Posted on 11 March 2009
H/W: 5-10 180 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 8/24/83
Brett Gardner got a chance to prove that he was ready to step into the role of leadoff hitter for the Yankees during a 42 game audition. Unfortunately for Gardner, it didn't go very well. He struggled mightily, hitting a paltry .228 with 0 HR 16 RBI and 13 SB in 127 AB. This came on the heels of an immensely successful AAA campaign where he hit .296 with 37 SB and 11 triples in 94 games. Gardner has game changing speed and could steal 40-50 bases per season at the major league level. He is an immensely disciplined hitter who plays at full tilt at the plate and in the field. His power production has been marginal throughout his career as he is more content to slap balls through holes and in gaps for extra bases, but his early returns during spring training has already resulted in 3 HR in just 7 games. Defensively, his excellent speed makes him a very good CF, though his arm is more appropriate in LF. Gardner has all the makings of a solid top of the order hitter but, as expected, the competition in Yankee Stadium is unrelenting. Gardner currently has the inside track at the starting spot and he should perform much at a much better clip than last year's numbers.
2009 Projection: Brett will be in the opening day lineup for the Yankees and has all the makings of a fan favorite. Melky Caberera has all but exhausted his opportunities to start, but his presence, as well as the anticipation for top prospect Austin Jackson, should provide consistent pressure on Gardner to perform. The power uptick he has demonstrated this spring has been a pleasant surprise, but his power ceiling should be in the 8-12 HR range. Keep an eye out for his first MLB autos, as they will likely be quite popular. Until then, his 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft cards are the best (and most valuable) cards on the market.
Key Brett Gardner Baseball Cards:
- 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Bowman Sterling
- 2008 Topps Heritage
- 2008 Topps Chrome Update
- 2008 eTopps
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Posted on 06 March 2009
H/W: 6-3 215 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/28/85
Tabbed by many as the Yankees' closer of the future, the former Arizona Wildcat did his part to confirm that honored distinction by breezing through three separate minor league stops from High-A Tampa to AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre. Melancon went 8-1 with a 2.27 ERA and 22 BB/89 K in 95 IP. His fastball sits at 92-95 MPH and his hammer-like curveball is quite effective at inducing groundball outs (1.54/FO in '08). Melancon has an intensely competitive demeanor on the mound which goes a long way towards intimidating hitters. He is a hard worker on and off the field and has all of the intangibles to be a highly successful closer. Team officials have been concerned about Melancon's strenuous delivery and continue to tinker with it to take some of the effort and stress out of it in order to diminish his risk of injuries in the future. Mariano Rivera is on the finishing rounds of his legendary career and Melancon is the top candidate to fill a very big pair of shoes.
2009 Projection: While Melancon seems to be ready for a definitive role in the Yankees' bullpen, it is more likely that he will be back at AAA to await his opportunity. The Yankees seem to be well stocked with good power arms in their bullpen, but a solid spring turned in by Melancon should open some eyes for opportunities later in the season. His predecessor, Super Mariano, shows no signs of slowing down and the Yankees have him under contract through the 2010 season. That should give Melancon plenty of time to nestle into a regular relief role with New York, increasing his odds of being the closer for the Bronx Bombers in 2011.
Key Mark Melancon Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
- 2008 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2008 Donruss Elite Collegiate Patches Auto #/240
- 2008 Donruss Threads Diamond Kings
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Posted on 21 February 2009
H/W: 6-2 205 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 5/15/87
Adams' numbers experienced a slight dip in 2008, but the Yankees liked the Virginia alum enough to select him in the 3rd round. Adams performed decently at short season Low-A Staten Island, hitting .257 with 4 HR 31 RBI and 45 runs scored. Adams is a hard nosed and intelligent player who makes the most of his average tools on both offense and defense. He didn't hit for much power in college, yet his thick frame and the fact that Virginia's home park is one of the toughest hitters park in Division-I baseball gives optimism that more should come. Adams is a savvy and agressive baserunner who is always looking to take extra bases to get himself into scoring position. He showed advanced plate discipline having earned a respectible 32 BB/57 K last season. The rub on players like Adams is that his lack of projectivity or standout tools limits his potential ceiling. He will work tirelessly to scratch his way to Yankee Stadium, but he will always have to look over his shoulder to fend off younger, more talented prospects.
2009 Projection: Adams should move to full season Low-A Charleston to start the season. Given his collegiate polish, there is a good chance that a promotion to Tampa will also be in the cards. Keep an eye out for the power progression. He has the potential to bang out 12-18 HR per season once he becomes more aggressive with balls inner part of the plate. Also, keep tabs on his K rate this year. He is a patient hitter, but sometimes this can serve as a detriment as pitchers will exploit them with fastballs early in the count and breaking pitches with two strikes. The Yankees organization is quite thin throughout their middle infield and the swirling trade rumors involving current 2B Robinson Cano should bode well for Adams' future opportunities.
Key David Adams Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Razor Exclusive Auto
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1199
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Posted on 14 February 2009
H/W: 6-5 230 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 12/8/87
The monolithic righty took a bold leap forward as one of New York's top pitching prospects in '08 after going 14-9 with a 2.09 ERA and a stellar 21 BB/115 K ratio in 151 IP. McAllister throws a four seam and two seam fastball that reaches 93 MPH with heavy sink. His slider and change are potential plus pitches that he mixes quite well to induce groundball outs (1.48 GO/FO). His control has made impeccable improvements as Zach cut his walk rate to just 1.3 BB/9 IP. Zach has demonstrated himself to be very strong and durable at a young age, giving the Yankees reason to believe that there is room for him to increase velocity in the near future. Despite his laundry list of positive attributes, McAllister seems to pitch to contact more than he needs to, resulting in lower strikeout numbers and, while his BAA was a respectible .233, more disciplined hitters could have more success against him.
