Justus Sheffield, Estevan Florial highlight Yankees' top 10 prospects

2018 first-round pick Siegler ranked fifth

11/1/2018, 4:22 PM
New York Yankees relief pitcher Justus Sheffield pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports
New York Yankees relief pitcher Justus Sheffield pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports

Yankees LHP Justus Sheffield was ranked the top prospect in the organization while outfielder Estevan Florial was ranked second, according to Baseball America.

Baseball America ranked RHP Jonathan Loaisiga third, outfielder Everson Pereira fourth and catcher Anthony Seigler fifth.

Outfielder Antonio Cabello (eighth) and RHPs Mike King (sixth), Deivi Garcia (seventh), Roansy Contreras (eighth) and Albert Abreu (10th) rounded out the top 10.

Sheffield, 22, has been one of Baseball America's top 100 prospects for each of the past three seasons, ranked 81st prior to 2016, 91st prior to 2017 and 41st entering 2018. 

Ater dominating with Double-A Trenton (1-2, 2.25 ERA in five starts) and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (6-4, 2.56 ERA in 20 games/15 starts), Sheffield made his MLB debut in September in a bullpen role, allowing three runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings across three outings.

MLB.com ranked him New York's top prospect in its midseason rankings, and he was ranked among Baseball Prospectus' top 100 prospects in each of the past two seasons as well.

The 20-year-old Florial, who is currently playing in the Arizona Fall League, struggled through an injury-plagued 2018 season. He recorded a .255/.354/.361 batting line with three home runs and 27 RBIs in 75 games with High-A Tampa and stole 11 bases in 21 attempts.

Loaisiga, 23, was not on any top prospect lists entering last season but found some success in the majors. The Yankees called him up directly from Trenton in June and he went 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts before he was demoted and placed on the disabled list. In five relief appearances as a September call-up, he allowed 11 runs (eight earned) and 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Pereira, 17, hit .263 with three home runs and 26 RBIs in 41 games with Rookie Pulaski. A 6-foot, 191-pound outfielder from Venezuela, Pereira signed a $1.5 million bonus in 2017.

The Yankees drafted Seigler, 19, in the first round in June as a switch-hitting catcher even though he also showed the ability to be a switch pitcher. He hit .266 with one home run and nine RBIs in 24 games with the Gulf Coast Yankees (West) and Pulaski.

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