Torres among 6 Yanks in Top 100 Prospects
Infielder joined by Florial, Sheffield, Andujar, Abreu, Adams on MLB Pipeline's annual list
NEW YORK -- The Yankees' reloaded farm system has become the envy of many, now boasting six of the Top 100 Prospects in Major League Baseball -- including infielder Gleyber Torres, who is rated No. 5 overall -- as announced on Saturday evening by MLB Pipeline.
Torres is joined in the Top 100 by outfielder Estevan Florial (No. 44), left-hander Justus Sheffield (No. 48), third baseman Miguel Andujar (No. 65), right-hander Albert Abreu (No. 74) and right-hander Chance Adams (No. 75).
• MLB Pipeline's 2018 Top 100 Prospects list
:: Complete 2018 Top Prospects coverage ::
The annual ranking of MLB's Top 100 prospects is assembled by MLBPipeline.com Draft and prospect experts Jonathan Mayo, Jim Callis and Mike Rosenbaum, who compile input from industry sources, including scouts and scouting directors. It is based on analysis of players' skill sets, upsides, proximity to the Majors and potential immediate impact to their teams.
Only players with rookie status entering the 2018 season are eligible for the list. Players who were at least 25 years old when they signed and played in leagues deemed to be professional (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cuba) are not eligible.
Torres, 21, might have already made his Major League debut had he not sustained a season-ending left elbow injury last June. Torres will report to camp in competition for the Opening Day roster after hitting a combined .287/.383/.480 with 14 doubles, two triples, seven homers and 34 RBIs in 55 games for Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Florial, 20, has been consistently rated as one of the Yankees' more exciting prospects. He hit .298/.372/.479 with 23 doubles, seven triples, 13 home runs, 57 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 110 games for Class A Charleston and Class A Advanced Tampa, participating in both the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and the Arizona Fall League.
Sheffield, who turns 22 in May, impressed despite missing two months with an oblique injury. A touted piece of the July 2016 trade with the Indians, Sheffield spent most of the '17 season with Double-A Trenton, where he was 7-6 with a 3.18 ERA in 17 starts. In 93 1/3 innings, he permitted 94 hits and 33 walks with 82 strikeouts, then had five solid outings in the Arizona Fall League.
Andujar, who turns 23 in March, is being considered to open the season in New York. He hit a combined .315/.352/.498 with 36 doubles, two triples, 16 homers and 82 RBIs in 125 games between Trenton and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. His bat is considered big league ready; he was 4-for-7 (.571) in his first five games with the Yanks.
Abreu, 22, came from the Astros in the November 2016 Brian McCann trade and spent time at three levels last year, going 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) among Charleston, Tampa and in the Gulf Coast League. Wielding a sinking fastball that sits between 93-98 mph and has touched 100 mph, Abreu struck out 61 in 53 1/3 innings, permitting 45 hits with 18 walks.
Adams might be the closest big league ready pitcher of the bunch. Regarded as a bulldog-type competitor who converted from relief to starting, the 23-year-old was 15-5 with a 2.45 ERA in 27 starts for Trenton and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, permitting 104 hits with 58 walks and 135 strikeouts in 150 1/3 innings.