Life On The Farm: New York Yankees (# 15)

The best farm system money can buy.... right?

Graduated To Majors: Brett Gardner (OF, # 13), Ramiro Pena (SS, UR), Juan Miranda (1B, # 20), Francisco Cervelli (C, # 21), Alfredo Aceves (Swing, # 7), Eric Hacker (RP, UR, now with Pirates), Mark Melancon (RP, # 9), David Robertson (RP, # 15), Anthony Claggett (RP, # 26, now with Pirates), Steven Jackson (RP, # 29, now with Pirates), Phil Coke (RP, # 8), Mike Dunn (RP, # 16)

The Rest Of The Top 10 (with quick commentary)
Hitters: BA-OBP-SLG, AB, HR-RBI, BB-K, SB-CS
Pitchers: G-GS, W-L, ERA, IP-H-HR-BB-K

1 - Austin Jackson: CF
AAA: .300-.354-.405, 504, 4-65, 40-123, 24-4
Quick Take: Solid season, but the high # of strikeouts vs. not much power isn't a good tradeoff.

2 - Jesus Montero: C
Hi A: .356-.406-.583, 180, 8-37, 14-26, 0-0
AA: .317-.370-.539, 167, 9-33, 14-21, 0-0
Quick Take: Only an injury could stop one of the best offensive prospects in the game.

3 - Andrew Brackman: RHP
Lo A: 29-19, 2-12, 5.91, 106.2-106-8-76-103
Quick Take: Rough debut, but the Yankees knew he would be a project.

4 - Austin Romine: C
Hi A: .276-.322-.441, 442, 13-72, 29-78, 11-5
Quick Take: Solid all-around season from the Yankees best catching prospect, as Montero will be a first basemen.

5 - Dellin Betances: RHP
Hi A: 11-11, 2-5, 5.48, 44.1-48-2-27-44
Quick Take: Raw arm needed innings to learn how to command his stuff, but went down due to Tommy John Surgery in August.

6 - Zach McAllister: RHP
AA: 22-22, 7-5, 2.33, 121-98-4-33-96
Quick Take: Strong, if under the radar, season and may be ready for the Bronx next year.

10 - Brad Suttle: 3B
Lo A: .271-.348-.456, 377, 11-44, 45-93, 2-1
Quick Take: Surprisingly began back at Low A and put up a decent, if unspectacular, season.

AAA: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (IL)
Breakout Hitter: Juan Miranda (# 20): .290-.369-.498, 438, 19-82, 55-101, 1-0
Disappointing Hitter: Eric Duncan (UL): .204-.242-.285, 323, 4-24, 16-69, 1-0
Breakout Pitcher: Zach Kroenke (UL): 36-2, 7-1, 1.99, 72.1-54-4-30-55
Disappointing Pitcher: J. Brent Cox (UR): 12-1, 0-1, 7.08, 20.1-29-2-9-11
Quick Take: Miranda had a strong all around season in getting a September call-up. Kroenke has put himself on the radar for a bi league call up, though the ERA does look a little fluky. Duncan, a former 1st round pick and touted prospect, has likely disappointed the Yankees for the last time. Cox really struggled at AAA and then didn't do much more at AA.

AA: Trenton Thunder (EL)
Breakout Hitter: Jesus Montero (# 2): Line above.
Disappointing Hitter: Justin Snyder (UR): .195-.279-.263, 262, 3-29, 29-49, 1-2
Breakout Pitcher: Josh Schmidt (UL): 46-5, 8-4, 1.61, 83.2-57-2-38-96
Disappointing Pitcher: Alan Horne (# 25): 5-4, 0-3, 11.15, 15.1-25-3-16-13
Quick Take: Montero accepted his place amongst the game's best prospects. Schmidt, a 26 year old righty, had his light apparently flicker on in a strong season that came out of nowhere. Snyder really struggled in his first attempt at AA. Horne really battled at 3 different levels this past season and enters a make or break season for his prospect status.

Hi A: Tampa Yankees (FSL)
Breakout Hitter: Jesus Montero (# 2): Line above.
Disappointing Hitter: Seth Fortenberry (UR): .175-.265-.328, 189, 6-27, 20-58, 3-0
Breakout Pitcher: Lance Pendleton (UL): 20-18, 11-5, 2.58, 104.2-101-1-31-87
Disappointing Pitcher: Dellin Betances (# 5): Line above.
Quick Take: Hate putting the same breakout hitter at 2 levels, but Montero deserved it. Pendleton's time under the radar has likely passed with a 2nd strong season. Fortenberry didn't hit at Hi A or AA (.160-.259-.256 in 125 at bats) in a setback season. Betances's season wasn't necessarily a disappointment, but the fact he is out for most if not of all next season is incredibly dissappointing.

Lo A: Charleston Riverdogs (SAL)
Breakout Hitter: Dan Brewer (UR): .323-.429-.473, 201, 2-25, 33-49, 9-5
Disappointing Hitter: Carmen Angelini (# 28): .197-.255-.258, 132, 1-8, 8-32, 6-1
Breakout Pitcher: Manny Banuelos (# 14): 25-19, 9-5, 2.67, 108-88-4-28-104
Disappointing Pitcher: Andrew Brackman (# 3): Line above.
Quick Take: Brewer had a strong full season debut and even received a promotion to Hi A at midseason. Banuelos was strong all season in his full season debut and may get on the fast track. Angelini struggled at Low A, then struggled even more after a demotion to SS (.190-.253-.270 in 200 at bats). Brackman's season was a disappointment, but not a surprise in 1st season back after TJS.

TK's Early 2010 Top 10 Prospects:
1) Jesus Montero: 1B
Amongst the best in all of baseball.
2) Austin Jackson: CF
Needs to reduce his strikeouts.
3) Austin Romine: C
One of the better all around catching prospects in baseball.
4) Zach McAllister: RHP
Likely will debut at some point next season.
5) Andrew Brackman: RHP
2nd year back from TJS is when control returns, so next season will be the telling one for Brackman.
6) Manny Banuelos: LHP
Lefty may have jumped on fast track to possible 2011 debut.
7) Arodys Vizcaino: RHP
19 years young in November, will likely make his full season debut after strong season at SS (10-10, 2-4, 2.13, 42.1-34-2-15-52)
8) D.J. Mitchell: RHP
22 year old had strong season at both A levels (25-24, 12-7, 2.63, 140.1-124-2-44-125)
9) Slade Heathcott: CF
Toolsy high school OF was 29th overall pick this June.
10) Jeremy Bleich: LHP
Lefty got a midseason promotion to AA and got pounded after solid work at High A.

Dropped From Top 10: Betances (# 5), Suttle (# 10)

Final Overview: The money the Yankees have spent, more notably internationally then draft-wise, has begun to pay dividends. This system has more depth then it has seen since the Yankees golden era in the late 90's and early 2000's. Montero is the best of the bunch and is a Top 5 prospect as a 1st basemen. Loaded with pitching, some of these will inevitably fall off due to injury or losing the feel for a pitch, but they have many more big arms then most other organizations. A top 10 farm system in my eyes.