Zachary “Slade” Heathcott | OF

Background
A hardcore Texan, Heathcott attended Texas High School in Texarkana, which is right on the Texas-Arkansas border. In addition to playing football, he starred both on the mound and in the outfield for the Tigers. Heathcott was named First Team All-District as both a sophomore and junior, and also took home MVP honors of the WSSSA World Series as a sophomore. He hit .456 with a 1.98 ERA as a freshman, .489 with a 1.89 as a sophomore, and .530 with a 1.23 as a junior.

Limited mostly to DH duties as a senior because of a torn ACL and a jammed throwing shoulder, Heathcott hit a staggering .472-.523-1.097 in his final season of high school. After missing the first playoff game because of academic issues, Heathcott led Texas High to the state championship last June by picking up the save in the Title Game, the first time he pitched since tearing his ACL. Committed to Louisiana State, last year’s NCAA baseball champs, Heathcott was considered signable if taken early enough in the 2009 Draft.

Baseball America ranked Heathcott the 10th best prospect in Texas and the 72nd best prospect overall just before the draft. Keith Law ranked him 51st overall. Regardless, the Yankees loved Heathcott’s tools and selected him with their first round pick, #29 overall. It was the compensation pick they received for failing to sign first rounder Gerrit Cole in 2008. The team announced that they signed Heathcott to a $2.2M bonus on the August 17th signing deadline, double the estimated slot recommendation of $1.1M, and equivalent to 7th overall pick money.

Pro Debut
After signing, the Yankees assigned Heathcott to their rookie level Gulf Coast League affiliate. He appeared in just three games, going 1-for-10 with a walk and two strikeouts. He played center field twice, serving as the designated hitter in the other. Heathcott also took part in fall instructional league in October.

Scouting Report
The term “five-tool prospect” gets thrown around a bit too much, but Heathcott legitimately has that kind of ability. He’s an outstanding athlete with above average speed, and his arm is very strong and accurate, what you’d expect from an ex-pitcher. Already able to cover large swaths of ground in the outfield, Heathcott does need to improve his reads and quicken his first step. He’s a true centerfielder, and there are no concerns that he’ll outgrow the position anytime soon. At worst, his arm would play just fine in right.

At the plate, Heathcott has good bat speed but his swing needs to be ironed out to produce consistent, hard contact. He’ll get away with it in the low minors because of his athletic ability, but it’s something to watch out for down the road.  At 6′-1″ and 196 lbs, Heathcott has thick, strong build that should allow him to hit for average power down the road. His speed also works well on the bases. As cliche as it sounds, Heathcott is a true grinder. He plays all out all the time, sometimes to his detriment (the jammed shoulder he suffered as a senior came when he dove for a ball), so he’s sure to be a fan favorite.

There are conflicting reports about Heathcott’s upbringing, leading to questions about his character. In this in this interview at NoMaas, Slade confirmed that he hasn’t lived with his parents for two years because of  “things that happened that [he has] no control over.” Previous rumors indicated that both of Heathcott’s parents were out of his life due to drug related issues, however that information remains unconfirmed. Trouble at home would lead to questions about his ability to discern right from wrong, no matter how fair or unfair it may be.

You can see Heathcott’s scouting video here.

2010 Outlook
Unlike pitchers, the Yankees aren’t shy about sending high school position players to full season ball in their first full professional season. Heathcott figures to start the 2010 season as the every day centerfielder for Low-A Charleston, and is likely to stay there the entire season.

My Take
After hearing that the Yanks had a hard budget for the first time in years, I was worried that they would target a low ceiling, high probability college player with their first pick. Heathcott is anything but that, so I approve. I will, however, say that I think they overpaid him by quite a bit, he’s just not the kind of talent that warrants 7th overall pick money. Heathcott has the potential to grow into an exciting power-speed combo in centerfield, and he’s the most dynamic position player prospect the Yankees have drafted since Austin Jackson and CJ Henry in 2005.

Photo Credit: Evan Lewis, Texarkana Gazette

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Prospect Profile: Slade Heathcott

Background
Born just outside of Morristown in Florham Park, NJ, Duncan grew up a Yankee fan and idolized Paul O’Neill. He spent most of his childhood in California, moving back to New Jersey when he was in the eighth grade. Duncan attended Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange and set school records for batting avg (.536), hits (52), homers (12) and RBI (60) as a senior. He was named the Gatorade New Jersey High School Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Baseball America All-American First Team.

Committed to Louisiana State strictly for negotiation leverage purposes, Baseball America rated Duncan the best prospect in the state and 23rd best prospect overall for the 2003 draft. The Yankees selected him with their first round pick, number 27 overall, and he signed days after the draft for  a $1,250,000 bonus. Duncan is the best high school hitter to come out of New Jersey in the last decade, if not longer.

Pro Career
Assigned to the Rookie level Gulf Coast League after signing, Duncan hit .278-.343-.400 with twelves doubles and two homers in 180 at-bats before being bumped up to Short Season Staten Island for a late season cameo. In fourteen games (59 AB) with the Baby Bombers he hit .373-.393-.695 with five doubles, four triples and two homers. Baseball America rated him the top prospect in the GCL after the season, ahead of Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Matt Capps.

Duncan started his first full professional season with Low-A Battle Creek, where he was named to the All-Star Team after hitting .260-.347-.479. The Yanks moved him up to High-A Tampa in the second half where he held his own by hitting .254-.365-.458. All told, Duncan’s line on the year was .258-.354-.471 with 16 homers and an 43 freaking doubles. He struck out 131 times in 130 games, but his K/BB ratio went from 2.21 with Battle Creek to 1.52 after the promotion. Duncan was named the third best prospect in the Midwest League and the tenth best prospect in the Florida State League after the season, and he was clearly the top prospect in the Yanks’ system.

The Yanks continued to move Duncan up the ladder aggressively by sending him to Double-A Trenton to start 2005. He struggled as one of the youngest hitters in the league, posting then career lows across the board with a .235-.325-.408 batting line, although he did set a career mark by clubbing 19 homers. Duncan was hit in the head by a pitch on August 14th and didn’t play the rest of the season. Despite the down year, Baseball America still rated him as one of the twenty best prospects in the Eastern League.

