Yankee Minor League notes

jacksonianmarch · July 20, 2010

come on man' date=' a prospect that almost has an .800 ops is exciting stuff. definitely worthy of daily updates[/quote']

He's a top 5-10 prospect in the game and he's been hitting like one for the past month.

And yes, I do think he comes up prior to the end of August so he can get onto the playoff roster.

jacksonianmarch · July 20, 2010

My Yankees top 50 is looking pretty good right now. Even though it appears I never reached 50...

1. Jesus Montero- has figured AAA out after sucking for 2 months. Probably gets called up within 45 days. Appropriately slotted

2. Austin Romine- started out hot, cooled off, but still is batting around .280 with an OPS in the high .700s and playing great D. Appropriately slotted

3. Manuel Banuelos- had an appendectomy and missed 2 months. Has an ERA under 2, a WHIP under 1, and 13K/9 in High A as a 19yr old. Appropriately slotted

4. Austin Jackson- TRADED to DETROIT and playing very, very well. Appropriately slotted

5. Zach McAllister- hot and cold in AAA, numbers skewed by most recent 2 starts. Overall, not a top 5 kind of yr. Probably overslotted this one

6. DJ Mitchell- adjusting to AA after a rough start. 2 to 1 GB/FB ratio and a BAA that is workable. His lack of control is surprising though. Overslotted

7. Slade Heathcott- was hitting lights out before a shoulder injury really sapped his numbers. Now he's healthy and hitting again. Appropriately slotted

8. Arodys Vizcaino- TRADED to Atlanta and may need TJS. Appropriately slotted

9. Andrew Brackman- very rough start in Tampa, then figured it out. Working through some control issues in AA. Has looked very dominant at time. Appropriately slotted

10. Corban Joseph- took some heat for this one, but the kid is hitting .313 in the FSL with an .843OPS as a 20 yr old. His bat is for real. Appropriately slotted

11. Gary Sanchez- dominated the GCL as a 17 yr old, but now down with some mysterious injury (the Yankees dont publicize minor league injuries from their GCL camp) Underslotted

12. David Adams- dominated AA for a month and a half, but has been out with an ankle sprain since the end of May. Appropriately slotted

13. Eduardo Nunez- the most consistent hitter at AAA, hitting around .310 right now with improving patience. One of our top 5 now. Underslotted

14. Christian Garcia- TJS again. Overslotted

15. Caleb Cotham- re-injured the knee, had surgery but havent heard a word about him

16. JR Murphy- has had his moments in long season, but is adjusting to the wood bat as a 19 yr old in long season. Appropriately slotted

17. Jairo Heredia- the shoulder injury seems to have sapped him of velocity. Overslotted

18. Graham Stoneburner- one of the most dominant pitchers in the system. Should be a top 10 guys. Underslotted

19. Brandon Laird- 19 homers and almost 80RBI in mid July in AA is very, very good. Underslotted

20. Dellin Betances- returned from TJS in 9 months with the best stuff we've seen from him. Dominant in high A, although he seems to be in a bit of a dead arm period. Regardless, he's back on the map. Underslotted

21. Jose Ramirez- pitched exceptionally well for a 19 yr old in long season. Finished up starting with an ERA in the mid 3's and a WHIP under 1.2. Relieving now to keep the IP down. Underslotted

22. Abraham Almonte- tore his labrum in his throwing shoulder, had surgery and is out for the yr

23. Kelvin Deleon- the Yankees were cautious with him and promoted him to SI where he is holding his own. Appropriately slotted

24. Ivan Nova- quietly has been the ace of the SWB staff. Probably next in line for a big league spot start- Underslotted

25. Jeremy Bleich- had surgery on his rotator cuff, out for the yr

26. Wilkin de la Rosa- has struggled in all capacities this yr. Definitely a step back. Overslotted

27. David Phelps- probably the system's best pitcher thus far. Been absolutely dominant in AA and AAA thus far. Is a top 10 player. Underslotted

28. Jose Pirela- struggling in low A, but playing a good SS. He's young, so he needs time. Appropriately slotted

29. Kyle Higashioka- defensively, very solid. Offensively, struggling in low A. Will need some more work. Appropriately slotted

30. Eduardo Sosa- 5 tool player who struggled in the GCL last yr. Moved to SI where he is playing better. Still very young. Appropriately slotted

31. Brad Suttle- recovery from his labrum hasnt been smooth. Relegated to 1b and without much power, his prospect star has dimmed. Overslotted

32. George Kontos- returned from TJS in a relief role. Unsure if that is permanent. His old velocity is back, and if he can get his old slider back, he's a top 15 guy. Underslotted

33. Brett Marshall- returned from TJS as well with a blazing fastball and improved command. Should be be able to further develop his change, he could move quick. Underslotted

34. Damon Sublett- .800ish OPS season, but looking less and less like a CF and more like a 4th OFer. Appropriate for this range.

35. Adam Warren- proved the velo boost was no joke, now pitching in AA and pitching well. Dominated the FSL, very well could be a big league option in 2011. Underslotted

36. Jimmy Paredes- 21 yrs old in low A isnt bad. He started the yr off poorly, but now he's hitting .280+ with 20+SBs and starting to show power. Appropriately slotted

37. Bryan Mitchell- took heat on this one too. Has shown a hard FB and a lights out curve, but has also shown 19 yr old command in the GCL. Has a bright future if he stays healthy. Appropriately slotted

38. Sean Black- has been mediocre in low A. For a college draftee with his stuff, that's pretty pathetic, but he's appropriate on this list.

