2024 Breakout candidate: Yoendrys Gomez

by Greg Corcoran

6-foot-3

212-pounds

Right-handed

24-years-old

Back in July of 2016, the Yankees signed an international free agent from Venezuela for $50,000, and it went relatively unnoticed. At that time Yoendrys Gomez was a skinny 17-year-old kid with a projectable frame who had topped out at 92-mph.

Within two years of being signed Gomez had become a name to know in the Yankees’ farm system. Unfortunately, several injuries have prevented Yoendrys from pitching more than 65.1 innings in a minor league season, yet he has slowly climbed that ladder and had a good season in Double-A in 2023.

The Yankees took it slow with Gomez this year since he was returning from Tommy John Surgery, but he remained a starter. His outings were on strict pitch counts, especially to begin the season. As the season progressed his starts became longer, averaging about four innings per game his last eight starts.

Command is usually the last thing to come back after Tommy John, and Gomez’s season reflected that. He walked 37 batters in 65.1 innings which was the highest of his career. There’s a lot to be optimistic about, however. Coupled with that high walk rate was a career high in strikeout rate. He finished the year with a 3.58 ERA and 78 K in 65.1 innings. Batters hit just .200 against him.

Somerset pitching coach Grayson Crawford shared with NYYU that the plan going forward is for Gomez to remain a starter. His stuff is simply too good to give up on that ceiling just yet. Yoendrys has a fastball that sits 92-96 mph touching 98 and with plus movement. He has a plus slider with sweeping action, and an above average curveball. His changeup came a long way this year and could be a bigger weapon going forward, especially after Tommy John Surgery.

With that repertoire, you can see why the Yankees are hoping he can stay a starter. He has the type of ceiling you can dream on as a potential mid-rotation starter with the chance to be even more. Although his command has not returned since Tommy John Surgery, there is confidence within the organization that he’ll regain his touch. At this stage, his floor is a major league reliever with the chance to be a special late inning reliever like Michael King.

He’ll start in Triple-A next season and we will learn quickly what the future holds for Gomez. He is on the forty-man roster and will be out of options in 2025, so the Yankees will have to decide on his role soon.

Regardless of where he may land, Yoendrys has a bright future if he can stay healthy. Next year could finally be the year he emerges as a top prospect since he will be free of innings restrictions.