By Greg Corcoran

With a roster full of rebound candidates, some are pointing towards Anthony Rizzo as the key to the Yankees’ success in 2024. It’s not hard to see why. If Rizzo can pick up where he left off before the infamous concussion of 2023, their lineup will be difficult to navigate for any pitcher. Add in his plus defense at first base, and the Yankees will be cookin’ in 2024 if Rizzo comes correct. Behind Rizzo the Yankees have some interesting reclamation projects and emerging bats in the upper minors. The lower minors, as is typical for first basemen, are filled with players who will need to hit their way to the majors.

If Rizzo were to miss any time, the first replacement would be DJ LeMahieu. He’ll likely get some games there regardless, but DJ’s versatility could come into play especially if Rizzo were to miss significant time. Barring injury, DJ will likely spend most of his time at third base, so we will save his rebound story for a the hot corner article.

Jordan Groshans was recently claimed by the Yankees off waivers. Groshans was the 12^th overall pick in the 2018 draft and has been ranked in the top 100 prospects by several outlets in four different seasons. He has had a few nice seasons in the minors, but the power has not come around like scouts once projected yet. He’s still just 24-years-old though and the Yankees have turned several careers around recently. He’ll be one to watch in the minors as the season progresses.

J.C. Escarra is another reclamation project the Yankees signed this offseason. He can catch or play first base, and he hit a bunch of homeruns in independent ball last year. He’s another guy who could be a factor if injuries occur throughout the year.

Ben Rice is a catcher by trade but has played plenty of first base in the minors. He hit an incredible .324/.434/.615/1.048 with 20 homeruns in just 73 games last year, mostly in Double-A. Positional questions aside, Rice has an opportunity to hit his way to the major leagues if he keeps it up.

TJ Rumfield is a big lefty who went from a light hitting, contact first guy to a power hitter for low average in one season in 2023. He hit 17 homeruns in just 86 games in Double-A. This year he’ll look to continue his power surge while improving his average. He’s a threat to become a major league asset if he can do that.

Tyler Hardman is another big thumper who spent most of the season at third base last year. He hit 22 homeruns in 111 games but needs to cut down on his strikeout rate. He’ll be back at Double-A to start the 2024 season in all likelihood, and could be converted to first base if it makes sense.

Rafael Flores was an undrafted free agent from the 2022 draft class and has turned out to be a great find. He posts impressive exit velocities and has shown signs of promise defensively at both catcher and first base. If he can translate some of his impressive batting practice displays into games this year he could break out.

The Yankees took a first baseman named Kiko Romero in the 7^th round of the draft last year. He struggled in Low-A after being drafted but is expected to hit minor league pitching once he is able to adjust. He packs some big power into a smaller frame for a first baseman. He is a sleeper for the 2024 season. He’ll likely spend most of the season at High-A.

Undrafted free agents Josh Moylan and Dylan Jasso are intriguing bats who were undrafted free agents last year. Moylan is lefty while Jasso is righty, but both have powerful strokes. Both are two years younger than Romero and could find themselves getting more attention as they rise through the system.

Jhon Imbert hit five homeruns and had a .937 OPS in 34 games in the DSL last year and could see time at first base in the FCL. He’s still young and has a long road ahead but has shown some potential.

Behind Anthony Rizzo, there are no true superstars-in-waiting to take his place. On the flip side, there are a slew of players who could step into that category with a big year in 2024. Spring training is the time for excitement, and soon we will see just how far these players have come since last season.

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11/7/23

There has been a noticeable trend in minor league baseball ever since the MLB draft was compressed to 20 rounds. Undrafted free agents have become more important and better. This makes perfect sense when you think about it. Players who would have been drafted in rounds 21-30 are now being signed after the draft instead. Players like Andy Pettitte (22^nd round) , John Smoltz (22^nd round), Mike Piazza (62^nd round), Travis Hafner (31^st round), Raul Ibanez (36^th round), Mark Buehrle (38^th round), or Keith Hernandez (42^nd round) would all have been undrafted free agents under the new system.

The talent pool is now better than ever before. This works out great for everyone. Previously, players who were drafted in those rounds were unlikely to get signed and could not sign with other teams. Now it’s an open market for them. For teams, they can now watch these players and decide whether to sign them once they are able to get a closer look.

