- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 366,688
- Reaction score
- 43
Baseball scouts and executives always caution about rookie performances in March and September.
A hot start in exhibition games and a big finish as a late season callup doesn’t give the full picture of a prospect, but it’s exciting to get a glimpse of the future.
“Not a lot of guys hit a ball like that,’’ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said earlier this spring training, marveling at a towering, opposite-field home run by Spencer Jones.
Once again, the lefty-hitting slugger is part of the Yankees’ prospect roster for Saturday’s MLB Breakout Series, facing a team of Baltimore Orioles prospects at Sarasota, Fla.
Here’s a look at five Yankees youngsters to watch in the 6:05 p.m. game:
Position: Shortstop.
Draftinfo: 2023 first round, 26th overall, Gulliver Prep, Pinecrest, Fla.
Height-weight: 6-foot-2, 190 pounds.
Only 19, Lombard Jr. might be the Yankees’ most untouchable prospect, with five-tool potential at the big-league level.
Given his offensive promise, big arm and stellar defensive reputation, Lombard Jr. might settle at third base, teaming with shortstop Anthony Volpe on the left side.
Lombard Jr. could spend the bulk of 2025 at Class A Hudson Valley, after making an impression in big league camp (including two exhibition home runs) with his talent and demeanor.
“He’s got a great arm, accurate, smooth hands, reliable,’’ said Yankees captain Aaron Judge, offering his scouting report of the organization’s No. 2 prospect and best defensive player, per MLB Pipeline.
The son of Detroit Tigers’ bench coach and ex-MLB outfielder George Lombard, the right-handed hitting Lombard Jr. also draws raves from scouts for his “off-the-chart’’ makeup.
Position: Starting pitcher.
Draftinfo: 2024 first round, 26th overall, University of Alabama.
Height-weight: 6-foot-5, 255 pounds.
Per MLB Pipeline, Hess rates as the Yankees’ top pitching prospect (No. 4 overall), just ahead of Will Warren, who might find himself in Boone’s rotation out of camp.
Hess, 22, has yet to throw a minor league inning, but his big frame and big strikeout totals make him a projectable MLB starter.
“When he’s been really good, it’s been three pitches that are just dynamite – fastball up to 98 (mph), a now-plus curveball, a now-slider, and a changeup that’s developed at times to where it’s above average,’’ said Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer, after drafting Hess last summer.
Concerns include a high ERA and increased walk rate last year at Alabama, and an injury history that includes a 2023 flexor strain.
Position: Shortstop.
Draftinfo: 2022 international free agent signee, Dominican Republic.
Height-weight: 6-feet, 178 pounds.
Arias’ overall promise as a switch-hitting shortstop has enticed the organization that signed him for $4 million as a teenager.
But he’s still a raw talent as he enters his fourth pro season, rated as the Yankees’ No. 7 prospect (and their second-best infielder, behind Lombard Jr.) by MLB Pipeline.
Arias, 20, showed power (13 homers, 74 RBI) and base-stealing ability (37 steals, 50 attempts) during his age-19 season last year at Class A Tampa, his first full pro season (124 games).
But his enormous strikeout totals (171 Ks, 552 plate appearances), weak stats as a right-handed hitter and occasional defensive lapses suggest that this will be a key season developmentally on the diamond.
Position: Center fielder.
Draftinfo: 2022 first round, 25th overall, Vanderbilt University.
Height-weight: 6-foot-6, 235 pounds.
You might recall Jones’ memorable day in last year’s inaugural Breakout Game, blasting two homers against a team of Toronto Blue Jays prospects.
“His ceiling is enormous,’’ Boone said of the fleet, powerful Jones, 23, whose physical comparisons as a lefty-hitting Judge have gained due to his similar batting stance.
Cutting down on strikeouts will be something to watch for Jones, who whiffed 200 times in 544 appearances (124 games) last year at Class AA Somerset.
“There were some things with my swing that were getting away from me,’’ Jones said of a slow start last year, ending with 17 homers, 78 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 34 attempts. He eventually circled back to returning to hitting drills designed to “keep me honest with my swing.’’
This is a big year for Jones, who might finish the season at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and compete for a big-league outfield spot next spring training.
Position: Starting pitcher.
Draftinfo: 2023 sixth round, 192 overall, Mississippi State University.
Height-weight: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds.
Smith figures to open 2025 in Class A Hudson Valley's rotation, where he finished last year (two starts) after spending most of 2024 at Class A Tampa (3.47 ERA 19 games, 17 starts).
An impact reliever on Mississippi State's 2021 national championship team, the right-handed Smith, 22, has a four-pitch arsenal and generates high spin rates.
MLB Pipeline ranks Smith as the Yankees' No. 16 prospect and ninth-best pitching prospect, behind the likes of Chase Hampton, Brock Selvidge, Henry Lalane and Cam Schlittler but ahead of Eric Reyzelman and Yoendrys Gomez.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees players to watch during MLB Spring Breakout game 2025
Continue reading...
