Where the Yankees' Top 30 prospects are starting the season
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With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Yankees' Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:
1. Jasson Domínguez (MLB No. 40), OF -- New York (MLB) -- injured list (Tommy John surgery rehab)
2. Spencer Jones (MLB No. 81), OF -- Somerset (Double-A)
3. Roderick Arias (MLB No. 83), SS -- Tampa (Single-A)
4. Chase Hampton (MLB No. 89), RHP -- Somerset (Double-A) -- injured list (shoulder discomfort)
5. Austin Wells, C -- New York (MLB)
6. Everson Pereira, OF -- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A)
7. George Lombard Jr., SS -- Tampa (Single-A)
8. Will Warren, RHP -- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A)
9. Henry Lalane, LHP -- Extended spring training
10. Brando Mayea, OF -- Extended spring training
11. Brock Selvidge, LHP -- Somerset (Double-A)
12. Kyle Carr, LHP -- Hudson Valley (High-A)
13. Ben Rice, C/1B -- Somerset (Double-A)
14. Clayton Beeter, RHP -- New York (MLB)
15. Francisco Vilorio, OF -- Dominican Republic complex
16. Jorbit Vivas, 2B/3B -- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A) -- injured list (orbital fracture)
17. Carlos Lagrange, RHP -- Extended spring training
18. Yoendrys Gómez, RHP -- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A)
19. Roc Riggio, 2B -- Hudson Valley (High-A)
20. Jared Serna, 2B/SS -- Hudson Valley (High-A)
21. Keiner Delgado, 2B/SS -- Extended spring training
22. Agustin Ramirez, C -- Somerset (Double-A)
23. Zach Messinger, RHP -- Somerset (Double-A)
24. Trystan Vrieling, RHP -- Somerset (Double-A)
25. Cade Smith, RHP -- Tampa (Single-A)
26. Jack Neely, RHP -- Somerset (Double-A)
27. Tyler Hardman, 3B -- Somerset (Double-A) -- injured list (Tommy John surgery rehab)
28. Anthony Hall, OF -- Hudson Valley (High-A)
29. Danny Watson, RHP -- Somerset (Double-A)
30. Justin Lange, RHP -- Hudson Valley (High-A) -- injured list (shoulder)
Team to watch
Of the Yankees' 18 Top 30 prospects on active Minor League rosters to begin season, eight of them are at Double-A Somerset. The biggest name on the Patriots is outfielder Spencer Jones, who totaled 16 homers and 43 steals in his first full pro season and went deep twice in a Spring Breakout rout of the Blue Jays. Left-hander Brock Selvidge also stood out in the Spring Breakout event, striking out eight in four scoreless innings. Catcher/first baseman Ben Rice slashed .324/.434/.615 with 20 homers in 73 games between three levels last year.
Teams on MLB.TV and MiLB.TV
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Double-A Somerset
High-A Hudson Valley
Players we could see in MLB in 2024
Outfielder Jasson Domínguez homered four times in eight games with the Yankees in September before blowing out his elbow and requiring Tommy John surgery, and he should make it back to the Majors at some point this season. Jones could power his way to New York and another outfielder, Everson Pereira, could return after making 26 big league starts down the stretch in 2023. Right-hander Will Warren is the system's best healthy pitching prospect and just one step away in Triple-A.
New faces
A pair of 2023 draftees, left-hander Kyle Carr (third round) and right-hander Cade Smith (sixth), will make their pro debuts in April. A Palomar (Calif.) Junior College product, Carr was the best juco prospect in last year's Draft. Righty Trystan Vrieling, a 2022 third-rounder, finally will make his official debut after missing last season with a stress fracture in his pitching elbow. Francisco Vilorio has classic right-field power and arm strength and is ticketed for the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League after signing for $1.75 million out of the Dominican Republic. Though he's sidelined indefinitely, the Yankees acquired contact-hitting infielder Jorbit Vivas in a December trade for shortstop prospect Trey Sweeney.
On the shelf
Dominguez and fellow Top 100 prospect Chase Hampton (shoulder discomfort) began the season on the sidelines, and the hope is that Hampton will be ready to join Somerset in May. Vivas sustained an orbital fracture during pregame work in late March. Third baseman Tyler Hardman had Tommy John surgery in October and should return to the field this summer. Right-hander Justin Lange is on High-A Hudson Valley's 60-day injured list with a shoulder injury.