26
 |
Votes |
Drafted: '06, 1st round (21 overall)
|
|---|---|---|
| 95 | ||
| Previous Rank | ||
| NA | ||
| ETA in Majors | ||
| 2008 |
His buddy Joba Chamberlain may have created more buzz with his big-league splash, but what Kennedy did in his first season of pro ball should certainly not be overlooked. The MiLB.com Overall Starting Pitcher of the Year pitched at three levels on his way to the big leagues. He won't light up radar guns like Chamberlain, instead relying on outstanding command of four pitches to get hitters out. He did show that despite the plus fastball, he could miss more than enough bats to succeed.
Just when he'll get a chance to do that in New York remains to be seen. Of the Yankees' young pitchers, he's the one most likely to start the year in Triple-A, though there is an outside shot he could begin the year at the back end of the Yankees' rotation. Either way, look for him to contribute more in the bigs than the three starts he had in 2007.