39. Kevin Whelan- the experiment is almost over. Overslotted

40. Hector Noesi- once he found the curve and change last yr, he hasnt looked back. Moved to AA and still dominating. Underslotted

Thats about it. At the end of July, I will come up with my rankings list for the upcoming offseason

Meh · July 20, 2010

I was surprised how well I slotted the farm, my top 10 was Montero, Romine, Banuelos,(Viz and Jackson) Heathcott, Joseph, Sanchez, Brackman, Adams and Stoneburner. Adams and Stoneburner were 11 and 12, respectively. Vizcaino and Jackson were 4th and 5th, before getting traded. I never really got on McAllister, I had him 13th or 14th. DJ Mitchell was 18th. My biggest mistakes were Betances and Laird being around 20 to 25th.

BTW, Sanchez has a minor hand injury, they are keeping him out a few games just to be safe.

jacksonianmarch · July 21, 2010

Montero is officially on fire. 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 homers tonight. HR total to 10. Line up to .271/.348/.459 for an OPS of .807. He's got an OPS of around 1.100 over his last 30 games. On fire.

With our DH spot being an abysmal black hole, might be time to fit him for some pinstripes

Yaz Sideburn · July 21, 2010

Montero is officially on fire. 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 homers tonight. HR total to 10. Line up to .271/.348/.459 for an OPS of .807. He's got an OPS of around 1.100 over his last 30 games. On fire.

With our DH spot being an abysmal black hole, might be time to fit him for some pinstripes

not just on fire, but officially on fire... on fire? what would you say is his ethofa?

jacksonianmarch · July 22, 2010

Montero went 3 for 3 with a double and a walk yesterday. AVG up to .278 and OPS up to .821. Call him up

yankees228 · July 22, 2010

Montero went 3 for 3 with a double and a walk yesterday. AVG up to .278 and OPS up to .821. Call him up

You would call him up right now?

jacksonianmarch · July 22, 2010

to the DH role, absolutely. He is crushing the ball over the past month

jacksonianmarch · July 22, 2010

Dominican Jesus at it again. He doubled in AB #1. He's now 9 for his last 10 with 3 doubles, 2 homers, and 3 walks.

Divinity · July 23, 2010

Since being almost traded for Cliff Lee, Jesus Montero has been on a tear. From July 10th to the 21st, Montero’s got 14 hits in 28 ABs to go along with four walks, four home runs, and three doubles.

jacksonianmarch · July 23, 2010

Sounds like someone didnt want to go to Safeco, where hitting prospects go to die.

Yaz Sideburn · July 23, 2010

Montero went 3 for 3 with a double and a walk yesterday. AVG up to .278 and OPS up to .821. Call him up

jacksonianmarch · July 24, 2010

Yankee prospects, my top 20 mid season

1. Jesus Montero, 20yr old C, AAA-.278/.354/.467- a top 5 prospect in the game and probably the biggest offensive prospect coming into this season. He struggled for the first two months in adjusting to pitcher’s pitching around him. After getting back to what made him great through his minor league career, the 20 yr old has been on a tear. Over the last 33 games, his OPS is approaching 1.100 and his OPS on the yr is .821. A far cry from the mid .600s from just a month earlier. Defense is said to be improving, but he’s still no defensive whiz

2. Austin Romine, 21yr old C, AA-.275/.349/.413- as an overall prospect, Romine has really jumped onto the scene over the past 2 seasons. He started out this season incredibly hot, hitting .330 through the first month and maintaining a BA over .300 through 2 months. June and July have not been kind though. Regardless, he has shown good pop and a great presence behind the plate. He wont be a top tier masher, but his bat should carry well in a starter’s role in the bigs. His defense is top notch, though.

3. Manuel Banuelos, 19yr old LHP, GCL-A+-23.1IP 1.47ERA, 0.94WHIP 11.2K/9IP- Banuelos entered the yr as the top Yankee pitching prospect. But an appendectomy took his first two months of the season. Ever since his return, he’s shown good velocity (sits 92, touches 95-96) and a fantastic curve-change combo. He’s small, but his motion is effortless. Even though he will probably reach about 80IP this yr due to his injury, he’s probably ticketed for fall ball and should debut in AA in 2011.

4. Dellin Betances, 22yr old RHP, A+-40IP 1.35ERA 0.80WHIP 10.6K/9IP- Betances was the talk of the 2006 draft as a project flamethrower. Well, the Yankee brass did him no favors. After dominating in the GCL at the start of his career, elbow pain started limiting his effectiveness. He was sidelined for most of the yr in 2007 but made what seemed like a full recovery in 2008, throwing well for Charleston. In 2009, he looked completely off with Tampa and eventually underwent ligament “reinforcement” surgery. Essentially the same procedure as TJS, but instead of removing the torn ligament, they left it in place and put the tendon from his leg around it, essentially doubling its strength. He came back in record time and looking like his old self again, snapping off a good curve and sitting mid 90s. His last 2 starts have seen him likely experiencing a dead arm period as the FB has dipped into the low 90s, but if he can maintain his stuff, then he’s back on the forefront of the yankee prospect circle

