Rosario, Vasquez among Hispanic Yanks developing in Somerset
BRIDGEWATER » With so much outfield movement in the Yankees’ farm system, there is always a debate over who could be the next prospect to get the call up to Triple-A.
Jeisson Rosario is stating a strong case in Somerset to make that jump soon.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a breakout season since joining the organization just three days after the rival Red Sox cut him on March 23. There was speculation over whether the Yankees could retain him after designating him for early assignment on April 7, but he cleared waivers and reported to Double-A.
After a slow start, Rosario has raked at the plate. The lefty turned the corner in July with a .360 average and 1.082 OPS in 15 games, and he has continued swinging a hot bat in August with seven extra-base hits in 37 at-bats.
“I wasn’t able to start as strong as I wanted but I was able to adjust, and it’s not how you start but how you finish,” Rosario said Friday through translator Raul Ramos.
Rosario, who can effectively play all three outfield spots, is sporting a .259/.376/.428 line overall in 82 games. The middle number is his on-base percentage, which is aided by a masterful control of the strike zone. Rosario has a team-high 53 walks and only 65 strikeouts.
Rosario said the Yankees’ coaching staff has been clearer than the instruction he received in past years, and the Dominican Republic native has been able to tap into his power more. His personal season highlight came July 17, when he hit for the cycle in a wild 12-11 loss to Portland.
“I have worked a lot on my balance, my legs,” Rosario
said. “That has been the number one adjustment I have done this year.”
Right-hander Randy Vasquez, second baseman Jesus Bastidas and third baseman Andres Chaparro are a few other Hispanic players having solid seasons in Somerset.
Vasquez, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Yankees’ No. 13 prospect, has built on his brief cameo in Somerset toward the end of last summer. The Dominican features a 3.99 ERA with 91 strikeouts and 34 walks in 88 innings. That is 19.1 innings shy of his career-high mark in the organization last year, so his workload is worth monitoring.
Vasquez believes his curveball and cutter (twoseam fastball) are his strongest pitches right now. He has worked on sharpening
his four-seam fastball. He also wields a slider and a changeup. The curveball in particular dazzles scouts because of its elite spin rate.
“My spin rate is something that I’ve worked hard,” Vasquez said. “When I have the ball, I try to move my wrist fast and it helps.”
Vasquez’s primary obstacle this year was a nightmarish July in which he allowed 19 runs in 14.2 innings. But over his last three outings, he has settled back down with two earned runs in 14.1 innings.
“I had issues with my mechanics, but my pitching coach (Gerardo Casadiego) told me to keep working,” Vasquez said. “When I was throwing the ball, the way I was coming, it was too much. So I was wrong with my mechanics when I was landing, but the pitching coach was
able to identify and he asked me to work on it. And now we’re seeing the results.”
Bastidas, a 23-year-old from Venezuela, has produced his most successful season in seven years as a pro with the Yankees.
The 5-foot-10 righty has 13 home runs, 16 doubles, an .800 OPS and nine stolen bases in 83 games, which is a career high from a health and availability standpoint.
“I make an adjustment every day: in the gym, on the field, in the cages. Every day so I can do better every day,” Bastidas said. “I don’t think I’m under the radar. I try to work hard every time. I’ve been putting in good numbers and I think I can play at a high level.”
Bastidas said his biggest adjustment from last year has been practicing with heavier bats to generate more power to the gaps. Defensively, he is focusing on improving his range.
Success continues to fuel his motivation. Bastidas hit a three-run, walk-home run against Reading on July 23, which resulted in a Gatorade bath at home plate.
“I’ve been able to play more, I’ve been able to have more fun,” Bastidas said. “I was able to have that big hit, and yes, this season has been the one that I have enjoyed most.”
Meanwhile, Chaparro has battled injuries coming off a stellar 2021. The Venezuela native hurt his wrist in early May, then underwent surgery to treat a health condition and ended up missing over a month. The Yankees sent Chaparro on rehab assignments in Florida before he finally rejoined the Patriots on Aug. 4.
Still, the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder has been one of Somerset’s top power threats with an .861 OPS in 36 games. He clobbered his 10th home run during Friday night’s 7-3 win against Hartford.
Chaparro showed his high potential last year as he roped 39 extra-base hits in 101 games with HighA Hudson Valley and LowA Tampa, then had strong campaigns in the Arizona Fall League and Venezuelan Winter League.
“It was a crazy year,” Chaparro said. “I never thought I was going to get invited to play in the Fall League, I never thought I was going to play last year in Venezuela, but it was a year that I learned a lot and I had a great time.”
Chaparro is now determined to stay healthy. The road to the majors is even more fun with so many people in the Yankees organization who speak his native language.
“I think being along with a lot of Spanish-speaking people is more joyful, so you have a better time,” Chaparro said. “The whole team, we create a harmony and it makes things better, easier for us.”