New York Yankees: 6 Players Turning Heads Early at Spring Training

The New York Yankees are just a week into spring games, but several players have already started to create some buzz in camp.

The "buzz" we'll look at here is good buzz, of course. No A-Rod bashing, no harping on health issues, just standout performances that are starting to gain some extra notoriety.

Though there are a number of very deserving candidates, I narrowed this list down to six players who have all put up exemplary performances down in the Grapefruit League. 

The group features a nice mix of pitching and offense, but one thing most of these players have in common is their lack of MLB experience. The early portions of spring training are dominated by prospects, and this article is no exception, as five of the six players included are void of any MLB experience.

So, to keep you up on all things spring training, here's a look at six players turning heads early on in the New York camp.

All stats are current through play on March 8, 2015, courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.

Jake Cave, OF

2014 Stats: 132 G, 561 AB, .294/.351/.414, 7 HR, 28 2B, 9 3B, 42 RBI, 74 R, 124-46 K/BB

Spring Stats: 6 G, 8 AB, .500/.500/.875, 1 HR, 0 2B, 0 3B, 3 RBI, 3 R, 0-0 K/BB

Analysis

According to the Baseball America 2015 Prospect Handbook, Jake Cave ranks as the Yankees' No. 17 prospect. The 22-year-old can work at any outfield position and possesses five average or near-average tools (his power is the only big question mark).

Last year was Cave's second as a professional, as a knee injury cost him both his 2011 and 2012 seasons (he played just one game in 2011). 2013 was a solid showing for Cave, but 2014 was his best as a pro.

Over 132 games, the Virginia prep product registered the 17th most hits of any minor leaguer and the most of any Yankees farmhand. In addition to his impressive hit total, Cave put up a .294/.351/.414 batting line with 44 extra-base hits (seven home runs), 42 RBI, 74 runs scored, 12 stolen bases and a 124-46 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

This spring, Cave has already shown a bit of power, logging a home run and three singles with three RBI, three runs scored and no walks or strikeouts.

He's not the best outfielder in the Yankees system, in fact, according to the same handbook referenced above, he ranks behind three players (Aaron Judge, Rob Refsnyder and Tyler Austin) who all have the potential to wind up at an outfield position. Even so, Cave's ability to play any outfield position gives him an opportunity to earn a spot as a fourth outfielder at some point next season.

Rob Refsnyder, 2B/OF

2014 Stats: 137 G, 515 AB, .318/.387/.497, 14 HR, 6 3B, 38 2B, 63 RBI, 82 R, 105-55 K/BB

Spring Stats: 5 G, 10 AB, .500/.586/.600, 0 HR, 0 3B, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2-1 K/BB

Analysis

Rob Refsnyder just keeps grinding. The 22-year-old joined the organization back in 2012 after the Yankees selected him in the fifth round, following a dazzling performance in the College World Series.

Refsnyder was dropped right into full-season ball back in 2012, and ever since then he's done nothing but hit.

Last year was Refsnyder's best as a pro. Over 137 games between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the University of Arizona product put up a gaudy stat line, including a .318/.387/.497 batting line with 58 extra-base hits (14 home runs), 63 RBI, 82 runs scored and a 105-55 K/BB ratio.

Early on this spring, Refsnyder has shown no signs of slowing down. Over 10 at-bats, Refsnyder is the owner of a .500/.583/.600 triple slash, with one double, two RBI, two runs scored and a 2-1 K/BB ratio.

Refsnyder has his work cut out for him if he's going to make the Yankees' 25-man roster. If his pace slows, he'll likely return to Triple-A to start the 2015 season, but with a giant question mark at second base (Stephen Drew) and very little in the way of bench depth, Refsnyder could rejoin the team very early if he fails to break camp with the big league club. 

Greg Bird, 1B

2014 Stats: 102 G, 369 AB, .271/.376/.472, 14 HR, 30 2B, 43 RBI, 52 R, 97-63 K/BB

Spring Stats: 5 G, 10 AB, .500/.500/1.100, 1 HR, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R, 1-0 K/BB

Analysis

Greg Bird comes in as the team's No. 4 prospect according to Baseball America and he's been everything the Yankees could've asked for. The 22-year-old can hit and he's done so every step of the way in his professional career.

Last year, the young first baseman belted 45 extra-base-hits with 14 home runs, 43 RBI, 52 runs scored and a 97-63 K/BB ratio over a combined 458 at-bats between High-A and Double-A ball.

