Yoendrys Gomez is another international prospect with a high upside that the Yankees were able to sign for almost nothing. The lanky pitcher signed for just $50,000 out of Venezuela in 2016 and is primed to play his first full season of professional baseball this year, after splitting time between Pulaski and Charleston in 2019. His start in the Appalachian League helped bump his prospect status up, as he started the year on as the Yankees 27th ranked prospect on MLB.com and ended 7th.
Name: Yoendrys Gomez Birthdate: October 15, 1999 Position: Pitcher Bat/Throw: R/R Height: 6’3 Weight: 175
Gomez made his professional debut in 2017, spending most of the season in the Dominican League, going 0-3 with a 4.78 ERA. He made one start in the Gulf Coast League, for the Yankees West team, getting rocked for four runs in three innings. It was his 2018 season that really started to turn some heads, however.
In 2018, Gomez again split time between the Dominican League and the Gulf Coast League, spending most of it stateside with the Yankees East. He made nine starts in ten appearances in Florida, going 3-1 with a 2.33 ERA. He struck out 50 batters in 2018, walking 22 and allowing just one homer. He averaged 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
Gomez returned to short-season baseball this past season, making six starts for the Pulaski Yankees and going 4-2. He had an impressive 2.12 ERA and went 4-2 before being sent up to the Charleston RiverDogs. He also made six starts in the Sally League, though he struggled with a 6.08 ERA and 0-3 record. Still, he managed to limit home runs to just two and he struck out 25 batters, walking only 9.
When the Yankees drafted Gomez at 16, he was already throwing in the low 90s, despite his rather slight frame. He can now throw between 92-97 and has a good feel for his off-speed pitches as well. His fastball is rated as a plus pitch with a high spin rate. His curve also has good spin and some power with the potential to be a plus pitch, sitting in the mid to high 70s. Gomez knows when to use his changeup, which has some fade.
The main part of Gomez’s game that needs improvement is his control. He is working on keeping his mechanics consistent, and while he has limited homers, Gomez isn’t always consistent in the strike zone. Still, he is very young and the Yankees have shown a willingness to be patient with his development.
Gomez has one of the Yankees’ highest ceilings, with his impressive fastball and ability to mix his pitches well. 2020 will likely be his first full season of professional baseball, and as he continues to add some strength to his frame, his potential makes him a prospect worth keeping on your radar.
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