dellin had a real nice second half, showing progress with his BB rate and racking up the K’s…..he should be ahead of brackman

heredia was one of the youngest guys in the SAL league and all the numbers checked out - 57% GB rate is especially promising….very under-rated right now

This kid just flat out gets results.

Good enough to warrant a $525K bonus, and backed it up in the DSL as a 17-year-old by hitting well (.315), showing a little pop despite a frame that he can grow into (27 XBH in 254 AB), showing that he can take a walk (34 BB) and stealing 30 bases. He’s listed at 5’11", 155 right now, and one assumes that he’ll grow another inch or two and add 20-30 lbs. Granted, it’s hard to know how this will all translate to the States, but he is from Venezuela, and I think those guys generally don’t have as many problems assimilating to the States as kids from the Dominican. He’s one of my favorite sleepers, regardless of organization.

And my assertion that kids from the Dominican have a harder time assimilating is just based on gut. I wonder how one would go about quantifying or qualifying that pulled-from-my-ass hypothesis….

i know his numbers haven’t been the best but i think he has a chance to be an average mlb 2nd. Also, got to love Melancon and his hammer curve.

The Yanks have a couple of guys that failed as position players that are making nice progress now as pitchers, but since they’re old for their leagues they don’t get much notice.

Mike Dunn LHP - Spent 2008 in the FSL at 23 years old. Solid fastball and “plus” slider from a lefty. Lack of change may move him to the bullpen for 2009, but profiles as a solid MLB bullpen arm. Supposedly is a bulldog competitor, and he’s already on the 40 man roster.

Wilkins de la Rosa LHP - Spent most of 2008 as a 23 year old in the SAL, but was bumped up to the FSL for a short stint at the end of the season. He’s been praised for his mechanics, and has a mid 90s fastball, a very good changeup, and is working on a slider. Was moved to the rotation at Charleston midway through the season and things really came together — he’d been posting BB rates over 15% in the bullpen, but ratcheted that down to the 6% range from the rotation. Also on the 40 man roster.

Other arms to consider:
George Kontos - 3.65 FIP, 152 Ks, 134 hits allowed in 151 innings at AA as a 23 year old in 2008 (still needs to improve with walks though).

Christian Garcia - 3rd round pick in 2004, has always had the stuff/numbers, just can’t stay on the field due to injuries. Missed all of 2007 with shoulder problems, but had a very nice return to the FSL in a 50 inning stint last yar.

DJ Mitchell - 10th round 2008 draftee from Clemson. Athletic RHP only started pitching in 2006. Has a heavy sinking 90 MPH 2-seamer, 93 MPH 4-seamer, average changeup and slurve. No pro data yet, but I really like him as a sleeper if the Yanks staff can get his offspeed stuff up a tick.

Manny Banuelos - 5’10, 155 lbs 17 year old put up great numbers in a short stint the GCL in 2008. Low 90s fastball, and has solid command of his curve and change. I think he was simply “too good for his own good” against the hitters there, since I doubt most GCL batters are used to facing pitchers that can control their offspeed stuff like Banuelos can. I’d like to see the Yanks challenge him by sending him to Charleston in 2009.

Jesus Montero (B+)
Austin Jackson (B+)
Dellin Betances (B)
Andrew Brackman (B)
Zach McAllister (B)
Austin Romine (B)
Mark Melancon (B-)
Alfredo Aceves (C+)
Jairo Heredia (C+)
Bradley Suttle (C+)
Jeremy Bleich (C+)
Phil Coke (C+)
Brett Gardner (C+)
Humberto Sanchez (C+)
Juan Miranda (C+)
Francisco Cervelli (C )
Brandon Laird (C )
Alan Horne (C )
George Kontos (C )
Pat Venditte (C )
Christian Garcia (C )
David Robertson (C )
Jonathan Albaladejo (C )
Jonathan Ortiz (C )
Eric Hacker (C )
Edwar Gonzalez (C )
Damon Sublett (C )
Ryan Pope (C )
Kelvin de Leon (C )
Yaikco Calderon (C )
Eduardo Sosa (C )