Even with his struggles and injury at Double-A the year prior, the team bumped Duncan up to Triple-A Columbus at the outset of 2006. He predictably struggled, hitting just .209-.279-.255 with no homers in 31 games before going down with a back injury. He missed just about two months with the injury, and once healthy the team was kind enough to send him back to Trenton. He rebounded well in his second go around with the Thunder, hitting .248-.355-.485 with 10 homers and 15 doubles in 57 games to close out the season. The Yanks sent him to the Arizona Fall League after the season to make up for lost time, and Duncan regained some prospect status by hitting .362-.423-.734 and winning the league MVP.

Duncan had a decent showing in Spring Training, highlighted by a two-run pinch-hit homer off Salomon Torres. He started 2007 at the Triple-A level for the second consecutive year and performed better than his 2006 showing, although that’s not saying much. He hit .241-.323-.389 with 11 homers and 26 doubles in 113 games, continuing to battle nagging back issues. The Yankees declined to add Duncan to the 40-man roster after the season and he was left exposed in the Rule 5 Draft, though he ultimately went unselected and remaining with the organization.

Once again starting the year in Triple-A, Duncan had the worst season of his career in 2008 and was relegated to part-time duty for stretches of the season. He hit .233-.295-.366, career lows across the board. The highlight of his season came in Game One of the International League Championship Series, when he knocked home the winning run with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th. Duncan went 3 for 19 (.158) with that one run batted in and twelve strike outs during the four game series, striking out exactly three times in all four games. Again Rule 5 Draft eligible after the season, Duncan again went undrafted after the Yanks left him off the 40-man roster.

Scouting Report
Duncan’s calling card has always been his light tower power from the left side. His swing is picture perfect and his wrists are quick enough to turn on quality fastballs on the inner half. He can absolutely annihilate mistake pitches. Breaking balls have long been his bane however, as Duncan hasn’t learned to recognize them out of the pitcher’s hand or developed the ability stay back and trust his hands. His knowledge of the strike zone is generally good, and he’s shown a knack for coming up with big hits.

Defensively, Duncan had to slide over to first base from the hot corner as his career progressed, a move that wasn’t unexpected. His hands are decent and he’s okay around the bag, but his range is limited and his throws are inconsistent. Duncan’s not a total butcher, but he’ll never save a game with his glove. He’s a below average runner, and the nagging back injuries are also a concern. To his credit, Duncan has outstanding makeup and has shown tremendous work ethic and dedication despite all of his struggles.

You can see a clip of Duncan in the AzFL here, as well as a clip of him falling victim to David Price here.

2009 Outlook
Duncan will make another return trip to Triple-A this year. As always, a strong showing there could earn him some big league action if everything goes his way.

My Take
The Yankees rushed Duncan up the ladder because they had very few prospects when he was drafted and they wanted to boost his trade value, and it’s certainly crippled his development. If he was ever going to have that long awaited breakout, this would be the year to do it; he’ll become a six year minor league free agent after the season unless he’s added to the 40-man roster. Because he’s left handed, can hit the ball a long way on occasion, and play two positions passably, it’s still possible for Duncan to carve out a nice career as a bench player/pinch hit specialist with a NL club. He’s also going to give the outfield a try this year, which would give him an even better chance to land a bench job. He’s over a full year younger than Brett Gardner, so we’re not talking about a prospect past his expiration date just yet. I figured this might be one of the last opportunities I get to profile E-Dunc, so here you go.

Photo Credit: Flickr user a fan of the game

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Prospect Profile: Eric Duncan

Background
Born in Maui and raised in Honolulu, Texeira attended Kamehameha High School, which has produced two fringe big leaguers: ex-Yank Bronson Sardinha and his brother Dane. His high school career was plagued by inconsistency – after flashing premium arm strength as a junior his stock took a hit when he was merely ordinary as a senior. Baseball America rated Texeira the second best talent in the state for the 2004 Draft, but he lasted until the 34th round of the draft (916th overall), when the Brewers grabbed him. He didn’t sign and instead headed to Saddleback College in Orange County, CA, a two-year institution.

Texeira served as a swingman as a freshman, going 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and a 4.72 Kper9 over thirteen appearances (four starts). He struggled mightily with his command, posting a 14-22 K/BB ratio in his 26.2 IP. Saddleback went 8-13 in conference play and 20-14 overall, and did not qualify for the California Community College postseason. Although he was eligible for the 2005 draft, Texeira went undrafted and returned to Saddleback for his sophomore season.

Working almost exclusively out of the rotation, Texeira was the Gauchos’ number two starter as a sophomore. He went 6-1 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and a 5.57 Kper9. He was second on the team in wins, starts (11), innings (63), and strikeouts (39), and more importantly he cut his walk rate from 7.42 BBper9 to 3.43. Saddleback went 1-2 in the Orange Empire Conference Tournament and again failed to qualify for the postseason. Because he was an underwhelming prospect and was relatively unrecruited by a four-year universities, Texeira turned pro when the White Sox selected him in the 22nd round of the 2006 draft, 675th overall.

Pro Career
The White Sox assigned Texeira to Bristol of the Rookie level Appalachian League after he signed, where he dominated out of the bullpen. He worked 23.2 IP over 19 appearances, allowing just 15 hits and 5 walks against 29 strikeouts, and posted a microscopic 0.76 ERA thanks to a stretch of eleven consecutive scoreless outings. Bumped up to Low-A Kannapolis to finish up the year, Texeira allowed eight hits and three runs in six mop-up innings.

Texeira showed up to Spring Training overweight in 2007 and was placed in a conditioning program affectionately known as Fat Camp in the ChiSox organization. He was sent back to Low-A Kannapolis after camp and served as the Intimidators’ closer all year, racking up 16 saves for a team that finished 19.5 games out of first. He allowed 49 hits and 22 walks in 53.2 IP (39 appearances), striking out 58 (9.73 Kper9). Texeira joined the Honolulu Sharks of Hawaii Winter Baseball after the season as an injury replacement, pitching an additional 22 innings (3.71 ERA).

