GCL Yankees West

Alright, the GCL season opened today and, though the Rosters could turn over a bit, let's take a look at how they are starting.  The GCL Yankees West start out particularly loaded:

Catchers

Anthony Seigler
Hemmanuel Rosario
Carlos Rodriguez
Meure Rodriguez

Okay, Seigler is the switch hitting first round pick from earlier this month today. He started today going 1-2 with a double and scored a run.  He'll probably get most of the work, or more than his share while also getting games at DH to keep his bat developing. He'll turn 19 on Wednesday, and he may be one of those rare preps who gets a promotion.

Hemmanuel Rosario is the kid we signed right after the draft last year, and whose bonus MLB subtracted from our draft pool, he's 2 inches taller than Seigler but the same weight.  He bats right and is just 18.  He'll probably get the second most games.

Carlos A Rodriguez and Meure Rodriguez both bat right, and can't be brothers because they are 19 year olds born about 2 months apart.  Meure spent the last two years with the Yankees DSL and Carlos signed in January. Muere is 6'2" 200 and Carlos is the shrimp of the batch at 6' 170.

Infielders

Nelson Alverez  1B
Robert Chirinos SS
Jesus Grateral 2B
Jose Martinez 3B
Jose Polonia 3B
Louis Santos SS

Okay, this is where we seem to have some "place holders" that could be flipped for this year's draft picks or other younger prospects at some point. Nelson Alvarez could get swapped out. He's lefty swinging big bodied power bat but he's already 22, so will probably move up if he can hit at all. He's the only 1B on the team, so it could be someone from the draft who moves him out. Jesus Graterol has also been around forever and is already 21 and was a 7/2/15 signing who's been in the GCL for 3 years. No bueno. Jose Polonia will be 23 by Christmas. Worse Bueno. Now, onto the good stuff.  Robert Chirinos is 17 and a tooled up SS from what could be the "Historic Class of `17" before all is said and done. He's listed at 5'11" 175. SS Louis Santos is also from HC17, but he's just 5'8" so, who knows if there's a ceiling? Jose Martinez is from the HC17, too, but he's 19. Yanks have done well with some of these late bloomers.

Outfield

Antonio Arias OF
Antonio Cabello OF
Jonathan Capellan OF
Anthony Garcia RF
Brandon Lockridge OF
Edel Luaces CF
Stanley Rosario RF

Okay, this is a really intriguing, group.  Even the old guy might have upside, and we'll get to that.  The stars of this group are Stanley Rosario, the power hitting lefty swinging 17 year old who is already 6'2" and 195. Monster power from HC17.  Antonio Cabello is also from the HC17 and was signed along with Raimfer Salinas as soon as they realized they weren't getting Ohtani.  He was a C when he signed, but they saw enough AA to make him an OF and he'll be learning it in GCL. Brandon Lockridge is 21 and a college pick from a few weeks, but he has true 80 speed and though another righty bat, he gives them another shot at teaching a fast guy to bunt for hits and play the old Brett Butler short game. Exciting ceiling. Anthony Garcia is another power hitting RF from HC17 he's also just 17 and a switch hitter. He's 6'5 and 204 already.  Edel Luaces is that 6'5" 205 athletic freak they found a few years ago. He'll be 24 this year so he needs to figure it out.  I think Arias is from the class of `14 that's had mixed results, but he should get moving.  Jonathan Capellan is from the class of `16 and was in the DSL last year.

Pitchers

Pedro Barrios
Havid Burgos L
Daniel Calderon L
Nelvin Correa
Deivi Diaz L
Abel Estevez
Franyer Hernandez
Argelis Herrera L
Kyle Johnson
Brignel Mendez
Kenlly Montez
Edward Paredes
Anderson Reynoso
Carlos D Rodriguez
Connor Von Hoose

Von Hoose is the kid from Bucknell. They plan to make him a starter but he pitched in relief today.  Other than that it's a mix of power arms with Franyer Hernandez being the most interesting because he is just 17 and most of the other guys are in their early 20s. Barrios, Diaz, Estevez, Herrera, Paredes and Rodriguez are the other teenagers. We'll see who pops up, but right now, none of the Yanks top 30 prospects are on this pitching staff.

So there it is, and they are being managed by a former big Yankee prospect with bad luck: David Adams.