The week of the All-Star Break has brought a few pieces of news in the Yankees minor league system. The team’s most recent first-round pick, outfielder Blake Rutherford, has been moved up to the Advanced Rookie league Pulaski Yankees. Meanwhile, pitcher Brady Lail, one of the Yankees’ top young pitching prospects, returned to action Sunday. In the AA Eastern League All-Star game, pitcher Jordan Montgomery started, pitched a scoreless inning, and earned the win, headlining a list of five Thunder players appearing in the game. This week, we take a look at four young, intriguing pitchers in the Yankees minor league system. At least one of these four may be pitching for the Yankees in the big leagues some day.
Vicente Campos- SP- Trenton (AA)- Campos has finally put things together in 2016 after a rough 2015 season, pitching to a 3.10 ERA and striking out 100 batters in 110 innings. The righty lost a season to Tommy John surgery and his fastball, once as fast as 98 mph, now sits in the low-90s, but Campos has kept getting batters out. In 51 innings in AA Trenton, he has an impressive 44:12 K:BB ratio and just a 1.00 WHIP. On Friday, the 23 year-old pitched six shutout innings, giving up just three hits and one walk while striking out three. Campos has now gone 19 straight innings without allowing an earned run and looks to be pitching as well as he ever has. If he makes it to the big leagues for the Yankees, he may further validate his acquisition as part of the 2012 Michael Pineda/Jesus Montero swap.
Ian Clarkin– SP- Tampa (A-Advanced)- Clarkin, a 2013 first-round pick of the Yankees pictured above, has had a solid season so far in Tampa, putting up a 3.12 ERA while allowing just four home runs in 95 1/3 innings. His strikeout rate has fallen from his last full season, as he has 72 strikeouts this season compared to 75 in 75 innings in 2014. The lefty missed 2015 due to elbow issues, which may also be responsible for his decreased K-rate. The 29 walks and 1.31 WHIP point to control issues, but the 21 year-old has still allowed two or fewer runs in his last eight outings. Nevertheless, Clarkin remains one of the top arms in the Yankees system. He will presumably look to cut down the walk rate in his next start on Monday.
Christian Morris– SP- Charleston (A)- The 22 year-old Morris has proven why the Yankees took a flyer on him in the 33rd round of last year’s draft, going 6-2 with a 2.36 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP for Charleston this season. In his last start, Morris threw 6 1/3 shutout innings, allowing six hits while walking no one and striking out four. His strikeout ratio has been good, as he has struck out 63 batters in 68 1/3 innings. He has had issues with control in the past, but has walked just 17 batters in what has arguably been a breakout season for the 6’4” righty. Morris has three offerings, a fastball, a curve, and a cutter, and entering last year’s draft scouts believed he had the stuff, but not the command, to start. If he continues to keep the walks in check, however, he may be able to stick as a starter.
Adonis Rosa– SP- Staten Island (Short-Season A)- Rosa has shined in 27 1/3 innings for Staten Island this season, allowing just five runs, good for a 1.65 ERA. His 0.91 WHIP also stands out, and he has allowed just six walks compared to 22 strikeouts. On Wednesday, he made his first relief appearance, earning a three-inning save with two hits, three walks, and two strikeouts. Rosa has never put up extremely gaudy strikeout totals, but he consistently avoids walking batters and seems to have good control. Rosa has a small but projectible frame, which, at 6’1” and 160 pounds, he has yet to fill out. His fastball sits in the low 90s and he has earned high marks for his changeup. If he continues to impress, the 21 year-old righty may become one of the better Yankees prospects within the next couple of years.
(Photo courtesy of Mark LoMoglio/MiLB.com)
