Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook here!
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1. Anthony Volpe, SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 55/60 | 60 | 60 | 55 | 60 | 70 |
Background: There is a well-known photo that pops up rather frequently on the internet, sometimes on forums, other times on terribly written websites, and fairly frequently on random social media sites. It’s shot of two kids, one tall and one smaller, on the backlot ballfields of yesteryear. They’re not looking at the camera, but eyes diverted to someplace else, midstride each holding a bat. Black and white image. They’re in high school with their entire lives in front of them – lives destined for baseball stardom and the golden walls of Cooperstown enshrinement. It’s Ozzie Smith, the Wizard of Oz, and Eddie Murray, the switch-hitting consistency that lead to 3,000 hits and 500 homeruns. And they just happened to go to the same high school, at the exact same time. In a perfect world – though it’s, admittedly, likely never going to happen – but maybe a similar photo will pop up of a pair of Delbarton seniors, Class of 2019. The New Jersey-based prep school featured a pair of eventual first round picks: ace right-hander Jack Leiter, who would have gone in the opening round that summer if not for his unbreakable commitment to Vanderbilt University, and middle infielder Anthony Volpe, who was taken by the Yankees of New York with the 30th overall pick. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound shortstop looked otherworldly during his meteoric rise in 2021 as he bashed .294/.423/.604 with 35 doubles, six triples, 27 homeruns, and 33 stolen bases. Volpe quickly unseated hyped outfielder Jasson Dominguez as the club’s top prospect, a nearly unthinkable task just months earlier. Last season the New Jersey-born infielder set his sights on the upper minors, spending 110 games with Somerset and another 22 contests with Scranton / Wilkes-Barre. Volpe finished the season with an aggregate .249/.342/.460 slash line with 35 doubles, five triples, 21 homeruns, and a new career high in stolen bases (50). As measured by Weighted Runs Created Plus, his overall production line topped the league average threshold by 17%.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only a pair of 20-year-old bats met the following criteria in a Double-A season (min. 350 PA): 117 to 127 wRC+, a 10% to 13% walk rate, and a 16.5% to 18.5% strikeout rate. Those two hitters: former Top 100 prospect Chris Lubanski, who happened to never make it to The Show, and Anthony Volpe.
Volpe’s been a slow starter a few times through his young career:
- In 2021, he batted .229/.359/.409 over his first 22 games in Low-A. He then slugged .369/.536/.825 over his remaining 32 contests in the level. Last season he hit .181/.299/.348 over his first 37 games in Double-A, and then mashed .285/.373/.532 over his final 73 games with Somerset. And he finished the year by hitting .236/.313/.405 in 22 games in Triple-A.
It’s an adjustment period — nothing more and nothing less. It’s not overly surprising that Volpe continues to showcase above-average power potential with the likely step into plus-power territory in the coming years. He’s continually posted sky high fly ball rates in his career, including: a 57% in Double-A and 52.5% in Triple-A last season. The New Jersey native looks noticeably bulkier than his listed 180 pounds, but that added weight / strength didn’t limit impact on his defensive ability. Lightning quick bat, above-average speed, the potential to win a couple Gold Gloves. There’s not a lot that Volpe can’t do. In terms of big league ceiling, think: .280/.360/.500.
Ceiling: 6.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2023
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2. Oswald Peraza, SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 50 | 55 | 45 | 50 | 55 |
Background: Little did the front office know that when they signed the Venezuelan teen to a $175,000 deal in 2016, that he would provide some insurance for the club’s struggling shortstop during their American League Championship push six years later. But that’s exactly how things played out for Peraza and the Yankees. A native of Barquisimeto, Peraza began his professional career as a light-hitting speedster but emerged a dynamic offensive threat following the 2020 COVID lost season. Measuring a wiry 6-foot and 165 pounds, Peraza opened up the 2021 campaign with Hudson Valley, but stayed only a few weeks before moving onto Double-A and then eventually Triple-A. He would finish his breakout season with a remarkable .297/.356/.477 slash line with career highs in doubles (26), homeruns (18), and stolen bases (38). Last season, before helping the Yankees down the stretch and eventually in the playoffs, Peraza continued his offensive assault on minor league pitching during his extended stay in Scranton / Wilkes-Barre. He would appear in 99 games with the RailRiders, slugging .259/.329/.448 with 16 doubles, 19 homeruns, and 33 stolen bases (in only 38 total attempts). Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, his overall production topped the league average mark by 6%. He mashed .306/.404/.429 in 18 games for the Yanks in September, as well.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only two 22-year-old hitters met the following criteria in a season in any Triple-A league (min. 350 PA): 100 to 110 wRC+, 22.5% to 24.5% strikeout rate and a 7% to 9% walk rate. Those two hitters: Jonathan Villar and Oswald Peraza. Villar’s spent the past decade in the big leagues, bouncing between Houston, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Miami, Toronto, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles while compiling a .255/.322/.397 slash line in more than 1,000 big league games.
