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Young Yankees make early splash in Arizona Fall League

The Yankees season may be over, but fans still have something to be excited about. The Arizona Fall League kicked off last week and the team has sent eight prospects, four pitchers and four position players.

The two making a splash early on are pitcher Ian Clarkin, who returned to action after sitting out 2015 with an elbow injury, and catcher Gary Sanchez, who we saw briefly as a pinch hitter in September. Joining them are: RHP Domingo Acevedo, LHP Chaz Hebert, LHP Tyler Webb, SS Tyler Wade, OF Tyler Austin and OF Dustin Fowler.

Clarkin, the team’s 33rd overall selection in the 2013 draft, took the mound Monday going four innings and allowing one run. It was his first game action since he pitched to a 3.12 ERA in 17 minor league outings between Single-A and High-A in 2014. He is currently the Yankees number 7 prospect.

“It felt great,” Clarkin told William Boor of MLB.com. “It was hard for them to take me out of today’s game. Obviously, when they tell me I’m done, I’m done, but I wanted to go back out there…I thought I pitched pretty well. It’s really good for me to have a starting point to make adjustments into my next start.”

Gary Sanchez is playing himself right into the starting catcher job in the Bigs. Over the past week he has seven hits, including two homers, in four games for a .436 average. Not to be outdone by his bat, in his second game behind the plate his pitchers threw a shutout. The 22 year old was called up on September 12 and went 0-2 with a strikeout in just two games. Between Double-A and Triple-A this season, he had 8 homers with a .274/.330/.485 slash line. With Brian McCann signed for three more years and John Ryan Murphy and Austin Romine still in the picture, it could be a while before we see Sanchez. But he’s worth the wait.

Standing at 6 foot 7, Domingo Acevedo was impressive in rookie ball this year. He went 3-0 with a 1.81 ERA through 12 games with 16 walks to 54 strikeouts. He hit 103 MPH on the gun at one point and the Yanks hope that translates as he progresses and faces more experienced batters.

Chaz Hebert turned a lot of heads in 2014, posting a 2.76 ERA with a 3-5 record in 18 appearances (11 starts). He continued the success in 2015, going 10-7 with a 2.55 ERA over 26 games (20 starts) including two in Triple-A.

Tyler Webb made six outings during Spring Training, but injuries kept him from suiting up during the regular season. Look for him to be a bull pen arm.

Shortstop Tyler Wade got a promotion from High-A Tampa to Double-A during the season. He was used at second base for the first game of the AFL season and his manager Dave Bialas says he’s “no doubt” a big leaguer. He had a .262 batting average between the two levels with 3 homers, 31 RBIs and 33 stolen bags in 127 games.

Tyler Austin has the most to prove this fall. He was called up to the Bigs, sent down, then demoted from Triple-A to Double-A. He hit just .240 in 94 minor league games with six long balls while driving in 35. This is his third straight AFL season.

18th rounder Dustin Fowler swiped 30 bags and hit .298 between Low-A and High-A this year. He played primarily in center field but is versatile enough that the Yanks may toy around with where to put him.

There’s a lot of young talent on display in the AFL this year, but the baby bombers are holding their own. The future looks bright.