New York Yankees

TRACK RECORD: Clerical issues meant that Duran had to wait a little later than most to turn professional, but he eventually signed "for just $10,000" and immediately proved worth the investment. The best example of what Duran can do came in July 2019, when he hit .333/.392/.630 with six homers for short-season Staten Island. He ranked No. 7 in the New York-Penn League's Top 20.

SCOUTING REPORT: Evaluators both inside and outside the organization are intrigued by Duran's abilities. Scouts see a player with hit and power tools that range from average to plus, and bat speed and exit velocities that rank among the best of the system's middle infield prospects. He's made strides in pitch recognition and swing decisions, which should unlock more of his potential. On defense he shows aboveaverage speed, average range and a plus arm that could allow him to fill in at shortstop if needed.

THE FUTURE: Duran participated in the Yankees' instructional league in the Dominican Republic in December and will start 2021 at a Class A level. He has the ceiling of an everyday second baseman with offensive impact.

TRACK RECORD: The Yankees were aggressive on the 2018 international market, signing five of the top 50 players. Alcantara ranked No. 15 on that list and has arguably the highest ceiling of the group, which also included catcher and fellow Top 30 prospect Antonio Gomez. He performed well in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he ranked as the circuit's No. 8 prospect.

SCOUTING REPORT: Tall and lithe, Alcantara's body reminds some of Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson. He's added nearly 20 pounds since signing, and the Yankees believe there's room for even more. His long strides allow him to cover plenty of ground in center field, where his well above-average speed shows up more often than on times from home to first. Alcantara is an aggressive hitter with a big leg kick that can cause him to get out of sync at times. His approach will be tested as he moves through the minors--especially without two levels between the GCL and low Class A--and he'll need to keep his swing in rhythm as much as possible to unlock his true offensive potential.

THE FUTURE: After spending the shutdown in the Dominican Republic, Alcantara finally got back on the field in a semi-official capacity at the Yankees' D.R. instructional league. He should crack low Class A at some point in 2021 and has one of the higher ceilings among the Yankees' group of lower-level prospects.

TRACK RECORD: The Yankees went big on the international market in 2018, including a foray into Cuba to nab Vargas, who had been expected to sign with Cincinnati, for $2.5 million. He started his career in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where his quick-twitch athleticism helped him rank No. 9 among the league's Top 20 prospects.

SCOUTING REPORT: The most exciting part about Vargas' development is the addition of roughly 30 pounds of good weight without sacrificing his ability to play a strong defensive shortstop. Vargas' new body also allowed him to reduce a big leg kick in favor of a much quieter swing, which the Yankees believe will go a long way toward him handling high-velocity fastballs. He's a double-plus runner with soft hands and skilled feet and an arm that has improved to correspond with his gains in the weight room.

THE FUTURE: Vargas was at the Yankees' instructional league in the D.R. and should be able to reach low Class A once the minor leagues get going in 2021. He has the ceiling of a leadoff-type shortstop.

TRACK RECORD: Volpe was part of a Delbarton High team that featured righthander Jack Leiter and the son of former New Jersey governor Chris Christie. The Yankees drafted Volpe in the first round, No. 30 overall, and signed him for just under $2.75 million. A case of mononucleosis limited Volpe's pro debut to 34 games at Rookie-level Pulaski, then he didn't play in 2020 with the minor league season canceled by the coronavirus pandemic.

SCOUTING REPORT: Volpe has an innate ability to square balls up and produce quality contact. His main goal during the shutdown was to add strength to his lean frame, and the Yankees say he's added 15 pounds of muscle since being drafted. Volpe needs to continue to get stronger to impact the ball more, but he has the tools to hit for average. Defensively, Volpe earns high marks for his quickness and instincts at shortstop and shows enough arm strength to stick at the position in the long-term. He's an above-average runner.

THE FUTURE: Volpe will still be 19 on Opening Day and has time on his side to make the needed physical gains. Depending on his camp performance, he'll open in either extended spring training or low Class A.

TRACK RECORD: Sikkema broke onto the scene as a member of Mizzou's bullpen, where he tied Tanner Houck's record for freshman wins. He transitioned into the rotation as a sophomore and then used a combination of stuff and guile to earn a supplemental first-round selection. He spent 2019 in the shortseason New York-Penn League, where he struck out 13 against one walk in 11 innings.

