Two Yankees prospects earn All-Star nod; third surging fast with MLB-caliber arsenal

Yankees prospects Spencer Jones and Clayton Beeter have secured positions in the highly anticipated 2023 All-Star Futures Game. As per MLB.com rankings, Jones and Beeter hold the positions of the third and thirteenth prospects, respectively, in the Yankees’ organization.

Spencer Jones’ 10th homer of the season is a BOMB

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— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 18, 2023

Yankees prospect Jones, who was chosen as the 25th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft after his collegiate career at Vanderbilt University, has been performing well at High-A Hudson Valley this season. In 60 games, he has an impressive slash line of .268/.327/.496, along with 10 home runs and 36 RBI.

Beeter, who was acquired by the Yankees from the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of the Joey Gallo trade in August of last year, had a strong start to the season at Double-A Somerset. He recorded a 6-2 record with an impressive 2.08 ERA during his time there. Last Friday, Beeter received a promotion within the Yankees organization and moved up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

During his debut start at Triple-A, Beeter surrendered three runs on six hits, including two home runs, while recording six strikeouts and issuing two walks across 5 1/3 innings.

The upcoming Futures Game, a seven-inning exhibition, is scheduled for Saturday, July 8th, at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. The event will take place at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

Another Yankees pitching prospect knocking on doors

Last Sunday, Yankees pitching prospect Chase Hampton made his debut for the Somerset Patriots. The highly anticipated start for the right-handed pitcher in Somerset didn’t begin as smoothly as he had hoped, encountering some difficulties early on. However, he returned strong.

The Yankees pitching prospect faced some challenges in the first inning. He gave up an earned run on two hits while wearing the team’s uniform. With two outs, a double hit off the glove of third baseman Tyler Hardman, which added to the difficulties.

During the game, there was a critical moment where the Yankees pitching prospect faced Matt Fraizer, who holds a high reputation as an outfielder in the Pirates’ farm system. The count reached its maximum limit, and Hampton delivered a pitch right over the center of the plate, deviating from his intended target. Unfortunately, this misplacement allowed Fraizer to hit an RBI single, resulting in a score for the opposing team.

After Hampton finished pitching in that inning, it was clear that he was feeling a bit agitated. But once he calmed down and focused on his strategy, relying on his strong points, his determined mindset on the mound, and his excellent combination of four different pitches, he regained control. As a result, the Yankees pitching prospect returned to his previous form from his time in High-A and started overpowering the batters from the opposing team.

In the end, Hampton managed to strike out eight batters in six innings of play. He gave up two earned runs on four hits and didn’t allow any walks. There was a moment when he retired 13 out of 14 hitters, showcasing his excellent performance. Additionally, he achieved a total of 13 swings and misses.

Hampton, who is 21 years old, received a Double-A promotion two weeks ago. It was a deserving recognition for him as a pitcher, considering his impressive performance. The Yankees pitching prospect achieved an outstanding 40.5 percent strikeout rate and maintained a stellar 2.68 ERA in nine starts while playing for Hudson Valley earlier this year.

The pitcher played college baseball at Texas Tech and was selected in the sixth round of the draft, had an impressive performance. He was ranked fifth among all Minor League Baseball players and was leading the Yankees organization with 77 strikeouts for the season. However, it was at this point that he received the news of his promotion to Double-A.

An MLB-class pitching repertoire

Hudson Valley manager Sergio Santos remarked that Hampton possessed exceptional pitching skills, describing his pitches as “nasty.” Santos emphasized that after watching Hampton’s pitches, one would wonder how opposing batters could ever hit him. 

Santos firmly believed that Hampton’s pitching repertoire was comparable to that of professional Major League Baseball players. Santos mentioned that with more innings and experience, Hampton would eventually have the opportunity to pitch in the big leagues.

According to High-A pitching coach Preston Claiborne, Hampton possesses an arsenal of pitches that can be described as “pure electricity.” Hampton, a determined right-handed pitcher, throws a fastball in the mid-90s, which is quite impressive. His curveball, slider, and cutter have the ability to cause opposing batters to swing off-balance and produce uncertain, unstable swings, as was evident during Sunday’s game.

Several MLB scouts, who requested to remain anonymous, believe that Hampton has the potential to become a starting pitcher at the Major League Baseball level in the future. His rapid progression through the ranks, skipping Low-A, and performing exceptionally well this season has caught the attention of these scouts. They see him as a promising player who could become an integral part of the Yankees’ starting rotation in the years to come.

According to a scout from the National League, they view Hampton as a reliable pitcher who can fit well at the back of a team’s rotation. The scout appreciates Hampton’s composure and self-assurance, finding it remarkable that he was drafted just last year. The scout draws a comparison to a previous player, Will Warren, who was also a late pick within the first 10 rounds. Warren spent a year in the development complex before making a notable impact when he finally took to the field. The scout believes that Hampton’s situation is reminiscent of Warren’s, suggesting that Hampton could similarly exceed expectations.

As Hampton settles in with Somerset, his next focus should be on enhancing his game planning and adaptability. He will be facing hitters who are more skilled than those he has encountered in the past, so it is important for him to make adjustments accordingly.

If everything unfolds as expected, Hampton will have the opportunity to pitch for the Yankees in the coming years. This would allow him to interact with Gerrit Cole directly and learn from him, rather than observe him from a distance during spring training sessions. Hampton has looked up to Cole and has been shaping his own game based on the pitcher’s style over the years. Both Hampton and Cole share a similar approach to wearing their emotions on their sleeves while on the mound.

However, Hampton is not focused on distant future possibilities. Instead, he is fully immersed in the present moment, dedicating himself to constant improvement and advancement as a prospect.

He expressed his preference for living in the present rather than focusing on the future. Considering the circumstances, he mentioned that his plan is to go out on the mound, give his best performance, and hope that everything else falls into place naturally.

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