Which Yankees prospects stole the show in '22?
Bryan Hoch
@BryanHochThis story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch¡¯s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Though the Yankees¡¯ postseason run fell four victories shy of reaching the World Series, the 2022 pennant chase provided opportunities for several young prospects to make an impact at the big league level, including shortstop Oswald Peraza, who could figure prominently into the club¡¯s 2023 plans.
¡°I was really impressed with what I saw from him makeup-wise, preparation-wise, what he was able to handle, being thrown into some different situations,¡± Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. ¡°I always felt like he was up to it and handled it. He certainly put himself in a really good position heading into the winter after coming off another strong season.¡±
Infielder/outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera also showed that he deserves consideration as a big league regular. In this week¡¯s Yankees newsletter, we¡¯ll look at what has been happening down on the farm. The 2022 season was pivotal for shortstop Anthony Volpe, who could make his Major League debut next year after an impressive performance that earned a promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Talent evaluators also continue to rave about ¡°The Martian,¡± Jasson Dom¨ªnguez, who starred for Single-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley before extending his campaign in the Arizona Fall League.
Three players who forced their way onto the radar this year
Everson Pereira
Added to the Yankees¡¯ 40-man roster in November, Pereira is now ranked as the Yankees¡¯ No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline. He turned in a solid performance for High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset that saw the right-handed hitting outfielder bat .277/.350/.469 with 14 homers, 56 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 102 games.
Greg Weissert
Weissert was named the International League¡¯s Pitcher of the Year and Reliever of the Year, posting a 1.69 ERA out of the RailRiders¡¯ bullpen. The 27-year-old righty allowed just three homers and nine earned runs across 48 innings, striking out 70 against 19 walks while holding opponents to a .149 average. Weissert made his big league debut in 2022, appearing in 12 games.
Austin Wells
Wells enjoyed a solid second pro season and could make his Major League debut in 2023, especially if the Yankees non-tender catcher Kyle Higashioka. Rated as the organization¡¯s No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline, the left-handed hitting Wells batted .277/.385/.512 with 20 homers and 65 RBIs in 92 games at Single-A Tampa, High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset.
Two possible breakout players to watch in 2023
Andres Chaparro
The power-hitting corner infielder from Venezuela has continued to impress after participating in last year¡¯s Arizona Fall League. Chaparro starred in 64 games at Double-A Somerset this past season, batting .289/.369/.594 with 19 homers and 52 RBIs. Injuries cost Chaparro about two months, but he finished the year strong. The Yankees had Chaparro as part of their postseason taxi squad and could add him to the 40-man roster this winter.
Spencer Jones
Jones was the Yankees¡¯ top selection in the 2022 MLB Draft (No. 25 overall, out of Vanderbilt), and his 6-foot-7, 225-pound frame drew immediate comparisons as a left-handed-hitting version of Aaron Judge. The probable American League MVP casts a big shadow, literally and figuratively, but the Yankees expect big things from the 21-year-old Jones. Across his first 25 pro games, Jones hit .344/.425/.538 with four homers and 12 RBIs. He¡¯s already ranked as the Yanks¡¯ No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline.
One big question for next season: When will Volpe get a chance to take over as the Yankees¡¯ shortstop?
In passing on a loaded free-agent crop last offseason, the Yanks viewed Isiah Kiner-Falefa as a stopgap, providing Peraza and Volpe with more development time. Peraza has already impressed, batting .306 with one homer in 49 big league at-bats, and now Volpe is poised to come into Spring Training seeking an opportunity to win a starting job.
The 21-year-old Volpe is rated as the game¡¯s No. 5 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, boasting outstanding makeup and quality instincts that seem to forecast big league stardom. Volpe batted .249/.342/.460 with 35 doubles, 21 homers, 65 RBIs and 50 stolen bases in 132 games for Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
¡°[Playing in the Majors] is something I¡¯ve worked my whole life for,¡± Volpe said. ¡°It feels close, but far at the same time. I feel like now¡¯s the time to just work, put my head down and work as hard as I possibly can to make it a reality. To me, that¡¯s super motivating, and I¡¯m super excited about it.¡±