The 2018 Charleston RiverDogs

The full season minor league teams have been playing for almost a week, so let's see if we can start getting a better hold of them.  Here are the 2018 Charleston Riverdogs.

Pitchers

Braden Bistro

Luis Cedeno

Miles Chambers

Rony Garcia

Dalten Lehnen (LH)

Yolber Marquina

Chad Martin

Nolan Marinez

Nick Nelson

Nestor Oronel (LH)

Glenn Otto

Daniel Ramos

Alex Robinett

JP Sears

Anderson Severino (LH)

Brian Treglaff

Alexander Vizcaino

Greg Weissert

Garrret Whitlock

Matt Wivins

Miguel Yajure

Kyle Zurak

Okay, this staff might just as well be refered to as Spin Rater City.  Certainly Nolan Martinez and Glenn Otto have monster curves. As you'll recall, Otto was a reliever in college but is built like a starter, so they're trying to convert him.  If they can't that curveball will still play at all levels. Luis Cedeno and Anderson Severino has already had some success, but are both under 6 feet tall and will probably end up in the pen. Rony Garcia has had buzz and times and is still just 21, though it feels like he's been around forever.  There are some IFA lottery tickets as well as a bunch of college arms, who need to start moving filling out the pitching staff. Probably should mention Nick Nelson.  He reminds me of Alan Horne, who would have made it but for a series of TJS surgeries.  Anyway Alan went through a period where he would have one bad inning.  Nick had that last year.  Nick has a great arm and if he can smooth out the performance he can make it.

Catchers

Jason Lopez
Eduardo Navas

Neither of these guys were big tickets, though Lopez is still just 20. In fact the catching situation throughout the organization could use some serious attention.  I expect them to draft two or three this year, and early word on the 2018 IFA class is that the top two kids associated with the Yankees are catchers.

Infielders

Dalton Blaser
Oswaldo Cabrera
Griffin Garabito
Wilkerman Garcia
Chris Hess
David Metzger
Danienger Perez

Blaser is a college lefty hitting 1B.  Power or its absence will make or break him.  Oswaldo Cabrera is a 19 year old 3B who's pretty well regarded.  He's a switch hitter.  Wilkerman Garcia was once a top 10 prospect, but two straight years of slumping have given him a lot to prove as a 20 year old in Low A.  Hess and Metzger are 24 year old 2B's and most likely organization guys going forward.  Perez is on the DL, and already 22 so he needs to get healthy and get going.

Outfield

Evan Alexander
Fredrick Cuevas
Brayan Emery
Leonardo Molina
Timmy Robinson
Steven Sensley
Dom Thompson-Williams

This is an interesting crew.  Alexander is a tall CF at 6'2" who needs to hit.  Cuevas is already 21 and a sweet swinging lefty LF.  Brayan Emery is that big left fielder who was a later part of the 2014 class.  He's also a lefty hitter and just 20, but it's time to start raking.  Molina is now 21 and was once a top IFA.  He's not awful, but he won't make it unless he starts hiting.  Timmy Robinson is that kid from USC who is now 24.  Sensley is the ringer.  He's a lefty hitting RF with patience and pop, and quite frankly, I expected him to start at High A.  He's already raking in the Sally  DTW is a speed guy who's been running in place.

So there you have it.  Some lottery tix, some big curveballs, some guys who haven't hit yet, but need to start, and Steven Sensley who should be in Tampa.  They don't play as many day games as they did during the Jesus Montero era, and I think, now that the Yanks have more affiliates below low A than they have at  Low A and above, the talent has been spread out more.   The guys who aren't in Low A yet are in Extended Spring Training and will either join the Dogs or one of the short season teams as the year progresses.