NYBD Top 50 Yankees Prospects
By Jed Weisberger ~ November 9th, 2009. Filed under: Jed Weisberger, Yanks Minors.
Ranking the best 50 prospects in any organization is never easy. Injuries, unexpected performance and many other factors affect careers in both the minors and majors.
I can say that I have seen most of these players perform, some throughout a whole season. Take these ratings – as all really could be digested – with a grain of salt.
Look back at these perhaps in 2012. Who made it. Who didn’t. Who was traded and became a star elsewhere.
Players come out of nowhere and rise quickly. Pitcher Alfredo Aceves comes to mind. Others fall quickly. Pitcher Alan Horne was on the cusp of the majors after a 12-4, 3.11 season with Double-A Trenton in 2007, earning Pitcher of the Year honors in the Eastern League.
Since then, injuries have ruined two seasons.
“I know what to do on the mound, but I just can’t do it,’’ said Horne, just before he was shut down in 2009.
Other highly regarded pitchers, such as Dellin Betances, due to injury, and Andrew Brackman, due to control issues, head into 2010 as question marks. On the other hand, David Phelps will be riding high in April, but will he be shot down in May?
Will Pat Venditte’s switch-pitching act play in Double-A?
As Frank Sinatra crooned, ”That’s Life.’’
Here is how the Yankees’ Top 50 Prospects look on my watch in November. Things could change radically, beginning with spring training:
THE TOP 10
1 Jesus Montero – Ready to put up big numbers in 2010, starting in Trenton after hitting .337 (117-for-347) with 17 homers and 70 RBIs in 92 games between the Thunder and Tampa. Broken finger ended his season and he is hitting just .115 (3-for-26) with Magallanes of the Venezula Winter League.
2 Austin Jackson – Certainly big-league ready defensively. Hit .300 (151-for-504) with Triple-A Scranton. Power has not come, but remember power is the last tool to develop. Depending on roster moves, will see time in New York in 2010.
3 Zach McAllister – At 7-5, 2.23 and a strikeout/walk ratio of 96-33, he was named an Eastern League All-Star. Has the pinpoint control and mound manner to be a solid No. 3 starter. Ticketed for Triple-A in 2010.
4 Francisco Cervelli – Hit .298 (28-for-94) in 42 games with Yankees. Fun guy to be around and good hitter, just not for power. Yankees backup backstop until either Romine or Montero dislodge him.
5 Austin Romine – Ahead of Montero in technique behind the plate. Footwork and release improving. Batted .276 (122-for-442) with Tampa and will get a test at Trenton in 2010.
6 David Phelps – Righty put together a breakout 2009, much like lefty Phil Coke did in 2008. Went 13-4, 2.38 with a strikeout/walk ratio of 122-31 between Charleston and Tampa. Notre Dame product has 2010 spot at Trenton waiting for him.
7 Kevin Russo – Those who haven’t seen this guy play can’t appreciate how good he really is. A Brett Gardner type, but a solid infielder with more power. Batted .326 (115-for-353) while playing 90 games at Triple-A Scranton.
8 Eduardo Nunez – A deserved Eastern League All-Star. Some decried his 31 errors, many made on hurried plays. Was Trenton’s best player and batted .322 (160-for-497). If you feel Nunez’s 31 miscues were too much, then look up Derek Jeter’s minor-league stats and check his error total when he was at Greensboro in the early 1990s.
9 Ian Kennedy – Healthy, more mature and experienced. Both he and Chien-Ming Wang are being ignored by many in looking at the Yankees’ 2010 rotation.
10 Ivan Nova – Curve and changeup developed in 2009, helping his 94 mph fastball be more effective. Was 6-8, 3.68 with Trenton and Scranton, but is not that far away.
THE REST
11 Adam Warren
12 Brandon Laird
13 Juan Miranda
14 Manuel Banuelos
15 DJ Mitchell
16 Andrew Brackman
17 Kevin Whelan
18 Brad Rulon
19 Damon Sublett
20 Daniel Brewer
21 Lance Pendleton
22 Dellin Betances
23 Slade Heathcott
24 George Kontos
25 Deangelo Mack
26 Corban Joseph
27 Neal Medchill
28 Pat Venditte
29 Josh Schmidt
30 Kelvin DeLeon
31 Brad Suttle
32 Melky Mesa
33 Michael Dunn
34 Reegie Corona
35 Wikins Arias
36 Jimmy Parades
37 Abraham Almonte
38 Austin Krum
39 Hector Noesi
40 Alan Horne
41 Jon Hovis
42 Eric Wordekemper
43 Christian Garcia
44 Jose Valdez
45 Edwin Walker
46 Gavin Brooks
47 Jose Pirela
48 Phiip Bartelski
49 Raymond Nunez
50 Humberto Sanchez
November 9th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Not usually one to complain about prospect lists, because everyone has their own opinions and values things differently. I can’t understand at all how Arodys Vizcaino is not on this list, though.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:34 am
How come Pena isn’t on that List? or did I miss him? IMO He is better than Corona.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:39 am
@GiantsFan He isn’t considered a prospect anymore because he was in the Bronx for most of the season. Kennedy isn’t eligible to be a prospect anymore either, though, so I don’t know.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
no J.R. Murphy?
November 15th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Saw Mike Dunn pitch in AZ – he’s what they have WANTED to get out of Phil Coke – great location and velocity.
November 19th, 2009 at 2:07 am
Is there a reason Zach Kroenke isn’t on this list? I think he’ll develop very nicely as a lefty reliever.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Josh
Jed Addressed this on Sunday’s show. He downgraded Kroenke based on his performance during the spring with Florida. You can download Jed’s appearance during our Top 50 Yankees Prospect Show. Jed comes on about 35 minutes in.