Updated Top Ten Yankee Prospects

Earlier this year I made my Top Ten List of Yankee Prospects which you can read here. Since we are now halfway through the 2011 season I thought I would do some revising. I have removed guys who have spent a significant amount of time in the Majors from the list so that eliminates Hector Noesi (#6) and Ivan Nova (#7). I don't think they have lost any shine from their future prospects but I felt they have acquitted themselves well enough at the big league level this year and that this list should focus on guys who have yet to make the Majors.

1. Jesus Montero, C. He was number one on my previous list and remains there. His season has been somewhat of a disappointment but he is still hitting .289 with 7 homers and 33 RBI's. Scouts have said he looks bored in Scranton and that could very well be the case. He proved last year he can handle AAA and this year is no different. Right now he is dealing with smoe back/side stiffness and is on the 7-Day DL but its nothing major. His defense isn't great but its improved a little this season. He would be a borderline backstop defensively in the Majors but that isn't what makes Montero special. He has good power and can hit for average. I am actually very surprised the Yankees have not made him the backup to Russell Martin yet like they did with Jorge Posada in the mid to late 1990's. He can use the challenge and a little love from the Yankees might go a long way. And, if the Yankees want to use him as a trade chip, having him show he can handle the Big Leagues would be a huge advantage.

2. Manny Banuelos, SP. He had a fabulous Spring Training this year but has regressed a little at AA but he retains the #2 spot on my list. His numbers aren't hideous or anything. In fact, his numbers still look quite good. In 16 games this season, Banuelos has compiled a 3-2 record, 3.28 ERA, and has struck out 77 in 74 innings. His one bugaboo so far has been his walks. He has allowed 39 walks this season after only allowing 25 in 64.2 innings all of last year. It isn't anything to get worried about. The stuff is still there. He has the makings of a future ace and the Yankees know it.

3. Dellin Betances, SP. Betances jumps from #4 to #3 and deservedly so. He could overtake Banuelos for the #2 spot at any time. His 2011 season at AA Trenton has been something of a display. He often gets into trouble by walking too many hitters but then proceeds to get out of those jams by striking guys out. So far this season he has a 4-3 record with a 2.62 ERA, and 86 strikeouts in 75.2 innings. He has allowed 40 walks, however, after allowing 22 in 85.1 all of last season. He has shown he can tame the wildness before and I am confident he will be able to do it in the future. What he projects to is either Mariano's heir or a staff ace. It might not be long before Betances is #1 on this list.

4. Gary Sanchez, C. He drops from #3 after a poor showing this year at Low-A Charleston. He was sent to Extended Spring Training after some attitude problems but has since returned and has shown some improvement. He is only hitting .239 at the moment but has 8 homers, which match last year's totals, and 30 RBI's. He is still very young, only 19, so I am sure he will outgrow his attitude problems. His defense has been awful this year, allowing a whopping 23 passed balls. He needs to focus more behind the plate and devote himself to the game. If he does that he could have a higher ceiling than Montero at least offensively. Sometimes kids just need a kick in the ass and Sanchez needs that right now.

5. Bryan Mitchell, SP. Mitchell was drafted by the Yankees in the 2009 Draft. They stole him away from the University of North Carolina with a huge bonus. He throws his fastball in the low 90's with a good slider and an outstanding, knee-buckling 12-6 curveball. It might seem like an awfully big jump for a 20 year-old kid with less than a full season of pro ball under his belt but this kid can pitch. He needs to cut down on his walks which are a result of him wanting to strike everyone out and be perfect all the time. If he learns to pitch to contact sometimes the Yankees could have another ace in their pocket who also has a "B" in his name. He should also be able to add some zip to his fastball as he packs on some weight to his 6'2" 175 lbs. frame. He makes it to number 5 based purely on talent and not statistics.

