)
Hauver was a third round selection in 2020 out of Arizona State, where he produced a .494 OBP in 116 college games. A shortstop in high school, Hauver was forced to play the outfield at ASU due to a stacked infield that featured Spencer Torkelson and Gage Workman. When the Yankees drafted him last July, he was announced as a second baseman, where he profiles for the future if he sticks in the infield. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and lack of a summer instructional league, Hauver was assigned to Low-A to debut professionally. To this point, he has yet to disappoint. Hauver has produced a .444 wOBA, along with a 22.3% walk rate in 48 games. His performance earned him the Southeast League’s Player of the Month in May. To become a successful big leaguer, Hauver must control his strikeout rate, which almost mirrors his walks at 25.5%. In the future, there is a good chance Hauver turns into a super-utility type of player thanks to his experience in the outfield as well as second base. This type of production may earn him a promotion to High-A Hudson Valley sooner rather than later, where he will most likely finish the season.
Prospect Outlet Rankings
Baseball America: Yankees #30
MLB Pipeline: Yankees #23
Fangraphs: Yankees #29
SS Josh Smith, Hudson Valley Renegades (High A)
Quite possibly the hottest hitter in all of Minor League baseball, Josh Smith has opened some eyes to this point. Before being selected in the second round of the 2019 draft, Smith produced a .313/.420/.478 slash line in 143 career games at LSU. He also turned heads in Cape Cod, finishing the summer with a .991 OPS for the Harwich Mariners. Smith isn’t a stranger to professional success, hitting for a 177 wRC+ with the Staten Island Yankees in 2019. So far this season, Smith has been unstoppable, slugging .653 while splitting time with the Tampa Tarpons and Hudson Valley Renegades. Smith turns 24 in August, so he could find himself to be a fast riser through the Yankees’ system. He currently leads all of Minor League baseball in wRC+ (195) and ranks second in wOBA (.483), only behind teammate Anthony Volpe. Not only does he stand out when looking at more advanced stats, Smith is currently hitting .331/.453/.653, equal to a 1.106 OPS in 33 games. Smith profiles as a middle infielder, with quick hands and good baseball instincts. He could find himself in Double-A very soon, where he will most likely finish the season. It is safe to say that Josh Smith has hit at every level of baseball up to this point, and has yet to show signs of slowing down.
Prospect Outlet Rankings
Baseball America: Yankees #24
MLB Pipeline: Yankees #14
Fangraphs: Yankees #19
2B/SS Hoy Jun Park, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders (AAA)
Park is probably the most interesting prospect of the four, mainly due to his track record and background. A 2014 international signing out of South Korea, Park had not produced at a high level coming into 2021. For this season, however, it looks like he has found a stride at the plate. Park is your prototypical player from Asia, high OBP and low SLG, but through 35 games at Triple-A he is doing everything well. Park has split time between Double-A and Triple-A to this point, and possesses a .313/.456/.544 slash with a .466 wOBA. Throughout his career, Park has been known for his athleticism and defense. While he is currently an unranked prospect, the future may be a solid bench piece for the Yankees. For Park, the production is improving, but the strikeout rate is at a career high. To this point, he has a 20.0 K%, but the walk rate is also rising. If he doesn’t end up sticking with the Yankees, Park could be a candidate to be selected in next year’s Rule-5 Draft. This means in order for the Yankees to keep him, they must add him to the 40-man roster.
Prospect Outlet Rankings
Baseball America: Yankees Unranked
MLB Pipeline: Yankees Unranked
Fangraphs: Yankees Unranked (Top 48 Honorable Mention)
SS/2B Anthony Volpe, Tampa Tarpons (Low A)
Perhaps the most well-known prospect on this list, Anthony Volpe was selected by the Yankees 30th overall in 2019. After the coronavirus shutdown, the Yankees have reported that Volpe has put on about 15 pounds of muscle. Before adding to his frame, Volpe was regarded as very athletic, and a candidate to sick at shortstop long term. After Volpe was drafted in 2019, the Yankees sent him to Rookie ball, where he struggled. In 34 games, Volpe possessed a 25.3 K% and a .289 BABIP. 2021 has been completely different to this point, ranking at the top of almost all Minor League leaderboards. Currently, Volpe is hitting .309/.452/.635, producing a .491 wOBA and 19.1 BB%. He has also hit 11 homers. Due to his draft status, the Yankees will most likely be more careful with his development, and take their time with promotions.
Prospect Outlet Rankings
Baseball America: Yankees #14
MLB Pipeline: Yankees #11
Fangraphs: Yankees #14