After driving up his fly ball rate during his breakout campaign two years ago, Peraza continued to push his fly ball numbers even higher in 2022, posting a career high 41.9% mark. Average-ish walk and punch out rates. Peraza may never crest over into above-average power, but he won’t knock any cheap dingers out of the park either. Last year began slowly for the young middle infielder as he batted a lowly .194/.262/.333 over his first 33 games. But beginning on May 25th through the end of his stay in Scranton / Wilkes-Barre, Peraza bashed .292/.362/.506 while launching 15 of his 19 homeruns. Plus speed, above-average hit tool, and a solid enough glove to stick at shortstop; Peraza has the tools and production potential to spend the next decade quietly manning the brightest spot on the diamond in the hottest city in America. In terms of big league ceiling, think: .280/.340/.450 hitter. Whether Volpe or Peraza wind up as the starting shortstop is a whole different discussion.
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: Debuted in 2022
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3. Jasson Dominguez, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 50/60 | 60/40 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
Background: Sometimes a perfect storm is created, developing a completely unreasonable, irrational environment. Enter: Jasson Dominguez, who became the eye of the surging sports card storm. The environment was ripe for a tornado of epic proportions. He (A) was a massive international free agent, agreeing to a deal worth more than $5 million, (B) joining the most historical franchise in baseball history, (C) a product of the New York media hype machine, (D) built like a brick shithouse, and (E) entering his professional career at the peak of the unsustainable sports card bubble. One of his cards sold for nearly $500,000. It was impossible for Dominguez to live up to that level of hype. No one outside of Babe Ruth could. So as the air on the Dominguez hype bubble continues to deflate, he’s become an underappreciated top prospect, which seemed almost impossible a year ago. After hitting a disappointing .258/.346/.398 in 50 games in Low-A in 2021, Dominguez returned back to Tampa for a second lease on life. And he capitalized. The stocky centerfielder batted .266/.374/.440 in 75 games before moving onto Hudson Valley. After a successful 40-game tour through High-A Dominguez capped the year off with a five-game cameo in Double-A. The young Dominican outfielder batted an aggregate .273/.376/.461 with 23 doubles, seven triples, 16 homers, and 37 stolen bases. His production topped the average threshold by 35%, according to Weighted Runs Created Plus. Following the season, Dominguez struggled through his first stint in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .159/.250/.217 in 20 games with the Mesa Solar Sox.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only three 19-year-old hitters met the following criteria in a Low-A season (min. 300 PA): 130 to 140 wRC+, a double-digit walk rate, and a 26% to 30% strikeout rate. Those three hitters: Zac Veen, a current consensus Top 100 Prospect, Kevin Padlo, and – of course – Jasson Dominguez.
Dominguez began the year as chilly as a December Lake Erie, hitting .209/.253/.314 over his first 20 games. After that, though, he bashed .296/.410/.520 over his remaining 105 games. Dominguez is built like a Division I running back, but runs incredibly well for his girth. With that being said, he’s still likely going to slide over to a corner outfield position in the coming as years due to lack of positive defensive value. Patient approach at the plate, though he can be vulnerable to breaking balls in the dirt. Fantastic bat speed that create an audible explosion when he meets the ball. I may have been a bit overaggressive when I stated superstar potential last year, but there’s the potential to be a very good big league stick in the next two or three years.