6. Mason Williams, CF. Williams is another of those toolsy guys and another first-timer on my list. Power was never considered to be a tool Williams possessed but that tool could develop over time. He has speed, an arm, hits for average, and understands the game. He is a pretty darn good outfielder, showing very good instincts and cat-like reflexes in the outfield. He might be a little too aggressive on the bases but he should learn when and where to steal a bag. In many ways he reminds me of a young Bernie Williams with a much better arm. He showed up to Staten Island ready to play this year, raking to the tune of a .325 AVG with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers, 12 RBI's, and 5 stolen bases (out of 9 attempts). The Yankees might have an upgraded version of Brett Gardner in Williams or the next Bernie Williams. Either way I think the Yankees would be happy. He just needs to cut down on the strikeouts.

7. J.R. Murphy, C/3B. Murphy has often been overlooked because the Yankees have like 400 catching prospects that rank. However, Murphy might just be the one who sneaks in and ends up squatting behind the plate for the Yankees. At Charleston he was hitting to the tune of .297 with 6 homers and 32 RBI before earning a promotion to High-A Tampa. He has struggled a little bit since his promotion but you can't base anything on the 41 at-bats he has at that level. He improved his defense significantly, enough so that the Yankees stopped playing him elsewhere on the field and started putting him behind the plate a little more often. He also has a great eye and is pretty hard to strikeout, at least for someone his age (20) and playing at his level. He is versatile enough so that if he doesn't make it as a catcher he can always play the outfield or DH or play some first or third.

8. Slade Heathcott, OF. He is currently on the DL but has earned himself a promotion to High-A Tampa. He still has some makeup issues after starting a brawl by getting hit by a pitch and then turning around and laying out the catcher. He served a 5 game suspension for that act but, considering his background, he has come a long way. He has one of the best outfield arms in all of minor league baseball and his bat looks like it is coming around. He hit .271 with 11 doubles, 4 triples, and 4 homers while amassing 16 RBI's and 6 stolen bases. He has the speed to become more aggressive on the basepaths but like Mason Williams he needs to learn when and where to steal. He should end up developing some decent power, probably in the 15-25 range at the big league level.

9. Andrew Brackman, SP/RP. Brackman entered the season at #5 on my list and closest to making the Majors out of the "Killer B's" but an extremely poor showing at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has eroded some of the shine off his prospect status. Last year, Brackman made major strides, going 10-11 with a 3.90 ERA while striking out 126 and walking only 39 in 140.2 innings. This year, however, Brackman has lost control. He leads the league in walks (51), hit batters (10), wild pitches (14) and has an ugly 7.96 ERA and 1.84 WHIP. He was removed from the SWB rotation and placed in the bullpen but that hasn't helped. The stuff is there but something is missing. His fastball velocity has been up and down, reaching as high as 94-95 and as low as 87 for a game. At 25 years old and having signed a Major League contract after being drafted time is running out on Brackman who could become a free agent after this season or next season, I'm not sure which.

10. Mark Montgomery, RP. So far this year he has pitched in a total of 7 games but that was enough to earn him a promotion from Staten Island to Charleston. On July 1st of this year he struck out 5 batters in one inning. His slider is devastating and it shows in the strikeout totals, 19 in 7 innings. Think about that for a second. Nineteen outs out of 21 were by strikeout. Granted, he did have that 5 in one inning appearance but even if you take those two extra away that is still 17 out of 21 outs made being achieved by a strikeout. He is a reliever to the core so the Yankees don't really have to worry much about innings limits or any of that nonsense that can impede the arrival of pitching prospects in the Big Leagues. The Yankees have proven they will advance him as he earns it, having already done so after only 4 innings at Staten Island. If he keeps it up he could be in the Bronx in a year.

