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Chamberlain, Kennedy promoted

Yankees move top pitching prospects to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
July 24, 2007
KANSAS CITY -- Both of the Yankees' prized first-round pitching prospects from last year were promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre late Monday, with right-handers Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy moving up to the organization's top farm team.

Yankees manager Joe Torre didn't rule out that the move could spell future callups for both players this season, given appropriate situations and needs.

"You never know," Torre said. "I think Cash [general manager Brian Cashman] is curious. It's giving them something a little bit closer to being in the big leagues to deal with."

Chamberlain, 21, ranks third in the system with 115 strikeouts and had Cashman on hand for his last start on July 20 at New Britain, where it was speculated the Yankees might consider promoting Chamberlain to help the Major League bullpen.

Cashman said last weekend that Chamberlain would remain in the rotation at this time, but Torre left open the possibility, saying that he would leave such decisions in the hands of his player evaluation personnel.

Kennedy, 22, was the Yankees' top pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, and is 11-2 between Class A Advanced Tampa and Double-A Trenton. He leads all Yankees farmhands with 129 strikeouts and is second with a 1.85 ERA.

In corresponding moves, the Yankees sent Tyler Clippard and Chase Wright -- both of whom appeared in the Major League rotation this season -- to Double-A Trenton.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com.