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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4. Spencer Jones, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 55 | 55/60 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
Background: Three years after the Philadelphia Phillies selected Mickey Moniak atop the 2016 draft La Costa Canyon High School produced another draft pick – though he was far less notable, at least at the time. The Angels selected Spencer Jones, a gangly, toolsy outfielder, in the 31st round, 931st overall, though the two sides failed to come to an agreement. Jones, a massive 6-foot-7, 225-pound hulk, took the collegiate route, heading to one of the best programs in the nation – Vanderbilt University. The California native got off to a less than impressive start to his collegiate career in 2020, batting a paltry .206/.333/.324 in 14 games before the pandemic forced a premature end to the year. During the ensuing summer the former high school hurler hit the disabled list and would eventually succumb to Tommy John surgery – an injury that would limit him to just 34 games during his sophomore season. Jones, though, would make the best of the situation as he batted .274/.346/.421 with five doubles, three homeruns, and a quartet of stolen bases. That summer he starred with the Brewster Whitecaps in the vaunted Cape Cod League, slugging .312/.424/.481 with four doubles, three homeruns, and six stolen bases in 25 games. And that proved to be a harbinger of things to come. In a career best 61 games for head coach Tim Corbin, Jones morphed into one of college baseball’s most feared sluggers as he mashed .370/.460/.644 with 21 doubles, three triples, 12 homeruns, and 14 stolen bases (in 15 total attempts). The Yankees selected the massive outfielder in the opening round, 25th overall, and signed him to a deal worth $2,880,800. After a three game jaunt through the Complex League, Jones appeared in 22 contests with Tampa, mashing .325/.411/.494 with five doubles, three homeruns, and 10 stolen bases (in 10 attempts).
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2011, only six SEC hitters have batted at least .360/.450/.630 in a season (min. 250 PA): Pete Alonso, Andrew Benintendi, Brent Rooker, Mason Katz, Sonny DiChiara, Dominic Keegan, and – of course Spencer Jones. Only one of those hitters, Jones, whiffed in more than 20% of his plate appearances.
The – unfair – Aaron Judge comparison has been predictably thrown around as soon as the Yankees drafted the 6-foot-7 outfielder from Vanderbilt. And, unfortunately, it’s likely going to stick around for the foreseeable future. Due to the pandemic and Tommy John surgery and recovery process, Jones projects more than the typical third year, polished college hitter. The tools are readily apparent: above-average power, above-average speed, and a solid approach at the plate. Good looking swing, but it tends to be long, leading to some concerning swing-and-miss tendencies. Pitchers seemed to have a lot of success living on the outer part of the plate.
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2025
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5. Austin Wells, C
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 55 | 30 | 50 | 40/45 | 45 |
Background: Throughout their long, storied history the ball club’s selected just five catchers in the first round of the draft: (should be Hall of Famer) Thurman Munson, Dave Parrish, Jon Poterson, Anthony Siegler, and – the latest – Austin Wells. A dynamic bat during his abbreviated two-year career at the University of Arizona, Wells left the Pac-12 School as a .357/.476/.560 hitter when the club drafted him with the 28th overall pick three years ago. The lefty-swinging backstop earned a hefty $2.5 million deal for his potential. Wells would make his professional debut in 2021 as he batted a rock solid .264/.390/.476 with 23 doubles, five triples, 16 homeruns, and 16 stolen bases (without getting caught) in 103 games between Tampa and Hudson Valley. And he continued to rake in the Arizona Fall League as well, hitting .344/.456/.578 in 18 games with Surprise. Last season a groin injury limited the former Wildcat star to just 92 games (including nine rehab games with Tampa). But the injury didn’t slow the powerful catcher as he slugged .277/.385/.512 with most of the time spent in Double-A, the true proving ground.
Scouting Report: If a great defensive catcher is referred to as a brick wall, Wells’ work behind the dish was like spaghetti strainer two years ago. But, surprisingly, he did make a complete reversal on the defensive side of the ball during his follow up campaign last season. He nearly doubled his caught stealing rate (13% to 25%) and, according to Clay Davenport’s metrics, he was a net +6 in 2023. Baseball Prospectus’ numbers also show Wells’ framing as a positive asset as well. Offensively speaking, that’s the easy part: he mashes. Above-average power, incredibly patient – all wrapped up into a left-handed swing. He’s likely going to border on a Three True Outcome performance at the big league level, something along the lines of .240/.350/.450. He’s now entering his age-23 season and knocking – loudly – on New York’s door. Gamer.
