Do you know what that list is based on? Potential, overall talent, highest ceiling? If I was doing a grade of overall talent I'd go
1)Phil Hughes SP
2)Austin Jackson OF
3)Mark Melancon, RHP
4)Andrew Brackman, RHP
5)Jesus Montero, C
6)Ian Kennedy RHP
7)Dellin Betances, RHP
8)Zach McAllister, RHP
9)Phil Coke, LHP
10)Alfredo Aceves

Not a bad 10 I suppose. Give Hughes & Brackman all the time they need to develop and we will eventually have a very solid 1-5. I hope Andrew isn't rushed due to his Major league contract.
I'm curious as to why Hughes and Ian Kennedy are nowhere on the above list.

Could see a possible rotation of
C.C
Wang
Joba
Hughes
Brackman in 2 or so years.
With Mcallister/Bleich/IPK/Betances/Aceves competing for a chance to see the rotation.
One solid sleeper would certainly be Wilkins De La Rosa. He's posted solid numbers everywhere so far.

Thanks for the comment and for sharing your thoughts. :)

For details on how BA ranks their list, please see: http://www.baseballamerica....

Hope that helps!

Thanks,

Patrick

Upon further inspection I've decided to redo the list. Tell me what you think Pat.

1)Phil Hughes SP
2)Austin Jackson OF
3)Mark Melancon, RHP
4)Andrew Brackman, RHP
5)Jesus Montero, C
6)Dellin Betances, RHP
7)Austin Romine C
8)Zach McAllister, RHP
9)Phil Coke, LHP
10) Ian Kennedy RHP

#1 Phil Hughes SP
Obviously #1 for his talent and ceiling. Has to develop a consistently dominating cut fastball & 12-6 curveball to satisfy overzealous Yankee fans. We still have to remember he's 22. Could help form a very devastating rotation in the near future with Wang, Joba & company.

#2 Austin Jackson OF
When Reggie Jackson says your a star I tend to believe it. Jackson has hit .300 as an 18 year old and recently came away from a pretty good year at AA and will likely start spring training at AAA with an outside chance at the big league roster. I think he needs to steal more bases and maintain a solid approach at the plate and work on extra base hits(33 in AA) and defense(3 ER in 131 at AA) for the new Yankees stadium. As with Hughes, Jackson is still 21 so it's important to let him develop.

#3 Mark Melancon RHP
Gets the #3 spot because of Talent, Ceiling and Major league readiness. After going through A, AA, AAA in 08 after Tommy john Mark's last goal is to shore up the end of the Yankee bullpen in 09. Could form a very good(young) bullpen in the near future with Robertson. One caution is the talk that the Yankee have used him too often too long. Hope arm problems wont be an issue.

#4 Andrew Brackman, RHP
There are a number of people who say that Brackman could be one of the most talented from the vaunted 07 class(Price, Wieters, LaPorta, Bumgarner). A natural athlete who has yet to harness his true abilities Brackman is only reaching the tip of his talent after TJ surgery. I hear his velocity is back and he's working on fine tuning and developing a third pitch to be an effective starter. I think he can make a steady transition to the bullpen in work case scenario. I was personally hoping Porcello fell but Brackman is an interesting one to watch.

#5 Jesus Montero C
The first a number of future Yankee catchers. As Texas what it's like to have a surplus of catchers, they are in numerous talks because of a surplus most teams dream of. At 18 to hit .325 with 17 home runs and 84 RBI in A makes you a true stud. "Montero is reported to be the best player and to have the best power of any 2006 international signees according to numerous sources. Only 4 errors in 132 games, so he's no slouch on defense either. hit a home run in his only at bat before being assigned to minor league camp. I'm personally excited.

#6 Dellin Betances RHP
Funny to see he's from Brooklyn(thats where I currently reside), What's not funny is he's played in more games this year than in 06+07 Combines(12-22) and he's finally gotten a chance to show his raw talent. Had a respectable 3.67ERA to go with a 9-4 record. Strikes out a ton(135 in 115 innings) but will need to cut down on the BB9(4.60) to make a successful transition from the minors to the big show.

#7 Austin Romine C
Another talented player from the 07 draft. Romine is one of a number of Yankee catching prospects(Montero, himself, Romine) who will either switch positions due to position crunch, be utilized for their defense or traded for another position. As I stated above, having good catching prospects is a wonderful thing and will help in getting help in other premium areas. Split catching duties with Montero and it will be interesting to see how each develops. He had an impressive season with the RiverDogs, hitting .300 with 24 doubles, 3 triples, 10 home runs and 66 runs scored.
*Currently splitting catching duties with Giants' prospect Buster Posey in Hawaii Winter League.

#8 Zach Mcallister
As a junior, McAllister went 11-1, 0.74 ERA with a 107-11 K/BB ratio as the staff ace (aside from hitting .475 with 12 doubles, 6 homers and 35 RBI. He amazingly improved on that by going 12-1, 1.04 ERA, 116-13 K/BB as a senior, also hitting .486 with 13 doubles, 6 homers and 38 RBI for the Grey Ghosts. Could have gone in the first round if he hadn't signed in the 3rd round. I think the Yankees got a steal(NY gave him a $368,000 bonus, roughly $28,000 over slot and enough to buy him out of his college commitment.)
Zach has scrapped a sinker/slider combo for a sinking two-seamer and a straight four-seamer that sits somewhere in the low 90’s, occasionally touching 94. If Zach can develop his changeup to complement his other pitches he can find himself playing in some big games soon. Scary to think he's only 20 years old.

#9 Phil Coke RP
6 foot 1, weighs 210 pounds, and sports a fastball that sits between 92-94 MPH and a sharp slider in the low to mid 80s. Not what you call an ideal prospect but I was impressed with his poise, command and heart on the mound. Will look to round out a young bullpen with Ramirez, Robertson and possibly Melancon or could be sent down if he struggles. Regardless he's an intriguing pitcher I'll certainly keep an out on.

#10 Ian Kennedy RHP
People Often forget Ian is still 23 and was rushed to the majors a bit too fast for my liking. It was very premature to think a 23 year old was going to hold the back of the rotation down and Yankee fans soured on kennedy after his cocky YES interview. He has much to learn in AAA to make those good minor league numbers translate to the majors and justify that high draft status.

That rounds out my new top 10. Looks pretty good to me. I hope the picks they get from Abreu & Marte aside from this years(24) & last years failure to sign cole(28A).
The future looks very bright if this years draft can be a success.

Thanks for the comments. :) It looks fine, but keep in mind that certain players are ineligible for the BA list because they have logged time in the Majors. So, that's why Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy wouldn't have been included/considered.

See: http://www.baseballamerica....

Thanks,

Patrick