5. Andrew Brackman, 24yr old, A+-AA- 85.2IP 4.94ERA 1.33WHIP 8.3K/9IP- Brackman has been very frustrating to follow since he was signed in 2007. TJS in 2008, flashes of brilliance mixed in with a lot of putrid efforts in 2009. He started the yr off terribly as well, but after a return from a hand injury, he’s been money. WHIP sub 1, K/BB of 7 in High A, good enough to warrant a promotion. In Trenton, his command has been worse than it was in High A, but his stuff still shines through. He is by no means a finished product, but his curveball is showing signs of returning to “wipeout” range and his FB has upticked into the mid 90s again. Assuming they can keep his mechanics together (which is not a foregone conclusion) we should see him progress. Due to his size and his injury history, his age wont be taken into account as much as it would with others. Expect the Yankees to keep him in AA this yr and move him to AAA next. He needs to be in the Bronx by 2012 or they risk losing him

6. Gary Sanchez, 17yr old C, GCL- .378/.455/.622- Sanchez was the big IFA signing from 2009 and he is showing he is worth the cash. Defensively, he has shown that he has the tools, although he is still raw. He’s got a cannon of an arm and is getting more accurate. He has the quicks to block the ball, but his mechanics need work and his gamecalling needs a bit of work. But the tools are there for him to be a top notch defensive catcher. Offensively, the kid is on another planet. He has light tower power to all fields as a 17 yr old and has shown a very advanced approach to the plate. When the Yankees signed him, they talked about how he paralleled Montero offensively and Romine defensively. If that plays out, then Sanchez might be the Yankee future behind the dish

7. Corban Joseph, 21yr old 2B, A+- .311/.385/.453- Joseph is a masher, plain and simple. The Yankees selected him out of HS in 2008 and he has shown advanced offensive tools ever since. His power is starting to come and his eye has continued to impress. And his numbers are even more impressive considering the league. The FSL is where hitters go to die, and this guy is just tearing it up. Defensively, he’s made 12 errors in 80+ games. So while not great, he is definitely improving from the butcher that he was. I still think his future is in the OF, but he has starting offensive tools. Expect him to hit AA next yr and he should be a big league option by 2012.

8. Graham Stoneburner, 22yr old RHP, A/A+- 99.1IP 2.36ERA 0.91WHIP 9.2K/9IP- Stoneburner was a 14th rounder from 2009 who was a DES, meaning he fell due to signability issues. The Yankees inked him and he hasn’t looked back. He throws a mid 90s sinker with a wipeout slider that has served him very well. His high K/9IP, impeccable control and high GO/AO ratio (1.88) all bode well for the young righty. But the progression of his changeup from minus to average will determine his role in the bigs. Regardless, he has a bright future either in the rotation or at the back end of the pen

9. David Phelps, 23yr old RHP, AA/AAA- 106IP 2.04ERA 1.01WHIP 8.7K/9IP- Phelps was another 14th rounder, this time from the 2008 draft out of ND. Known at the time as a pitchability guy with good control and a deep arsenal, he looked the part of a guy who would move up the charts. But last season, his velocity spiked into the mid 90s, where he is now sitting in the 93-94 range, topping out at 96. He’s shown this yr, that the spike in velocity is no fluke. He complements that with a plus curve and a solid change, all of which he locates well. In 2 seasons, he’s navigated A ball all the way to AAA and is probably second in line for a spot start behind Ivan Nova. Phelps profiles as a #2 starter with his current stuff, and his progression has been nothing short of impressive

10. Slade Heathcott, 19yr old CFer, A- .282/.352/.359- Heathcott is a true 5 tool prospect, drafted out of HS as the Yankees #1 pick a yr ago. He signed late, so he has been adjusting to the wood in his first yr, but the Yankees are very pleased with his progress. While his power is a bit late to the game, he is hitting for a solid average and taking his fair share of walks. He has also stolen a base every 4th game as well. The two biggest areas of concern for Slade have been health and strikeouts. He has missed time on two separate occasions with shoulder and arm issues and has struck out more than 1 time per game. If he can scale back his reckless abandon to a level that allows him to play solid D without jamming shoulders AND if he can start making more contact, he could reach his potential. Slade has all the makings of a top flight CFer, and this yr has shown that he has the innate tools. It’s all about progression from here

11. Eduardo Nunez, 23yr old SS, AAA- .304/.358/.405- Nunez was signed in 2004 and from 04-08, the biggest question was if he would ever start showing that he belonged. It took a midseason promotion from A to A+ in 2008 to spark something in Nunez to start kicking it into gear. Since then, he’s swung a potent bat. Over the past 2 seasons, he’s posted BA’s of over .300, but the most impressive thing this yr in patience. Last yr, his IsoPatience was .027. This yr, he’s nearly doubled it to .051. Add to that the 19 stolen bases and the significantly improved defense and you are looking at a guy who should be a starting SS in the big leagues. The big problem is the guy in front of him is gonna be around for a little while longer. Nunez was placed on the 40 man prior to this yr, so he has already lost one option yr. He’ll need to be in the Bronx for good come 2013 or the Yanks would have to put him through waivers. He is becoming a pretty important trade chip for this franchise

