Watch these 5 high Yankees prospects play in MLB Spring Breakout sport 2025 – NorthJersey.com

Baseball scouts and executives at all times warning about rookie performances in March and September.
A sizzling begin in exhibition video games and an enormous end as a late season callup doesn’t give the complete image of a prospect, nevertheless it’s thrilling to get a glimpse of the longer term.
“Not lots of guys hit a ball like that,’’ Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone stated earlier this spring coaching, marveling at a towering, opposite-field dwelling run by Spencer Jones.
As soon as once more, the lefty-hitting slugger is a part of the Yankees’ prospect roster for Saturday’s MLB Breakout Collection, dealing with a workforce of Baltimore Orioles prospects at Sarasota, Fla.
Right here’s a take a look at 5 Yankees kids to look at within the 6:05 p.m. sport:
Place: Shortstop.
Draft data: 2023 first spherical, twenty sixth general, Gulliver Prep, Pinecrest, Fla.
Peak-weight: 6-foot-2, 190 kilos.
Solely 19, Lombard Jr. is likely to be the Yankees’ most untouchable prospect, with five-tool potential on the big-league degree.
Given his offensive promise, massive arm and stellar defensive popularity, Lombard Jr. would possibly settle at third base, teaming with shortstop Anthony Volpe on the left facet.
Lombard Jr. may spend the majority of 2025 at Class A Hudson Valley, after making an impression in massive league camp (together with two exhibition dwelling runs) along with his expertise and demeanor.
“He’s obtained an important arm, correct, clean arms, dependable,’’ stated Yankees captain Aaron Choose, providing his scouting report of the group’s No. 2 prospect and greatest defensive participant, per MLB Pipeline.
The son of Detroit Tigers’ bench coach and ex-MLB outfielder George Lombard, the right-handed hitting Lombard Jr. additionally attracts raves from scouts for his “off-the-chart’’ make-up.
Place: Beginning pitcher.
Draft data: 2024 first spherical, twenty sixth general, College of Alabama.
Peak-weight: 6-foot-5, 255 kilos.
Per MLB Pipeline, Hess charges because the Yankees’ high pitching prospect (No. 4 general), simply forward of Will Warren, who would possibly discover himself in Boone’s rotation out of camp.
Hess, 22, has but to throw a minor league inning, however his massive body and massive strikeout totals make him a projectable MLB starter.
“When he’s been actually good, it’s been three pitches which might be simply dynamite – fastball as much as 98 (mph), a now-plus curveball, a now-slider, and a changeup that’s developed at occasions to the place it’s above common,’’ stated Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer, after drafting Hess final summer season.
Issues embrace a excessive ERA and elevated stroll fee final yr at Alabama, and an damage historical past that features a 2023 flexor pressure.
Place: Shortstop.
Draft data: 2022 worldwide free agent signee, Dominican Republic.
Peak-weight: 6-feet, 178 kilos.
Arias’ general promise as a switch-hitting shortstop has enticed the group that signed him for $4 million as a teen.
However he’s nonetheless a uncooked expertise as he enters his fourth professional season, rated because the Yankees’ No. 7 prospect (and their second-best infielder, behind Lombard Jr.) by MLB Pipeline.
Arias, 20, confirmed energy (13 homers, 74 RBI) and base-stealing capability (37 steals, 50 makes an attempt) throughout his age-19 season final yr at Class A Tampa, his first full professional season (124 video games).
However his huge strikeout totals (171 Ks, 552 plate appearances), weak stats as a right-handed hitter and occasional defensive lapses counsel that this shall be a key season developmentally on the diamond.
Place: Heart fielder.
Draft data: 2022 first spherical, twenty fifth general, Vanderbilt College.
Peak-weight: 6-foot-6, 235 kilos.
You would possibly recall Jones’ memorable day in final yr’s inaugural Breakout Sport, blasting two homers towards a workforce of Toronto Blue Jays prospects.
“His ceiling is gigantic,’’ Boone stated of the fleet, highly effective Jones, 23, whose bodily comparisons as a lefty-hitting Choose have gained attributable to his related batting stance.
Chopping down on strikeouts shall be one thing to look at for Jones, who whiffed 200 occasions in 544 appearances (124 video games) final yr at Class AA Somerset.
“There have been some issues with my swing that have been getting away from me,’’ Jones stated of a sluggish begin final yr, ending with 17 homers, 78 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 34 makes an attempt. He finally circled again to returning to hitting drills designed to “preserve me sincere with my swing.’’
It is a massive yr for Jones, who would possibly end the season at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and compete for a big-league outfield spot subsequent spring coaching.
Place: Beginning pitcher.
Draft data: 2023 sixth spherical, 192 general, Mississippi State College.
Peak-weight: 6-foot-1, 190 kilos.
Smith figures to open 2025 in Class A Hudson Valley’s rotation, the place he completed final yr (two begins) after spending most of 2024 at Class A Tampa (3.47 ERA 19 video games, 17 begins).
An influence reliever on Mississippi State’s 2021 nationwide championship workforce, the right-handed Smith, 22, has a four-pitch arsenal and generates excessive spin charges.
MLB Pipeline ranks Smith because the Yankees’ No. 16 prospect and ninth-best pitching prospect, behind the likes of Chase Hampton, Brock Selvidge, Henry Lalane and Cam Schlittler however forward of Eric Reyzelman and Yoendrys Gomez.

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