1. Jesus Montero, C (A+)- Montero is a super-prospect who somehow hasn't garnered a lot of press outside of hardcore Yankee fan circles. On the scouting scale Montero rates a perfect score, 80, for power. WOW. A catcher with 80 power!? He's been compared to A-Rod as a hitter, and although raw defensively he isn't too shabby at catching either. At age nineteen he hit .326 and belted 17 homers, showing that he's already motoring past the competition. There's no doubt in Hal Steinbrenner's mind that this guy is the Yankees future, not just at catcher, but their leader.
2. Dellin Betances, SP, (B+)- Betances is probably the least known top prospect out there. I'm not sure why that is, especially because hes 6'7" and throws a 96 mph fastball and a Barry Zito curveball. He struck out 139 hitters in 115 ip in 2008, and showed flashes of absolute brilliance. He'll break into the Yanks rotation by 2010, and he'll be loud.
3. Austin Jackson, CF, (B+)- Austin Jackson doesn't have the ceiling that most top prospects have but what he does have is a great glove, paired with decent contact hitting He's a bit better than Melky Cabrera, and for most teams that would be great for a center fielder but for a team with a $200 million dollar annual payroll that's barely so-so. He had a down year in 2008, but in 2007 he hit above .300 and at least looked like he could hang with the big boys. He'll never be stellar, but Adam Jones seems like a good comparison. .300-15hr-15sb-75rbi and a GG sounds right.
4. David Robertson, RP, (B+)- Robertson showed some nasty stuff in his debut with the big club in 2008, but he also showed inconsistency. Either way, with his stuff and ability its a wonder that the Yankees haven't tried him as a starter. Regardless, he'll be a sure shot fantastic pitcher in the next few years. He throws a biting 12-6 curve and a 93-95 mph riding fastball. He's likely the safest bet here to make the team in 2009.
5. Mark Melancon, CL, (B+)- Melancon is the Yankee's closer of the future. Coming out of college as the top closer of the draft, Melancon was swiped up by the Yankees and almost immediately slotted at closer in Trenton. He had miniscule 1.81 era in 2008 at Trenton, and showed that he'll be dominant in the MLB with his diving slider and his 95 mph fastball.
6. Austin Romine, C, (B+)- The second half of the awesome catching duo that the Yankees have been blessed with, is Romine. He doesn't have the hitting ability that Montero does but isn't that far behind him either. Romine hit .300 in 2008 and smacked 10 homers in a half season. Theres no reason not to think that he'll end up a Dioner Navarro. His defense is really what separates him from other top hitting catchers. He has an absolute rocket arm, maybe the best among any minor league catcher. In my opinion he should play for one and a half more minor league seasons, and then get a spot with the Yankees.
7. Phil Coke, LHP, (B)- Coke had great numbers in Trenton with an ERA in the mid 2's. He has good stuff, a 94 mph fastball and a sweeping slider--both great offerings from a left hander. He's generally looked at as a starter, but his fantastic 14 ip in his September call up have made him appealing as a set-up man for the short term.
8. Andrew Brackman, SP, (B)- Brackman is a 6'9" fireballer from NC State. He missed 2008 after having Tommy John surgery, but his stuff was clearly back by the time he pitched in the Arizona Fall League. He may not be a starter for long, but as a reliever he could be the Yank's next closer.
9. Humberto Sanchez, SP, (B-)- Sanchez had TJ surgery in 2008 and missed the season. Still he's a big guy and he has good stuff. He came from the Tigers in 2007 and he's been a favorite of GM Brian Cashman ever since. He'll compete for a bullpen spot in Spring Training, but his injury history and recovery will be two things that'll limit his value to the big club.
10. Kevin Russo, 2B, (B-)- Kevin Russo is the Yankees' version of Alberto Callaspo or Eric Aybar. He hit .307, got on base 36% of the time and played slick defense in 2008 for Trenton. I like his style of play and think he should push Cody Ransom aside for a Utility spot with the big club in 2009.
11. Eric Hacker, SP, (B-)- What Hacker is most known for is his making the Yankees 40 man roster over quite a few prospects that we've actually heard of. He's a good pitcher with fairly average stuff. What he gets a bump up in the grading for is his polish and superior control. He places his 92 mph fastball well and his changeup is a plus pitch. He could be an innings eater in the form of Glen Perkins.
12. Wilkins De La Rosa, (B-)- The lesser known of the two fireballers for the River Dogs, De La Rosa isn't as good as Betances, but he still shows heavy potential. His mid nineties fastball and 12-6 curve are plus pitches and if he can get a better feel for them, and sure up his control he'll be a solid to plus third or fourth starter in the MLB. His ceiling is higher than a fourth or fifth, but he's young and raw, and the hardest type of player to project is a young, raw, talented pitcher from a different country.
