Frankly, the New York Yankees’ farm system is a bit below average. Some like to hype it up because of who the Yankees are, but the reality is, the Yankees’ farm system needs to be better. They’ll have an opportunity to improve it during the MLB draft in a few weeks, and MLB.com recently put together a list of players who could go in the first round. With the supplemental first-round pick at No. 39, MLB.com had them selecting JB Middleton, a right-handed pitcher out of Southern Miss.Â
â39. Yankees: JB Middleton, RHP, Southern Mississippi,â they wrote.
Middleton’s Draft Profile
Regarding Middleton’s accomplishments throughout his college career, many have been very impressed with him. To be a top prospect out of Southern Miss just goes to show the type of talent he has, as some always questioned mid-major arms.Â
However, Southern Miss, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, is one of the better teams in the country. They’ve consistently been one of the top programs in the nation, and Middleton has been a big part of that in recent years.Â
MLB.com had plenty to say about him, noting some of the stuff that he has. With his 2.31 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 105.1 innings last year, there’s plenty to like.Â
âAs a Mississippi high schooler, Middleton didn’t attract much scouting or recruiting attention as a 6-foot right-hander who sat in the upper 80s. He has boosted his stuff and stock significantly in three years at Southern Mississippi and continues to rise after making a successful transition from the bullpen to the rotation this spring. He ranked second in NCAA Division I with a 0.85 WHIP and should become the highest-drafted pitcher in school history, surpassing Brandon Parker (55th overall to the Mariners in 1997).
âMiddleton works with a versatile 93-95 mph fastball that tops out at 97, showing the ability to run and sink it toward the knees or carry it up at the letters. He gets plenty of swings and misses in the zone, elicits lots of chases and makes it nearly impossible to lift his heater in the air. His slider is even harder to hit, combining upper-80s velocity with two-plane depth, and he’ll morph it into a cutter at times,â they wrote.
Yankees Need to Replenish Their Farm System
For the New York Yankees, their farm system being above average is needed, but not the biggest deal. When Jim Callis examined it before the season, he brought up a great point. Callis noted that the Yankees are in a World Series or bust situation nearly every year they play. Because it is, that typically means they’ll move on from some of their top prospects. However, having players such as Middleton in the farm system to either trade or develop is never the wrong idea.Â
âBecause itâs essentially championships or bust in New York, itâs difficult to maintain a strong farm system. The Yankees routinely trade prospects for veterans and annually have one of the smallest bonus pools in the Draft and on the international market. They should get some more homegrown help in 2025, however, with ultra-hyped Jasson DomÃnguez expected to win the left-field job and right-hander Will Warren ready to step in if a leak springs in the rotation,â he wrote.
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