SCOUTING REPORT: In a system starved for lefties, Sikkema leads the way at the position. He stands out for the varied ways he uses his arsenal. He brings a four-seam fastball that sits in the low 90s and tops out at 95. He backs it up with a deep, powerful slurve and a potentially average changeup. He also adds deception by changing arm slots from true overhand to low three-quarters. The move reduces the velocity on the fastball but adds running life to Sikkema's armside.

THE FUTURE: The loss of the minor league season and the Yankees' lack of domestic instructional league meant that Sikkema missed a year of in-person development. He should jump to high Class A to begin his career, and has the ceiling of a back-end starter.

TRACK RECORD: Way started his college career at Division II Belmont Abbey before transferring to Northwest Florida State. He sat out 2019 because of the move, then struck out 58 hitters in 40 innings before the season was shut down by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Though the Yankees took Way in the fourth round, he was actually their second pick after losing their second- and third-round choices to the Astros as compensation for signing Gerrit Cole. He was one of the best junior college prospects on the board.

SCOUTING REPORT: Way brings a three-pitch mix, started with an expertly commanded four-seam fastball that sits in the 92-94 mph range and touches 97. He backs it up with a potentially plus changeup and an inconsistent but intriguing slider. He meshes all three together with above-average control, which should allow him to move relatively quickly.

THE FUTURE: The Yankees' lack of domestic instructional league meant Way won't debut until 2021, when he could begin at a Class A level. He has the ceiling of a back-end starter.

TRACK RECORD: Acquired by New York in 2016 for Brian McCann, Abreu has spent his tenure with the Yankees teasing at his potential and frustrating coaches with his inconsistency. While the majority of his work in the minor leagues was as a starter, Abreu's two big league appearances in 2020 were as a reliever, which is likely where his future lies.

SCOUTING REPORT: There is no doubting Abreu's stuff. His fastball has long been in the mid 90s and his curveball, slider and changeup each has its moments as well. Evaluators see two main issues with Abreu: consistency and approach. His short-stride delivery leads to timing issues with his arm stroke, which produces scattershot control and command. He also has problems throwing his offspeed pitches for earlycount strikes, opting instead to try to use putaway pitches which hitters aren't inclined to chase. Of the 21 offspeed pitches he threw in the big leagues, just three were swung at and missed.

THE FUTURE: Until he figures out how to use his stuff to the best of its ability, Abreu is likely a reliever. He should be in the mix for a spot in New York's pen again in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Yankees spent just shy of $2.5 million on Sauer after a big velocity jump in his senior year of high school. He was impressive in his first full year as a pro, then started well in 2019 before a torn ulnar collateral ligament led to Tommy John surgery. He would have been ready toward the middle of the 2020 season, but the shelved minor league season gave him more time.

SCOUTING REPORT: Before the surgery, Sauer was showing a fastball in the 92-95 mph range. He backed the fastball up with a slider and a changeup that each showed above-average or plus. Scouts outside the org were impressed with the stuff, but wanted to see him utilize it better and get more swings and misses.

THE FUTURE: Because the Yankees didn't hold domestic instructional league, Sauer has not gotten into a game since April 11, 2019. He's likely to head to low Class A, where the season will be of extra emphasis because he'll need to be protected on the 40-man roster after the year.

TRACK RECORD: The Yankees spent big money on their 2017 international class, including $1.5 million on Pereira, who jumped over the Dominican Summer League in favor of a stateside pro debut at Rookielevel Pulaski. He played there all season as a 17-year-old and ranked No. 7 among the league's Top 20 prospects. His 2019 season, spent in the New York-Penn League, was cut short by a severely sprained ankle.

SCOUTING REPORT: Like many Venezuelans, Pereira was stuck in the U.S. once the novel coronavirus pandemic shut down the sport. Instead, he's been training in Orlando, Fla. Though his numbers weren't impressive in his first two seasons, the Yankees were heartened by Pereira's above-average bat speed and exit velocities. Now, he needs to get more experience against quality breaking balls. He's got above-average speed and instincts, which helps him both in the outfield and on the bases.

THE FUTURE: The 2021 season will be doubly important for Pereira. Because he will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, the Yankees will need to decide whether he's worthy of 40-man protection. He has the upside of an everyday center fielder, but there's a long way to go.

TRACK RECORD: After Shohei Ohtani chose the Angels, the Yankees pivoted and reallocated their remaining international money on Cabello and Raimfer Salinas. Cabello moved stateside after a quick tune-up in the Dominican Summer League but lost time after suffering a dislocated shoulder at instructional league after the 2018 season. He struggled in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2019 but still showed scouts impressive tools.