13. Eric Duncan, 3B-1B, (B-)- Duncan gets the unlucky 13 because he's been, well, unlucky. He was considered one of the Yankees' best prospects prior to his being rushed through AA and then AAA. Ever since his showing in the New York Penn League back in 2003, Duncan has regressed to the point where he slugs below .400 and hits below an acceptable clip. He smells a lot like Drew Henson without the hype, but if he can pull it together, he could be a Wilson Betemit or Eric Hinske.
14. Alfredo Aceves, SP, (B-)- Aceves isn't really a prospect, he's already 27 and he's already played professionally in Mexico. Either way, Aceves is a solid pitcher. He had a good debut with the Yanks in September 2008, but his stuff is bland and average. He throws an 88-91 mph fastball and curve and a change, all average pitches. He has good control and stamina and may very well make the Yanks 'pen in 2009. He's better than the 14th best prospect but his ceiling is a heck of a lot lower than an Andrew Brackman or a Dellin Betances.
15. Juan Miranda, 1B, (B-)- Miranda has put up good numbers after defecting from Cuba in '06. He's an extremely patient hitter, walking 55 times in half a season in 2009, and he belted 12 homers while batting .289. The fact that his fundamentals are so solid poses well for his future, and he doesn't strike out much, another good plus. His rating will go up if he shows any improvement at all, and he could very well be in the Yanks' top 5 by mid 2009.
16. Marcos, 2B/SS, Marcos Vechionacci, (B-)- Vakio is a hell of a fielder, rated as the best arm in the Yanks' system by Baseball America now that Tabata is gone. His hitting isn't too shabby either, he hit a few points over .300 with Trenton in 2008. His only minus is his power, or lack there of. He hit no homers in 2008 and doesn't look any better than a doubles hitter. Power comes with age and contact can't be taught, so he has that going for him. His potential is Alberto Callaspo II.
17. Anthony Claggett, RP, (B-)- Claggett is a good relief prospect for the Yankees and was protected from the rule 5 draft when Cashman added his name to the 40 man roster. His stuff is solid, but again not too intimidating and that's what places him this low. His ERA was a paultry 2.15 in 2008 and he'l be a potential filler in the 'pen in 2009.
18. J.B. Cox, CL, (C+)- Cox has near unlimited potential with the ability to be a high B or even A player. His slider is a perfect 80 on the scouting scale and he has a 93 mph fastball working with some sink. In 2006 he had a 1.75 ERA with Trenton and showed that he could be very good in the near future. Another guy who'll be given a easy shot at the 'pen in 2009.
19. Brad Suttle, 3B, (C+)- Suttle is on the rise through the Yankees' minor league system. He had an '804 OPS in single A in 2008 and slugged 11 homers in half of a season. He makes a lot of errors at third but his range is above average and he's still young, only 21 winters. He looks like the Yanks' version of Mark Reynolds.
20. Alan Horne, SP (C)- Horne was a top prospect in 2006 when he posted an era of 3.11 and struck out 165 batters in 152 ip. Since coming off TJ surgery though, Horne's star has fallen and he put an ERA above 5.00 up with Scranton in 2008. If he can pull himself together he could still be a top five prospect in no time. He has plus stuff, B stuff, and he has plus control.
21. Chase Wright, LHP, (C)- Wright used to be a plus prospect but when he was called up he was absolutely humiliated by the Red Sox and gave up a record 4 consecutive home runs. Wow, that mustn't feel to good. The Yankees were embarrassed and sent straight back to AA and we haven't heard a peep from him since. Still he has good control and a very good changeup but he has a tendency to stay in the strikezone too much.
22. Francisco Cervelli, C, (C)- Cervelli has a decent sealing, playing a lot like Jason Kendall. He does a good job making contact and usually hits about .300 in the minors, and his glove is very very good. really his only problem, besides experience, he has only 5 homers through 575 professional at bats. Still, he'll make a move for the Yanks' third catcher in '09, especially with Posada's wrecked shoulder.
23. Emerson Landoni, INF, (C)- Landoni is a rookie leaguer and is very raw. He makes good contact and hit .310 in 2008, but his power is still developing (his OPS was well below .800).
24. Neall French, 1B/3B, (C)- French is a corner infielder, spending most of his time at first base, with a pretty good bat. He hit .345 in about a 1/5 of a season in '08 and could hit 15-20 homers in the bigs some day if he keeps getting better.
25. Wilkins De La Rosa, SP, (C)- De La Rosa is young and raw but showed some flashes of brilliance in'08 when he posted a 2.29 era with Charleston and won seven games against only three losses. His strikeout numbers were a little low, but they could improve when he learns something besides a fastball.
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