New wave of Yanks eager to earn place

Kevin Reese has been in his new job as the Yankees senior director of player development since November and so far, one of his biggest challenges has been keeping perhaps the organization’s top prospect off the field.

Gleyber Torres is among a handful of young players already at the team’s complex in Tampa, ready to begin his attempt to win a starting infield job in The Bronx this season as he comes back from Tommy John surgery last year on his non-throwing elbow.

“He’s been begging to play baseball for three months now,” Reese said Monday. “He’s ready to go, but we want to give him a little bit at a time. He’s in good shape and we’re excited about him.”

Torres remains the Yankees’ most highly touted prospect after being limited to 55 games — and just 23 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre — before he injured his left elbow sliding into home plate.

On Monday, Baseball America ranked the 21-yearold as the sixth-best prospect in the game and the team had five others on its Top 100 list.

So while they’ve seen some young players come through the system and produce in the majors — like Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Clint Frazier — the Yankees still seem in good shape for the future.

“The cupboard is loaded,” Reese said.

That figures to make his task easier, as Reese replaces Gary Denbo, who was widely credited for helping develop a once-lagging farm system. Denbo left the Yankees to join Derek Jeter with the Marlins and Reese, a former Yankee who was the director of professional scouting, took his place.

And despite the recent turnover in the system — in addition to promotions, the Yankees also lost prospects including James Kaprielian, Jorge Mateo and Dustin Fowler in trades last season — they have lofty expectations for players such as outfielder Estevan Florial (ranked 38th by Baseball America), lefty Justus Sheffield (41), third baseman Miguel Andujar (59) and right-handers Albert Abreu (77) and Chance Adams (81).