12. David Adams, 23 yr old 2b, AA- .309/.393/.507- Adams was considered a 1st round talent when the Yankees took him in 2008, but he slipped to the 3rd round after a subpar season at the University of Virginia. Since coming to NY, he’s done nothing but rake. The guy has an OPS of .816 in his first full season with a wooden bat and started out this yr white hot, with an OPS at .900 and stealing 5 bags in 2 months. The problem is, Adams sprained an ankle on May 22nd and has been out ever since. Word was, 2 months ago that he would return in a couple weeks. Well, it’s been nearly a month and no word. He was to be involved in the failed Cliff Lee trade, but his physical was alarming. I can only assume that Adams has a pretty significant injury to his ankle. Regardless, assuming he can return to full health, he’s a big league 2b in the wings. The problem is two-fold. 1, Robby Cano is young and entrenched at 2B in the bigs and 2, obviously David’s health. I see Adams as a trade chip mostly as he plays a good 2B and swings a potent stick.

13. JR Murphy, 19yr old C, A-.240/.284/.327- Murphy was the Yankees second rounder from 2009 out of the Pendleton School in Florida. He started the yr in EST and moved to the long season leagues at the end of May. Thing is, Murphy was probably rushed. He signed late last yr, so he didn’t get to adjust to the wooden bat, and it seems he’s struggling with it this season. But overall, he has a good approach and has shown a lot of pop through instructs, so the assumption is that it will come. He was a 3B and OFer in HS, but the Yankees are grooming him at C. As one can see from the above players, the position is pretty stacked. He is raw behind the dish, but has shown good skills. The hope for the Yankees is that he progresses steadily with the stick and the glove and his projection is as a starting catcher. As a 19 yr old, though, he’s got a long way to go

14. Cito Culver, 17yr old SS, GCL- .231/.311/.295- Culver was the much criticized 1st rounder of the Yankees this season. He’s a switch hitting speedster with a slick glove who the Yankees think projects as a starting SS. He also signed for slot quickly, which makes me think the Yankees were saving some bank for later on in the draft. Regardless, his defensive game is ahead of his offensive, although he has shown a good eye in his short tenure. The hitting adjustments are taking some time, though, as he is adjusting to the wooden bat. That being said, the fact that he started so soon means that he should have it down pat come next season.

15. Hector Noesi, 23yr old RHP, A+/AA 112IP 2.17ERA 0.94WHIP 9.0K/9IP 6.2K/BB- Hector Noesi was signed out of the DR in 2004. He spent 2005-2008 tolling through injury, PED suspension, and short season before really finding his secondary stuff last yr in the SAL. But once he harnessed his curveball, he’s been downright untouchable since. Previous to this, he was really a FB-change guy who located very well. But now he sits low 90s with a hammer curve and a plus change, and he has used that to put up ridiculous Nintendo numbers over the past 2 yrs. Hector has top of the rotation stuff and should be in AAA before long.

16. Jose Ramirez, 20yr old RHP, A-90.2IP 3.28ERA 1.19WHIP 8.2K/9IP 2.9K/BB- Ramirez is quite a prospect for this Yankee farm and follows in the line of solid pitchers that the Yankees keep developing. Ramirez has seen his FB velocity increased over the past 2 yrs. The guy sits low to mid 90s and can touch as high as 96. He throws a plus changeup and has been working on a curveball which has improved over the season. He’s probably due to get shut down in the next few weeks as he is young and hasn’t thrown this much in his career. His stuff is impressive and he profiles as a top of the rotation pitcher if he stays healthy. He’ll be in Tampa in 2011 with a very strong chance of moving northward

17. Ivan Nova, 23yr old RHP, AAA-111.2IP 3.06ERA 1.31WHIP 6.8K/9IP 2.1K/BB- Nova is really putting on a show of late for the scouts in AAA. Typically sitting low 90s with the occasional 95, Nova has been sitting around 95 and in some games even sitting at 97mph. He’s always had great run on his fastball, which garners him a ton of ground balls (1.6GO/AO) but he has always been knocked for his approach. For a guy who has a mid 90s heater and 2 plus secondary offerings, he seems to pitch to contact far too much. The Yankees have been working with him on setting batters up and it seems to be working as he’s posting his highest K/9IP rate in any long season league. Also, of late, we have seen some 6,7,and 9 K performances showing that he is making strides. He’s got the stuff of a top of the rotation starter and the kind of movement most pitchers dream of. But his projection seems to always be limited by his approach. He’s probably more of a #3 in the bigs, but if he continues to improve on his setup and staying off the plate in deeper counts, then he could propel to the top of a rotation.

