2010 Minor League Thread!

[nykgeneralmanager]

Scranton roughed up Zach McAllister last night...I hope he ends up as a success

Montero is done for the season with minor surgery for a staph infection

Warren relieved Pettitte last night and put on a show, 6 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts

[TKF]

Every single top pitching prospect in this system has been downright incredible, I have no idea how to even rank these guys anymore...and that includes #1 (although for me Banuelos has that spot locked, but I can understand if people prefer Betances).

Just look at the last starts for some of these guys...

Banuelos: 5 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 3 BB, 5 K in AA (started in low-A coming back from an emergency appendectomy or else he would've started in high-A)

Betances: 4.2 innings, 2 hits, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
5.2 innings, 3 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K in AA (started in high-A)

Brackman: Has pitched too well to list all his starts, but over his last 4 starts: 22 innings, 18 hits, 1 ER, 6 BB, 16 K...solid 0.41 ERA in AA (started in high-A)

Warren: His last 3 starts: 18.2 innings, 12 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 27 K including that record setting 15 K performance in AA (started in high-A)

Noesi: Made his AAA debut the other night: 6 innings, 7 hits, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K in AAA (started in high-A)

DJ Mitchell: Promoted to AAA last week, his last start: 7 innings, 1 hit, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K in AAA (started in AA)

Stoneburner: In his last 9 starts he has allowed more than 1 ER just three times (2 runs once, 3 runs twice). On the year in Tampa he has a 2.48 ERA with 74 hits in 98 innings, 24 BB, and 89 K. Would've been nice to see him get bumped to AA since he is 22 years old, but the younger Banuelos/Betances are obviously better prospects and got promoted first. (Started in low-A)

Ramirez: 3.60 ERA, 115 innings, 106 hits, 42 BB, 105 K in low-A and has recently been shut down for the year to protect him. Pitched all season in Charleston, but next year will definitely start in Tampa and we will see him begin to move through the system if he pitches well.

Marshall: In his last 6 starts: 36 innings, 17 hits, 2 ER, 6 BB, 25 K...0.50 ERA in low-A, started in the GCL


So every pitcher has performed at a ridiculous level, and nearly all of them have seen promotions and continued to pitch extremely well.

The crazy part of the list is that we traded Vizcaino in the offseason who would be top 3 on this list, Garcia, Bleich and Cotham have been hurt all year, McAllister and Melancon have been traded, and Nova has been promoted to the major league club and has saved the rotation so far. I also didn't include Phelps because he isn't a "top" prospect, but his numbers are as good as all these guys and at a higher level in AAA. Imagine if we were able to add those guys to the list?

The Yanks have some damn good people working in this organization making this all happen. There is going to be a pipeline of pitching coming in the next 2 years. I actually feel bad for Cashman since hes the guy who has to figure out who is worth keeping and who isn't.

good post. It is amazing how our farm system has gotten so good when in the past it was never this good or deep. I also thank guys like you for keeping some of us informed of what is going on in the minor leagues. I really don't follow the farm system that much, but with all of the info you guys provide, I feel well informed.. thanks again.. great work.

[Pharmcat]

seeing guys like golson and miranda, im wondering, are there any bats down in the minors other than montero? or is this an area the FO needs to now focus on?

[rappa]

Montero isn't just any bat, he's prob the best overall hitter in the Minors right now when you mix in power + average + age. He will be a fixture in the lineup for years to come. As for other impact bats, there aren't many spots to be taken in the NYY lineup, but most of them are further down as the organizational philosphy in the draft was to get pitchers. That philosophy has changed this past draft where the focus was on up the middle position players but even with that philosophy, most of them are still a few years away, while our pitchers will be ready to contribute by as early as next season (Brackman, Betances, Banuelos, Warren, Phelps) just to name a few.

Where the Yankees draft, its near impossible to get a Longoria/Braun/Zimmerman type of bat, so they try to get their hitters from International FA signings. Coming up in the system is Gary Sanchez, who has a comparable bat to Montero but with a ton more athleticism and the ability to stay behind the plate and be above average. However, most of their hitting talent is in the lower levels except for Brandon Laird and Austin Romine.

I also find it rather funny that you forget Brett Gardner is only in his second year in the bigs, and Eduardo Nunez is also a rookie. Golson and Miranda were only playing because Girardi pinch ran for both swisher and tex. 3-4-5 hitters don't grow on trees, so complaining that they were playing is just being a fairweather fan. The Yankees lineup as it is constructed doesn't have any openings, other then C. Jeter/AROD/CANO/TEX/SWISH/GARDNER/GRANDERSON aren't going anywhere for the near future so while the young guys in the lower system develop, as they get ready, some of these guys will be nearing their end.

[nykgeneralmanager]

Guys like Golson and Miranda are fringe prospects, nothing more than bench players or AAA players. Nunez is a legitimate bat, but his defense kind of leaves him with no real position unless you want a below average SS/3B.