A hot start in exhibition games and a big finish as a late season callup doesn’t give the full picture of a prospect, but it’s exciting to get a glimpse of the future.
“Not a lot of guys hit a ball like that,’’ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said earlier this spring training, marveling at a towering, opposite-field home run by Spencer Jones.
Once again, the lefty-hitting slugger is part of the Yankees’ prospect roster for Saturday’s MLB Breakout Series, facing a team of Baltimore Orioles prospects at Sarasota, Fla.
Here’s a look at five Yankees youngsters to watch in the 6:05 p.m. game:
George Lombard Jr.
Position: Shortstop.
Draftinfo: 2023 first round, 26th overall, Gulliver Prep, Pinecrest, Fla.
Height-weight: 6-foot-2, 190 pounds.
You must be registered for see images attach
Only 19, Lombard Jr. might be the Yankees’ most untouchable prospect, with five-tool potential at the big-league level.
Given his offensive promise, big arm and stellar defensive reputation, Lombard Jr. might settle at third base, teaming with shortstop Anthony Volpe on the left side.
Lombard Jr. could spend the bulk of 2025 at Class A Hudson Valley, after making an impression in big league camp (including two exhibition home runs) with his talent and demeanor.
“He’s got a great arm, accurate, smooth hands, reliable,’’ said Yankees captain Aaron Judge, offering his scouting report of the organization’s No. 2 prospect and best defensive player, per MLB Pipeline.
The son of Detroit Tigers’ bench coach and ex-MLB outfielder George Lombard, the right-handed hitting Lombard Jr. also draws raves from scouts for his “off-the-chart’’ makeup.
Ben Hess
Position: Starting pitcher.
Draftinfo: 2024 first round, 26th overall, University of Alabama.
Height-weight: 6-foot-5, 255 pounds.
Per MLB Pipeline, Hess rates as the Yankees’ top pitching prospect (No. 4 overall), just ahead of Will Warren, who might find himself in Boone’s rotation out of camp.
Hess, 22, has yet to throw a minor league inning, but his big frame and big strikeout totals make him a projectable MLB starter.
“When he’s been really good, it’s been three pitches that are just dynamite – fastball up to 98 (mph), a now-plus curveball, a now-slider, and a changeup that’s developed at times to where it’s above average,’’ said Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer, after drafting Hess last summer.
Concerns include a high ERA and increased walk rate last year at Alabama, and an injury history that includes a 2023 flexor strain.
Roderick Arias
Position: Shortstop.
Draftinfo: 2022 international free agent signee, Dominican Republic.
Height-weight: 6-feet, 178 pounds.
You must be registered for see images
Arias’ overall promise as a switch-hitting shortstop has enticed the organization that signed him for $4 million as a teenager.
But he’s still a raw talent as he enters his fourth pro season, rated as the Yankees’ No. 7 prospect (and their second-best infielder, behind Lombard Jr.) by MLB Pipeline.
Arias, 20, showed power (13 homers, 74 RBI) and base-stealing ability (37 steals, 50 attempts) during his age-19 season last year at Class A Tampa, his first full pro season (124 games).
But his enormous strikeout totals (171 Ks, 552 plate appearances), weak stats as a right-handed hitter and occasional defensive lapses suggest that this will be a key season developmentally on the diamond.
Spencer Jones
Position: Center fielder.
Draftinfo: 2022 first round, 25th overall, Vanderbilt University.
Height-weight: 6-foot-6, 235 pounds.
You must be registered for see images
You might recall Jones’ memorable day in last year’s inaugural Breakout Game, blasting two homers against a team of Toronto Blue Jays prospects.
“His ceiling is enormous,’’ Boone said of the fleet, powerful Jones, 23, whose physical comparisons as a lefty-hitting Judge have gained due to his similar batting stance.
Cutting down on strikeouts will be something to watch for Jones, who whiffed 200 times in 544 appearances (124 games) last year at Class AA Somerset.
“There were some things with my swing that were getting away from me,’’ Jones said of a slow start last year, ending with 17 homers, 78 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 34 attempts. He eventually circled back to returning to hitting drills designed to “keep me honest with my swing.’’
This is a big year for Jones, who might finish the season at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and compete for a big-league outfield spot next spring training.
Cade Smith
Position: Starting pitcher.
Draftinfo: 2023 sixth round, 192 overall, Mississippi State University.
Height-weight: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds.
Smith figures to open 2025 in Class A Hudson Valley's rotation, where he finished last year (two starts) after spending most of 2024 at Class A Tampa (3.47 ERA 19 games, 17 starts).
An impact reliever on Mississippi State's 2021 national championship team, the right-handed Smith, 22, has a four-pitch arsenal and generates high spin rates.
MLB Pipeline ranks Smith as the Yankees' No. 16 prospect and ninth-best pitching prospect, behind the likes of Chase Hampton, Brock Selvidge, Henry Lalane and Cam Schlittler but ahead of Eric Reyzelman and Yoendrys Gomez.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees players to watch during MLB Spring Breakout game 2025
Continue reading...