Bumped to High-A Winston-Salem in 2008 , Texeira had a breakout year by notching twenty saves, second in the league. He threw 38.2 IP over 36 appearances, putting up a 1.09 WHIP and 0.93 ERA, and picked up the win in the Carolina League All-Star Game by pitching a scoreless eighth inning. The White Sox bumped him up to Double-A Birmingham in the second half, where he pitched to a 1.12 WHIP and 2.01 ERA in 22.1 IP. All told, Texeira’s 2008 season line was 61 IP, 46 H, 21 BB, 60 K, 2.13 GB/FB and 1.33 ERA.

Texeira was traded to the Yankees along with 1B/OF Nick Swisher on November 13, 2008 in exchange for RHP Jeff Marquez, RHP Jhonny Nunez and IF Wilson Betemit.

Scouting Report
Texeira is a classic sinker-slider reliever. His best offering is a slider that dives away from righties with hard two-plane break, which explains why they hit just .186 with a 2.38 GB/FB rate off him in 2008. His fastball generally sits in the 89-91 mph range, although he can hump it up to 93 if he puts everything into it. Texeira is most effective in the upper 80’s, when he gets the most movement out of his heater. The White Sox had him work on a changeup earlier in his career, but it’s nothing more than a show-me pitch. He does an excellent job of keeping the ball in the park, allowing just three homers total in the last three years.

Working from a low three-quarters arm slot, Texeira isn’t too far off from being a sidearmer. That arm slot is what makes his slider so good, and so far he’s been durable as a pro. His control needs work, and although he had no issues in 2008 he has to work diligently to keep his weight in check. As a dominant reliever he hasn’t gotten much of an opportunity to work on holding runners.

2009 Outlook
Texeira will start the year as a key cog in Double-A Trenton’s bullpen, and could be in line for a midseason promotion to Triple-A Scranton. Rule 5 Draft eligible after the season, Texeira could be trade bait at the deadline given the Yanks’ crowded 40-man roster.

My Take
The Yankees have more relievers in the uppers levels of their farm system than they know what to do with, and Texeira just adds to that crop. I’m a huge JB Cox fan and that’s who Texeira reminds me of, albeit with less control and without the impressive track record at an elite college program. In reality, he’s just another young and cheap relief option with good stuff that’s near Major League ready. With all do respect, I’m glad he’s only the second best Tex the Yanks picked up this offseason.

Photo Credit: Carl Kline, Baseball America

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Prospect Profile: Kanekoa Texeira

Mark Melancon | RHP

Background
Melancon was born in Wheat Ridge, CO and grew up in nearby Golden, just outside of Denver. He attended Golden High School, where he lettered all four years in baseball and basketball and three times in football. He helped capture the National Championship in baseball, winning the clinching game after doubling off Ian Kennedy earlier in the double elimination tournament. Melancon was named to the All-State Team twice in his career (as well as twice in football and once in basketball) and graduated as a member of the National Honors Society.

Despite being rated the third best prospect in the state by Baseball America, Melancon was not a major prospect for the 2003 Draft. The Dodgers grabbed him the 30th round, adding him to a haul that included Chad Billingsley, Matt Kemp, Russ Martin and Andy LaRoche. Melancon didn’t sign, instead following through on his commitment to The University of Arizona.

Melancon established himself as a strong contributor out of the bullpen as a true freshman, allowing just 55 hits and 19 walks against 46 strikeouts in 62.1 IP. He set a single season freshman record by making twenty-nine appearances, and followed that up by going 2-0 with two saves in five postseason appearances as Arizona returned to the College World Series for the first time since 1986. The Wildcats went 1-2 in the CWS, losing twice to Georgia in the double elimination tournament. While pitching for the USA National Team over the summer Melancon made ten appearances and led the club with five saves. He allowed just seven baserunners (all hits) and zero runs in 12.2 IP.

After his dominant performance with the National Team, Melancon was given Arizona’s closer’s job as a sophomore and he had another record breaking season. He topped his freshman mark by appearing in thirty-four of the team’s sixty games, and also set a new single season record by notching eleven saves (potential ‘09 first rounder Jason Stoffel broke the record with thirteen saves last year). Melancon’s 66.1 innings was more than anyone on the staff outside the team’s top two starters, and he finished the year with a 1.10 WHIP and 9.40 Kper9. The Wildcats went 2-2 in the Regionals, losing a doubleheader to Cal State Fullerton to end their bid for a second consecutive trip to Omaha. Melancon finished the year with fourteen career saves, tied for most in school history.

Prior to his junior season Melancon was one of forty players named to the watch list for the Roger Clemens Award, which is given each season to college baseball’s best pitcher. Arizona’s pitching staff was stretched thin because of graduation and injury in 2006, and Melancon was forced to work an even heavier workload than usual. He set the school’s career saves record in the second game of the year, throwing three hitless innings against Loyola Marymount. After racking up 39.1 IP over just fourteen appearances (1.25 WHIP, 11.9 Kper9) Melancon came down with elbow pain which was ultimately diagnosed as a strained elbow ligament. He didn’t require surgery, however he was shut down in early April and didn’t pitch the rest of the season. Melancon finished his Wildcat career with 18 saves, the most in school history (Stoffel has since tied that mark, and will assuredly break it this year).

Melancon was considered a borderline first round talent prior to his junior season, when Baseball America rated him the top prospect in the state, the 14th best college prospect, and the 35th best draft prospect overall. His injury killed his stock because teams feared he would need Tommy John surgery. Melancon ultimately fell to the ninth round, when the Yanks grabbed him with the 284th overall pick. The Yankees were satisfied with condition of his elbow following an MRI, and signed him to a well-above slot $600,000 bonus, the equivalent of mid-second round money. He was assigned to Short Season Staten Island after a brief tune-up at homebase in Tampa.

Pro Career
Melancon got into seven regular season games with the Baby Bombers after signing, then picked up the save in both of Staten Island’s wins in the NY-Penn League Finals, recording four outs without incident (two strikeouts) to clinch the title in the deciding Game Three. The Yankees sent Melancon to the reborn Hawaii Winter Baseball league after the season for extra work, however he had to be shut down after just four appearances because of elbow soreness. Melancon underwent Tommy John surgery in November 2006 and missed the entire 2007 regular season.

Melancon didn’t suffer any setbacks during his rehab, and he attended Instructional League in both Tampa and the Dominican in the fall of 2007. Not only did he finish the six week camp in the Dominican, he moved in with teammate Jairo Heredia and stuck around for a few weeks of extra work. After the season he returned to Tuscon and took twenty one hours of college courses towards completing his degree.