18. Brandon Laird, 22yr old 3B/1B, AA- .278/.340/.508- Laird has proven throughout his minor league career that he can hit homers and drive in runs. He was 9th in A ball in 2008 in RBI with 86. In 2009, he led the FSL in RBI with 75. This yr, he leads all of MiLB in RBI with 84. He’s also in the top 5 in homers with 21. What I am really impressed with is the progression in his plate approach. He’s on pace for over 50 walks, which would be a career high, although he is also on pace for 100K’s which would also be a career high. He slimmed down in the offseason and has been playing a decent 3b, although he has been working out at 1b and LF of late. My best guess is that he profiles as a starting 1b or a starting COF in the bigs. His power is too big to pass up, and if he continues improving with his discipline, he could be a really good one

19. Adam Warren, 22yr old RHP, A+/AA- 93IP 2.23ERA 1.12WHIP 7.5K/9IP 3.5K/BB- Warren has been a revelation since we drafted him in the 4th round in 2009. He’s seen a velocity boost from 89-91 to 92-96mph with his 4 seamer. He also throws a solid 2 seamer in the low 90s with good bite. He throws three plus potential off speed offerings with the changeup being close to plus now. He throws a good curve and a promising slider as well. Though he has solid stuff, he is a very economical pitcher and definitely profiles as a starter. Not sure if he’s top of the rotation caliber as he doesn’t have the K numbers of most dominant pitchers, but he looks like he safely projects into the middle of a rotation. Regardless, the Yanks have something here

20. Brett Marshall, 20yr old RHP, GCL/A- 36IP 3.25ERA 1.22WHIP 8.3K/9IP 2.4K/BB- Brett Marshall has thrust himself even further into the hearts and minds of Yankee prospect circles. After having TJS the middle of last season, he’s recovered quickly. Now back on the mound, the Yankees have stopped tinkering with him. He was drafted in 2008 and was easily the most promising arm in the draft. The Yanks took away his best off speed offering (slider) in the hopes of teaching him a pitch that has less stress on the arm (curve). Well, he blew out his arm throwing a curve, so the Yankees decided to give him back his slidepiece. And it has been very, very solid. His velocity is back up into the mid 90s range, although he seems to be controlling things a bit better in the 91-93mph range. Regardless, if this kid can avoid major injury again and find a way to control the ball at higher velocities, he could have a future in the rotation. But I have a feeling this kid ends up as a power reliever. He’ll be in Tampa in 2011 and should have an IP limit.

jacksonianmarch · July 29, 2010

Caleb Cotham is out for the yr after labrum surgery. This one sucks cause he was really good

jacksonianmarch · July 30, 2010

Montero with a 3 run homer and a sac fly tonight. Romine went deep. Bryan Mitchell and Kyle Turley threw gems

jacksonianmarch · August 2, 2010

Brandon Laird was promoted to AAA

Corban Joseph was promoted to AA

jacksonianmarch · August 3, 2010

Dellin Betances is having a ridiculous season. Turns out, he just needed his elbow fixed, now he's golden.

Line from last night: 6IP 1H 0ER 1BB 11K

jacksonianmarch · August 3, 2010

Brandon Laird went 4 for 4 with 2 homers in his AAA debut

jacksonianmarch · August 3, 2010

Gary Sanchez missed 2 weeks with a wrist injury. He returned today, going 2 for 4 with a double, 2 RBI and a walkoff single. His line sits at .385/.448/.628 for an OPS of 1.076

Meh · August 3, 2010

Brandon Laird went 4 for 4 with 2 homers in his AAA debut

First swing he took he hit a homerun. Also he only swung the bat four times the entire game and had four hits.

Meh · August 3, 2010

Gary Sanchez missed 2 weeks with a wrist injury. He returned today' date=' going 2 for 4 with a double, 2 RBI and a walkoff single. His line sits at .385/.448/.628 for an OPS of 1.076[/quote']

Culver was also 3 for 4 with a homerun as he continues to heat up.

jacksonianmarch · August 4, 2010

Culver, who is also 17, is quietly adjusting very well to the wooden bat. Line for the yr...

.276/.336/.382 for a .718OPS with 6 steals in 33 games. But the last 10 games have been even better. .357/.372/.524 for an OPS of .896. And he has shown a really good glove. When we signed him and he struggled in the GCL, I thought for sure he'd be ticketed for SI next yr. But there is a chance he goes to the SAL since he has already had a full short season under his belt

Also, in the second half of their double header, Sanchez hit a 2 run double in 4 at bats. These two have made that league worth watching

jacksonianmarch · August 4, 2010

Brandon Laird went 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI in his second AAA game. His bat is looking really special.

Corban Joseph went 2 for 7 with 3RBI, a double and a triple in his first taste of AA.

jacksonianmarch · August 4, 2010

Gary Sanchez leads the GCL in RBI. The league started in mid June and Sanchez missed 2 weeks, but he still leads the league in that category. This kid is gonna be fun to watch

Rdsxmbnt · August 4, 2010

reminds me of when Almanzar tore up that league

Meh · August 4, 2010

Anyone have any mid season or well past mid season Yankees prospect lists?

Mine would be as of now..

