The New York Yankees boast an abundance of promising young pitchers within their farm system. Drew Thorpe, in particular, earned recognition as the 2023 Minors Pitching Prospect of the Year for his outstanding performance. Another Yankees pitching prospect acquired in 2022 is looking at the Arizona Fall League to prove his mettle.
Upon being selected as the 100th overall pick (third round) in the 2022 Draft, Trystan Vrieling wasted no time in getting down to business. Standing at an imposing 6 feet 4 inches, this right-handed Yankees pitching prospect was determined to enhance his skill set for the transition from Gonzaga University to the challenging world of professional baseball within the New York Yankees’ organization.
Vrieling was relentless in his preparation, working diligently to add 20 pounds of muscle to his frame, all with the goal of strengthening his pitching arsenal. Unfortunately, a setback occurred when he suffered a fracture in his right elbow, forcing him to put his professional debut on hold for the remainder of the 2022 season.
However, the Arizona Fall League has now presented a new opportunity for Vrieling to kickstart his pro career, and he’s more than eager to make the most of it. While speaking at AFL media day, the Yankees prospect reflected on his setback by suggesting that one needed to accept the situation as it was. He noted that, fundamentally, it was the same game, involving a ball in one’s hand. He mentioned their collective experience of participating in this game for many years and highlighted the positive aspect of being able to pitch in Arizona, despite the initial plans for the start of the year being different.
He acknowledged that his original plan had faced some disruptions but expressed a determination to continue with their efforts, saying, “Now, we are back on track, so let’s pursue it with full commitment.”
Trystan Vrieling, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on the opening day of the Fall League on October 2, had not participated in competitive pitching since his junior year at Gonzaga. During that season, the Yankees prospect made the transition to a full-time starting pitcher. Vrieling was part of an impressive trio of pitchers from the Bulldogs’ rotation, all of whom were selected within the first three rounds of the 2022 Draft.
As he arrived in Arizona for the Arizona Fall League, Vrieling had clear intentions of continuing as a starter, building on his strength gains made during his time off. The Yankees prospect aimed to leverage these improvements to add extra life to his already impressive low-to-mid-90s mph fastball.
As 2023 began, Trystan Vrieling was anticipated to be a key component of the Yankees‘ emerging talent, securing the preseason No. 17 prospect ranking. However, his absence from competitive play for an entire year has added an element of unpredictability to his development. Despite possessing two impressive pitches – a slider and a curveball – Vrieling has not yet had the opportunity to face professional batters in a game. Nevertheless, his unwavering determination to excel remains consistent throughout various levels of play.
Vrieling recognized the presence of competition among the club’s system members, emphasizing that it was a natural part of their involvement in the sport. He highlighted the sense of belonging to a tight-knit community and how seeing fellow players perform well motivated them to excel.
The Yankees prospect advised that the key was to stay focused, work diligently, and concentrate on one’s pitching performance.
Entering the Fall League without any prior professional innings to his name, Vrieling brings with him something he considers immensely valuable: the wisdom acquired from seasoned professionals. During his rehabilitation period, Vrieling had the opportunity to learn valuable insights from Major League players who were on their own paths to recovery from injuries. This allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of the game and accumulate mental experience while his elbow was on the mend.
Vrieling expressed the idea that one should approach each day with a straightforward and appreciative perspective, treating it as a gift. He also mentioned that spending time with the individuals who were there during that period was a genuine blessing. Reflecting on the experience, he noted that he gained many positive takeaways from it.
Yankees hitting prospects to look at in AFL
Benjamin Cowles
Playing a significant role in High-A Hudson Valley’s journey to the South Atlantic League Championship Series, Benjamin Cowles achieved personal bests in home runs, totaling 10, and in stolen bases, accumulating 23 throughout the season. His versatility shone through, with over 30 appearances at shortstop, second base, and third base. Although the Yankees prospect maintained his knack for drawing walks, exemplified by his .353 on-base percentage, his 28 percent strikeout rate will face a stern test against the fresh competition he encounters in the Fall League.
Caleb Durbin
In his inaugural season with the Yankees, the 23-year-old infielder experienced a significant offensive breakthrough, impressively maintaining a .304 batting average while playing for both High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset. Although an injury sidelined Caleb Durbin for almost two months during the summer, his contribution was notable when he was on the field, particularly in the baserunning department. He successfully stole 36 bases in a mere 69 games and displayed a remarkable 6.2 percent strikeout rate.
Nelson Medina
Nelson Medina, Outfielder: In 2023, Nelson Medina continued his pattern of receiving aggressive promotions, earning a 12-game opportunity with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. This promotion came after the Yankees prospect showcased his skills with an impressive .859 OPS during his debut season with Single-A Tampa. Despite spending over two months on the injured list, this 23-year-old, who originally signed for $60,000 from the Dominican Republic in 2017, will use his time in the Arizona Fall League to accumulate valuable playing experience in the United States after participating in various Rookie-level assignments.
Yankees pitching prospects to watch at AFL
Matt Sauer
Matt Sauer, selected in the second round of the 2017 draft, made quite an impression last season when he recorded 17 strikeouts in only his third start at the Double-A level, matching a record for the most strikeouts in an affiliated game since 2019. However, a right forearm strain delayed his season debut until June this year. Once the Yankees prospect found his groove, he had a successful campaign with Somerset, posting a 3.42 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and an impressive 10.9 K/9 ratio across 14 appearances. As he approaches his 25th birthday during the offseason, the right-handed pitcher is using his time with the Solar Sox to further prepare for a potential jump to the major leagues.
Baron Stuart
Baron Stuart, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in July 2022, had a varied collegiate career, spanning five seasons across the University of South Florida and Pittsburgh, during which he posted a 5.72 ERA. However, his professional debut in the same year revealed an impressive arsenal of pitches. Stuart brings a low-90s mph fastball, a sweeping breaking ball in the low-80s, and an 82-84 mph changeup. The Yankees prospect excels at disguising his changeup thanks to a similar arm action. In his first experience at the high-A level towards the end of the season, he displayed mixed results. Stuart had three starts in which he allowed one run or fewer, but he also gave up a combined 19 runs across another three outings.
Nolberto Henriquez
Nolberto Henriquez, originally signed out of the Dominican Republic in August 2018, is a 6-foot-4 reliever who made his affiliate debut this season with the Tampa team. Henriquez employs a two-pitch repertoire, relying on a hard sinker that typically registers in the mid-90s and a sweeping breaking ball in the 78-82 mph range. However, the performance of the Yankees prospect in the Florida State League yielded mixed results, with Henriquez struggling to generate strikeouts; he only recorded five strikeouts (alongside nine walks) in 13 2/3 innings. Despite this, his ability to handle multiple innings was evident, as the 23-year-old pitched more than three outs in 10 of his 23 appearances during the season.
Kevin Stevens
Kevin Stevens, a native of Tucson, Arizona, will make his 2023 debut in his home state. While Stevens was primarily a starter during his college years at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the Yankees have decided to transition the 6-foot-2 pitcher to a relief role with the aim of harnessing his potential velocity. This shift has proven successful, with Stevens regularly delivering fastballs at 97 mph before landing on the 60-day injured list in April. Additionally, he displayed above-average spin rates on his fastball.
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