The Yankees invited Melancon to Major League Spring Training in 2008, and he picked up the save in his only appearance with the big boys before being assigned to minor league camp. He began the year in High-A Tampa, but he was promoted to Double-A Trenton in mid-May after just 25.1 strong innings (2.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP). Melancon was even more dominant in Trenton, throwing 49.2 innings of 1.81 ERA & 0.89 WHIP ball before being bumped up the Triple-A Scranton at the end of July.

At his best with Scranton, Melancon put up a 0.75 WHIP in 20 innings down the stretch, helping the Yanks to the postseason. He was his usual shutdown self in the playoffs, allowing just two baserunners against three strikeouts in two appearances as Scranton took home the International League Title. All told, Melancon threw 95 innings over just 44 appearances on the season, allowing just 69 hits (.202 avg against) and 22 walks while striking out 89 and posting a 1.54 GB/FB ratio.

Scouting Report
Melancon regained his pre-TJ stuff by the end of 2008, sitting 92-94 and touching 96 with good life on his fastball. His out pitch is a hard 12-to-6 curveball that he can drop in for strike one or use to get chases for strike three. He toyed with a splitter in college, however the Yanks had him scrap in favor of a true changeup that is now a usable third pitch. Melancon commands his two main pitches extremely well, and he often threw ten or fewer pitches per inning last season, leading to so many multiple inning outings.

The biggest drawback for Melancon is his delivery. He’s a max effort guy that comes straight over the top, although the Yanks have been working to clean it up his motion since he signed. It does benefit him slightly however, because it adds deception and creates a steep downhill plane for his pitches. Until he smooths it out, he’ll always be an injury risk. Now twenty-six months out of surgery, Melancon is officially clear of the procedure. Perhaps his best tool is his work ethic and makeup, which is off the charts and has been lauded since high school.

You can see his MLB Scouting Bureau video here. You can also check out Melancon closing out the NY-Penn League Title Game here (via Robert Pimpsner), as well as a slew of clips from last year here (via Mike Ashmore).

2009 Outlook
Melancon was worthy of a September call up last year, but the Yanks choose to shut him down after such a large workload during the season. He’ll compete for a bullpen job in Spring Training, but may have to settle for a return trip to Scranton because of the numbers crunch. It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that he’ll make his big league debut at some point in 2009, perhaps as early as May. He’ll be Rule 5 Draft eligible after the season, but it would be an upset if he wasn’t on the 40-man roster by then.

My Take
Colorado has history of producing quality big league pitchers (Roy Halladay & Goose Gossage are the most notable), and it looks like the state has produced another gem in Melancon. Like everyone else, I love the kid. As if his stuff wasn’t good enough, his all-out attack approach and outstanding makeup are just icing on the cake. I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t force his way to the big league bullpen by June, and there’s a good chance he could become one of Joe Girardi’s most trusted relievers in the second half. I look forward to seeing him march out of the Yanks’ bullpen for many years to come.

Photo Credit: Reuters Pictures

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Prospect Profile: Mark Melancon

Dellin Betances | RHP

Background
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Betances attended Grand Street High School. He popped up on the prospect map after a sophomore year growth spurt that saw him add six inches and twenty pounds to his frame. Betances dominated as a junior, going 6-0 with 100 strikeouts and just eleven hits allowed in 41.2 IP. He allowed one earned run all season and led Grand Street to the PSAL semifinals, where he struck out sixteen in a three hit shutout of New Utrecht. Invited to the prestigous Aflac All-American Game, Betances retired the heart of the West squad’s lineup on nine pitches in his only inning of work.

Baseball America rated Betances the seventh best high school prospect prior to his senior year, however he struggled due to mechanical issues that led to inconsistent velocity. Despite that, he still managed to set a school record with 20 strikeouts in one game. In the revised rankings before the draft, he still checked in as the 68th best prospect in the class, and top prospect in the state. Betances had a strong commitment to follow fellow New Yorker Pedro Alvarez to Vanderbilt, and unconfirmed rumors swirled that he wanted a seven figure bonus and would only sign with the Yankees.

Betances lasted until the eighth round of the ‘06 draft, when his hometown team popped him with the 254th overall pick. Despite the Vandy commitment and rumored bonus demands, he signed quickly for a cool million bucks, at a time a record for the eighth round. Betances was assigned to the Rookie level Gulf Coast League Yanks after signing, and used his bonus money to buy his parents a house in Bogota after the summer.

Pro Career
Working the front end of a tandem start system with Zach McAllister, Betances had a dominant debut, allowing just 14 hits and 7 walks against 27 K in 23 IP. He fell short of qualifying for the league ERA title, but his 1.17 mark would have placed him second in the circuit. Betances started 2007 in Extended Spring Training to work on his mechanics, then reported to Short Season Staten Island in June. He made six decent starts for the Baby Bombers (25 IP, 3.60 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 10.57 Kper9) before going down with a strained elbow that ended his season.

Although there was speculation that he would need Tommy John surgery, Betances reported to Low-A Charleston at the start of 2008 without incident, and started Opening Day for the River Dogs. He was solid in his first eleven starts (55 IP, 4.42 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 10.47 Kper9) but struggled with his control, walking 6.54 batters per 9 IP. In early June he went down with a sore shoulder, and missed a month before returning in early July. Betances was much stronger in the second half (60.1 IP, 3.28 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 10.59 Kper9), but most importantly he got over his control problems and reduced his walk rate by nearly four walks per game, down to 2.83 BBper9. Despite missing a month due to injury, Betances finished sixth in the South Atlantic League with 135 strikeouts, pacing the circuit with a 10.54 strikeouts per nine innings.

Scouting Report
Betances works primarily with two pitches: a four seam fastball that sits in the mid-90’s and touches 98, and a hard downer curveball. He gets a wicked downward plane on his heater because of his size, and when he’s right hitters find it impossible to get any lift on his hard stuff. Betances’ changeup is in it’s infancy stages, and the Yanks have had him toy with a two seamer. His control varies day-to-day, but is generally okay.

Literally a monster on the mound, Betances checks in at 6′8″, 245 pounds. He struggles with his delivery because of his size and long limbs, often failing to maintain balance through his windup. Finding comfortable and consistent mechanics is always a difficult and cumbersome chore for tall pitchers, and it’ll probably be a few years before he figures things out.

