Yankees organizational depth: shortstop

By Greg Corcoran

Up the middle talent is at a premium in minor league baseball. This is because of the role flexibility these players provide. A first baseman, for example, will never be able to switch positions if there is a star player ahead of them on the depth chart. Conversely, if a shortstop has another star player ahead of them, there is a high likelihood they would be able to transition to second base, third base, or even the outfield.

Of all positions on the field, the Yankees’ depth at shortstop might be their strongest. At the top of that chart is Gold Glove winner Anthony Volpe. There were many ups and downs in his first season. The defense never wavered, which carries a lot of weight at the most important position on the diamond. Volpe showed promise offensively. He hit 21 homeruns and stole 24 bases. His average was disappointing, and he struck out at a high rate, but he was a 22-year-old rookie who should only improve from here.

Behind Volpe on the depth chart is Oswald Peraza. Peraza is a wizard defensively. He makes all the routine plays and has the athleticism to make some spectacular ones too. Oswald also struggled with the bat in 2023. He couldn’t get above the Mendoza line and did not hit for power. Peraza is a top prospect in his own right and has years of minor league success under his belt. He is still young and has a ton of potential.

A recent post on social media showed that Peraza has put on a ton of muscle in the offseason. He is clearly stronger and more cut up. This could lead to a drastic improvement in his performance at the plate. Peraza still has options, so he may start the season in Triple-A and could be ready to take over at shortstop or second base if there is an injury. He could also serve as a utility man for the major league team, as he is capable of playing second or third base as well.

The Yankees have a third player on the major league roster who can play shortstop, Oswaldo Cabrera. Cabrera is coming off a down year at the plate where he perhaps suffered due to some inconsistent advice. Cabrera has impressive versatility and the ability to hit for power when he’s right. He took the offseason seriously and appears significantly bigger and stronger than he was in 2023. If given the opportunity, Oswaldo could surprise and redeem himself after the sophomore slump.

The Yankees will also have Kevin Smith and Jeter Downs in Triple-A in case of injury in 2024. Smith has struggled in limited major league action thus far in his career but has been good at the minor league level. He even hit 16 homeruns in just 42 games in Triple-A last year. It’s been a few years since Downs had a successful season, even in the minors, but perhaps the Yankees can recapture some of the magic.

Down in High-A, the Yankees have an infielder named Jared Serna. Serna is known as a second baseman, but last year he played 26 games at shortstop and the Yankees were impressed with him.  In addition to defensive versatility, Serna can really hit. He had 19 homeruns and a .284 average in 122 games last season. Even more, he had a .350 OBP while striking out just 90 times. He then went to the Mexican Winter League and won the rookie of the year there. Jared is emerging as a top prospect and a great piece of depth for the Yankees.

Just below Serna in Low-A is where the real excitement begins. The Yankees have four players capable of playing shortstop at the level. Two of them have the potential to be world class prospects. The other two are no slouches themselves.

Roderick Arias has all the talent in the world. He is a 5-tool shortstop. Defensively, he’s one of the best the MILB has to offer. Offensively, he is blessed with power, speed, and the ability to barrel the ball.

George Lombard Jr. was the Yankees’ first round pick in 2023. He is another 5-tool shortstop. A tremendous athlete, Lombard has the potential to become an elite prospect if things break right. He was impressive with a short cup of coffee at Low-A last year.

Keiner Delgado is a special prospect in his own right. He’s on the smaller side, but this switch-hitter packs a punch. He had eight homeruns in 49 games in the FCL last year. He also had more walks than strikeouts at the level, an impressive feat. Delgado has positional versatility and has the polish to move quickly through the Yankees’ system.

Hans Montero was a higher profile signing who took a bit longer to come out of his shell. In his third year with the Yankees, Montero finally broke through with five homeruns and an .823 OPS in the FCL. He should see time in Low-A this year.

In the rookie leagues, the Yankees should have a few shortstops coming over from the DSL, though the draft may impact who we see there. The most likely candidate to be the starter for the FCL this year is Santiago Gomez, who is 19 and hit .284/.467/.403/.870 with two homeruns, 10 doubles, and 20 SB in 41 games in the DSL last year. He had 31 walks and 33 strikeouts.

As far as international free agents go, they are the favorites to sign a kid named Wandy Asigen in 2025, who is likely the best unsigned international shortstop in the world at the moment. They signed Dexter Peralta as part of the 2024 class, a switch-hitter with good contact skills and hard contact. Peralta could also factor into the long term shortstop picture.

The future is bright for the New York Yankees at shortstop. They have multiple options in the major leagues, several high-end prospects in the lower minors, and a pipeline of talent that appears to be continuing at least until 2025. Before long some of these prospects should begin to pay dividends in one way (helping the Yankees) or another (via trade).