Yankees’ Shortstop Future Continues to Get Better

By Derek McAdam

January 21, 2022

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While the Yankees are trying to figure out who will play shortstop in 2022, it may become even more challenging on who will play the position every day starting in 2023.

As most Yankee fans know, the farm system currently has two strong shortstop prospects in Anthony Volpe (No. 10 overall prospect) and Oswald Peraza (No. 55 overall). Peraza may reach the big leagues at some point this upcoming season while Volpe is expected to reach the Bronx in 2023.

But Brian Cashman recently signed the top international prospect for roughly $4 million, who just happens to be another shortstop. Roderick Arias, a 17-year old switch-hitter from the Dominican Republic, is expected to become the fifth highest-ranked prospect in the Yankee organization and could climb the minor league ladder with Jasson Dominguez.

Although it will be another four or five years before fans see Arias in the big leagues, barring any sort of major jump in the minors, the Yankees are in excellent hands at shortstop and have a couple of fallback options in case Peraza does not work out (assuming he is the first shortstop prospect called up).

This does not mean that the Yankees will not pursue a stopgap shortstop for the 2022 season either. It still seems possible that Trevor Story may come to the Yankees for a season and look to test his market value again next offseason.

The best-case scenario does not put Peraza in the majors until at least after the All-Star Break, as he still needs time to develop in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, having only played eight games at the Triple-A level. Plus, if the Yankees sign a stopgap, they will be in no rush to get someone up to the majors.

Here’s what we do know. The Yankees are pretty much set for the next decade or so in who is going to be their shortstop. It is hard to say that all three of these shortstops will not make it in the big leagues. However, it is a possibility. Most likely, at least one of them will end up working out.

The future of shortstops in the Bronx looks extremely bright.

#AnthonyVolpe #NewYorkYankees #OswaldPeraza #RoderickArias