Typical of high school pitchers, Betances still has to work on his fielding and ability to hold runners. He has a quiet confidence about him, and his work ethic is very good. The biggest issue with Betances is his durability, as he’s missed time with elbow and shoulder troubles the past few seasons, likely the result of mechanical issues. He must still prove he can hold up over a full season.

You can see his scouting video here, and some footage of his 2007 season debut here.

2009 Outlook
After a dominant second half with Charleston, Betances is ready to move up to High-A Tampa. Unless he devastates the Florida State League over the first ten or twelve weeks of the season, he’ll likely remain in Tampa for all of ‘09.

My Take
If you’re cool enough to have been reading my stuff since the days of IGWT, then you know I’ve been on Betances since before he was even drafted. He’s very much a project, likely to need a full season at each level, but he’s a project with enormous upside and true ace potential. The key for his development is obviously his delivery. Once he gets that straightened out, his command will improve and everything else will come together. Betances doesn’t have to be added to the 40-man roster until after the 2010 season, so there’s no need to rush him through the system. If his control improvement in the second half last year was real, he’ll grow into one of the better pitching prospects in the game.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Prospect Profile: Dellin Betances

Ryan Zink | RHP

Background
Zink grew up in the baseball … ahem … hotbed of Madison, WI, where he attended LaFollette High School. A standout for the Lancers, he was named to the All-City First Team and was an honorable mention for the All-Conference team as a sophomore, when he led the school to the City Championship. As a junior Zink repeated as a first team All-City player, adding All-Conference First Team and All-District Second Team honors to his resume. He was at his best when needed most, striking out eleven batters and allowing just three hits in a ten inning outing in the Regional Finals.

If there was any doubt that he was already the best baseball player in school history, Zink cemented that status at LaFollette with a monster senior season: 6-1, 0.57 ERA on the mound, .377 batting avg, five homers, 37 RBI at the plate. He was again named to the All-City and All-Conference first teams, and added All-District and All-State honors for good measure. He was also named 2003 Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year, MVP of the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game, as well as city, conference, district and state Player of the Year. Yeah, he’s got some hardware for the ol’ mantle.

Baseball America rated Zink the best prospect in the state for the 2003 Draft, projecting him as top ten rounds pick. With a strong commitment and full ride to the University of Illinois-Chicago in his pocket, Zink lasted until the 47th round (1,377th overall) when his hometown Brewers selected him in recognition of his great high school career. He’s the only player in school history to be drafted, but he didn’t sign and headed to UIC.

The best pitcher on the Flames’ staff the day he set foot on campus, Zink dominated as a true freshman, finishing 9-3, 2.07 ERA, 0.95 WHIP with 92 strikeouts in 95.2 IP. He led the Horizon League in innings thanks to six complete games (in eleven starts). Zink struck out thirteen batters in his first career start on March 7th, then threw the tenth no-hitter in school history on May 19th, striking out ten Youngstown State Penguins in a 7-0 rout. He was named to the All-Horizon League First Team, Horizon League All-Newcomer Team, and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. He pitched for the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League over the summer.

Zink’s sophomore year wasn’t as statistically dominant as his freshman effort, but he still led the team with 76 strikeouts and set a single-season school record with 119 IP. He finished with an 8-6 record, 3.78 ERA and 1.35 WHIP, and was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team. Named to the League Championship All-Tournament Team and MVP of the League Championship, Zink led the Flames to the league crown with three innings of one hit relief to earn the save over UW-Milwaukee in the title game. UIC lost to Joba Chamberlain and Nebraska then Andrew Brackman and NC State to end their season in the Regionals. You can’t make this stuff up, click the links if you don’t believe those were the two opposing starters. Small world, huh?

Expected to be a top three rounds draft pick prior to his junior year, Zink never got a chance to pitch in a game because he underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He took a medical redshirt and went untouched in the ‘06 Draft.

Coming back strong – and early – from TJ, Zink returned to the mound in mid-February and managed to pitch just about a full season for the Flames as a redshirt junior in 2007. He went 7-3, 4.24 ERA, 1.20 WHIP with 42 strikeouts in 70 IP while battling the typical problems associated with returning from ligament replacement surgery. He saved his best for last, one hitting 16th ranked Long Beach State and Evan Longoria over eight innings in his final start for the first NCAA postseason win in school history. Zink was named to the All-Regional and Horizon League All-Tournament Teams, and finished his career second in school history in wins (24) and strikeouts (203) while placing fifth in ERA (3.32). He returned to his hometown Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League briefly over the summer.

Rated the 12th best draft prospect in the state by Baseball America, Zink lasted until the 17th round of the ‘07 draft, when the Yanks selected him 544th overall. He signed quickly for a well-above slot $123,000 bonus and was assigned to Short Season Staten Island.

Pro Career
Zink worked mostly out of Staten Island’s bullpen after signing, although he did make five spot starts for the Baby Bombers. He worked 47.1 IP to the tune of a 3.23 ERA & 1.32 WHIP, leading the team with six wins. All told, Zink threw over 110 IP on the year despite having TJ just eleven months prior.

Assigned to Low-A Charleston in 2008, Zink worked out of the bullpen before moving to the rotation late in the year when promotions and injuries thinned the staff. He finished the year 3-2, 2.42 ERA, 1.10 WHIP in 25 appearances, and was dynamite in his four starts: 19 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 15 K. Zink ate up righthanders, holding them to a .177 batting avg against.

Scouting Report
Zink’s bread and butter is a heavy 89-91 mph sinker that he uses to pound the bottom third of the zone. The pitch is good enough that he can throw it 75-80% of the time and still succeed. He backs the sinker up with two solid secondary pitches: a slider and changeup. All of Zink’s pitches play up because of his strong command and outstanding control (2.15 BBper9 in college, 2.43 in ‘08).

With a frame that is a scout’s dream, Zink stands 6′5″ and carries 210 lbs on his wide shoulders. He gained about 25 lbs during TJ rehab, and the extra weight hurt him mechanically when he returned, and also sapped some stamina. He worked hard in the offseason and lost the extra weight. A dogged competitor, Zink wants the ball every day and with the game on the line. Other than elbow surgery, he’s never had any injury problems.

