The New York Yankees are still buying the top free agents and are now purchasing the top international prospects. Jasson Dominguez was the top international signee during the July 2019 signing period and is comparable to Wander Franco before playing a professional game in the states. The Yankees farm system is producing some excellent arms with top of the rotation potential. The Yankees are the favorite to win the World Series in 2020, and this will continue to stay that way if these names discussed below can continue to progress.
Jasson Dominguez (OF)
Jasson has yet to play in a professional game; however, he is already a top 10 prospect. Dominguez has everything scouts dream of in size, speed, and power. Dominguez is a 16-year-old switch-hitting prospect and already 5’10”, 190 pounds. The eye test is all we have right now with Dominguez since he has not appeared at pro ball yet. The bat speed is legit, and the swing does not have any significant mechanical flaws. As a 16-year-old getting pro-level coaching from here on out, the mechanics should only get better. His natural swing is from the left side, and from videos that I have seen, you can tell that it is a little freer and more comfortable, but the right-handed swing is not far behind. Dominguez could be a superstar in the making but would not expect to see him in the majors until 2023.
Clarke Schmidt (RHP)
Clarke is rising quickly up prospect lists after his first full professional season in 2019. Clarke pitched at three different levels in 2019, starting in rookie ball and ending in AA. Few prospects make the jump from rookie ball to AA in one year, but Schmidt earned it. In 2019 the overall numbers in all three levels were a 3.47 ERA 102 Ks and 29 BBs in 90.2 innings pitched. Clarke started three games at AA with a 2.37 ERA 19 Ks 1 BB in 19 innings. Clarke’s repertoire includes a mid-90s Fastball (topping out at 97), a plus slider, and a plus changeup. Clarke is 23 years old and moving through the Yankees system quickly with a potential call up late in 2020.
Luis Medina (RHP)
Luis is the definition of a high ceiling low floor prospect. His fastball can touch triple digits, even topping out at 102 MPH. He throws his curveball in the low 80s with a good break, which gives him a good out pitch. Medinas’ third pitch, a changeup, is thrown in the low-90s with sharp break and when on, imitates a splitter. The main concern with Medina is the control, which has been a struggle throughout his career, but he did take strides at the end of 2019. In 2018 Medina pitched 36 innings in rookie ball with 47 Ks and 46 BB. In 2019 at A and High-A, he pitched 103.2 innings with a 5.47 ERA 127 Ks 70 BBs. The good news is the control got progressively better throughout the year. Here are the numbers by month for Medina last year:
April – 14 innings 15 Ks 13 BBs 2.64 WHIP
May – 17 innings 19 Ks 23 BBs 2.35 WHIP
June – 24.1 innings 28 Ks 14 BBs 1.36 WHIP
July – 25.2 innings 36 Ks 14 BBs 1.40 WHIP
August – 22.2 innings 29 Ks 6 BBs 0.75 WHIP
If Medina can keep and sustain this form, he could end up being a frontline starter in the majors.
Deivi Garcia (RHP)
Deivi was on the way up after the 2018 season in mostly A and High-A with one start in AA. In total, he threw 74 innings with a 2.55 ERA 105 Ks 20 BBs. In 2019 Garcia started games at three different levels: four at High-A (17.2 innings 3.06 ERA 33 Ks 8 BBs), eleven at Double-A (53.2 innings 3.86 ERA 87 Ks 26 BBs, and six at Triple-A (40 innings 5.40 ERA 45 Ks 20 BBs). In total, the 2019 numbers were 111.1 innings 4.28 ERA 165 Ks 54 BBs. The problem for Garcia is the walk. In 2018 he was around 2.4 BB/9, which raised to 4.19 BB/9 in High-A, 4.40 BB/9 in Double-A, and 4.50 BB/9 in Triple-A in 2019. Garcia could end up in the bullpen with his best pitch his curveball that is tough for Garcia to keep in the zone. Fastball sits low to mid-90s with some arm side run. The last pitch is the changeup, which is still developing. If the control can improve, Garcia could be a useful rotation arm.
Names to watch for 2020
Ezequiel Duran (2B)
Duran is a 20-year-old 2B with good pop. 2019 slash line in rookie ball was .256/.329/.496. The K rate was 27.8%, which is worrisome, especially at rookie ball, but if this can improve, Duran could be a good source of power at the 2B position.
Luis Gil (RHP)
Gil will most likely end up in the bullpen. The fastball touches triple digits, and he throws a power curveball to get hitters to swing and miss. The changeup needs work, and so does the delivery to help develop consistency.
I am always open to discuss and answer questions on Twitter @DraftHouseNow