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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6. Everson Pereira, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40/45 | 55 | 55 | 50 | 45 | 50 |
Background: One of the club’s prized international free agents from a few years back, Pereira hit the grounding running on Day One and he’s only been slowed by a nasty outfield collision four years ago. Otherwise, the youngster marches onward. After missing all but 17 games following the crash with the outfield wall in 2019, Pereira re-established his top prospect status during minor league’s return from their COVID absence as he slugged .303/.398/.686 in only 49 games between the Complex League, Low-A, and High-A. Last season the 6-foot, 191-pound centerfielder opened the year back up with Hudson Valley for 73 games before moving up to the minors’ toughest challenge, Double-A, for the remainder of the year. The former Bonus Baby hit an aggregate .277/.350/.469 with 17 doubles, nine triples, 14 homeruns, and a career best 21 stolen bases (in 30 total attempts). His production line surpassed the league average mark by 22%, per Weighted Runs Created Plus.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only three 21-year-old hitters posted a 115 to 125 wRC+ with a strikeout rate between 26% and 28% in any High-A league (min. 300 PA): Bobby Borchering, Mike McDade, and Everson Pereira, who owned the best walk rate among the trio.
As noted in last year’s Handbook, Pereira was miscast as a centerfielder and he made it blatantly obviously that his future is likely in a corner spot in 2022. Pereira is toolsy, flashing an impressive power / speed combo but he remains raw. He’s willing to walk, but his swing-and-miss issues aren’t going away any time soon either. Fast hands and can really turn on the inside hard stuff. The ingredients to become a solid average big leaguer are present, but who knows how long it needs to bake, though.
Ceiling: 2.5-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2024
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7. Trey Sweeney, SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40/45 | 50 | 55/40 | 55 | 60 | 50 |
Background: For the first time since 2014 and just the second time since 1973 the New York Yankees selected a ballplayer in the summer draft out of Eastern Illinois University in 2021. The lefty-swinging middle-infielder showed consistent, steady progress during his three-year tenure with the Ohio Valley Conference squad, leaving the school as a career .328/.437/.517 hitter with 22 doubles, two triples, 17 homeruns, and seven stolen bases in 117 games. After the Yanks selected him with the 20th overall pick in 2021, Sweeney, who agreed to join the historic franchise for an even $3 million, batted a respectable .246/.357/.518 with four doubles, four triples, six homeruns, and a trio of stolen bases in 30 games with Tampa. Last season, despite his lack of premium opposition in college as well as just logging 30 games in Low-A, the front office sent the Kentucky-born infielder straight up to High-A. And he maintained status quo – at least, for the most part. He batted .241/.350/.415 with 18 doubles, four triples, 14 homeruns, and 29 stolen bases. His overall production with Hudson Valley, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 12%. He capped off his first full year as pro with an 11-game stint in Double-A.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, eight 22-year-old hitters met the following criteria in a High-A season (min. 350 PA): 107 to 117 wRC+, a 22% to 25% whiff rate, and a walk rate of at least 11%. Those eight hitters: Lucas Duda, Riley Adams, Michael Burgess, Mike Papi, Derrick Loveless, Max George, Blake Perkins, and – of course – Trey Sweeney.
Sweeney’s glove work far surpassed any modest expectations that were placed on him heading into the draft two years ago. He was downright dazzling on defense. According to Clay Davenport’s metrics he was +10 with Hudson Valley and +2 in only 11 games with Somerset. The hit tool is still going to hover somewhere between the 40- and 45-grade, but he shows enough secondary skills (like average power and patience) to help round out a potential starting shortstop resume. He also handled both lefties and righties without showing any concerning platoon splits. He likely won’t get a chance to establish himself in New York, so it won’t be surprising to see him dangled on the trade block some time in 2023.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2023/2024
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8. Clayton Beeter, RHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 55 | 60 | 60 | N/A | 50 | 50 |
Background: LastAugust2ndclosed out one of worst – and, perhaps, saddest – chapters in Yankee history. It marked the end of the Joey Gallo Saga. Going out with a whimper, not a bang, the former 2012 first round pick stumbled through 140 games in New York, cobbling together a .159/.291/.368 slash line with 11 doubles, one triple, 25 homeruns, and a whole lot of boos and frustrated fans. Brian Cashman and Co. turned Gallo’s reputation – and not his recent production – into right-hander Clayton Beeter. A product of Texas Tech, the Dodgers drafted the hard-throwing strikeout artist in the second round, 66th overall, three years ago. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound hurler made his professional debut the following spring as he annihilated the Low-A hitters for 23 appearances and recorded an impressive 23-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 15.0 Double-A innings. Beeter spent the entirety of last season with both organizations’ Double-A affiliates, throwing 77.0 innings while averaging a whopping 15.1 strikeouts and 5.4 walks per nine innings to go along with a 4.56 ERA.