2009 Outlook
Ready for High-A Tampa, Zink might get lost in the rotation crunch and start the year working out of the bullpen. However because he finished the year on such a high note as a starter, Zink may get a chance to hold down a rotation spot in Tampa if the Yanks send Zack McAllister to Double-A Trenton to start the year. If he has a strong second half, he should get a bump to Trenton.

My Take
I touted Zink as a very nice pick after the ‘07 draft (forgive the eighteen month old typo), and have been plugging him as a sleeper since then. I’m a big fan; guys with lively sinkers and an 80 compete tool often make it too the bigs, at least as relievers. His ceiling isn’t high (back-end starter if it all works out), and he’ll turn 23 right around Opening Day, but Zink is a guy to keep an eye on next year. He’ll be Rule 5 Draft eligible after the season, so at the very least he should force the Yanks to think long and hard about leaving him exposed. My bad, he’s not R5 eligible until after 2010.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Prospect Profile: Ryan Zink

Garrison Lassiter | SS

Background
Lassiter grew up in High Point, NC, just outside of Greensboro and Winston-Salem, where he attended West Forsyth High School. He had been “a guy,” as scouts call them, for several years, having played on the American Legion senior team as a 14 yr old after starring for years on AAU and UAAA teams. As a junior he hit .413 with 5 homers and 34 RBI, and he followed that up by hitting .500 with USA Baseball’s Junior National Team during the summer, where he was one of 20 players to make the team. He also participated in the prestigious Aflac All-American Game.

Lassiter hit .468 as a senior for the Titans, stealing 21 bases and scoring 29 runs in the process. He drove in the game winning run with a triple off the wall in the left-centerfield gap in the North Carolina vs South Carolina Senior Challenge in his last game as an amateur. Larrister was part of a powerful UNC recruiting class that included Tim Melville (Royals’ fourth rounder, but a top 15 talent), Derrik Gibson (BoSox’s second rounder), and LJ Hoes (O’s third rounder).

His commitment to the Tar Heels caused him to drop big time in the draft; Lassiter lasted until the Yanks bit in the 27th round, #830 overall. Considered a low priority guy, the Yanks ramped up their effort to sign him after first rounder Gerrit Cole decided to follow through on his commitment to UCLA. Lassiter signed late on the August 15th deadline for $675,000, equivalent to slot money for a mid-second round pick.

Pro Debut
Because he signed late, Lassiter appeared in only six games for the Rookie level GCL Yanks. He went 3 for 4 with an RBI and a stolen base in his first game as a pro, following it up with a 2 for 4 effort the next day. He finished up with a .261-.292-.261 line in 23 at-bats.

Scouting Report
The first thing everyone notices about Lassiter is his swing; he has a sweet stroke from the left side and outstanding bat speed. It allows him to hit for average and more power than expected out of a typical middle infielder. Standing very upright and slightly open in his stance, Lassiter uses a pronounced leg kick as a timing mechanicm, similar to Johnny Damon. His approach at the plate is unrefined and will need improvement, particularly for when he climbs the ladder and faces better pitching.

Lassiter has good actions and is athletic in the field, but he has to improve his hands and footwork. His strong and accurate arm is his best defensive attribute. Like his plate approach, his fielding skills need work. Listed at 6′1″, 185 lbs, there are no concerns that he’ll outgrow shortstop, however if he doesn’t improve his fielding enough he will have to move to either second or third. His speed is good and he’s a weapon on the basepaths.

You can see his MLB Scouting Bureau video here, and his video from various high school showcases here.

2009 Outlook
Although he could probably hold his own in full season ball because of his pure bat skills, Lassiter should start 2009 in Extended Spring Training to work on his plate approach and fielding. With Carmen Angelini set to repeat Low-A Charleston, Lassiter could move on to Short Season Staten Island when the season starts in June, or perhaps take over at short for the River Dogs if Angelini earns a midseason promotion to High-A Tampa.

My Take
You gotta love it. Anytime you get a player and prospect with this kind of ability in the 27th round you can’t not approve. Lassiter has star potential if everything clicks, but he’ll more than likely end up a solid regular, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It should be noted that he’s a bit of a project, and will likely need a full year at each level as he moves up the organizational ladder.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Prospect Profile: Garrison Lassiter

Brett Marshall | RHP

Background
Marshall grew up in the Houston suburb of Baytown, where he attended Sterling High School, one-time home of Clyde Drexler and fellow Yanks’ farmhand Brett Smith. He didn’t pop up on the prospect scene until his raw arm strength grabbed the attention of scouts during his junior year, when he was unanimously voted to the All-District First Team. He was then named the All-Houston Area Player of the Year as a senior thanks to his 10-2 record and 2.27 ERA. Marshall lost his final start for the Rangers in the Region III-5A semifinals when he hit a batter to force in the winning run with his pitch count at 146.

Marshall had originally committed to San Jacinto Junior College (Andy Pettitte’s alma mater), but after seeing his draft prospect status increase exponentially his senior year he switched his commitment to Death to Pitchers University Rice to gain negotiating leverage. The Yanks made Marshall their first pick on Day Two of the 2008 Draft, selecting him 200th overall with their sixth round pick. He is the highest drafted player in Sterling history. Marshall signed for an $850,000 bonus just about a week before the signing deadline, roughly $725,000 over slot.

Pro Debut
Marshall was limited to just three starts with the Rookie level GCL Yanks after signing late. He allowed just 2 hits & 2 walks in 6 IP, striking out 8. Not much to see (and if you use those stats to make any kind of judgment on the kid, then … just go away, that’s stupid), although it did give him a taste of professional baseball.

Scouting Report
Marshall is a classic Texas fireballer. As is common these days, he throws both a four and two-seam fastball. His velocity fluctuated during his senior year, starting at 86-88 then jumping to 95-97 before settling into 90-92 range at the end of the year, touching 94. Marshall’s two seamer has filthy armside run when he maintains his arm slot, but it typically lags 2-3 mph behind his four-seamer.

Armed with two breaking balls, Marshall’s slider is a legit put-away pitch. Coming in hard in the mid-to-high 80’s, the pitch can be confused for a splitter because of its sharp break. His curve is promising but still rudimentary. Typical of prep pitchers, Marshall rarely used his change-up in high school, leaving quite a bit of development in it’s future.

