By trading Jameson Taillon, the Pittsburgh Pirates added three players who were ranked among the New York Yankees’ top 20 prospects and a teenager with tremendous upside.
Miguel Yajure and Roansy Contreras are right-handed pitchers who were added to the Pirates’ 40-man roster, and outfielder Canaan Smith and 18-year-old infielder Maikol Escotto have shown promise as hitters.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Yajure (pronounced Yah-hoo-ray) was signed for $30,000 out of Venezuela but rose to become the Yankees’ No. 7 prospect by Baseball America and No. 15 by MLB Pipeline. Overall, the Yankees’ farm system was ranked 22nd by MLB.com.
The 22-year-old had Tommy John surgery in 2017 and added velocity to his fastball. He has a five-pitch repertoire, with a four-seam fastball, a cutter, slider, curveball and changeup. Yajure made his MLB debut against Tampa Bay last Aug. 31, throwing three innings of relief, and had a 1.29 ERA with eight strikeouts in seven innings in three appearances.
“We’ve got in Yajure, obviously, probably the most advanced of the group and somebody’s who’s been in the big leagues already,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. “We expect he would be in major league camp as a starter with a chance to contribute in 2021, hopefully.”
The 6-foot, 175-pound Contreras, 21, of the Dominican Republic pitched in low-Class A Charleston (S.C.) in 2019 and led the South Atlantic League in wins (12) and WHIP (1.07), was second in batting-average against (.215) and fifth in ERA (3.33). He was rated the Yankees’ No. 11 prospect by Baseball America and No. 19 by MLB Pipeline.
“Although he has only pitched in low-A, I think given the performance there, given what he’s done the last year to continue growth, he’s on the roster now,” Cherington said. “Likely needs some more development time, but he’s someone who we’re really encouraged by (and) think he has a chance to be a starting pitcher and be in that next wave of pitching depth.”
Smith (6-0, 215), 21, was a fourth-round pick in 2017 who was ranked the Yankees’ No. 16 prospect by Baseball America and No. 21 by MLB Pipeline. He led the South Atlantic League in walks (74), was second in on-base percentage (.405) and third in batting average (.307) and OPS (.871) in 2019, and Baseball America ranked him the system’s best hitter for average and in strike zone discipline.
Cherington noted Smith has “a really advanced approach offensively. He’s been a really good performer. Combination of plate disciple and just really good quality contact. We really felt like he was one of the better hitters in the South Atlantic League a couple years ago, and again, now had another year of physical growth.”
Escotto played second base, shortstop and third base in the Dominican Summer League, where he slashed .315/.429/.552 with 11 doubles, four triples, eight home runs and 26 RBIs in 45 games in 2019.
“We feel (Escotto) has a really good combination of defensive ability and offensive upside,” Cherington said. “Performed really well, albeit at a low level in 2019 in the DSL. Some of our scouts liked him even back to when he was an amateur on the international market.”
