The New York Yankees have unveiled their roster for the upcoming Arizona Fall League, and while none of the selected prospects rank in the Top 30 within the Yankees’ organization according to MLB.com, the team is hopeful about their long-term potential.
This announcement was jointly made by MLB and the New York Yankees on a recent Friday. The list of seven promising players earmarked for Arizona includes outfielder Nelson Medina, along with infielders Benjamin Cowles and Kevin Stevens. Additionally, there are three right-handed pitchers: Nolberto Henriquez, Kevin Stevens, Baron Stuart, and Trystan Vrieling.
Meet the rising stars: Yankees’ Arizona Fall League prospects
Nelson Medina’s 2023 season saw him play 50 games for Class-A Tampa and an additional 10 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Throughout this period, he showcased his abilities with a combined batting average of .251, an OBP of .348, a slugging percentage of .427, and an OPS of .775. He also contributed six home runs and 29 RBIs to his impressive resume.
Benjamin Cowles primarily spent his season with High-A Hudson Valley, although he recently made a shift to SWB for the final week of the season. His season statistics include a batting line of .253/.354/.391/.745, accompanied by ten home runs and 41 RBIs.
Caleb Durbin, on the other hand, divided his playing time between Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset, displaying his prowess with a slash line of .304/.395/.427/.822. He also chipped in four home runs and 25 RBIs.
In the pitching department, Nolberto Henriquez fulfilled a reliever role for the Yankees’ Florida Complex League rookie team and Tampa. Unfortunately, he struggled with an 0-1 record and a 6.75 ERA over 23 games.
Kevin Stevens faced limited opportunities this season, appearing in just five games for the FCL Yankees and Tampa. His stats showed an 0-2 record with a 7.71 ERA, and most of his season was hampered by a 60-day stint on the injured list.
Baron Stuart embarked on his maiden professional season, splitting his time between Tampa and Hudson Valley. He recorded a combined 4-10 record with a 4.47 ERA over 20 games, of which 18 were starts.
Lastly, Trystan Vrieling, drafted in 2022, spent the entire season on the 60-day injured list due to right elbow issues and has yet to make his professional pitching debut.
UP next
The Yankees’ prospects will represent the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League and will have the opportunity to collaborate with prospects from other MLB teams, including the Baltimore Orioles, the Chicago Cubs, the Houston Astros, and the Oakland Athletics.
The AFL season kicks off on October 2, immediately following the conclusion of the Major League regular season. Exciting events are on the horizon, including the AFL Home Run Derby on November 4, the Fall Stars game on November 5, the play-in semifinal on November 10, and the championship game on November 11. While these prospects may not currently rank among the top, their participation in the Arizona Fall League provides them with a valuable platform to develop their skills and showcase their potential for future success in the New York Yankees organization.
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