This spring, Bird has demonstrated the same wherewithal around the plate, posting a .500/.500/1.100 batting line with a home run, three doubles, four RBI, two runs scored and a 1-0 K/BB ratio.

Bird has an advanced approach at the plate and while he's easily the best pure hitter in the Yankees system, he also has the ability to draw a walk and pick his spots to do damage. Bird isn't going to crack the Yankees' 25-man roster out of spring training, but he's likely to earn a trip to Triple-A, and a possible late-2015/Opening Day 2016 call-up.

Jacob Lindgren, LHP

2014 Stats: 19 G, 1 SV, 24.2 IP, 2.19 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 17.5 K/9, 4.7 BB/9, 3.69 K/BB

Spring Stats: 2 G, 2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 13.5 K/9, 4.5 BB/9, 3.00 K/BB

Analysis

What Jacob Lindgren lacks in size, he makes up for in pure stuff. The 21-year-old has a solid, low-90s fastball that he pairs with a near-plus slider that has devastating swing-and-miss potential.

Lindgren's third offering is a below-average changeup that lags significantly behind his first two offerings. While adding a third pitch of average ability to his arsenal would benefit his overall production as a high-leverage reliever, it won't impact his ability to succeed in that role.

Lindgren was drafted out of Mississippi State in the second round of last year's amateur draft, and the young lefty raced through the system, making appearances at four separate levels of play (Rookie Level, Single-A, High-A and Double-A).

This spring, Lindgren has been nearly untouchable. The Mississippi State product has yet to allow an earned run over his two innings of work, and has logged three strikeouts to just one walk and two hits.

Lindgren is on the fast track to the MLB level, and while he's likely to return to the minors at some point this spring in favor of newly acquired lefties Andrew Miller, Justin Wilson and Chase Shreve, his time in Tampa has already served him well.

Expect Lindgren to join the team as early as May or June.

Luis Severino, RHP

2014 Stats: 24 GS, 6-5 W-L, 2.47 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 10.1 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 4.70 K/BB

Spring Stats: 2 G, 2.2 IP, 6.75 ERA, 2.63 WHIP, 16.9 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 5.00 K/BB 

Analysis

Luis Severino's stat line doesn't tell the true story of his spring training efforts to this point. The 21-year-old has pitched just 2.2 innings this season, but the first inning of his debut appearance against the Philadelphia Phillies was practically awe-inspiring.

Severino worked through the first inning of his outing with relative ease. The young righty worked back-to-back strikeouts against Cesar Hernandez and Cameron Rupp, and shattered Ben Revere's bat, resulting in a weak groundout to third base.

The second inning wasn't as kind to the Dominican Republic native, but what we've seen so far is enough to make fans take notice.

Severino was pumping his fastball up into the mid-high 90s, and his changeup was working well against lefties, fading hard to the outer half of the plate.

Outing two went even smoother for the top prospect. Severino lasted 1.1 innings against the Washington Nationals, logging three strikeouts while allowing an unearned run on just one walk and two hits.

At some point, Severino will return to the minors for additional seasoning, but he's giving fans a good look at what to expect when he makes his MLB debut, projected to come later this season.

Nathan Eovaldi, RHP

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

2014 Stats: 33 GS, 6-14 W-L, 199.2 IP, 4.37 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 6.4 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, 3.30 K/BB

Spring Stats: 2 G, 0-1 W-L, 5.0 IP, 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, 0.0 BB/9, INF K/BB

Analysis

After joining the Yankees this offseason (he came in exchange for Martin Prado, David Phelps and cash), Nathan Eovaldi became a prime candidate to help round out the back end of the team's starting rotation.

The 25-year-old righty has a lot of potential packed into his powerful right arm, and it appears as though he's tapping into it this spring.

Over two outings, Eovaldi has logged five innings with a 1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, a strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio of 10.8 and just a .550 OPS against. Eovaldi has yet to allow a walk this spring, and the improved command he displayed last season looks to have carried over into this year.

The Texas prep product was once ranked the No. 96 prospect in baseball according to Baseball America, and he's finally living up to that billing. If he's able to continue pitching at a fraction of the level he's displayed thus far in the spring, picking him up will prove to have been a wise move for the Yankees front office.

Tyler Duma is a Featured Columnist for the New York Yankees on Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @TylerDuma.