11. Austin Romine, C. Considered to be the better all-around catcher among the Yankees catching prospects, Romine has also swung a hot bat at Trenton this year. He has 11 doubles, 4 homers, and 35 RBI to accompany his .294 AVG. Right now the lack of a roster spot and regular playing time behind the plate at AAA Scranton is the only thing keeping him from being promoted. Once Montero gets promoted or traded then Romine will move up. He was #10 on my last list but the emergence of others rather than Romine's poor play caused a slight drop. One could argue that Romine is better than Murphy but I am taking into account overall prospect status which means Murphy might have a higher ceiling than Romine but Romine will surely be a catcher in the Majors.

12. Adam Warren, SP. He was #8 on my previous list but, like Romine, he slipped due to the emergence of others rather than his lack of production. Warren has done very well for himself at AAA so far, amassing a 6-3 record, 3.20 ERA, and 67 K's over 104 innings. He doesn't strike many hitters out and has a tendency to walk too many but he has a poise that you can't teach and escapes the jams he gets into with minimal damage. He probably won't develop into an ace but he could easily fit into the back end of the rotation and perform similarly to Ivan Nova this season.

13. David Phelps, SP. Like Warren he won't strike many hitters out and pitches to contact. He has gone 4-6 with a 3.38 ERA with 74 K's in 85.1 innings. He won't be an ace but could, like Warren, be a back of the rotation type guy.

14. Tommy Kahnle, RP. Kahnle is, like Montgomery, a strikeout machine. He also has developed a wild streak as he tries to strike every hitter he faces out. He has 64 K's through 50 innings with Charleston this year and could find himself on his way to Tampa soon. He just needs to eliminate some of those free passes, he has walked 30 in those 50 innings. He has held opposing hitters to a .196 AVG and only 1 homer this season but has a 3.96 ERA. The talent is there, he just needs to harness it and use it effectively.

15. Graham Stoneburner, SP. Injuries have really set him back in his development. He is undersized at 6'1" and 190 lbs. but he can bring the heat at 94 MPH. He was pitching well for Trenton this year before an injury sidelined him. He is now making rehab starts with the GCL Yankees. He has a good delivery which explains why he has been able to have the success he has enjoyed. He really needs to develop a second pitch, and maybe a third. If he can get an off-speed breaking ball to be as consistent as his fastball then the sky is the limit for Stoneburner. If not, it looks like a relief role in the majors is where he will end up. I have faith in him and think he could be a viable #3 guy in the Yankees rotation in one to two years. He just needs to stay healthy, get his arm stretched out, and develop another pitch or two.

Honorable Mentions: David Adams, 2B (needs to stay healthy otherwise he makes this list); Brandon Laird, 3B (has struggled at AAA this year); Cito Culver, SS (surprising a lot of people with his bat and arm at SS); Caleb Cotham, P (will make this list once he gets healthy and puts a few innings under his belt); Tim Norton (was on pace to make his MLB debut this year until a career threatening injury derailed those plans. If he can recover from it he can be an excellent middle reliever); Shaeffer Hall, SP (another pitcher in the mold of Warren and Phelps); Ben Gamel, 1B (younger brother to Mat Gamel of the Brewers, can flat out rake).

The Yankees farm system is one of the best in baseball. There are a lot of intriguing prospects scattered throughout the many levels and some of them will develop into legitimate superstars. However, there will also be plenty of flameouts. Right now, the Yankees system has a few power arms but their pitching prospects closest to the Majors are more finesse, pitch to contact types who can either do well or get bombed in the Majors. On the offensive side there are a lot of high strikeout guys but there are some with real potential. Lately the Yankees have been drafting more toolsy type players instead of power hitters. This year, however, they drafted Dante Bichette, Jr. who is a power type prospect. At every single level there are guys to watch and by the end of the season I'm sure my list will have to be changed once again as guys like Zoilo Almonte play their way into contention. Nothing is harder than trying to project baseball players. Ruben Rivera was the next Mickey Mantle and Brien Taylor was the next Nolan Ryan. And nobody knew where Chien Ming Wang came from and few predicted Robinson Cano would develop as he has. That's what makes this so much fun. Nothing is better than watching a kid get drafted and come up through the Minors and then emerge on the Big League scene. All you need is patience.

