04/17: News & Notes - The Minors
Posted by: James
Mike A. over at In George We Trust has done a great job of keeping abreast of player notes in the minors and if you check his last few posts, he'll back me up on some of these observations. He's also created a Philip Hughes watch on the left side of the page so if you like, you can keep track of the best Yankee pitching prospect since Brien Taylor (as I knock on wood, trees, throw salt over my shoulder, etc. etc.). So far, Hughes has looked pretty good in high A Charleston and barring injury, I can see him moving to AA Trenton pretty easily before the year is out.
In AA Trenton, Stephen White almost pitched a no-hitter, going into the eigth inning before giving up a hit. Playing at Commerce Bank Park, which was literally 2 miles from where I used to work, White dominated the Harrisburg Senators but the bullpen eventually gave up the game. Stephen White is an interesting case - he was the Yankees 4th round (124th overall) selection of 2003 draft and pitched well going into last season. However, he blew up in AA (6.44 ERA in 50.1 innings) but he did recover to pitch well in very limited innings in the hitter-friendly AFL. Hopefully this season, he can hopefully recover his prospect status (he turns 25 in June) and start to extend his arm a little bit (he maxed out at 129 innings in 2003), especially if he plans to remain a starter. (Update - another very good start by White - that's 3 in a row)
Speaking of no-hitters, former Yankees prospect (26 year-old Ben Julianel almost got one himself, pitching a perfect game into the seventh. Julianel, a power throwing lefty was a reliever in the Yankees system (and was traded for Ron Villone) but it looks like the Marlins are trying to stretch him into a starter.
In AAA, 25 year-old Darrell Rasner's first start was very impressive and through two starts (I know...small sample size), his numbers are pretty intriguing. Hopefully, he can keep it up and if (I originally wrote when here) Jaret Wright either goes down due to injury or ineffectiveness, we'll have a good, young pitcher who can replace him. Colter Bean is also an option but of course, I have a feeling Scott Erickson will probably get the nod instead.
As for the hitters, Colombus boasts 3 guys now who are eminently capable of taking Bubba Crosby's job (if the Yankees were to declare it open). Kevin Thompson and Kevin Reese are the guys most Yankees fans know about but just in case no one has noticed, Melky Cabrera is raking at AAA Colombus. Now, I'm not going overboard and saying he's a future superstar (and yes, I realize that this is a small sample size but he also only turns 22 in August and he's already at AAA) but based on the amount of negativity that surrounded this kid since his ill-fated call-up last year, I thought that it was worth noting. However, Eric Duncan hasn't taken to AAA nearly as well (I still think that the Yankees rushed him to AAA too early) and he needed a 3 for 5 night yesterday just to bring his AVG up to .200.
At the lower levels, Tim Battle (who I was very high on based on his previous seasons) is doing even worse than Duncan in adjusting to a new level at High-A Tampa and reliever Josh Schmidt is showing some uncharacteristic wildness. On a more positive note, Marcos Vechionacci and CF-of-the future Brett Gartner are starting off well. This is good news for both players but to be fair, most people expected this of Gartner as he's 22 and coming off a four-year college career. However, after a .252/.311/.348 year at Low-A Charleston last year, the 19 year-old Vech is justifying the Yankees' faith in his abilities after moving him up to Tampa.
Speaking of Low-A Charleston, my newest prospect crush, Jose Tabata, is hitting well...and I'm tempering my enthusiasm to the absolute best of my ability. Oh, and keep in mind that this kid, and I do mean that, turns 18 in August. Other young guns at Charleston are the two of the Yankees' more highly thought of picks from last year's draft, SS CJ Henry, who isn't hitting well yet but is showing a little better plate discipline, and OF Austin Jackson, who is doing what he does best, getting on and stealing bases.
In AA Trenton, Stephen White almost pitched a no-hitter, going into the eigth inning before giving up a hit. Playing at Commerce Bank Park, which was literally 2 miles from where I used to work, White dominated the Harrisburg Senators but the bullpen eventually gave up the game. Stephen White is an interesting case - he was the Yankees 4th round (124th overall) selection of 2003 draft and pitched well going into last season. However, he blew up in AA (6.44 ERA in 50.1 innings) but he did recover to pitch well in very limited innings in the hitter-friendly AFL. Hopefully this season, he can hopefully recover his prospect status (he turns 25 in June) and start to extend his arm a little bit (he maxed out at 129 innings in 2003), especially if he plans to remain a starter. (Update - another very good start by White - that's 3 in a row)
Speaking of no-hitters, former Yankees prospect (26 year-old Ben Julianel almost got one himself, pitching a perfect game into the seventh. Julianel, a power throwing lefty was a reliever in the Yankees system (and was traded for Ron Villone) but it looks like the Marlins are trying to stretch him into a starter.
In AAA, 25 year-old Darrell Rasner's first start was very impressive and through two starts (I know...small sample size), his numbers are pretty intriguing. Hopefully, he can keep it up and if (I originally wrote when here) Jaret Wright either goes down due to injury or ineffectiveness, we'll have a good, young pitcher who can replace him. Colter Bean is also an option but of course, I have a feeling Scott Erickson will probably get the nod instead.
As for the hitters, Colombus boasts 3 guys now who are eminently capable of taking Bubba Crosby's job (if the Yankees were to declare it open). Kevin Thompson and Kevin Reese are the guys most Yankees fans know about but just in case no one has noticed, Melky Cabrera is raking at AAA Colombus. Now, I'm not going overboard and saying he's a future superstar (and yes, I realize that this is a small sample size but he also only turns 22 in August and he's already at AAA) but based on the amount of negativity that surrounded this kid since his ill-fated call-up last year, I thought that it was worth noting. However, Eric Duncan hasn't taken to AAA nearly as well (I still think that the Yankees rushed him to AAA too early) and he needed a 3 for 5 night yesterday just to bring his AVG up to .200.
At the lower levels, Tim Battle (who I was very high on based on his previous seasons) is doing even worse than Duncan in adjusting to a new level at High-A Tampa and reliever Josh Schmidt is showing some uncharacteristic wildness. On a more positive note, Marcos Vechionacci and CF-of-the future Brett Gartner are starting off well. This is good news for both players but to be fair, most people expected this of Gartner as he's 22 and coming off a four-year college career. However, after a .252/.311/.348 year at Low-A Charleston last year, the 19 year-old Vech is justifying the Yankees' faith in his abilities after moving him up to Tampa.
Speaking of Low-A Charleston, my newest prospect crush, Jose Tabata, is hitting well...and I'm tempering my enthusiasm to the absolute best of my ability. Oh, and keep in mind that this kid, and I do mean that, turns 18 in August. Other young guns at Charleston are the two of the Yankees' more highly thought of picks from last year's draft, SS CJ Henry, who isn't hitting well yet but is showing a little better plate discipline, and OF Austin Jackson, who is doing what he does best, getting on and stealing bases.
Mike A. wrote:
He's at Low-A Charleston and has given up 3 H and 1 BB in 7 IPs (0.00 ERA), and struck out 6 with a 10-4 GB/FB ratio. It's still early in the year, but he'll be one heck of surprise if he keeps this up.