New York Yankees 2023 Top 30 Prospect Wraps: Zach Messinger

The New York Yankees are tracking the progress of Zach Messinger, a former Virginia pitcher who wrapped up his second pro season in 2023.

InsideThePinstripes.com will review each of the New York Yankees’ Top 30 prospects, as ranked by MLB.com at the end of the 2023 season.

No. 18: RHP Zach Messinger, Hudson Valley Renegades (High-A), Somerset Patriots (Double-A)

Statistics for 2023: (22 games, 21 starts) — 1-10, 4.35 ERA, 101.1 innings, 86 hits allowed, 61 runs (49 earned), 14 home runs, 54 walks, 120 strikeouts, .226 opponent batting average, 1.38 WHIP.

At Hudson Valley (21 games, 20 starts) — 1-10, 4.36 ERA, 97.0 innings, 82 hits allowed, 59 runs (47 earned), 13 home runs, 53 walks, 113 strikeouts, .225 opponent batting average, 1.39 WHIP.

At Somerset (1 game, 1 start) — 0-0, 4.15 ERA, 4.1 innings, four hits allowed, two runs (two earned), one home runs, one walks, seven strikeouts, .235 opponent batting average, 1.15 WHIP.

Season Transactions: Started the season with Hudson Valley. Promoted to Somerset on Sept. 12.

Season Summary: Messinger had a season where you have to look beyond the win-loss record to understand that he made some improvement in 2023. He set a career-high in professional innings, produced a solid opponent batting average and kept his WHIP consistent from last season. He was a bit of a workhorse in his first season as a full-time starter and his strikeout-to-walk ratio held steady from 2022. The late promotion to Somerset was an opportunity for him to test himself against Double-A hitting, and he showed up, only giving up four hits and a walk while striking out seven in 4.1 innings.

Path Through the Organization: The Yankees grabbed the Virginia reliever in the 13th round in 2021 and signed him for just $225,000. The Yankees didn’t drop him into games until 2022, in part because the organization wanted him to work on his primary pitches, his fastball and slider. He produced a high strikeout rate at Class-A Tampa in 2022 and has pushed his fastball speed to as high as 99 miles per hour, though it consistently hits 92-94 miles per hour. That progress earned him the full season at Hudson Valley in 2023.

What’s next: He’s a pitcher that could end up starting or relieving at the MLB level, and it all depends on his secondary pitches. Per MLB.com scouts, he’s already improved his fastball and slider significantly from college. He could have a curveball and changeup that gives him a solid third pitch, but neither pitch is locating consistently. He has the potential to drastically change speeds if he can consistently locate a third pitch, and being able to do that will be the difference between being a starter or reliever. He should start next season at Somerset, barring injury or a setback during Spring Training.

2023 New York Yankees Top 30 Prospect Wraps:

No. 30 Elijah Dunham | No. 29 Danny Watson | No. 28 Edgar Barclay | No. 27 Justin Lange | No. 26 Yoendrys Gomez | No. 25 Matt Sauer | No. 24 Agustin Ramirez | No. 23 Ben Rice | No. 22: Anthony Hall | No. 21 Brendan Beck | No. 20 Jared Serna | No. 19: Roc Riggio |