1. Jesus Montero C

2. Austin Romine C

3. Manny Banuelos LHP

4. Dellin Betances RHP

5. Andrew Brackman RHP

6. Slade Heathcott CF

7. Gary Sanchez C

8. Graham Stoneburner RHP

9. Corban Joseph 2B/3B

10. Jose Ramirez RHP

11. David Phelps RHP

12. Brandon Laird 3B

13. Ed Nunez SS

14. David Adams 2B

15. Adam Warren

16. Cito Culver

17. Bryan Mitchell

18. Hector Noesi

19. Ivan Nova

20. Zolio Almonte

21. JR Murphy

22. Brett Marshall

23. Eduardo Sosa

24. Evan DeLuca

25. Kelvin DeLeon

26. Caleb Cotham

27. Jose Mojica

28. Zach McAllister

29. DJ Mitchell

30. Brad Suttle

Don't have anyone else but Culver from the 2010 draft class on my list as of now. Mason Williams would jump right into the top 20 for me. I forgot about Melky Mesa too, he'd be 20 for me and pushing everyone back one. That's a pretty deep system.

jacksonianmarch · August 4, 2010

Yankee prospects, my top 20 mid season

1. Jesus Montero, 20yr old C, AAA-.278/.354/.467- a top 5 prospect in the game and probably the biggest offensive prospect coming into this season. He struggled for the first two months in adjusting to pitcher’s pitching around him. After getting back to what made him great through his minor league career, the 20 yr old has been on a tear. Over the last 33 games, his OPS is approaching 1.100 and his OPS on the yr is .821. A far cry from the mid .600s from just a month earlier. Defense is said to be improving, but he’s still no defensive whiz
2. Austin Romine, 21yr old C, AA-.275/.349/.413- as an overall prospect, Romine has really jumped onto the scene over the past 2 seasons. He started out this season incredibly hot, hitting .330 through the first month and maintaining a BA over .300 through 2 months. June and July have not been kind though. Regardless, he has shown good pop and a great presence behind the plate. He wont be a top tier masher, but his bat should carry well in a starter’s role in the bigs. His defense is top notch, though.
3. Manuel Banuelos, 19yr old LHP, GCL-A+-23.1IP 1.47ERA, 0.94WHIP 11.2K/9IP- Banuelos entered the yr as the top Yankee pitching prospect. But an appendectomy took his first two months of the season. Ever since his return, he’s shown good velocity (sits 92, touches 95-96) and a fantastic curve-change combo. He’s small, but his motion is effortless. Even though he will probably reach about 80IP this yr due to his injury, he’s probably ticketed for fall ball and should debut in AA in 2011.
4. Dellin Betances, 22yr old RHP, A+-40IP 1.35ERA 0.80WHIP 10.6K/9IP- Betances was the talk of the 2006 draft as a project flamethrower. Well, the Yankee brass did him no favors. After dominating in the GCL at the start of his career, elbow pain started limiting his effectiveness. He was sidelined for most of the yr in 2007 but made what seemed like a full recovery in 2008, throwing well for Charleston. In 2009, he looked completely off with Tampa and eventually underwent ligament “reinforcement” surgery. Essentially the same procedure as TJS, but instead of removing the torn ligament, they left it in place and put the tendon from his leg around it, essentially doubling its strength. He came back in record time and looking like his old self again, snapping off a good curve and sitting mid 90s. His last 2 starts have seen him likely experiencing a dead arm period as the FB has dipped into the low 90s, but if he can maintain his stuff, then he’s back on the forefront of the yankee prospect circle
5. Andrew Brackman, 24yr old, A+-AA- 85.2IP 4.94ERA 1.33WHIP 8.3K/9IP- Brackman has been very frustrating to follow since he was signed in 2007. TJS in 2008, flashes of brilliance mixed in with a lot of putrid efforts in 2009. He started the yr off terribly as well, but after a return from a hand injury, he’s been money. WHIP sub 1, K/BB of 7 in High A, good enough to warrant a promotion. In Trenton, his command has been worse than it was in High A, but his stuff still shines through. He is by no means a finished product, but his curveball is showing signs of returning to “wipeout” range and his FB has upticked into the mid 90s again. Assuming they can keep his mechanics together (which is not a foregone conclusion) we should see him progress. Due to his size and his injury history, his age wont be taken into account as much as it would with others. Expect the Yankees to keep him in AA this yr and move him to AAA next. He needs to be in the Bronx by 2012 or they risk losing him
6. Gary Sanchez, 17yr old C, GCL- .378/.455/.622- Sanchez was the big IFA signing from 2009 and he is showing he is worth the cash. Defensively, he has shown that he has the tools, although he is still raw. He’s got a cannon of an arm and is getting more accurate. He has the quicks to block the ball, but his mechanics need work and his gamecalling needs a bit of work. But the tools are there for him to be a top notch defensive catcher. Offensively, the kid is on another planet. He has light tower power to all fields as a 17 yr old and has shown a very advanced approach to the plate. When the Yankees signed him, they talked about how he paralleled Montero offensively and Romine defensively. If that plays out, then Sanchez might be the Yankee future behind the dish
7. Corban Joseph, 21yr old 2B, A+- .311/.385/.453- Joseph is a masher, plain and simple. The Yankees selected him out of HS in 2008 and he has shown advanced offensive tools ever since. His power is starting to come and his eye has continued to impress. And his numbers are even more impressive considering the league. The FSL is where hitters go to die, and this guy is just tearing it up. Defensively, he’s made 12 errors in 80+ games. So while not great, he is definitely improving from the butcher that he was. I still think his future is in the OF, but he has starting offensive tools. Expect him to hit AA next yr and he should be a big league option by 2012.
