What About Kroenke?
By Mike Silva ~ November 21st, 2009. Filed under: Yanks Minors.
The Yankees announced seven additions to their 40 man roster yesterday. The one surprise for me was the exclusion of Zach Kroenke.
Last December Kroenke was selected by the Florida Marlins in the Rule V draft. He got very little playing time in spring training, and when he played was ineffective, and was offered back to the Yankees.
Kroenke had a great year for the Scranton Yankees limited opponents to the .213 BAA and a 1.99 ERA. He has struggled in the AFL giving up 10 runs in 15 innings, but actually slightly increased his strikeout rate from the regular season. Could his AFL struggles be cause for the exclusion?
Jed Weisberger talked about excluding Kroenke from his Top 50 Yanks Prospects list on Sunday describing Kroenke as a “decent reliever” and pointing out his spring struggles as reason to believe Zach may have “hit a wall” in his development. Again, not a knock on Kroenke, but not exactly a ringing endorsement. I think it’s too early to write Kroenke off, but he is entering his age 26 season and need to show that he is not the next 4-A pitcher.
The other thing to remember is the Yankees are loaded with left handed reliever. You have Phil Coke and Damaso Marte on the big league roster with Michael Dunn waiting in the wings. That obviously could have played into the decision.
Chad Jennings points out that it’s not easy for Rule V draftees to stick. If Kroenke is not protected I expect a team to select him again this year. Lefties are just too valuable to pass up. The Mets need a second lefty and Kroenke would be an inexpensive choice. Of course, they may just do what they did with Darren O’ Day and let him walk for nothing.
