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Yankees Minor League update- August 29th

The season is winding down for Yankees minor league teams, although in a few cases, including that of the AA Trenton Thunder and High-A Tampa Yankees, there will be postseason games. A couple of top prospects have been in the news this past week as well. 2016 1st round pick and Pulaski Yankees outfielder Blake Rutherford will reportedly sit for the remainder of the season with a minor hamstring injury and pitcher Chance Adams, currently with AA Trenton, will be shut down for the season after reaching his innings limit.

Despite the news of two prospects sitting, there are still many more prospects playing out the season in the minor leagues. As we did last week, the player profiles will focus on September call-up candidates. Depending on how the Yankees feel about these prospects, we may see some, or perhaps all, of these prospects up before the season ends.

Clint Frazier– OF- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA)- Frazier has struggled since coming to the Yankees organization, hitting just .229 with a .282 on-base percentage in 24 games. The 21 year-old has shown a tendency to strike out at a high clip so far (27 K’s in 96 at-bats) and has not drawn as many walks (his walk rate is at 6.8% compared to 10.5% at AA.) Nevertheless, it is much too early to fret about Frazier, who had just been called up to AAA before the Indians traded him. He still has 16 runs scored in his time with the RailRiders, as well as two home runs. The Yankees will probably not call him up in September, but with an impressive winter and spring, he may be able to make it to the big leagues early next season. (Update: Frazier has been placed on the 7-Day DL and may miss the last week and a half of the minor league season. This likely eliminates any chance he may have had at a September call-up.)

Luis Severino– SP- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA)- The 22 year-old has been starting in AAA after his demotion earlier this season. In two starts since his most recent return to AAA, he went 5 2/3 innings both times, giving up at least nine hits and three runs in both outings. The righty avoided issuing free passes, with just three in between those two starts, and even struck out 10 in his first appearance. The lines Severino put up do not exactly look encouraging, but he can be expected to contribute to the big club out of the bullpen in September. Given his velocity and his ability to add in secondary pitches, the young Dominican may actually serve as a valuable late-season piece and a potential bridge to the back end of the bullpen.

Giovanny Gallegos– RP- Trenton (AA)- Gallegos has flown under the radar, but has put up phenomenal numbers the last two seasons. After a 2015 spent mostly in High-A in which he put up a 1.71 ERA and struck out over a batter an inning, the righty has continued to shine this season, with a 1.39 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, and 94 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings spent between AA and AAA. He has yet to debut in the majors, but offers a mid-90s fastball and good off-speed pitches. At 25 years old, Gallegos is a bit old to be a prospect, but he may be coming up to protect him from selection in this winter’s Rule 5 draft. Many Yankees minor league relievers have not translated well when given opportunities in the major leagues, but he has the skills to potentially stick if given the right opportunity. 

Mason Williams– OF- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA)- Williams remains on the 40-man roster despite suffering from injuries throughout this season, making him a likely candidate to play in September. Since returning to AAA on August 14th, the 25 year-old has hit .341 with seven RBI. However, all but two of his hits have been singles and the noted speedster has not stolen a base yet. Williams’ speed could be valuable, however, as a pinch runner or in the outfield on defense. He may come up later next month in order to give him more at-bats before calling him up, but expect the Yankees to make use of Williams’ lefty bat before the season is over.