Hooray! The Yankees have three prospects on Baseball America's Top 100! Trouble is, they're not keeping up with the neighbors

By now, you've probably heard the exciting (!) news that the Yankees (!) have placed three - (three!) - prospects on Baseball America's 2022 Top 100 list, the closest thing MLB has to Mel Kuiper's annual pig book. 

The Yankee Big Three are:

SS Anthony Volpe, #10.
SS Oswaldo Peraza, #55.
OF Jasson "The Jupiterian" Dominguez, #87.

(Note: We could debate the ever-expanding Dominguez's rank - up or down - which remains primarily a factor of his signing bonus and relentless hype. For now, let's leave that dog to rest. He made the cut. Where's the wet bar?)

Three prospects! Out of 30 MLB teams! Do the math. Not bad, eh?

Well, the only way to gauge such fantastical success is by comparing ours to the competition. So on that note, let's look around the AL East.

Perennial Tankathon superpower Baltimore places five on the list, starting with catcher Adley Rutschman, ranked BA's #1 prospect for the last two years. The O's also have RH Grayson Rodriguez, #6, considered the game's top pitching prospect. There is LH pitcher DL Hall, #52; IF Gunnar Henderson, #57, and OF Colton Cowser, #98. It's worth noting that the O's supposedly have a bunch of prospects who just missed the top 100. It's hard to imagine their day ever coming - yeesh, they are the O's - but their young talent far outdoes the Yankees. One of these days, we might wake up and find that they have turned into the 2016 Astros. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Okay, how about our "arch rival," Boston? Well, the Redsocks placed four on the list: SS Marcelo Mayer, #15; 1B Triston Casas, #19;  2B Nick Yorke, #31 and CF Jarren Duran, #91. I'm surprised that IF Jeter Downs missed the cut. Not a spectacular showing, but once again, Boston lands ahead of us. 

The Blue Jays placed just three: Catcher Gabriel Moreno, #6, RH pitcher Nate Pearson #62, and IF Orelvis Martinez, #75. I'd say we're keel with Toronto, though Moreno is supposed to be special. Catchers are hard to find, I hear.  

Then there is the Boogieman itself, Tampa. After eating our lunch again in 2021, they should be reaching the end of their talent curve, right? It's about time for their organization to start sputtering, am I right?

Well, the Rays have five on the list. (Seriously, did anybody think they wouldn't? Rather than trade four kids for a Joey Gallo, they constantly replenish their farm.) Their five include pitcher Shane Baez, #8, who finished last year in the rotation and looks like a future ace. There is OF Josh Rowe, #44; OF Vidal Brujan, #56; pitcher Taj Bradely, #58; and OF Curtis Mead, #97.

Listen: The Death Barge can certainly celebrate its Big Three, though none are expected to make an impact this year. More likely, Volpe or Peraza will get traded to patch some of the gaping holes on their roster, as Brian Cashman seeks to salvage the season. 

And you could say that Roderick Arias (edited), the Yankees newest signee, might end up on the list. Maybe Baseball America should designate an annual slot - say #50 - reserved for the latest Unnamed Yankee Bonus Teen. Every year, we'll have at least one breath of hope.

So, yeah, I suppose the Yankees do have reason to celebrate. Sort of. But they're not keeping up with the Joneses. And we're running out of youngsters to trade.