InsideThePinstripes.com will review each of the New York Yankees’ Top 30 prospects, as ranked by MLB.com at the end of the 2023 season.
No. 26: RHP Yoendrys Gómez, Somerset Patriots (Double-A), New York Yankees
Statistics for 2023: With Somerset, went 0-3 with a 3.58 ERA in 19 games (all starts). He threw 65.1 innings, gave up 47 hits, 28 runs (26 earned) and six home runs. He struck out 78 and walked 37, with a .200 opponent batting average and a 1.29 WHIP.
With the New York Yankees, he pitched two innings of one-hit relief with four strikeouts in his MLB debut on Sept. 28.
Season Transactions: Gómez started the season on the 7-day injured list. He was activated on May 28. The Yankees promoted him to the Majors on Sept. 22.
Season Summary: It was probably time for the Yankees to give Gómez a test drive. After all, he's been a part of the Yankees organization since 2017. After spending nearly two months on the injured list he pitched well for Somerset in spite of the 0-3 record. He held batters to a .200 average, crafted a solid WHIP and had a better than 2-to-1 strikeout ratio. Those are all pieces that a Major League staff can build a starting pitcher around, even if Gomez clearly needs more time to develop at that level. His MLB debut was a tantalizing taste of what could be down the road.
Path Through the Organization: The Yankees signed him for $50,000 out of Venezuela in 2016, but Gómez spent a long time in rookie ball — three years. Then the 2020 pandemic wiped out a chance to progress. Then he tore the UCL in his throwing elbow in 2021, had the internal brace surgery and didn’t get back until June of 2022. So the Yankees are only starting to see what he can truly do. He contributed to Somerset’s Eastern League title run last season and his shoulder injury this spring probably kept him from a shot at Triple-A. MLB.com writes that he has a fastball that consistently tops at 96 miles per hour and off-speed pitches with good spin, including a curveball that can drop into the high 70s.
What’s next: At 23, now is the time for Gómez to make his move, development-wise. Getting a chance to showcase himself for the Yankees in late September, and his ensuing performance, didn’t hurt his case. Since he’s never worked than 70 innings in a minor league season, he probably needs one more year on the farm to truly be ready to make a permanent move. Next year is key for his MLB aspirations. If he’s on the right track, he’ll reach Triple-A at some point in 2024. It’s hard to see one game at the MLB level changing that track, but if he impresses in Spring Training he could make the Yankees’ decision much harder.
2023 New York Yankees Top 30 Prospect Wraps:
No. 30 Elijah Dunham | No. 29 Danny Watson | No. 28 Edgar Barclay | No. 27 Justin Lange |
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