Luis Severino circa 2012.
Sometimes patience is needed for prospects to pan out. To give some insight on how long they sometimes can take, here are the top five prospects and their corresponding excerpts from November of 2014.
1. RHP, Luis Severino - We predicted last offseason that this fire-baller would most likely ascend to the top of the rankings and all he did in 2014 was post a combined 2.46 ERA over three minor league levels and advance from low-A ball to Double-A in one season. He has three plus pitches and innate strike-throwing ability. The only thing he needs to do now is continue to build up his stamina and pitch deeper in games before finding his eventual place in the front half of a big league starting rotation. There are legitimate comparisons to Kansas City Royals' stud pitcher Yordano Ventura.
2. 1B, Greg Bird - Despite missing the first five weeks of the season with an ailing back, last year's top overall prospect chipped in with a fine season, hitting a combined .271 with 30 doubles and 14 home runs between high-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton. He has an advanced hitting approach, superb patience and pitch recognition, and plus power potential to all fields. Throw in impeccable makeup and a quickly developing defensive game, he has everything in place to be an impact player for the Yankees down the road. Don't be surprised if he gets to New York sometime next season.
3. OF, Aaron Judge - One of last year's first round picks, the former Fresno State standout didn't debut until this past season due to a minor injury last year but what a debut it was, hitting a combined .308 over two A-ball levels with 17 home runs and 89 walks. Standing 6-foot-7 and built like New Orleans Saints' tight end Jimmy Graham, with a quick bat, plus power to all fields, and a discerning eye at the plate, there is virtually a limitless ceiling to his game. He is rather advanced too so he might be big league ready within one more year.
4. C, Gary Sanchez - A punching bag of sorts for various critics, this 21-year old [he turns 22 in December] hit a respectable .270 with 13 home runs for Double-A Trenton in 2014 and continued his defensive progression behind the plate. He is one of the better throwing catchers around, boasting plus arm strength, an extremely quick release, and consistently accurate throws, and he has gotten better blocking balls in the dirt and calling games. Throw in a bat that isn't quite done developing yet either, he has the chance to develop into one of the better all-around catchers in the game and he's inching his way closer to being big league ready. Like Judge, there is almost no tangible ceiling to his game.
5. SS, Jorge Mateo - On the subject of sky-high ceilings, this speedster has everything a team would want in a prime shortstop prospect; plus-plus running speed, plus bat speed, a consistent swing, average or better power potential, and plus defensive skills. The 19-year old conjures up legitimate comparisons a right-handed hitting version of Jose Reyes. Like Reyes there might not be a whole lot of patience at the plate and there will be some wild swings at times, but just like Reyes he has the chance to move very quickly through the minor leagues. He's arguably the best shortstop prospect the Yankees have had since Derek Jeter was turning heads in the minor leagues decades ago.