First Half Exceeders!

This post will take a look at the Yankee prospects whose performances have exceeded expectations. Soon I will make a list of those not meeting their expectations, and then one for those meeting those. These will help me to put together an overall prospect list. I hope to have the time to put together a prospect list soon.

Note: only full season-ball guys are being considered for now. Rookie ball guys have too small a sample size.

Alfredo Aceves: The so-called “Mexican Gangster” has been amazing thus far in the bullpen. He has been dubbed the new “Ramiro Mendoza” and rightly so. With Wang out, he will be given a legitimate chance to prove that he can handle a rotation spot in the AL East. If he can’t, he will return to the bullpen and have a spot in whatever inning, or four innings, the Yankees need that night. I don’t really have a problem with him in the bullpen opposed to starting because he doesn’t have “dominant” stuff, so I could see him failing in the rotation. I was very impressed with him last season but didn’t expect him to keep it up – well he has, and I am very happy about it. The Mexican League continues to be a breeding ground for the Yankees.

Phil Coke: He has some “growing pains” this year, but he has established into a legitimate 7th inning guy, not just a LOOGY. A good walk-rate, decent K-rate, and the ability to throw with his left hand have given this former-starter a career.

Wilkin de la Rosa: With de la Rosa, I will pretend he is a little younger because this is only his second full season pitching professionally. He pitched so well in Tampa that he got promoted, where he is holding his own (3.81 ERA) and striking out almost 9 batters per 9 innings. The only thing that might be an issue is his proneness for the flyball and control occastionally; his BB/9 is in the 4’s, not great but not terrible. (FYI, Mike Ashmore confirmed for me that this is his actual name – not Wilkins or de la Rossa)

David Robertson: Too wild right now to trust in big situations, he has become a useful part of the Major League bullpen. If he can work on his control (he is prone to fits of wildness) he can be an 8th inning guy. His K-rates have always been fantastic.

Manuel Banuelos: I wouldn’t be surprised if he is a Top 100, or even Top 50 prospect by season’s end. He’s 18, playing in Low-A ball, and has a 2.20 ERA, and 66 strikeouts and 15 walks in 72.3 innings. This is just plain ridiculous…

Brett Gardner: He is making a case for the centerfield job for the rest of this year, and possibly the future. He is hitting more line drives, is easily one of the best defensive centerfielders in baseball, and walks at a good clip. Of yeah, he’s ridiculously fast. He – not Melky – might be why they move Austin Jackson to left field…

Ivan Nova: The righty made it up to Triple-A this year. He has a lousy K/BB rate but gets a good amount of grounders and is only 22. The Padres must be mad at how much he is improved thus far. He could be in their rotation right now if they held onto him. The Yankees got lucky.
Jesus Montero: I really don’t need to explain how amazing he is, but I will. At the age of 19 he is already is holding his own at Double-A after embarassing the High-A pitchers (.989 OPS) all while (at the moment, at least) being a catcher. He could very well be in the Majors next year.

Reegie Corona: The Yankees got lucky with him too. I didn’t expect it, but the second baseman has a .400 OBP in Double-A, and is showing some power too (3 homers, 16 extra base hits in 220 at-bats).

Hector Noesi: Getting a chance to start stateside, he had a 2.38 ERA with a 78/11 K/BB ratio in Charleston. Yes, that is very good. He is 22.

D.J. Mitchell: Like Noesi, the 22-year old dominated Low-A and is now in the High-A rotation.

And now, my pick for second-half break out player....

Mitch Abeita: Abeita is a 23-year old catcher that has been splitting time with the struggling Chase Weems down in Charleston. Yes, he is a little old for Low-A, but I would like to see him get the majority of the at-bats from hereon. In only 137 at-bats, he has shown power (13 extra base hits, 4 homers), extraordinary patience (22 walks, 11.3% of the time), and has caught many of the prospects that have whizzed by Charleston. The Yankees might have another catching prospect on their hands.