The New York Yankees are fortunate to have a strong farm system going into 2024, with many prospects close to making an impact at the major league level. Even though it looks as if the 2024 roster is complete, there will be times when prospects’ depth will be tested. The Yankees will need the farm system to help them through those moments during the season. Despite potential injuries, three prospects have a solid chance to become mainstays with the Yankees lineup this year. These three players are Jorbit Vivas, Clayton Beeter, and Spencer Jones. Each of them could play crucial innings and are the future of the Yankees.
Yankees 2024 Top Prospects on the Horizon
Clayton Beeter
The Texan righthander is one of the Yankee’s top pitching prospects and looks as if he will surely play for the Yankees at some point in 2024. His player profile is precisely what you want from a starting pitcher; Beeter is tall, throws hard, has a great curveball, and has deceptive delivery. Across Double-A and Triple-A, he posted a 3.62 ERA, throwing 131.2 innings and striking out 162 batters. Beeter did struggle once he was promoted to Triple-A as his command issues caught up to him. In 2023, he walked 75 batters across both levels, and 44 came in Triple-A.
Despite his command issues, Beeter’s stuff is still very good, which is evident with the high strikeout numbers. His fastball grades at 55 out of 80, the curveball is also 55, while his slider is the best pitch at 60. This means he has three put-away pitches, which is usually how many you need to be a successful MLB starter. Beeter will have to work on his command, but that is usually easier to learn as players mature.
During spring training, he looked good and showed great stuff. In addition to his pitch mix, what makes the Yankees excited about him is his delivery. Beeter throws from a 12-6 arm slot, making it difficult for batters to pick up on his pitches. If you couple his delivery with his strong pitch arsenal and the potential command improvement, you are looking at the second or third spot in a rotation.
Spencer Jones
Spencer Jones introduced himself this spring with a 470-foot home run in the first game he played. The distance of his home run is only a fraction of his potential. Many scouts and fans see the striking similarities between him and Aaron Judge, as he is 6’6″ feet and 235 pounds. What makes him even more terrifying is that he is a left-handed batter, which is a recipe for success in Yankee Stadium. Jones had a respectable second year as a professional in 2023, batting 267, with 16 home runs and an eye-catching 43 stolen bases. These numbers were put up across High-A and Double-A balls; despite the enormous potential, he strikes out too often. In 2023, Jones was sat down by pitchers 155 times, though this shouldn’t necessarily be a massive cause for concern.
Compared to the player he is most similar to, Judge, they both struggled with striking out early in their careers. Judge has successfully overcome this flaw and is now arguably the best hitter in the game. Jones, with time, should also be able to overcome this flaw because he is right on the cusp of becoming a special player for the New York Yankees. The idea of having a player like Judge batting from the left side keeps Yankee fans on the edge of their seats. Jones might be the most talented player on the Yankees farm and arguably has one of the highest ceilings among MLB prospects.
Jorbit Vivas
Jorbis Vivas could be one of Brian Cashman’s best under-the-radar trades, as he acquired him in exchange for former first-round draft pick Trey Sweeney. The Yankees have found their future second baseman, although the Yankees do not seem keen on resigning their current second baseman, Gleyber Torres, in the offseason. It makes sense why the Yankees believe in him; Vivas’s lefthanded swing, his ability to run the bases, and his solid defence are huge factors. He is a complete overall package and has put up impressive numbers in the minors, batting 269 in the minors last year, hitting 13 home runs, and stealing 25 bases.
What makes Vivas unique is his bat-to-ball skills, which scouts have described as uncanny. These skills allow him to get to any pitch in the strike zone. Now that he has also added some power to his game, you can see the makings of a great line-drive MLB hitter. Vivas may be relatively unknown; however, at the end of the season, he may have already played a healthy portion of MLB games.
Who Will Be up First?
All the players mentioned could help the Yankees in the not-too-distant future. However, Clayton Beeter has the best chance of playing early in 2024. Since he is a pitcher, there is a good chance the Yankees will need him to eat some innings when players fatigue. Not to mention his high upside and being the closest to MLB of any high-end pitching prospect the Yankees have.
The Yankees MLB roster looks to be complete. Though you can never be too sure, having quality depth such as these players will pay huge dividends. When the Yankees call on these guys, expect them to be hungry and to make a significant impact.
Main Photo: © Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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