With the New York Yankees season a few weeks away from the midpoint, the focus is on Aaron Judge, who is on a tear, and Juan Soto, who drives the team with his energetic display. Meanwhile, like their illustrious MLB leaders, rookies in the Yankees farm are also thriving with their bats.
MLB.com’s Yankees beat reporter Bryan Hoch spotlights five bats in the Yankees farm with notable achievements.
Yankees’ two minor catchers stand out
Two catchers from the New York Yankees’ farm system have emerged as outstanding performers in the season’s first half. Carlos Narvaez, 25, has impressed at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with his all-around performance. Over 63 games, Narvaez has posted a commendable .270/.388/.460 slash line, adding 9 home runs and 43 RBIs to his resume.
Earlier this year, Narvaez mentioned that he had been catching for a long time and it offered him the best view of the game. Since everything was in front of a catcher, he equated his role to that of a second manager due to the close collaboration with the manager and pitching coach. This followed the season that witnessed him achieving his best self.
In Double-A, catcher Agustin Ramirez, ranked as the Yankees’ No. 20 prospect by MLB Pipeline, showcased his talent with the Somerset Patriots before being promoted to Triple-A on June 19. Ramirez led the Eastern League in several offensive categories during his 58 games with Somerset, amassing 16 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .942 OPS.
Somerset manager Raul Domínguez commended Ramirez’s power, highlighting his focus on elevating the ball, which has translated into impressive exit velocities and home run totals. These standout performances underline the depth of catching talent within the Yankees’ minor league system and point to a promising future for the organization.
Two Yankees prosper in High-A and Single-A levels
At High-A Hudson Valley, 22-year-old infielder Jared Serna, ranked as the Yankees’ No. 19 prospect, has displayed his diverse skill set. Over 70 games, Serna has achieved a .261/.355/.467 slash line, hitting 12 home runs. His 52 RBIs are tied for second in the South Atlantic League, while his 32 extra-base hits rank second, and his 20 doubles are fourth.
Earlier this season, Renegades hitting coach Rick Guarno told NJ Advance Media that Serna was an extremely fun baseball player to watch when he’s performing well. The coach noted that Serna had been playing good defense, stealing bases, hitting home runs, and line drives the other way, doing a little bit of everything at his best.
In Single-A Tampa, third baseman Dylan Jasso has made a strong impression in his first full-season experience. The 21-year-old, signed as a non-drafted free agent, has posted a .242/.334/.418 slash line over 67 games. Jasso leads the Florida State League with 19 doubles and is tied for the league lead with 28 extra-base hits. His 43 RBIs tie him for third place in the league with teammate Roderick Arias.
These standout performances highlight the depth of talent in the Yankees’ minor league system, especially among their infield prospects.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
what about these guys defense? If you know anything about Cashman & Co., you know the D is ultra important. Like Serna is a serviceable SS but a much better 2B.