Highlighting top Yankees prospects for '10
We break down the top five prospects for each organization for 2010, taking into consideration: games, at-bats, innings and major-league service time. We expect these players to have rookie status remaining heading into next year.
According to MLB rules: "A player shall be considered a rookie unless, during a previous season or seasons, he has (a) exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the major leagues; or (b) accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a major league club or clubs during the period of 25-player limit (excluding time in the military service and time on the disabled list)."
Note: Statistics are those at each stop in the minors this season and age represents how old they will be on opening day 2010.
New York Yankees
A banner year by the highest-paid team in baseball was a boon at the box office -- even at their inflated new Yankee Stadium prices -- and allowed so many of the organizational prospects to stay down on the farm to season. It will quietly do those guys a great service long term. The Yanks have premium pieces that could get another whole season developing in the minors.
1. Jesus Montero, C, 20
The Yankees have their Jorge Posada replacement en route to the big leagues and he promises to be a productive player in Fantasy, too. The soon-to-be 20-year-old (anti-Dioner Navarro) hit a combined .337 with 17 homers, 70 RBI, 45 runs, .370 on-base percentage and .562 slugging percentage in 347 at-bats between high Class A and Double-A. Posada won't be retiring, but his age makes him a risk and could get Montero a look in 2010. Long term, we see a potential top five Fantasy catcher, but he could get off to a slow start in the major leagues initially like so many young catchers before him.
2. Zachary McAllister, SP, 22
McAllister has that prototypical workhorse size that makes him a potential starting option for the Yankees in 2010, if they have an injury or decide midseason Joba Chamberlain belongs in the bullpen for good. The 2003 third-round pick out of an Illinois high school continued to exceed expectations, going 7-5 with a 2.23 ERA, .220 batting-average against, 96 strikeouts and 33 walks in 121 innings pitched. The best part about his numbers is he is a groundball pitcher who gave up only four homers. Those pitchers tend to improve and not decline at the higher levels, where the infields are better kept and the defenders are more skilled.
3. Austin Jackson, OF, 23
Jackson got a full season in Triple-A, going .300-4-65-67-24 (.354-.405). His power hasn't really developed yet, but his speed is apparent with his steals and nine triples. He won't have a lineup spot with the Yankees, but he could make a Fantasy impact in Rotisserie leagues next season if he is dealt or the Yankees are hit by injury.
4. Austin Romine, C, 21
In many organizations, Romine would be considered a solid catcher of the future. With the Yankees, he might be relegated to trade bait in 2010 or backing up Montero long term. Romine has the look of a solid everyday catcher with some offensive potential in his own right, though. Despite being a year older than Montero above, he spent the entire season in high Class A, going .276-13-72-61-11 (.322-.441). His bat is not as good as Montero's, so he will have to close the gap with his better glove.
5. Andrew Brackman, SP, 24
The Tommy John survivor had less than stellar numbers in his first full season in the pros, but he remains a potential front-line starting pitcher prospect. Pitching in low Class A ball at 24 (he was drafted in Round 1 in 2007, knowing he would need Tommy John surgery), Brackman posted (2-12)- 5.91-.266-103-76 numbers in 106 2/3 innings pitched. Clearly, he has work to do and he should being 2010 back in high Class A. Consider him a potential sleeper to rise quickly thereafter, though, considering his age and being another year removed from major surgery.
Best of the rest: Juan Miranda, 1B; Brad Suttle, 3B; Abraham Almonte, OF; Dellin Betances, SP; Mark Melancon, RP; D.J. Mitchell, SP; Ivan Nova, SP; Zachary Heathcott, OF; John Murphy, C; Adam Warren, SP; Humberto Sanchez, SP; Romulo Sanchez, SP; Alan Horne, SP; Jeremy Bleich, SP; Jairo Heredia, SP; Kelvin DeLeon, OF; Carmen Angelini, SS; Manuel Banuelos, RP; David Robertson, RP; Mike Dunn, RP; Christian Garcia, SP; Arodys Vizcaino, SP; Brett Marshall, SP; George Kontos, SP; and RP Kameoka Texeira, RP.
2009 rookies to exhaust eligibility (expected): Brett Gardner, OF; Ramiro Pena, UTL; Alfredo Aceves, RP; Phil Coke, RP; Jonathan Albaladejo, RP; and Francisco Cervelli, C.
Last year's top five here: Betances (needed Tommy John surgery), Montero, Jackson, Gardner and Sanchez.
You can e-mail Emack your prospect questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Prospects in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions.
