Yanks: SI Roster Details Rolling Out

Robert Pimpser has introduced a lot of the SI season opening details over at Gotham Baseball, and it's not quite looking like the pitiless machine of dominance that I'd expected it to be. Don't get me wrong, it has prospects, but it's also got some guys who are getting up there that haven't gained traction and still others from whom it would seem the Last Chance Cafe.

Normally, I think we all think of SI as a place for just drafted college players to go and get their feet wet.  And while there are some just drafted college players on the initial rosters like: C Keith Skinner; 3B Mandy Alvarez; 1B/OF Justin Blaser; OF Timmy Robinson; CL Brooks Kriske; and, LHP Trevor Lane,  others like Nick Solak, who haven't signed, and guys like Nick Nelson who have are nowhere to be found yet.

There's also an issue of age appropriateness, with 24 seeming the upper limit for position players at this level and perhaps a little older for pitchers -  face it - if you can get people out, or might get people out, they're going to keep giving you chances.  Well C Radley Haddad is already 26.  I guess that makes him an Org Guy, but I was hoping the Yanks  were swollen enough with the newly drafted, the monster IFA influx, and advancing prep picks that would be late teens, 20 or 21.  But I guess one Org Guy can help, especially if he keeps the pitches from rolling to the backstop.

Speaking of catchers, the big news here is the Louis Torrens is on the team.  Louis, as you'll remember was a really impressive young catcher two years ago, but then missed all of last year and up till now with shoulder surgery, but he's still just 20.   We'll see if they have him catching straight away or just want him to starting getting AB's before breaking him back in behind the plate.  Keith Skinner, the just draft OBP machine is the other catcher.

The listed infielders are missing any of the big names from the 2014 IFA haul.  So far, 3B Mandy Alvarez and 3B/1B Drew Bridges and 1B Kane Sweeney are the corner guys. Drew is just 21 but is in his 4th season and has to start putting those power and patience tools to work on a consistent basis.  He can't keep hitting .200.

Ricardo Ferriera, who had an impressive age 20 season in the DSL last year and is a switch hitter;  Danienger Perez, who is from the monster IFA haul of 2014 and played well enough in the DSL last year to come over midseason; and 23 year old Chris Godinez, a refugee for the Dodger organization, will play up the middle. Sort of grateful the Yanks don't have an all glove-no hit college SS on the team this year -- and they didn't draft any so none are still coming. Solak will probably show up next week and become the regular 2B.

The outfield will no doubt be evolving over the next few weeks. Kendall Coleman, the oft injured but toolsy guy had a nice start for a change in Charleston, but now he's back in SI.  Kendall like Drew is just 21, but similarly needs to get going because both are already getting passed.  To wit, 21 year old college SR, Timmy Robinson will also be pressing for time out there. Likewise Dalton "The Legacy" Blaser will be manning a corner.And actually there may be some confusion in the article I read, because they're listing Kane Sweeney as an OF, when I suspect, he's staying at 1b, and Ricardo Ferrriera will be playing OF and not IF.  But we'll get it figured out.

Now, the pitching is a little more interesting, first from who is missing, namely Austin DeCarr and Jeff Degano. Austin is coming back from TJS, and Jeff was not known to be re-injured as he has already been TJ'd.  So that's puzzling.

Drew Findlay, last year's curveballin' third round prepster will be there. He's still just 19 and this is how that system should work. Also, possible phenom Freicer Perez is about 6'10" and just 20, but apparently has enough control of his heater not to kill anyone, and start out in the NYPL. That's impressive. What's weird is that Anyelo Gomez, who is 23 and coming off impressive progress in Charleston, has been sent back to short season.  Maybe he broke a rule or something.  We talked the other day about Brooks Kriske who could be just the latest in our impressive string of college relievers.  Now 25, Claudio Custodio, who used be a pretty good hitter, is continuing his conversion in SI.

Some guys from last year's draft like Kolton Mahoney, Josh Roeder, and David Sosebee are all on the team and some Kolton, at least had a pretty nice debut last year.

Guys from previous drafts like Justin Kamplain, who's 23 and David Palladino, who's also 23 and an eternal tease are also on the team.

Some of Findlay's teammates from last year's Pulaski squad are joining him: Adonis Rosa; Simon De La Rosa, and Jonathan Padilla.  Adonis, 21, was impressive last year, and Simon, 23, was really impressive, but foundered early this year at Charleston, and Padilla, 23, was impressive in the DSL before heading over the Pulaski.  Strikeout reliever, Eduardo Rivera, 23, also spent some time with Pulaski last year.

And then there's Trevor Lane, the 5'11" 185 LHP who tops out at 95. We'll have to see if they continue to develop him as a starter, or move him to the pen right away, cause he's small.

This roster will keep changing, but this seems to be the gist of it so far. Thanks, Robert.