The future success of every Major League team lies in its Minor League system. With that in mind, each preseason, MLB.com takes a top-to-bottom look at all 30 organizations, from top prospects to recent draft picks. It's a brave new New York Yankees world, and a far cry from the day when prospects had nowhere to go except to another team for an established player. This year Joba (do we really need a last name?), Ian Kennedy, no-longer-rookie-but-still-prospect Phil Hughes and company are the latest additions to what is becoming a startlingly homegrown crop. There is much more on the way, primarily in the pitching department. A terrific starting staff that helped lead Double-A Trenton to the Eastern League title, coupled with a trio of upper-level pitching prospects on the mend from Tommy John surgery, gives the Yankees as much pitching depth as any team in baseball.
10 Spot
Ten prospects to watch out for in 2008:
Dellin Betances, RHP After posting a 1.16 ERA in seven starts in the Gulf Coast League in 2006, Betances had a 3.60 ERA in just six starts at Short-Season Staten Island in '07 that ended early due to forearm tightness. Though he threw well in instructional league, rumors surfaced that he might be headed for Tommy John surgery but Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations Mark Newman put those to rest.
"He's healthy and he's going to be starting at (Class A) Charleston," Newman said of Betances, who throws a mid-90s fastball and plus curveball. "He had some bumps and bruises but nothing serious. If he throws 120 innings and gets in his 20-25 starts we'll be ecstatic. He's got obviously high-caliber stuff."
Brett Gardner, OF Though he missed a month with a broken hand, he hit .300 at Trenton and .260 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, combining for 39 steals in just 99 games between the two stops. He followed that up by hitting .343 in the Arizona Fall League, where he made up for lost time.
A smart and savvy player who stays within his game, he has an outside shot at breaking camp with the big club but is more likely headed to Scranton.
"He's outgoing, aggressive and puts the ball in play," Newman said, "And he runs like the wind."
Alan Horne, RHP
The Eastern League Pitcher of the Year with Trenton, he went 12-4 with a 3.11 ERA in 27 starts there, striking out 165 in 153 innings with a fastball in the low 90s, curveball, slider and changeup.
Austin Jackson, OF #ques_include {width:300px;float:right;margin-left:5px;} #ques_content {border-top:1px solid #000000;border-left:1px solid #000000;padding-left:5px;} .ques_schedule {margin-top:5px;font-size:11px;} .ques_dates {font-size:11px;font-style:italic;color:#999;} 
An 2005 eighth-round pick who was also a basketball recruit at Georgia Tech, Jackson is an outstanding athlete and defensive outfielder who is still refining his game.
Jeff Marquez, RHP
And if anyone felt the Yankees-Mets rivalry at Double-A, it was Marquez. Against the Mets' Binghamton club, he was 0-5 with a 7.94 ERA in six starts, while going 15-4 with a 2.67 ERA against the other 10 teams.
Daniel McCutchen, RHP
The 25-year-old throws a fastball, a plus overhead curve and a changeup and projects to start the year back in the Trenton rotation after enjoying his first Major League camp.
Mark Melancon, RHP He brings closer stuff with a fastball in the low to mid-90s and a curveball along with great makeup to the table, and his fastball is already touching 92-93 in his comeback. Melancon got back in the swing of things early, throwing an inning in one of the first intrasquad games, and is expected to start the season in the Florida State League until it warms up a little up north, at which point he should join the Trenton or Scranton bullpen.
Jesus Montero, C Montero hit .280 with three homers and 19 RBIs there and will make the jump to Charleston to start the year. "He has really good hands and arm strength is refining his throwing mechanics," Newman said. "He can really hit it a long way and isn't a swing-and-miss guy."
Humberto Sanchez, RHP When healthy, he boasts a plus fastball and slider and they are looking forward to seeing him back at full strength by mid-summer. In his last season with the Tigers, Sanchez posted a 1.76 ERA in 11 starts at Double-A Erie and a 3.86 in nine starts at Triple-A Toledo before being shut down with the elbow trouble that forced the surgery, striking out 129 in 122 innings.
Jose Tabata, OF He's come into camp in peak shape and the club is excited to see what he does with the move up to Trenton this year, knowing he will, as usual, be one of the younger players in his league.
"He looks outstanding, in great physical condition," Newman said. "He's gained some weight but is back down to 210 and has been very disciplined and productive this offseason and is maturing as a player in terms of his preparation."
Under the Radar
Juan Miranda 1B
"He'll be a good guy for people to pay attention to," Newman said. "He has some ability and it will be interesting to see what he does this year."
Scott Patterson, RHP A potential Minor League free agent, the 28-year-old was added to the 40-man roster to keep him from looking elsewhere.
"We don't have many guys like him, nor do most teams," Newman said. "He's 6-foot-7, throws straight downhill, throws a big curveball for strikes and doesn't get hit very often."
Edwar Ramirez, RHP In his big-league debut, he posted a less eye-opening 8.14 ERA but Newman thinks he could do a lot better this year.
"It's hard to believe his strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio in the Minors," he said. "People just don't do that, so he'll get a shot."
David Robertson, RHP
He combined to go 8-3 with an 0.96 ERA between Charleston, Tampa and Trenton, striking out 113 in 84 innings with a plus curveball, slider and fastball in the low 90s and could continue to be a fast riser.
2007 Draft Recap
RHP Andrew Brackman (first round), the Yankees' top pick out of NC State, won't pitch until 2009 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. A basketball star as well, he stands 6-foot-11 and has the heat to go with the size. ... C Austin Romine (second round), the son of former Major Leaguer Kevin Romine, has raw power and a plus arm. ... 2B Damon Sublett (seventh round) hit .326 with eight homers and 53 RBIs at Staten Island. He was joined in that lineup by IF Braedyn Pruitt (14th round), who hit .347 to lead the organization, and IF Justin Snyder (21st round), who batted .335 with five homers and 40 RBIs there. ... 3B Brandon Laird (27th round), whose older brother Gerald catches for Texas, hit .339 with eight homers and 29 RBIs in the Gulf Coast League.
Predictions
Organizational Player of the Year: Austin Jackson
Organizational Pitcher of the Year: Jeff Marquez
Comeback Player of the Year: Mark Melancon
Top Candidate for AL Rookie of the Year:
Quotable "We think he could pitch at Triple-A right now but he only has six or seven innings under his belt, so we'd like to give him a little time to adapt." -- Mark Newman, talking about closer prospect Mark Melancon, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery. Lisa Winston is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs. | ||||||||||||||||
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