Swings (and maybe some misses)

-I am big fan of Brad Richards joining the New York Rangers. The fact that he took less money to join the Blueshirts says it wasn't all about the money, as with some past free agents who came to Broadway. He knows John Tortarella and has proven he can win in that system. He brings a playmaking ability, both on the power play and in even strength situations, that the Rangers have been sorely lacking for a couple of years now. While this doesn't necessarily mean that Lord Stanley's Cup is in this team's future, it does mean that at least, as of right now, that gleaming silver has caught the attention of the Rangers. There are still some things that need to happen with the Rangers before we pencil them in. Marian Gaborik has to prove he is tough enough to handle New York and Torts' system. Youngsters like Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Michael Del Zotto, Michael Sauer, Dan Girardi, and Marc Staal, Derek Stepan, and a host of others have to keep improving. And, in the case of Callahan, stay healthy. However, for the first time since Scott Gomez and Chris Drury signed on the dotted line a few years ago, there is real talk of contention. It is my opinion that the Rangers are much better now than they were then.

-Phil Hughes makes his first start since April tonight. He had shown increased velocity during his rehab outings in Trenton so there is always the hope that he comes back and regains the form he showed in the beginning of last season. If the Yankees get that pitcher back they significantly bolster their pitching staff which consists of C.C. Sabathia and the two surprises of Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia. If Hughes is the same pitcher he was at the beginning of last season then A.J. Burnett becomes the fifth starter by default which isn't a terrible thing. And, if anything happens to anyone there is always Ivan Nova waiting in Scranton.

-I can't help but wonder when Derek Jeter is finally going to reach 3,000 hits. If I had to guess it will come at home against Tampa Bay tomorrow or Friday. Yeah, I know I went out on a limb. I'm also betting that it come on a ground ball.

-The more I think about what the Yankees did with Ivan Nova the more I get a little miffed at the Yankees. Here was a guy who was really starting to turn the corner in his pr career and could be blossoming into a solid #3 starter and then bam! Down to the minors. The Yankee leadership said it was best for his development. Really? Giving the kid the impression that no matter how well he does he was never in the Yankees plans. Telling the kid that basically Freddy Garcia has more upside than you do? He seems like a level-headed enough youngster that maybe this doesn't really bother him. But, then again, he is young and was pitching the best baseball of his MLB career and he still couldn't hold down a job with the Yankees. Can't be good for anyone's confidence. With all that said, I don't envy the choices Brian Cashman has to make. Nova was pitching well but so was everyone else except A.J. Burnett. It probably wouldn't be the best thing for Nova to move to the bullpen because he takes a while to warm up and it also is a different form of pitching. Personally, gun to my head, I probably move Garcia into the bullpen, or Colon. Colon hasn't pitched this many innings in years and has had several injuries to his arm over that span. Garcia is having what is basically a career year and he is like 50 years old at this point. I just don't like "rewarding" kids with a demotion when they are playing well. Nor do I like stunting their development so that an aging veteran who doesn't have near the amount of upside can live off a Yankee Legacy like Jorge Posada is doing. Sure, Posada is hitting right now but is this Jorge really better than a Jesus Montero right now? No. Or, the Yankees could ease Montero into the bigs by sending Frankie "Throw it to Centerfield" Cervelli down to AAA and letting Montero catch a game or two a week and get a start at DH every now and then like the Yankees did with a young Posada.

-Added to the Yankee prospects to watch list are Cito Culver, the Yanks first round draft pick last year and Mark Montgomery, a relief pitcher with Low A Charleston who has struck out 16 batters in 6 innings. Culver, the man whom Keith Law said had no business being a first round pick is hitting .299 with 15 RBI's in 18 games. I'm not saying Culver is going to be the next Jeter but he is making real strides. And, for those interested, this year's first round draft pick Dante Bichette, Jr. is hitting .159 but has 15 walks in 13 games and only has 9 K's. He has something you can't teach there and for an 18 year-old kid thats not a bad start. However, it's Mason Williams that will soon be rocketing up prospect lists, especially if he keeps hitting like he is.