A converted shortstop, Marshall’s arm has a limited amount of miles on it, but he lacks experience with his delivery that has some effort to it. His command is decent for a high schooler, but the key to his development is his delivery, which Alex Eisenberg already broke down. Once he settles into a more comfortable and repeatable motion, the command will improve and strikes will come with more ease.

Standing just 6′0″ and 190 lbs, Marshall is a bit undersized but is stronger than he appears. Worked to the bone as a senior, Marshall tired at the end of the year and dropped his arm slot. He needs to work on his ability to hold baserunners, but he fields his position well due to his experience as a position player.

You can see his draft video here.

2009 Outlook
The Yankees haven’t assigned a high school pitcher to a full season league in their first pro season since Phil Hughes & Chris Garcia started 2005 with Low-A Charleston, and it doesn’t appear Marshall will be the one to break that streak. He’ll likely begin ‘09 in Extended Spring Training to work on his delivery before joining Short Season Staten Island when their season begins in June.

My Take
Give me upside or give me death, and Marshall certainly has considerable upside. He still has some projection left, so he could add a tick or two to his fastball as he finishes maturing. The raw package is basically everything you could ask for from a prep pitcher: two fastballs with life,  put-away breaking ball and feel for a change-up. I love the pick, and getting the kid for under a million is just icing on the cake.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Prospect Profile: Brett Marshall

David Adams |   2B

Background
Born and raised in the Margate, FL (just outside of Ft. Lauderdale) Adams lettered for three years in basketball and four years in baseball at Grandview Prep, where his father Dale was the baseball coach. He led the county with a .548 batting avg as a sophomore, and was then named team captain and MVP as a senior. He was named third team All-American by the Baseball Coaches Association as a senior, and was listed as a top 30 high school prospect for the 2005 draft by Baseball America, Team One Baseball, and Perfect Game. By all accounts, Adams is the best baseball player in school history.

Adams was also an excellent student, serving as the Student Goverment vice president, winning the school’s Citizenship Award all four years, and being a member of National Honor Society, Student Senate, Beta Club and SADD. He was named a Scholar Athlete all four years of high school. He earned the High School Coaches Award as a sophomore and junior, and also participated in the Perfect Game National Showcase and East Coast Professional Showcase as a junior. A potential second or third round pick out of high school, Adams dropped to the Tigers in the 21st round because of a strong commitment to Virgina. He did not sign, and headed north to Charlottesville.

Expected to take over third base after the Nationals made Ryan Zimmerman the 4th overall pick in the 2005 Draft, head coach Brian O’Connor instead played Adams at second base his freshman year. Starting all 62 games, Adams led the team in runs scored (57) and multi-hit games (25), while finishing second in homers (5) and total bases (105), and third in hits (76) and RBI (49). He hit his first collegiate homerun in the second at-bat of his career, and led the team with 38 hits in conference play. He was named second team Freshman All-American by Baseball America, and first team by Louisville Slugger.

Adams took a major step forward as a sophomore, finishing second on the team in batting avg (.372), OBP (.454), SLG (.522) and OPS (.976). Starting 61 of 62 games, he led the Cavaliers with 84 hits (sixth most in a school history) and 30 multi-hit games. Virginia finished the year ranked 16th in the nation, but they were upset at home by eventual College World Series champs Oregon State in the regionals. Adams did his part, leading the team with a .429 batting avg in the postseason. He was named second team All-ACC and first team All-State by VaSID.

Playing for Falmouth in the Cape Cod League after his sophomore year, Adams led the pitching heavy circuit in doubles (14), while finishing second in hits (51) and triples (3). Baseball America ranked him the 27th best prospect in the league, the fourth middle infielder on the list behind three eventual first round picks.

Named co-captain and third team preseason All-American by Louisville Slugger before his junior year, Adams had a disappointing year and may have succumbed to draftitis. His slash stats dropped roughly a hundred points across the board, although he did post career highs in homers (6), stolen bases (16) and walks (41). Virginia was again ousted in the regionals, and Adams’ Cavalier career came to a disappointing close.

Rated the top prospect in the state and the 102nd overall prospect for the 2008 Draft by Baseball America, the Yankees selected Adams with their third round pick, number 106 overall. He signed quickly for a straight slot bonus of $333,000, and was assigned to Short Season Staten Island.

Pro Debut
The recent history of Baby Bombers’ second basemen is pretty good, with Damon Sublett being one of the best hitters in the league last year after Wilmer Pino posted a respectable .773 OPS in 2006. Adams wasn’t able to continue that trend, although he did have a solid season hitting .257-.350-.393, posting the third highest OPS amongst second basemen in the league. He hit .320-.386-.480 from July 26th through August 12th, raising his batting avg from .222 to .258.

Scouting Report
Adams does several things well but nothing great. He uses a toe tap as a timing mechanism during his swing, which is balanced but not exactly pretty. It works for him, and allows him to make solid contract and spray balls was gap-to-gap. Adams has an advanced approach at the plate and is willing to take a walk if the pitcher doesn’t give him something to hit.

Once thought to be destined for third base, Adams improved his footwork and defensive skills enough that he’ll be able to stay in the middle infield as a pro. His arm strength and accuracy are both average, good enough to allow him to make difficult throws behind the second base bag. He’s an okay runner, probably less than what you’d like out of a middle infielder.

A very instinctual player, Adams’ whole is greater than the sum of the parts. He’s a gamer and a natural leader on the field. He has a good track record with wood bats dating back to his days on the Cape and in high school showcases. Adams could have been considered a fringe first round talent if he was able to repeat his sophomore success at Virginia during his junior year.

You can see his draft video here.

2009 Outlook
An advanced hitter with experience at a major collegiate program, Adams should provide a veteran presence to a talented High-A Tampa team. Justin Snyder will likely shift over to short to accommodate Adams, who is a better long term option at the position.

