Yankees' Top Prospects, Farm System Progress Report, Draft Targets
The New York Yankees are in the thick of contention in a stacked AL East race, and they are doing it with a rookie shortstop in Anthony Volpe. Several other young Yankees players have seen significant MLB action this year as well.
Now that Volpe has exhausted his prospect status, there's a new No. 1 player in the farm system, although he's not a new name by any means. The baseball world is well-acquainted with Jasson Domínguez.
Further down the organizational rankings, a few pitchers are enjoying breakout seasons. The Yankees will add more talent to their current collection of prospects in next month's amateur draft.
Let's take a closer look at the Yankees' top-10 prospect list, a general overview of their farm system and who might be on their radar when they are on the clock in the 2023 draft.
Updated Top 10 Prospect List
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Top 10 Prospects
1. OF Jasson Domínguez (No. 46 on B/R's Top 100 list)
2. C Austin Wells (No. 90 on B/R's Top 100 list)
3. OF Spencer Jones
4. OF Everson Pereira
5. RHP Will Warren
6. RHP Justin Lange
7. RHP Chase Hampton
8. RHP Clayton Beeter
9. SS Trey Sweeney
10. 2B/SS Jared Serna
Farm System Progress Report
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The Yankees checked in at No. 24 in our most recent farm system rankings, which were updated on May 25.
Highly touted outfielder Jasson Domínguez is hitting just .205 through 47 games at Double-A, but he has shown some extra-base power (13 XBH) and on-base ability (.365 OBP, 19.9 BB%). It's important to remember that he's still well ahead of the developmental curve at 20 years old.
Right-hander Justin Lange—a first-round pick in 2020 whom the Yankees acquired from the San Diego Padres in the Luke Voit deal—has turned heads at the Single-A level with 58 strikeouts in 33.1 innings and a .161 opponents' batting average. He might have the highest ceiling of any pitching prospect in the system right now.
Middle infielder Jared Serna is a prospect on the rise worth knowing. The 21-year-old is hitting .312/.374/.500 with 18 extra-base hits and 13 steals in 46 games at Single-A.
Potential Draft Targets
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The Yankees have the No. 26 overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft, which gets underway on July 9 during MLB All-Star weekend.
Here's a look at some recent mock draft projections:
MLB.com Mock Draft (6/1): SS/3B George Lombard Jr., Gulliver Prep (FL)
The Yankees have been frequently linked to the second tier of prep middle infielders, which also includes Sammy Stafura, Kevin McGonigle and Colt Emerson.
Lombard has a strong 6'3", 190-pound frame with good present power and the potential to develop more in the coming years. He has the arm strength and athleticism to handle shortstop, but there's also a chance he could outgrow the position and shift to third base in pro ball. The Florida prep standout also has good bloodlines as the son of the current Detroit Tigers bench coach, who had a 16-year professional career.
The Athletic Mock Draft (5/24): SS Sammy Stafura, Walter Panas High School (NY)
The Yankees found Anthony Volpe in their own backyard in the first round of the 2019 draft, and they have been scouting Stafura all spring during his senior season at Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt, New York. The Clemson commit has had some helium this spring while showing good defensive skills at shortstop, plus speed and an all-field approach.
Baseball America Mock Draft (5/11): 3B Brayden Taylor, TCU
One of the most productive hitters in the country, Taylor is batting .321/.440/.671 with 23 home runs and 69 RBI in 61 games this spring. He does have some swing-and-miss to his game with 52 strikeouts, and he gets a bit pull-happy at times, but it's looking more and more like No. 26 overall could be his floor. He has a chance to go as high as the late teens thanks to his uptick in power production.
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