SCOUTING REPORT: At first, evaluators are confused about how to square Cabello's thicker body with his position in center field. Then they see a player with a combination of speed and athleticism albeit with some stiffness to his swing at times. The Yankees worked with Cabello to get his bat on a path designed to keep the barrel in the zone for a longer time, which would help him do damage on a wider variety of pitches. They also wanted to create a better angle to the ball, which would help more of his mishits go in the air rather than on the ground. He's not a slam dunk in center field, but the Yankees will continue to develop him at the position.

THE FUTURE: Cabello was part of the Yankees' group at instructional league in the Dominican Republic, where he got to kick off at least a little of the rust from the canceled 2020 season. He should open 2021 at low Class A.

TRACK RECORD: When Shohei Ohtani declined the Yankees' offer in 2017, the team turned their attention and remaining slot money to a pair of promising Latin outfielders: Antonio Cabello and Salinas. His 2018 season was limited to 11 games by injuries to his knee and ring finger, which led to him repeating the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019.

SCOUTING REPORT: In 2019, the Yankees worked with Salinas to find a swing that got to the strike zone quicker and stayed there longer. As with many players at that level, they also worked with him to refine his command of the strike zone and get him to unleash on pitches he could drive. Outside scouts noted a player whose shorter arms give him a better chance to more quickly close holes in the zone, as well as someone who looked calm in the box. He's an explosive runner who has a chance to stick in center field.

THE FUTURE: Though he wasn't at the alternate training site, Salinas did get a taste of in-person instruction at the Yankees' Dominican Republic instructional league in December. He's got a lot of catching up to do, but there's still a ceiling waiting to be achieved.

TRACK RECORD: Gomez ranked as the No. 14 player in the 2018 international class and then got enough at-bats in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League to rank fifth among its Top 20 prospects despite a bout with biceps soreness.

SCOUTING REPORT: Gomez was lauded as an amateur for his blend of offensive and defensive tools, and both have shown up in his brief pro career. His swing stays in the zone long enough and with sufficient loft to both pull balls with authority and go the other way when necessary. He's a mature, athletic defender who has adapted well to the Yankees' new knee-down catching technique. He regularly produces pop times in the 1.8-1.9-second range, and in 2019 threw out 50% of attempted basestealers.

THE FUTURE: The novel coronavirus pandemic kept Gomez from working in-person with Yankees coaches in 2020, even at the team's instructional league in the Dominican Republic. He might return to the GCL to start 2021, but should find his way to low Class A at some point.

TRACK RECORD: Nelson was a two-way player in college, but the Yankees liked him better on the mound. By focusing solely on pitching, the team hoped Nelson would gain a better handle on his excellent natural stuff. Added to the 40-man roster after 2019, Nelson made 11 big league relief appearances in the regular season and was included on the rosters for both rounds of the playoffs. 
SCOUTING REPORT: Nelson stayed back in Tampa over the offseason to work on taking his stuff to the next level. The result was a fastball with a tick more velocity and a slider with a new, sweepier break than his previous version, which gave him a more effective weapon against righties. Nelson's high-80s changeup is his most advanced pitch, though both it and his slider induced swinging-strike rates of better than 32% in the big leagues. He also throws a high-70s, downer curveball that works best for early-count strikes. 
THE FUTURE: Nelson has settled into his likely long-term role: middle-innings reliever who can rack up strikeouts. He was excellent in spring training, with 10 strikeouts against just one walk in 10 Grapefruit League innings, and earned a spot in the big league bullpen.

TRACK RECORD: After an excellent track record of production in the Cape Cod League and Louisiana State, Smith produced as expected in the short-season New York-Penn League after signing in 2019. He ranked as the No. 16 prospect on the circuit.

SCOUTING REPORT: Smith doesn't have a standout tool, but he doesn't have any glaring weaknesses either. The Yankees will continue to develop him at shortstop, but he'll get plenty of exposure at other infield spots as well. He's one of the system's best pure contact-makers and shows excellent plate discipline. Put simply: He swings at the right pitches.

THE FUTURE: Smith's pedigree is strong enough that he could begin at high Class A in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Montero was the Yankees’ highest profile signing in the class, and was among a highly talented class of shortstops from the Dominican Republic. He trained with Jaime Ramos.

SCOUTING REPORT: Montero isn’t the biggest player, but he shows a simple, direct swing and a line-drive approach to all fields now, and has a body that can add more strength as he grows and matures. His power should increase if that happens, but he’s likely to always be a player who projects for more hittability than power. In the field, Montero is a smooth defender, with easy actions in the field. He reads hops well, shows solid body control and a plus, accurate arm when compared to other players his age. He’s also an above-average runner, which should help him stick at shortstop.