The result has been that some of these players are becoming legitimate major league prospects. Last year alone, the Yankees had several players from this pool turn into decent farm pieces. Baron Stuart became a legitimate starting pitcher and reached High-A with a solid repertoire that’s improving. Harrison Cohen is a relief pitcher who had a great season and reached Double-A. Mason Vinyard is another reliever with great numbers who reached High-A. Rafael Flores is a catcher and first baseman who has power and can really hit. Kevin Stevens went to the gas station and came out with some nasty stuff.

This year the Yankees signed ten of them. All of them have potential and qualities that make them interesting. This could lead to some nice surprises on the farm in 2024. Information can be scarce on these players, but here’s what I was able to pull together.

1. Dylan Jasso – 6-foot-3, 196-pounds, 1B/3B, RHB, 20-years-old – The Yankees signed Jasso out of juco, and he is a big, strong kid who can hit. He played 21 games in the minors this season and hit .320/.433/.493/.927 with a homerun, eight doubles and a triple. In juco this year, he hit 25 homeruns, 21 doubles and a triple in 59 games. He struck out just 34 times while walking 47. If the tools translate to professional baseball, Jasso could emerge as a legitimate prospect.
2. Josh Moylan – 6-foot-4, 216-pounds, 1B, LHB, 21-years-old – Moylan is another big kid who performed well in the NCAA this year, finishing with 15 homeruns, 20 doubles and two triples. He hit .302/.412/.587/.999 on the year. After being signed, Moylan hit .241/.366/.313/.680 in 24 games with Tampa in Low-A. He had two homeruns. Moylan has more swing and miss than you would like, but the power potential is there. His exit velocity averages 92.9 and he hits high velocity well. His main order of business will be to work on hitting off-speed pitches. If he learns this skill, Moylan could be a force in the minors.
3. Chris Kean – 6-foot-5, 210-pounds, RP, RHP, 21-years-old – Kean is an interesting arm who only threw four innings at University of Louisiana this year. Despite the low innings total, the Yankees managed to scout him and he has a 92-95 mph fastball with good carry. He has hit 98 already. He also throws a slider which needs work, but the Yankees have been great at teaching their pitchers this pitch. Kean had UCL surgery this year and will likely miss most of next year as a result. When he comes back though, the Yankees have a big arm to work with and develop.
4. Aaron Nixon – 6-foot-0, 210-pounds, RP, RHP, 22-years-old – Nixon has a fastball that sits 92-94 mph and hits 97. He also has a nasty Slider with good bite. He had a nice season as a reliever for Mississippi state this year and could move quickly like Harrison Cohen and Mason Vinyard this year.
5. Trent Sellers – 6-foot-1, 200-pounds, SP, RHP, 23-years-old – Sellers was a solid starter for Oregon State this year. He finished with a 4.86 ERA and 106 K : 32 BB in 74 innings. His ERA is a bit inflated, likely from his high walk rate. Sellers has an 89-91 mph fastball that touches 93 and has plus carry, with nearly 20 inches of induced vertical break. Despite the lower velocity, Sellers generated a 25% miss rate on the fastball, and mixed in an effective low-80s changeup and 12-to-6 curveball in the mid-70s. He’s got a nice repertoire to work with, and the pitches all move. If the Yankees can get more velocity out of him at the gas station Sellers could become an impact player in the minors.
6. Jackson Castillo – 6-foot-0, 195-pounds, OF, LHB, 20-years-old – Castillo is a young, athletic outfielder with some pop. He hit 17 HR in juco in 2023 and is a patient hitter who doesn’t strike out. He had some trouble adjusting to professional baseball this year, which is understandable as there is a sizeable jump from juco to the minor leagues. Castillo has speed which allowed him to steal 24 bases in juco this year. The Yankees may have gotten a steal after the draft here.
7. Garrett Martin – 6-foot-4, 215-pounds, OF, RHB, 23-years-old – Martin had a breakout year for Austin Peay this year, hitting .333/.461/.709/1.170 with 15 homeruns, 13 doubles and two triples. He also stole seven bases. He played well in the Northwoods Summer League in 2022 where he hit eight homeruns in just 30 games. Martin clearly has some power and patience, with perhaps a bit too much swing and miss. He’ll likely start in High-A next season and could make some noise as a big thumper.

Other Undrafted free agents: Ben Shields (LHP), Peter Serruto (C), Cole Gabrielson (OF)

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