8. Graham Stoneburner, 22yr old RHP, A/A+- 99.1IP 2.36ERA 0.91WHIP 9.2K/9IP- Stoneburner was a 14th rounder from 2009 who was a DES, meaning he fell due to signability issues. The Yankees inked him and he hasn’t looked back. He throws a mid 90s sinker with a wipeout slider that has served him very well. His high K/9IP, impeccable control and high GO/AO ratio (1.88) all bode well for the young righty. But the progression of his changeup from minus to average will determine his role in the bigs. Regardless, he has a bright future either in the rotation or at the back end of the pen
9. David Phelps, 23yr old RHP, AA/AAA- 106IP 2.04ERA 1.01WHIP 8.7K/9IP- Phelps was another 14th rounder, this time from the 2008 draft out of ND. Known at the time as a pitchability guy with good control and a deep arsenal, he looked the part of a guy who would move up the charts. But last season, his velocity spiked into the mid 90s, where he is now sitting in the 93-94 range, topping out at 96. He’s shown this yr, that the spike in velocity is no fluke. He complements that with a plus curve and a solid change, all of which he locates well. In 2 seasons, he’s navigated A ball all the way to AAA and is probably second in line for a spot start behind Ivan Nova. Phelps profiles as a #2 starter with his current stuff, and his progression has been nothing short of impressive
10. Slade Heathcott, 19yr old CFer, A- .282/.352/.359- Heathcott is a true 5 tool prospect, drafted out of HS as the Yankees #1 pick a yr ago. He signed late, so he has been adjusting to the wood in his first yr, but the Yankees are very pleased with his progress. While his power is a bit late to the game, he is hitting for a solid average and taking his fair share of walks. He has also stolen a base every 4th game as well. The two biggest areas of concern for Slade have been health and strikeouts. He has missed time on two separate occasions with shoulder and arm issues and has struck out more than 1 time per game. If he can scale back his reckless abandon to a level that allows him to play solid D without jamming shoulders AND if he can start making more contact, he could reach his potential. Slade has all the makings of a top flight CFer, and this yr has shown that he has the innate tools. It’s all about progression from here
11. Eduardo Nunez, 23yr old SS, AAA- .304/.358/.405- Nunez was signed in 2004 and from 04-08, the biggest question was if he would ever start showing that he belonged. It took a midseason promotion from A to A+ in 2008 to spark something in Nunez to start kicking it into gear. Since then, he’s swung a potent bat. Over the past 2 seasons, he’s posted BA’s of over .300, but the most impressive thing this yr in patience. Last yr, his IsoPatience was .027. This yr, he’s nearly doubled it to .051. Add to that the 19 stolen bases and the significantly improved defense and you are looking at a guy who should be a starting SS in the big leagues. The big problem is the guy in front of him is gonna be around for a little while longer. Nunez was placed on the 40 man prior to this yr, so he has already lost one option yr. He’ll need to be in the Bronx for good come 2013 or the Yanks would have to put him through waivers. He is becoming a pretty important trade chip for this franchise
12. David Adams, 23 yr old 2b, AA- .309/.393/.507- Adams was considered a 1st round talent when the Yankees took him in 2008, but he slipped to the 3rd round after a subpar season at the University of Virginia. Since coming to NY, he’s done nothing but rake. The guy has an OPS of .816 in his first full season with a wooden bat and started out this yr white hot, with an OPS at .900 and stealing 5 bags in 2 months. The problem is, Adams sprained an ankle on May 22nd and has been out ever since. Word was, 2 months ago that he would return in a couple weeks. Well, it’s been nearly a month and no word. He was to be involved in the failed Cliff Lee trade, but his physical was alarming. I can only assume that Adams has a pretty significant injury to his ankle. Regardless, assuming he can return to full health, he’s a big league 2b in the wings. The problem is two-fold. 1, Robby Cano is young and entrenched at 2B in the bigs and 2, obviously David’s health. I see Adams as a trade chip mostly as he plays a good 2B and swings a potent stick.
13. JR Murphy, 19yr old C, A-.240/.284/.327- Murphy was the Yankees second rounder from 2009 out of the Pendleton School in Florida. He started the yr in EST and moved to the long season leagues at the end of May. Thing is, Murphy was probably rushed. He signed late last yr, so he didn’t get to adjust to the wooden bat, and it seems he’s struggling with it this season. But overall, he has a good approach and has shown a lot of pop through instructs, so the assumption is that it will come. He was a 3B and OFer in HS, but the Yankees are grooming him at C. As one can see from the above players, the position is pretty stacked. He is raw behind the dish, but has shown good skills. The hope for the Yankees is that he progresses steadily with the stick and the glove and his projection is as a starting catcher. As a 19 yr old, though, he’s got a long way to go
14. Cito Culver, 17yr old SS, GCL- .231/.311/.295- Culver was the much criticized 1st rounder of the Yankees this season. He’s a switch hitting speedster with a slick glove who the Yankees think projects as a starting SS. He also signed for slot quickly, which makes me think the Yankees were saving some bank for later on in the draft. Regardless, his defensive game is ahead of his offensive, although he has shown a good eye in his short tenure. The hitting adjustments are taking some time, though, as he is adjusting to the wooden bat. That being said, the fact that he started so soon means that he should have it down pat come next season.
