Justus Sheffield received his next assignment. He will be joining fellow members of the new york yankees in the Arizona Fall League next month. It's a chance for the star prospect to show off his potential on a bigger stage than the one he has received in the minor leagues so far. It will also give him a chance to validate the organization that acquired him in a trade deadline blockbuster back in 2016.
Sheffield sent to the desert
Sheffield has not spent his whole career with the Yankees. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
He was traded to New York at the trade deadline in 2016, though, along with Clint Frazier, Ben Heller, and J.P. Feyereisen. In return, the Indians received bullpen star Andrew Miller, who played an essential part in taking the team all the way to last year's World Series, only to fall short of the title thanks to the Chicago Cubs.
Perhaps the trip to the Arizona Fall League is more of a test than a reward. Sheffield has been out for almost two months with an oblique injury, potentially stalling his development. Prior to that, one of the consensus top 100 prospects in baseball had been having a decent season. In 16 starts with Double-A Trenton, the pitcher accumulated a 7-5 record with a 3.09 ERA.
The possibility even exists that with a depleted pitching staff the Yankees may call up Sheffield when the rosters expand in September.
Other Arizona Fall League representatives
Sheffield may be the headliner, but he's not the only big Yankees prospect headed to the Arizona Fall League. Outfielder Estevan Florial is another big name.
He has already represented the team at the Futures Game in July and is having a breakout season, seeing as his name came up in top 100 prospect lists during the middle of the season. Pitcher Dillon Tate is also a prospect to watch. He dealt with a shoulder injury earlier in the year, but has compiled a 2.81 ERA at two levels in the minors since June.
Shortstop Thairo Estrada, first baseman Chris Gittens, and shortstop Kyle Holder are among the other Yankees prospects heading to the Arizona Fall League. Additionally, there are a couple of spots that remain open for the time being. Some of the best players in the game's recent history have made their way through the system, including Derek Jeter, Mike Piazza, Albert Pujols, and Andrew McCutchen. Sheffield could be part of that list one day, but first, he has to step up to the plate.