I’ve always like him and he has put up good numbers almost every year. I’ve also heard his stuff is slightly above average across the board. Can someone explain to me why he isn’t as highly touted a prospect? Is my information on him just inaccurate?

that any of these prospects will ever play for the Yankees? There is not a potential star among these players and the only two prospects that have shown the upside to stay in the system, Chamberlain and Hughes, appear to been rushed and have health issues. Hughes looks unlikely to even be in the ML rotation this year. It looks like the yankees will not risk using any systen player other than Chamberlain. The yankees are all about buying the best developed talent, either in FA or using these guys in trade.

both are very risky (Garcia coming off TJ, De La Rosa converted from OF last year), but have very high ceilings.

IMO this system has a lot of depth, especially when it comes to starting and relief pitching. Obvious attrition at AA and a lack of top level hitters bring it down. The Charleston team was very good last year - those guys and the GCL team are the future the system.

My intuitive top 20 (not based off John’s scale):

1. Montero B+
2. Jackson B - like him, don’t love him. However, I do like him better than Andrew McCutchen.
3. Betances B - command came back in 2nd half last year.
4. Brackman B- - lottery ticket
5. Melancon B- - nearly finished product.
6. Garcia B- - high risk, high reward
7. McAllister B- - would be very good if he had an out pitch. Good innings eater for now.
8. Romine B-
9. Sanchez B-
10. DeLeon C+ - bonus baby
11. De La Rosa C+
12. Cervelli C+ - Overlooked because of Elliot Johnson taking him out last year.
13. Suttle C+ - Along with Sublett, one of a few hitters who could break out and give them a decent trading chip
14. Horne C+ - bleh, injuries.
15. Sosa C - Leadoff hitter type they signed for a decent bonus.
16. Angelini C - Bonus baby who will repeat Single-A.
17. Sublett C - Never heard from him last year after the injury.
18. Almonte C - Good tools, needs to repeat Single-A.
19. Whelan C - Good velo, command issues.
20. Cox - C - Could do better a year removed from TJ.

others: Phil Coke (needs more of a track record), Ramiro Pena (no bat, good glove), Colin Curtis, Kontos (just a reliever), Jairo Heredia (very overreated), Marcos Vechionacci (hey, he wasn’t terrible before getting hurt in 2008), Stephen Jackson, Laird, Bleich

I might have forgotten a guy or two though:

#. Name (Rating) - (Projected Opening Level)

1. Jesus Montero (B++) - (High-A)
2. Austin Jackson (B+) - (Triple-A)
3. Dellin Betances (B) - (High-A)
4. Mark Melancon (B) (Triple-A)- will get some heat for this I bet
5. Andrew Brackman (B) - (High A)- if the reports that he was hitting high-90s are true, I don’t see why not. He might take a little time with the control though.
5. Zach McAllister (B-/B) - (High-A)
6. Jairo Heredia (B-/B) - (High-A) - what he did for his age and level is just plain impressive
7. Austin Romine (B-) - (High-A) - hopefully Posada’s replacement
8. Brett Gardner (B-) - (MLB) Historically a slow starter at new levels; his combo of speed and walks could make him an excellent leadoff guy in the Yankee line-up; solid D also
9. Jeremy Bleich (B-) - (High-A)
10. Christian Garcia (C+/B-) - (Double-A)
11. Francisco Cervelli (C+/B-) - (Double-A)

Then the C+ guys:
David Robertson (Triple-A/MLB?), Jon Albaladejo (Triple-A/MLB), big fan, Wilkins de la Rosa (High-A), Brandon Laird (High-A), Bradley Suttle (High-A), Phil Coke (MLB), Kelvin de Leon (SS?), Alan Horne (Triple-A), Humberto Sanchez (Triple-A), George Kontos (Triple-A), Juan Miranda (Triple-A), Alfredo Aceves (MLB), Damon Sublett (High-A), Arodys Vizcaino (SS?)