Scouting Report: Beeter’s heater was less fearsome than in previous years. Typically sitting in the mid-90s, the former second rounder was working more in the 92 mph range and reaching back for a few extra clicks when needed – which is a bit of a worrisome given his injury history (Tommy John surgery and a second procedure on his elbow). Combine that along with his lack of heavy workload two years into his professional career, and the hard-throwing righty may be staring down a relief path in the coming years. Last season the Dodgers had Beeter shelve his slider in favor of his filthy curveball. But it appears the Yankees took the restraints off and opened his arsenal back up. Above-average fastball, plus curveball, plus slider. He’ll also mix in a rare changeup, though I’ve yet to see it across two seasons. Beeter’s an interesting prospect because he just pumps breaking ball after breaking ball, regardless of the count or situation. Curveball shows more 12-6 break and the slider has more horizontal movement. Beeter really struggled commanding the strike zone in LA, but seemed to settle considerably in New York. There’s #4-type potential with a high probability that he moves into a James Karinchak role.
Ceiling: 1.5- to 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2023
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9. Yoendrys Gomez, RHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 50 | 55 | 45/50 | 45/50 | 50 |
Background: One of the ball club’s more unheralded signings on the international market over the past several seasons. New York signed the 6-foot-3, 175-pound right-hander to a deal worth just $50,000 in early July 2016. Gomez, a native of Nirgua, Venezuela, made his affiliated debut the following summer as he spent time in the foreign and stateside rookie leagues. He spent the next two seasons toiling away in the low levels, including another stint through the Dominican Summer League. And after the minor leagues returned from its COVID absence, Gomez began the 2021 on a high note, averaging 11.0 strikeouts and just 3.4 walks per nine innings through nine brief starts with Tampa. However, his season ended in late July when he was placed on the COVID list – or at least that’s what was reported. Reports last February stated he underwent the knife to repair his precious right elbow – a.k.a. Tommy John surgery. Gomez made his way back to the bump in early June for a quick start in the Complex League. He moved on to Hudson Valley for 10 starts before wrapping it up with a four-game cameo with Somerset. He finished his comeback tour with 47.0 innings, recording 49 strikeouts, 18 free passes, and an aggregate 2.49 ERA.
Scouting Report: The good news for Gomez (and the Yankees) is that the fastball came back to his pre-injury level. It’s explosive and he had no problem missing bats with the plus offering. His slider remains a legitimate lethal weapon that should probably be outlawed in most states. His changeup was inconsistent but – rarely – flashed its pre-injury movement and velocity separation. He should have no issues regaining the pitch’s consistency as he moves further away from the TJ surgery. Curveball looked good. Gomez is now entering his age-23 season and has yet to throw more than 56.1 innings in any of his five minor league campaigns. If all goes well Gomez should be on target for about 100 innings in 2023, most of which would be spent in Double-A and Triple-A. A late season call up is not out of the question either.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2024
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10. Will Warren, RHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 50 | 45 |
Background: For just the second time in club history the Yankees dipped into the ranks at Southeastern Louisiana University and called out a name during the draft. The name: Will Warren, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound right-hander that became the highest drafted Lion in four years. Taken with the 243rd overall pick two years ago, Warren sparkled during his final two seasons at SE Louisiana. And he kept that momentum going during his debut season in 2022 – despite New York’s aggressive development plan. Warren didn’t throw an affiliated pitch two years ago, but he made the leap directly into High-A without missing a beat. Across eight starts with Hudson Valley, the wiry righty sported a 42-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 35.0 innings. And that’s all it took for the brass to be convinced he was ready for the most challenging minor league level – Double-A. He would make another 18 starts with Somerset, fanning 83 and walking 33 in 94.0 innings. Warren finished the season by averaging 8.7 strikeouts and just 2.9 walks per nine innings to go along with a 3.91 ERA.
Scouting Report: A significantly better arsenal than you’d expect coming for an older-ish college player taken in the mid-rounds of draft. Warren’s fastball will show a bit of life as it typically sits in the 94- to 95-mph range, making it a plus offering. His go-to secondary offering is a wipeout, Frisbee-esque slider that sits in the mid-80s. He’ll also mix in a big bending, 12-6 curveball (high-70s), and a mid- to upper-80s change with some surprising fade. Solid command, but nothing that’s going to allow the repertoire to take another leap forward. There’s backend starting material, but it’s never going to happen in New York. He’s either staring down a relief role or a trade.
Ceiling: 1.0- to 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2023
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All statistics were provided via the following website: Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, TheBaseballCube, BaseballProspectus, ClayDavenport.com, and Baseball America.
