Position: RHP
Born: 9/24/1991
Ht: 6’7″ Wt: 210 lb
Acquired: Received from Oakland in Jeff Samardzija trade, Dec. 2014
Career Stats
FutureSox Prospect Rankings
- #22 – 2015 Preseason
- #27 – 2016 Midseason
FutureSox Media
Accolades
- Midwest League All-Star, 2013 Midseason
- Futures Game, 2013
Scouting Report
When Ynoa signed with Oakland in 2008 for $4.25M (a club record for them at the time) from the Dominican Republic at age 16, he was one of the most highly regarded prospects in the game. Possessing a big mid-90s fastball and showing the ability to spin breakers from a 6-foot-7 frame as a teenager, Baseball America called him the 54th best prospect in baseball in 2009 despite not yet seeing pro action.
But due to a combination of injuries, including one resulting in Tommy John surgery in 2010, he’d only thrown about 40 game innings by 2012 (four years after signing). He finally saw regular action in 2013, pitching 75.2 innings across both levels of A-ball in his age 21 season. In 2014 he was moved to relief work, where he struck out an impressive 64 batters in 45.2 innings, though the core results weren’t great.
In 2015 in the White Sox system, Ynoa pitched out of the pen for High-A Winston-Salem, and though he missed a month to a minor injury he posted good overall results: 38 IP, 37 H, 11 ER, 16 BB, 40 K. In 2016, Ynoa opened briefly at Double-A Birmingham, went to Triple-A Charlotte, and then made it to the big leagues. After a decent debut with the White Sox (3.30 ERA, 30 K, 17 BB, 20 H in 30 IP), he struggled in 2017 and hasn’t been back the majors since.