-Mets fans have something to be excited about and the name is Matt Harvey. Here is what ESPN's Keith Law said about Harvey as he heads into the Futures Game "Harvey was the seventh pick in last year's draft and came into pro ball boasting a plus fastball with good downhill plane and a solid average-or-better changeup but struggled with both breaking balls. Reports this year have the breaking balls improving but the changeup regressing -- which would still leave him a three-pitch guy, plenty to be a front-line starter given the strength of his fastball. Harvey tore through high Class A, which is what you'd expect a first-rounder drafted out of the ACC to do. He has made one start in Double-A, giving up four runs and allowing 11 baserunners in four-plus innings." The stuff is there with Harvey and I personally think he will be a future ace for the Mets, especially if they the ballpark as it is.

-For those of you expecting some sort of rant about the All-Star Game rosters, sorry. I just enjoy the game for what it is nowadays. It's always nce to see certain guys make it but its not like not making an All-Star team is like like losing a Gold Glove vote to a DH like Tino Martinez did to Rafael Palmeiro who only played 25 games at first.

Ready for the Next Step

I have given you my top ten Yankees prospects. Now I'm going to give you the pitchers and position players about ready to burst onto the prospect radar.

Tim Norton, RP. OK, so he is 28 years old which is old for a prospect. However, everywhere Norton has gone he has dominated. He is currently in his fifth minor league season and has been bitten by the injury bug. He began his minor league career as a starter but has taken to relief work like a moth to flame. He has a big frame, at 6'5" and 230 lbs, Norton creates a presence on the mound. He has a mid-90's fastball but can reach back for a little something extra when needed with a changeup and slider/splitter. Norton has whiffed 195 batters in 168.2 career innings while walking only 38 during the same span. So far in this young season he has pitched 1 inning and fanned all three batters he faced at AA Trenton. Because of his past injuries, the Yankees would like to see him stay healthy for an entire year but he could be called upon either this year or next to fill a void in the bullpen. I definitely see Norton contributing in the Bronx in the near future, possibly filling a David Robertson-type role. Right now he is at AA Trenton but will be in Scranton before the year is out, if not in the Bronx.

Slade Heathcott, OF. The Yankees 2009 first round draft pick came to the Yankees with a ton of promise but was considered very raw and a few teams questioned his maturity. Since joining the Yankees organization Heathcott has displayed maturity and a hard-nosed playing style both in the field and on the bases but has shown an excellent eye at the plate which is unusual for a player as young as Slade. Last season he was at Low A Charleston and at the age of 19 hit .258 with 2 home runs, 30 RBI, and 15 stolen bases in 25 attempts. He did strike out 101 times in only 298 at bats with 42 walks mixed in. Slade has a lot of work to do to reach elite prospect status but the tools are there, including a rocket arm and blazing speed. This year he is back at Charleston (and is off to a hot start already equaling his home run output from last season in 1 game and adding 2 doubles and a triple to go along with 6 RBI's...not bad for 3 games, eh?). The Yankees won't rush him, allowing him to hone his skills. However, a few years down the road and this kid could be the starting center fielder. Get ready to be thrilled if this kid puts it together.

J.R. Murphy, C/3B. The Yankees are stocked at catcher with Jesus Montero, Gary Sanchez, and Austin Romine all ranking among the Yankees top prospects so Murphy is being tried at several positions this year to give him playing time. Like Heathcott, he was taken in the 2009 draft as a second rounder and also like Heathcott he is back at Charleston after having played there last year. Last season at Charleston Murphy hit .255 with 7 homers and drove in 54 with 15 doubles and two triples. Murphy has a little speed for a catcher, having stolen 4 bags in 9 tries. Defensively he is not an elite type catcher and is extremely raw behind the plate. He did play a lot of outfield before being drafted so a switch back there could make it easier for him. Power wise Murphy is currently being predicted to grade out around 20 homers which might not be enough from a corner outfield position. Right now it seems like the Yankees are prepping him to be a super platoon player, able to play the outfield, both corner infield positions, and catcher. It will be interesting to see how his bat develops with all of these new positions being thrown at him but he could develop into an above average ballplayer at the big league level.

