Struggles and injury stunted the growth of Dillon Tate in his first year, and this year the right-hander is striving to get back on track with a strong fall.
The fourth overall pick of the 2015 draft tossed three innings in his most recent outing, striking out four and inducing an inning-ending double play.
His fastball is beginning to find its pop many are impressed with, but he started off the Arizona Fall League with a shaky couple of innings.
The 22-year-old now owns a 3.86 ERA after starting the AFL with an ERA of 9.20. Appearing in six games, he has relieved in every game, throwing nine and a third innings.
Tate has been scrutinized by many because of his inability to stay healthy and consistent, but with his youth and inexperience, there is plenty of time to hone in his electric arm.
The hits keep on coming for one of the Yankees top prospects. In nine games, the infielder is hitting .313 and has an on-base percentage of .421.
A week after winning the AFL player of the week, the 19-year-old is tied for the lead in home runs with three. With seven runs batted in, the power and average are coming together for Torres.
It is hard to judge a player based off of play in the AFL, but to see him playing well now is a sign he is in a position to continue this play in the minors. It will be telling where the Yankees decide to place him at the start of the 2017 season. Double-A Trenton could be an option, but there is plenty of time between now and decision time to watch him grow.
He has proven he can hit, but sustaining it over a long period of time and at a high level is another story. However, so far so good for the new Yankee.
A hot start to the AFL season has slowed for the first basemen. After compiling an average over .350 in the first week, Bird has cooled off to a .220 mark. The positive sign for the hopeful first basemen of the future is the power has returned after the labrum injury in 2016.
With a homer and eight RBI’s, the 23-year-old has four doubles, tied for second in the fall league. Once Bird is able to completely catch back up to the speed of the game, the dangerous lefty will push for the starting job at first base to replace Mark Teixeira.
Speaking of proving what he can do with the bat, the third basemen has found his in the AFL. Holding the fifth best average at .371 in 35 at-bats, the 21-year-old is making a case to move quickly in the minors.
Andujar was promoted to Double-A in 2016 because his bat was sizzling, finishing with a .273 average between two minor league teams. While he has not hit the long ball in the AFL this year, his 12 homers in the regular season are nothing to scoff at.
After starting off with an ERA north of seven, the strong righty has begun to find a groove. The UCLA product has thrown the second most innings in the AFL this year. With 13 and a third innings, he is 0-2 in four starts with an ERA of 4.73.
One of the biggest signs Kaprielian is on the right track back from injury is the strikeout numbers. With 15 punchouts and four walks, the location and consistency is starting to take form.
The reliever is working on eight innings this year and has lowered his ERA to 4.50. In six appearances, the 23-year-old has nine strikeouts with five walks.
Drafted by Cleveland in 2014, Feyereisen is fighting to move up in the Yankees system after spending time in Double-A with the Trenton Thunder. This past season, the right-hander owned an ERA of 1.70 in over 58 innings and is showing command with his pitches.
Three weeks have come and gone in the AFL and three remain. Some prospects shine and others disappoint, but overall the Yankees have posted a solid showing in the fall.