THE FUTURE: Montero is likely to start his career in the Dominican Summer League and joins a strong group of young Latin American prospects the Yankees have in the lower levels of the minor leagues.

TRACK RECORD: Seigler stood out as an amateur for his ability to switch-hit and switch-pitch. The Yankees liked him at the plate and behind it, but Seigler hasn't gotten any extended chance to show what he can do. A hamstring injury and a concussion limited him to just 24 games in 2018, and a broken left knee cost him all but 30 games at low Class A in 2019.

SCOUTING REPORT: Defensively, Seigler is still strong, and he made gains in the weight room as well. He's taken well to the Yankees' new knee-down approach to catching and flashes a plus throwing arm. Offensively, there is room to grow. Scouts haven't seen much in the way of impact bat speed, and he's produced just seven extra-base hits in 176 minor league at-bats. He knows the strike zone well and doesn't swing and miss often, but his best chance at value is likely going to come on defense.

THE FUTURE: With no minor league season and no domestic instructional league, Seigler missed out on chances to develop after spring training. The glut of prospects behind him means Seigler could move to high Class A in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: King was acquired by New York in the 2017 deal that sent Garrett Cooper and Caleb Smith to Miami. King moved quickly through the Yankees system after the trade but missed most of the 2019 season with a stress fracture and a setback in his rehab. He made his MLB debut later that year, and returned to the big leagues as a swingman in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: King is a bit of anomaly in a system built on big righthanders with big velocity. Instead, King gets his outs by mixing and matching an array of pitches in all quadrants of the strike zone. This year, he primarily went with a mix of a low-90s sinker, low-80s curveball and mid-80s changeup. He sprinkled in a four-seamer every now and then as well. Both of his fastballs and his changeup showed above-average vertical break. His rate of 3.71 walks per nine innings was the highest of his career.

THE FUTURE: King is likely to fill the role of spot starter and swingman going forward, and should have a spot in New York's bullpen in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: A near-exclusive reliever at Southern California, Kriske showed a big uptick in velocity between his junior and senior seasons and earned a $100,000 bonus from New York. He had Tommy John surgery roughly two months after his pro debut, then dominated for two seasons in the minors upon his return. He was added to the 40-man after the 2019 season, then made four big league appearances in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Kriske works primarily with two pitches--a mid-90s fastball that peaked at 97 in the big leagues, as well as a splitter with devastating trap-door action in the high 80s. He also uses a low- 80s slider, but threw it just seven times in the big leagues. The Yankees particularly like the riding action Kriske gets on his four-seamer. Now they'd like to see him command his splitter and slider better in order to make them more effective.

THE FUTURE: Kriske should have a shot at returning to the big leagues to open 2021. He has a ceiling as a middle-innings reliever who can strike out plenty of hitters.

TRACK RECORD: Green was one of the best prep prospects out of Tennessee in 2018, when the Yankees took him in the third round and signed him for a bonus of $997,500, the fourth-highest in the round. After an underwhelming pro debut, he bounced back in the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2019. Like many minor leaguers, he missed out on key development in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

SCOUTING REPORT: As an amateur, Green was known for his power at the plate and strong throwing arm, both of which he showed off on the high school showcase circuit. He’d cut his strikeout rate by 10% from 2018 to 2019, when he swatted eight home runs with Pulaski. He’s probably a corner outfielder in the long-term and his strong arm should help him fit in right field.

THE FUTURE: With the newly realigned minor leagues, Green should begin 2021 at Low-A Tampa.

TRACK RECORD: Despite the 2020 draft being shortened to just five rounds, Hauver was one of five Arizona State teammates to hear his name called. Hauver was the third of that group, at No. 99 overall. A high school shortstop, Hauver moved to the outfield thanks to a glut of talented Sun Devils infielders.

SCOUTING REPORT: Before college baseball shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, Hauver was having an excellent start to the season. He finished with a slash line of .339/.494/.695 with five home runs. He’d showed improved plate discipline and a continued ability to hit for both average and power, though scouts did have some swing-and-miss concerns in the long run. The Yankees drafted him as a second baseman, and if he can stick at the position and continue to produce at the plate, he would be a boon of a pick.

THE FUTURE: The pandemic forced the cancelation of the minor league season and the Yankees did not hold domestic instructional league, which means that Hauver’s official pro debut won’t take place until 2021. His pedigree gives him a chance to start at High-A.