Mason Williams, OF. This guy can run. The son of former NFL wide receiver Derwin Williams, Mason has that "toolsy" label which means the talent is there it just has to be developed. About the only tool Williams doesn't have right now is power. He was the Yankees 4th round draft pick last season and only played in 5 games last season for the Gulf Coast League Yankees so there isn't much professional experience to draw upon but scouts ranked him as a first round talent but the Yankees were able to snatch him up in the 4th round due to the thought he would opt for college instead of signing. However, the Yankees enticed Williams with a little extra cash. Prior to the draft scouts compared him to a Doug Glanville type player which isn't a bad player to have on your roster. He could end up being a Brett Gardner/Greg Golson type player who uses his speed and defense to get on a big league roster. If he develops some power he could be a legit star. It will be a while before he gets to the Bronx.

Rob Segedin, 3B. Segedin entered last season's draft with a reputation as one of the better college hitters in the draft. He raked to the tune of .434/.518/.788 (AVG/OBP/SLG) at Tulane with 14 home runs. Injuries pushed him down on many draft boards and the Yankees grabbed him up in the 3rd round. He has suffered from back and shoulder injuries in the past and these could hinder his development if they persist. However, if he manages to stay healthy he could move up the ladder quickly due to his college experience. The Yankees will take their time with him unless he forces their hand by playing extremely well. Has drawn a lot of comparisons to Brandon Laird which is either a good thing or a bad thing.

Thomas Kahnle, RP. Kahnle is an interesting case. The Yankees nabbed him in the 5th round of the 2010 draft. He fell in their laps because of signability concerns because he was a draft eligible sophmore (like Segedin) and teams thought he would have higher salary demands but he signed with the Yankees for $150,000. Kahnle has been clocked up to 99 MPH but his fastball, his best pitch, usually sits around 94-96 MPH. He made his professional debut last year for Staten Island and quickly made an impression striking out 25 batters in only 16 innings and allowing only 1 run and three hits. Three hits! He did walk 5 batters which is a little high for only 16 innings but is understandable for a guy in his first pro year at 20 years old. If he develops a good secondary pitch to offset the speed of his fastball he could be the Yankees closer of the future. At the very least he should be an excellent middle reliever like Daniel Bard is now for the Red Sox. Kahnle could make his Yankees debut sooner rather than later if he can command the strike zone. Since he was a starter in college and is a reliever now innings shouldn't be a problem in his development. I wouldn't be surprised if he finds his way to AA or AAA this season and the Bronx next year.

Ramon Flores, OF. This kid, who is only 19, has an uncanny batting eye. In 3 professional seasons split between the Yankees Dominican Summer League team, Charleston, Tampa, and the GCL Yanks, he has only struck out 82 times in 515 plate appearances while managing 64 walks. He took some time to develop but broke out last season with the GCL Yankees, raking to the tun of .329/.436/.481 (AVG/OBP/SLG). He was only 18. Even more impressive was he walked more than he struck out, 28 BB's to 22 K's. I don't know if he will develop into a big power hitter since he is only 5'10" and 150 lbs. but the line drives should fly off his bat. He will be joining Slade Heathcott, JR Murphy, Rob Segedin, Thomas Kahnle, and Gary Sanchez at Charleston this year, making Charleston one of the more exciting Yankee affiliates this Summer. His knowledge of the strike zone and his ability to slap balls should make Flores a fast-tracker up the ladder. Not too fast but fast for a 19 year old hitter.

Any Yankee minor leaguer you want to know about leave a comment.