SUPER BREAKOUT
Yank up-and-comers ready for first spring prospect game
TAMPA — When the Yankees host the Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday, the two teams will play a different kind of doubleheader.
While the first game, scheduled for 1:05 p.m., is just a regular spring training contest, a 4:05 p.m. exhibition will exclusively feature some of the best farmhands in both organizations. The game is part of Major League Baseball’s fourday, league-wide Spring Breakout event, a new initiative designed to showcase every team’s top prospects.
Spencer Jones, ranked the Yankees’ second-best prospect by MLB.com, is the team’s biggest participating attraction after a monstrous spring that included an invitation to big league camp.
“What Spencer’s shown in such a short kind of outing to Yankee fans on the national level is humongous,” Nick Swisher said of the center fielder. “We saw what he was able to do early here at spring training. He’s really put a good taste in everybody’s mouth and he wants to continue to keep that going. I love the fact he’s getting an opportunity like this.”
As Swisher mentioned, Jones has already introduced himself to Yankees fans, and he’s been written about repeatedly. The same goes for top pitching prospects Will Warren and Chase Hampton.
But 22 other Yankees minor leaguers on the Spring Breakout roster haven’t gotten the same attention this spring. So the Daily News asked 10 members of the organization which kids they are most excited to see in the game.
Those polled were given one instruction: they could not pick Jones, Warren or Hampton, as they’re already on the radar.
Below are their responses, in no particular order.
NICK SWISHER, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE GENERAL MANAGER: C AGUSTÍN RAMÍREZ
What’s to like: “Shows raw power, all fields. Really popped himself off the page for us last year. So I think for us, him having the opportunity to come to big league camp a little bit, get around some of the guys — I mean, listen. From that catcher’s position, man, we got a lot of talent. So to be able to see him and to have this opportunity to come out and showcase what he can do, I’m really, really excited to see him. Not only on the offensive side, but I think defensively, he’s really progressed so much over the last couple of years. It’s great to see that jump. But at the end of the day, if you don’t hit, you sit, and this is a guy that can put the bat on the ball with authority. I want to see it at the higher levels.”
Highest level/rank: Double-A/No. 22
TIM NAEHRING, VICE PRESIDENT OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS: LHP HENRY LALANE
What’s to like: “He’s a young man that will probably continue to develop physically. Love the pitch-ability. I love the feel for the zone. I love the feel for the changeup. He’s an exciting young guy that will finally be competing at the A-ball level.”
Highest level/rank: Rookie/No. 9
DAMON OPPENHEIMER, VICE PRESIDENT OF DOMESTIC AMATEUR SCOUTING: C/1B BEN RICE
What’s to like: “Rice has big offensive skills with left-handed power and plate discipline that has continued to improve at every level. He has legit major league power to all fields and makes quality two-strike adjustments for hard, line drive contact. His defense has made big strides since signing and working with our coaches, so in an event like this, it will be fun to watch him compete against the best from other orgs.”
Highest level/rank: Rice: Double-A/No. 13
AARON BOONE, MANAGER: INF CALEB DURBIN
What’s to like: “He’s gonna have a big league career. He can really hit. He can run and is a great base-runner. Steals bases. Has some position flexibility. But I think he’s gonna be a player for a long time. I feel like he’s a winning player. Whether we see him at some point this year, I don’t know, but I do feel like he’s got a bright, big league future.”
Highest level/rank: Double-A/NA
JAMES ROWSON, HITTING COACH: SS GEORGE LOMBARD JR.
What’s to like: “He’s looked really good coming over here in spring training and even earlier in the offseason in the workouts over at Himes. And on top of that, I worked with his dad last year [in Detroit].”
Highest level/rank: Single-A/No. 7
MATT BLAKE, PITCHING COACH: LHPS BROCK SELVIDGE AND KYLE CARR
What’s to like: “Kyle Carr and Brock Selvidge are two guys that I’ve seen this spring that have impressed me. Just good deliveries, good arsenal. I think both of them have high upside. Those two guys, on the pitching side, would be names that you’d want to check out.”
Highest level/rank: Selvidge: High-A/No. 11 | Carr: Division I/No. 12
TREVOR AMICONE, TRIPLE-A HITTING COACH: INF JARED SERNA
What’s to like: “Serna’s been playing with 36-year-old, salty guys in the Mexican Pacific Winter League for five years now, and he fits right in with that group. Really great at-bats all the time, no matter what level, when he comes across the street [to Himes]. He’s different. I think he’s pretty good [defensively]. Not my area of expertise, but he’s really smooth and he’s starting to play shortstop a little bit.”
Highest level/rank: High-A/No. 20
CASEY DYKES, ASSISTANT HITTING COACH: C RAFAEL FLORES
What’s to like: “Super physical catcher. Has some hit-ability but also has some juice. He’s made some really good improvements on the catching side from what I’ve heard from guys. I haven’t seen him a ton offensively. But the little bit I’ve seen, it’s really intriguing. And I’ve been around him a little bit. He’s a really good kid and hard worker.”
Highest level/rank: High-A/NA
ADAM CHARNIN-AKER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PRO SCOUTING: OF JACE AVINA
What’s to like: “There are definitely some bigger names that more fans have heard of, but I like him. He’s still very young. Has a lot of pop and can potentially make a lot more contact than he has in the past. Defense, pretty solid. He’s quick. He’s playing center field, so he’s got a lot of things going for him, and he’s only 20 years old. I was excited about acquiring him [from Milwaukee].”
Highest level/rank: Single-A/NA
BRAD AUSMUS, BENCH COACH: INF CALEB DURBIN
What’s to like: “First of all, I love the way he plays the game. I don’t want to say it’s a hair on fire style, but he’s playing hard all the time. He’s strong, he’s fast. He makes a lot of contact. He hits the ball hard. Plays multiple positions in the infield. I just think he’s a good piece of a winning team.”
Highest level/rank: Double-A/NA