There are some serious bats coming up though, Laird was arguably the best power hitter in all of minor league baseball this season. He doesn't really have a position either, spending time at 1B, 3B, and the OF. However his bat will have him in the majors somehow, even if he ends up on the bench. He'll be up next year sometime.

Corban Joseph is a superb hitter as well, hes just a pure hitter and as consistent as they get. He isn't the best defensively but better than someone like Nunez. He's probably another year away.

Romine is also in AA, he didn't have a great year with the bat but he was solid, hes still young and it was his first full season where he was the main catcher so that certainly drained him towards the end of the year.

I would say this next wave of guys (Nunez, Laird, Joseph, Romine) are way way way better than the guys we've seen come through as injury replacements recently (Golson, Miranda, Curtis, Huffman, etc.). Those guys were organizational fillers, the next wave of guys are top 20 prospects in the system. And that doesn't even include Montero. Gardner is the only one that has really stuck around but he has exceeded expectations, and Austin Jackson had a nice rookie year in Detroit.

So to answer the question, finding bats doesn't really have to be a serious focus of the organization. Its a cycle, you go through a period where you bring a bunch of guys up at the same time and then a lull. We saw Cano, Wang and Melky come through together. Then we saw Hughes, Joba, Kennedy, and Robertson come through together. Now we'll see some of these guys come through together. We'll also see the pitchers come at the same time, especially Brackman, Warren, Noesi, and I'd throw Nova in their group. Then down the pipeline you have the Sanchez, Flores, Heathcott, Murphy group and the Banuelos, Betances, Stoneburner pitching group.

Wow, this farm is kind of loaded.

[rappa]

Nunez is not below average defensively by any means. His problem coming into the year was footwork and throwing accuracy and he improved in both areas dramatically. He went from being error prone on lazy mistakes to being voted the best defensive ss in the international league.

Laird is good, but he is all bat and needs to stay with his approach and build on his breakout year. He can be a serviceable 4th of hopefully if he continues to hit and maybe even more. As for Corban Joseph, he is a good hitter who's glove is way behind his bats. He is still young and should start in AA next year, however a guy I forgot to mention who could move quickly is David Adams. He was absolutely having a BREAKOUT year, .309/.393/.507 before he got hurt sliding into second base.

Adams is a guy who was regarded as a top 20 talent going into his junior year, slumped, fell to the 3rd round where the Yanks scooped him, got him corrected and have been seeing his true talent shine. I'm lookign forward to seeing HUGE seasons next year from the following under the radar prospects:

David Adams
Abe Almonte
Ravel Santana
Brett Marshall
Brian Mitchell
JR Murphy
Melky Mesa (A little old for his league this year but legit 5 tools)
Yeickoc Calderon

If you don't know about Ravel Santana, just look at his numbers this year in the DSL: .322/.440/.533 with 22 sb, 10hr and a 35/38 bb/k ratio. He is as exciting as a young player the yanks have ever had with true 5 tool ability and showing it at such a young age. He would have been in the GCL but getting him a visa has taken longer then expected.

[moocow007]

Dellin Betances, Brandon Laird and Ryan Pope were added to the 40 man roster protecting them from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. George Kontos was not added, therefore exposed to the draft.

[Pharmcat]

seems like cash is trying to build a powerhouse farm system?

[nykgeneralmanager]

As is every GM

[moocow007]

Ravel Santana was ranked by some scouts as the best offensive prospect in DSL. Received a max rating of 80 in both Power and Speed ratings. One weakness was in Strike Zone judgment (59) but also received a high ranking of 75 in Ability to Reach Base. Sounds like a young Alfonso Soriano type (though Santana is listed as a OF'er).

[Pharmcat]

law ranked the yanks farm at 9 and the RS at 11, that cant be right?

[rappa]

Oh its right...

Montero #4
Banuelos at #12 over drabek, hellickson, chapman, and casey kelly.
Sanchez #67
Betances #73
Brackman #88

Says romine just missed and this is the strongest the yankees system has been in talent / depth since he started doing the rankings 3 years ago.

Hmm wait, how many years ago did cashman get full autonomy? right..... what an odd coincidence

[Pharmcat]

Oh its right...

Montero #4
Banuelos at #12 over drabek, hellickson, chapman, and casey kelly.
Sanchez #67
Betances #73
Brackman #88

Says romine just missed and this is the strongest the yankees system has been in talent / depth since he started doing the rankings 3 years ago.

Hmm wait, how many years ago did cashman get full autonomy? right..... what an odd coincidence

i just cant believe RS would be at 11 when they dumped 4 prospects this winter in that trade, thought they would be lower

[JustCame]

Now that Pettitte is gone. Is it time for Manny to replace him? (;

[nykgeneralmanager]

Soon