Then the C guys: Justin Snyder (High-A), Eduardo Sosa (SS?), Carmen Angelini (Low-A), Kyle Higashioka (SS/Low-A), JB Cox (Triple-A), Abraham Almonte (Low-A), Kevin Whelan (Double-A), Anthony Claggett (Double-A), Ramiro Pena (Triple-A), Pat Venditte (High-A)

The kid isn’t just a circus act, he’s pretty good with both arms.

Yankeee system right now is tough, there’s a lot of depth but very little up top right now due to recent graduation and flamouts. my thoughts is that they have a ton of B to C+ guys but no truely B+ or A guys right now.

I am a big follower of Jesus and I agree, at this time he is not a B+ or A - YET. He definitely will be, it will be a couple of years though. The good news is, I think if he has the patience, and works his way through the minors system, he will be the #1 contender as Posadas replacement. Posadas contract should give him the time. He will certainly have the talent and ability to take over when the time is right. He has the power right now, and is working on his defense. Although the Yankees have a lot of talent at the catchers position, I honestly think he will be the future starter. (So long as the Yankee organization has the PATIENCE)

As they have guys like Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Al Aceves, Humberto Sanchez, Dave Robertson, and Frankie Cervelli that have touched the MLs but will likely start out in AAA.

I’m a big fan, so I try to read a good deal on the system. Here’s my best guess on where they would stand:
Jesus Montero - B+
    If he can stay at catcher, he’s an A/A-, but I think he makes it to B+ on the bat alone;
Austin Jackson - B
    Not sure what the grade should be, but I think he’s going to be avg/slightly below avg O with + D. He’s very streaky…like J Upton without the same upside;
Dellin Betances - B
    Seems like he finally put it together in the 2nd half (like some others have mentioned). Top of the rotation stuff;
Zach McAllister - B-
    Probably good for the 3/4 as an innings eater when all is said and done. I’m a big fan. I think he could rise fast if needed;
Mark Melancon - B-
    Again, I don’t know what the ranks should be, but he’s got a + FB, + CB, avg+ CU, with good command, an efficient approach, and the “closer” mentality. I think he could work a 7/8 innings for NYY out of ST, but they’ll probably keep him in AAA until they can work out some 40-man issues or he forces their hand;
Andrew Brackman - B-
    True he’s a great talent, but he is very, very raw, and already 23;
Christian Garcia - B-
    I’m very big on him. If he can get his FB completely back after him TJ surgery, then he has top-of-the-rotation stuff;
Austin Romine - B-
    I’d put him at a B if not for the marginal reports coming out of HI. He had a monster 2nd half at Charleston;

Other B-/C+ guys for me would be Bleich (good job by Opp and team on scouting him), the latin trio of Vizcaino, Heredia, and Banuelos, Suttle (who had an ok year despite the injuries), and maybe Sosa and Laird could be C+. I’m not a big fan of Kontos, as I think he’ll end-up in the BP, or DeLeon, as he strikes out way too much in the DSL for my taste.

I think Alan Horne, and Nik Turley could surprise this year. Horne could work out if 2008 was related to a non-arm or shoulder related injury, and he reverts to 2007 form. Nik Turley is a 6’6" or 6’7" LHSP drafted out of high school. After working with the staff, he showed a plus curve and flashed a plus change. If he can get to the gym and increase his weight from 195 to 220 or 230, then hopefully his avg fb can jump from 89ish to 92 or 93. Nardi Contreras, as well as the GCL coach, both raved on the guy’s ability and work ethic.

I like Cervelli a lot. He has every, single tool you want in a receiver except for power. He can hit for average, he has a great eye that draws walks, and most importantly, his skills behind the plate grade out very, very high. He calls a great game, mows down runners, blocks the plate, pitchers love working with him and he’s a fiery team-leader type. After being injured for most of the year, he came back to hit .315 and post a .432 OBP for the year in his AA debut, so he seems to have no problem raising his level and assumed a team leadership role in winning the Eastern League.

Everyone raves about his intangibles, and if his receiving skills are as good as advertised, he won’t need to hit a ton of homers to be a big asset behind the plate for a major league team. He seems to have a very similar profile to Dioner Navarro.