Baseball America Bashes New York Yankees Farm Myth with 6 Baby Bombers

I’ve noticed that, for quite a while now, the general vibe on MLB Twitter (and I’m talking about the wider MLB community, not just Yankees fans) has been pretty clear: there’s a widespread belief that the Yankees practically don’t have a farm system worth mentioning. Turns out, MLB Twitter got it all wrong, but they were the only ones who thought that way.

Look at this: the San Diego Padres grabbed a bunch of our prospects for Juan Soto, and the Chicago White Sox wanted even more for Dylan Cease. And guess what? Baseball America backs this up.
As we roll into the 2024 season, the New York Yankees are loaded with Baby Bombers.

New York Yankees have 6 players in Baseball America’s Top 100

Baseball America’s Top 100 List contained these six Baby Bombers:

• Jasson Dominguez: No. 16
• Spencer Jones: No. 46
• Everson Pereira: No. 67
• Roderick Arias: No. 68
• Austin Wells: No. 71
• Chase Hampton: No. 72

Jasson Dominguez, Everson Pereira, and Austin Wells are names we all know, especially since they hit the big leagues last season. But this offseason, Spencer Jones and Chase Hampton have displayed their worth through the Yanks’ hesitance to trade either of them.

Watch this story: 25-Year-Old Juan Soto’s Debut Video Resurfaced, Justifying His Ongoing Demands Among The MLB Giants

Roderick Arias might not be a household name for Yankees fans yet, but he’s someone to watch. This Dominican Republic shortstop was the top prospect in MLB Pipeline’s 2022 international class, and he totally owned it in Rookie ball last year.

How did the 3 debutants fare in 2023?

Notably, Jasson Dominguez, Everson Pereira, and Austin Wells made their debut in the 2023 season. But how did they perform when pushed to the big leagues?

Austin Wells: Even he missed BP’s list and stepped in as the Yankees’ third catcher in September. He had a bit of a shaky start with his batting in the Bronx, but the 24-year-old really picked up the pace, smashing three home runs in his last five games.

Jasson Dominguez, coming in at No. 39 on Baseball Prospectus’ Yankees prospects list, was on a roll with four homers and seven RBIs until an elbow injury, followed by Tommy John, cut his season short. Tough break.

Read More: Cast in a New Light Yet Still Built to Bruise – Exploring an Alternative New York Yankees Lineup Blueprint

Everson Pereira, who didn’t make it onto BP’s list, got the call in August to boost a bruised Yankees outfield. He spent the longest stretch in the majors last season among the prospects but had a rough time with his batting. His stats were significantly under par, hitting just .151/.233/.427 with no homers and 10 RBIs in 27 games.

Yankees signed another top international prospect in 2024

The Yankees, always on the lookout for future stars outside the MLB Draft, have scooped up some exciting international talent for 2024. They had about $4.65 million to play with this year, a bit less than usual thanks to the Carlos Rodón deal from last offseason.

OF Francisco Vilorio–The Yankees shelled out roughly $1.7 million for him, making it their heftiest bonus this year. This 17-year-old Dominican-born talent was ranked 15th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline and snagged the fifth spot among outfielders. Baseball America and FanGraphs had him at 19th and 16th, respectively.

3B Richard Matic – Another Dominican, born in 2007. FanGraphs put him at 26th, while Baseball America ranked him 44th. He’s known as a high-contact hitter. His bonus is guessed to be around $800,000.

SS Dexter Peralta – A rather under-the-radar pick, but one to watch out for. He’s a switch-hitter from the Dominican Republic and is praised for his hard contact and bat speed. Moreover, he’s among those seen as potential breakout prospects for under $1 million.

What does the MLB Pipeline say about the Bronx Bombers farm system?

The Yankees are quietly building a strong minor league system, according to MLB’s recent executive poll on farm systems. While not topping any one category, the Yankees received consistent recognition across areas like overall system strength, draft utilization, and international signings. Most notably, the Yankees were called out for their international recruiting prowess, with 10 of their top 30 prospects being international signees.

Additionally, the Yankees were named as an underrated farm system, suggesting they have more latent talent than typically acknowledged. Their pitching development was also positively noted, indicating a systematic approach to nurturing pitching talent. Though not chart-toppers, the Yankees display savvy strategy, global reach, and efficient nurturing of young talent.

Read More: MLB Predictions: 2024 Hinges On Captain Aaron Judge Avoiding Injury and Producing Consistently for New York Yankees

While there is a long list of questions surrounding our present roster, I believe the future is bright. What are your thoughts on the Yankees farm system? Let us know in the comments below!