My Take
I tend to frown upon drafting low upside, high probability college players, so I’m not thrilled with this pick. That said, Adams is a better player and prospect than he gets credit for. He provides solid depth and should rise through the system quickly. He may not hit enough to play every day in the big leagues, but if he develops into a solid bench player, then he would have provided a solid return for the Yanks’ investment.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Prospect Profile: David Adams

Jeremy Bleich | LHP

Background
Born and raised in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, Bleich is the son of Stan the Cardiologist, a die-hard Yankees’ fan from Brooklyn. Jeremy attended the prestigious Isidore Newman High School, which also produced The Mannings and Moneyball author Michael Lewis. During his final three years with the Greenies, Bleich went 23-7 with 348 strikeouts and a sub-2.00 ERA in 206.2 IP while also hitting north of .360. He helped the school to the 2003 state championship and 2005 district championship as a sophomore and senior, respectively.

Bleich was named to the All-District, All-Metro and All-Orleans teams every year from 2003-2005, and was selected as the 2005 All-Metro Player of the Year. As a senior, Baseball America named him a third team All-American, while Collegiate Baseball named him to the first team. Bleich also earned All-State and District MVP honors as a junior and senior. Rated the 97th best prospect for the 2005 draft, Bleich ultimately went undrafted because he wanted first round money to pass on his commitment to Stanford, which is historically a tough school to pry draftees from.

Bleich started his collegiate career working out of Stanford’s bullpen, posting seven saves in nine chances before moving into the rotation near the end of the season. He finished the year with a team high 24 appearances, sporting a 4.05 ERA in 60 IP (his ERA ballooned nearly half-a-run in his final start of the season). He headed to the Cape Cod League that summer and went 1-1 with a 2.09 ERA in 43 IP (10 appearances, 6 starts) for the Wareham Gatemen. Bleich was named to the Western Division All-Star Team and started the Championship Game, taking the loss after allowing three runs (only one earned) in six innings (Side note: David Robertson closed out that game with three perfect innings of relief, striking out Bradley Suttle for the final out). Baseball America named him the 19th best prospect in the circuit (sub. req’d) despite only being a freshman.

Inconsistent as a sophomore, Bleich spent most of the season as Stanford’s Friday starter despite going 2-8 with a 5.56 ERA. He alternated brilliant outings with horrific ones before finishing strong in his final three starts, posting a 3.91 ERA while pitching into the 8th inning each game. Bleich returned to Wareham and the Cape after his sophomore year, going 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA in 44.1 IP for a team that won only 15 of their 44 games. Despite his success, Bleich was named only the 29th best prospect in the league by Baseball America.

Expectations for Bleich were high coming into his junior year, as many expected him to take that next step and become one of the best lefthanders in the country. After pitching to a 1.38 ERA in his first five starts, Bleich came down with a strained elbow ligament and missed two months before returning to the team in the postseason. In his first game back, Bleich provided four dominant innings of relief as Stanford took down Arkansas in the Regionals. He followed that up by shutting down Fullerton in the Super Regionals and keeping Florida State in check in the College World Series. Bleich got knocked around in his next start, and ultimately took the loss in his final game with the Cardinal, giving up 6 runs in 3.1 IP as Georgia eliminated Stanford.

Baseball America rated Bleich only the 54th best draft prospect in California because of the elbow troubles, however the Yanks grabbed him with their second pick, number 44 overall in the sandwich round. After the draft Jim Callis noted that Bleich could have been considered a consensus sandwich round talent had it not been for the injury. Negotiations went down to the August 15th signing deadline, but Bleich eventually agreed to a $700,000 bonus, roughly $163,000 below slot.

Pro Debut
Bleich joined Short Season Staten Island after signing, making one regular season start and one postseason appearance in relief of a rehabbing Jon Albaladejo. In those outings he combined to allow six baserunners (all hits) and two runs in seven innings of work while striking out ten.

After the regular season Bleich was assigning to the Waikiki Beach Boys of Hawaii Winter Baseball, where he finished second in the league with 35.2 IP and second amongst starters with a 1.77 ERA. He was also one of three starting pitchers named to the All-League Team. Bleich left the team briefly in late October/early November to attend a wedding in his family, however he threw a side session during the hiatus.

Scouting Report
While watching Bleich’s postseason starts with Stanford I saw two fastballs: a pretty true four-seamer at 89-91, and a two-seamer with a nice wrinkle to it at 87-89 (disclaimer: I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I’m supremely confident in my abilities to recognize different types of pitches). Reports indicate that he could dial his fastball up to 93-95 before the injury, however he has yet to regain that kind of velocity. His best pitch is a fading changeup that he throws with the same arm action as his fastball. He also throws a short & tight curveball, not a big ol’ Barry Zito bender.

Bleich’s two best assets are his command and his aggressiveness. He commands all four of his pitches very well and they play up because of it (he was rated as having the third best command of all high schoolers prior to the 2005 draft). He models his game after fellow Yankee and Louisiana native Andy Pettitte, and he pitches with the same mentality, attacking hitters in the zone and consistently pitching inside. That’s particularly impressive because college guys tend to shy away from coming inside because hitters can still drive a ball in on their hands with metal bats. His makeup and work ethic is strong as well.

Big and solid at 6′2″, 190 lbs, Bleich has a great pitcher’s frame with wide shoulders and a powerful lower half. He repeats his delivery well, but it still needs some fine tuning, particularly on the follow through. While there are some nice similarities to Pettitte, one thing Bleich doesn’t have is Andy’s pickoff move, or even a decent one for that matter. He fields his position well, primarily because he finishes his delivery square to the plate. The elbow strain is also a negative, but he’s been pitching pain free since signing and doesn’t have any other medical red flags.

You can see his draft video here.

2009 Outlook
There’s no reason to think that Bleich won’t start the season with High-A Tampa. I’m guessing the Yanks will look to move him up the ladder quickly like they did with Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain, although I would prefer to see him spend at least one full season in minors, probably even two. I don’t want Bleich to run into a situation like Joba is in now, where they’re trying to figure out how the work around his innings limit. Hopefully they learned from the mistake and will let Bleich develop stamina and arm strength in the minors.

My Take
I was way to harsh with my criticsm of Bleich back on draft day, I tend to get caught up in the moment. I’m still not in love with the pick, I think there were better players on the board (namely Kyle Lobstein, Robbie Ross, and Josh Lindblom) but the Yanks’ (hopefully) have better information than I do. Bleich was a solid addition to a system seemingly allergic to lefties, and he seems like a strong, competitive kid that will give the Yanks whatever he has. Let’s call it … one thumb up, not quite two.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Prospect Profile: Jeremy Bleich