15. Hector Noesi, 23yr old RHP, A+/AA 112IP 2.17ERA 0.94WHIP 9.0K/9IP 6.2K/BB- Hector Noesi was signed out of the DR in 2004. He spent 2005-2008 tolling through injury, PED suspension, and short season before really finding his secondary stuff last yr in the SAL. But once he harnessed his curveball, he’s been downright untouchable since. Previous to this, he was really a FB-change guy who located very well. But now he sits low 90s with a hammer curve and a plus change, and he has used that to put up ridiculous Nintendo numbers over the past 2 yrs. Hector has top of the rotation stuff and should be in AAA before long.
16. Jose Ramirez, 20yr old RHP, A-90.2IP 3.28ERA 1.19WHIP 8.2K/9IP 2.9K/BB- Ramirez is quite a prospect for this Yankee farm and follows in the line of solid pitchers that the Yankees keep developing. Ramirez has seen his FB velocity increased over the past 2 yrs. The guy sits low to mid 90s and can touch as high as 96. He throws a plus changeup and has been working on a curveball which has improved over the season. He’s probably due to get shut down in the next few weeks as he is young and hasn’t thrown this much in his career. His stuff is impressive and he profiles as a top of the rotation pitcher if he stays healthy. He’ll be in Tampa in 2011 with a very strong chance of moving northward
17. Ivan Nova, 23yr old RHP, AAA-111.2IP 3.06ERA 1.31WHIP 6.8K/9IP 2.1K/BB- Nova is really putting on a show of late for the scouts in AAA. Typically sitting low 90s with the occasional 95, Nova has been sitting around 95 and in some games even sitting at 97mph. He’s always had great run on his fastball, which garners him a ton of ground balls (1.6GO/AO) but he has always been knocked for his approach. For a guy who has a mid 90s heater and 2 plus secondary offerings, he seems to pitch to contact far too much. The Yankees have been working with him on setting batters up and it seems to be working as he’s posting his highest K/9IP rate in any long season league. Also, of late, we have seen some 6,7,and 9 K performances showing that he is making strides. He’s got the stuff of a top of the rotation starter and the kind of movement most pitchers dream of. But his projection seems to always be limited by his approach. He’s probably more of a #3 in the bigs, but if he continues to improve on his setup and staying off the plate in deeper counts, then he could propel to the top of a rotation.
18. Brandon Laird, 22yr old 3B/1B, AA- .278/.340/.508- Laird has proven throughout his minor league career that he can hit homers and drive in runs. He was 9th in A ball in 2008 in RBI with 86. In 2009, he led the FSL in RBI with 75. This yr, he leads all of MiLB in RBI with 84. He’s also in the top 5 in homers with 21. What I am really impressed with is the progression in his plate approach. He’s on pace for over 50 walks, which would be a career high, although he is also on pace for 100K’s which would also be a career high. He slimmed down in the offseason and has been playing a decent 3b, although he has been working out at 1b and LF of late. My best guess is that he profiles as a starting 1b or a starting COF in the bigs. His power is too big to pass up, and if he continues improving with his discipline, he could be a really good one
19. Adam Warren, 22yr old RHP, A+/AA- 93IP 2.23ERA 1.12WHIP 7.5K/9IP 3.5K/BB- Warren has been a revelation since we drafted him in the 4th round in 2009. He’s seen a velocity boost from 89-91 to 92-96mph with his 4 seamer. He also throws a solid 2 seamer in the low 90s with good bite. He throws three plus potential off speed offerings with the changeup being close to plus now. He throws a good curve and a promising slider as well. Though he has solid stuff, he is a very economical pitcher and definitely profiles as a starter. Not sure if he’s top of the rotation caliber as he doesn’t have the K numbers of most dominant pitchers, but he looks like he safely projects into the middle of a rotation. Regardless, the Yanks have something here
20. Brett Marshall, 20yr old RHP, GCL/A- 36IP 3.25ERA 1.22WHIP 8.3K/9IP 2.4K/BB- Brett Marshall has thrust himself even further into the hearts and minds of Yankee prospect circles. After having TJS the middle of last season, he’s recovered quickly. Now back on the mound, the Yankees have stopped tinkering with him. He was drafted in 2008 and was easily the most promising arm in the draft. The Yanks took away his best off speed offering (slider) in the hopes of teaching him a pitch that has less stress on the arm (curve). Well, he blew out his arm throwing a curve, so the Yankees decided to give him back his slidepiece. And it has been very, very solid. His velocity is back up into the mid 90s range, although he seems to be controlling things a bit better in the 91-93mph range. Regardless, if this kid can avoid major injury again and find a way to control the ball at higher velocities, he could have a future in the rotation. But I have a feeling this kid ends up as a power reliever. He’ll be in Tampa in 2011 and should have an IP limit.

Meh · August 4, 2010

Very nice list, like your top 5 ;-)

jacksonianmarch · August 4, 2010

I am slowly pulling together my top 50. A lot of that has to do with who we sign as well. Austin slides into the 40-50 range, Taylor Anderson, even with his elbow surgery, is gonna be in the 45-50 range. If Gumbs signs, then he falls into the top 30. Segedin would be in the mid teens somewhere. I think Kahnle fits into the top 50 as well and if we sign Encinas, then he'd find a way too. I am also intrigued to see who we sign out of the IFA ranks. If we sign that Heredia kid out of Mexico, then he'd be top 20 as well.

Meh · August 4, 2010

Mason Williams has to be what in the 14 to 20th range right? Morton should likely be in the 18th to 22nd ranks as well.

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