2009 Projection: A trip to AA Trenton should provide a sound indicator of just how good McAllister's stuff is against advanced hitters. If he is able to boost his velocity by a few ticks while still maintaining similar amounts of control, McAllister will rapidly ascend not only to the upper echelon of pinstriped prospects, but to the top tier of young pitching prospects as well. The Yankees have a host of good arms in their system (Dellin Betances, Mark Melancon, Andrew Brackman, Jario Heredia), but McAllister has the potential to surpass them all and be a mainstay in the Bronx within the next two seasons.
Key Zach McAllister Baseball Cards:
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto
- 2007 Bowman's Best
- 2007 Bowman Heritage
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra
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Posted on 11 January 2009
H/W: 6-0 200 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/22/90
If his brief audition with the Yankees' GCL affiliate is any indicator, the Bronx Bombers seem to have found a nice value pick in the fireballing Texan. Marshall's heater sits between 94-96 MPH and his 84-88 MPH slider has a sharp bite to it and should become a knockout pitch at the MLB level. Although he is small in stature, Marshall's thick build should be able to handle a decent workload as a starting pitcher. He is a gritty competitor on the mound and is not afraid to go after hitters with his two plus pitches. A former shortstop, Marshall is still pretty raw on the mound as testified by his struggles to repeat his mechanics and arm slot. Also, though he is tinkering with a changeup, it is far from being a major league pitch at this point. The Yankees have gone ahead to develop him as a starter, though his size and two power pitches may make him more valuable as a late inning reliever in the future.
2009 Projection: Marshall has only 6 professional innings under his belt which, given his youth and considerable rawness, should relegate him to short season Staten Island for the '09 campaign. Watch to see if he can dominate hitters at this level while keeping his walk totals down. There is quite a bit of potential in Marshall's young arm but he has quite a ways to go before being able to don the pinstripes in Yankee Stadium.
Key Brett Marshall Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1499
- 2008 Razor Exclusive Auto
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Posted on 22 November 2008
H/W: 6-1 185 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 2/1/87
Jackson took major strides this year to become the top prospect in the Yankees budding farm system. Spending the entire '08 season with AA Trenton, Jackson hit .285 with 9 HR 69 RBI and 19 SB. Jackson possesses an athletic 6-1 185 lb. frame that should produce more home runs as he matures and his 33 doubles this season shows promise for future power production. Defensively, he has all the tools necessary to be an above average CF at the major league level. Jackson has shown the ability to draw walks (56 in '08) though he still needs to improve his strike zone judgment as he often over swings, especially in deeper counts.
2009 Preview: Jackson is not ready for New York yet. Even though he will get a good amount of playing time in spring training, he will likely start AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre in April. Keep an eye on the development of his plate discipline and HR power. If he takes a step back, the Yankees may decide to send him back to Trenton to work out the kinks. Jackson's target date for NY is 2010 as Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui's contracts are due to expire at the end of the '09 season. Don't be surprised if the Yankees decide to get Austin some Bronx AB's in September. While the market demand for his 2007 Donruss Elite Extra and 2008 Bowman Chrome autographs is high, Jackson's projectible ceiling and status as the Yankees' top prospect make his cards a can't miss addition to any collection.
Key Austin Jackson Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/794
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Auto
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Posted on 17 November 2008
H/W: 6-8 245 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/23/88
Betances had a good showing in his first full season at Low-A Charleston, going 9-4 with a 3.67 ERA and 135 K's in just 115 IP. Even more positive was the fact that Betances improved his control drastically as the season progressed. Prior to the all-star break, Betances walked 40 in just 55 IP. After the break, Betances threw 60.1 innings and allowed just 19 walks. Featuring a mid-90's fastball, sharp 11-5 curve and improving changeup, Betances is an imposing force on the mound. He is widely praised for his intelligence, work ethic, and competitive demeanor. Betances has worked hard to improve his strength and endurance and the clean bill of health bodes well for his ability to be a future frontline starter. Because of his size, Betances needs to continue to maintain and repeat proper pitching mechanics to avoid future injuries. Betances also has a tendency to pitch up in the zone and, like many young pitchers, can be inconsistent in locating his off speed pitches.
2009 Projection: Betances has certainly earned a promotion to High-A Tampa. If he continues to dominate there, he could find himself in AA Trenton at some point in the season. Betances has set a goal to be in the Yankees' rotation in 2010. Given his talent and performance thus far, that goal is a distinct possibility. Expect the Yankees to be cautious with Betances, as they have been recently burned by injuries to other top prospects Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Joba Chamberlain. Betances has a bright future as a potential ace for his hometown Yankees. While his 2007 Donruss Elite Extra and 2008 Bowman Chrome autographs are popular with collectors, the growth potential for these cards is far from its apex should Dellin continue to dominate his way to Yankee Stadium.
Key Dellin Betances Baseball Cards:
2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/494
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Auto
- 2007 Bowman Sterling
- 2007 Bowman Signs of the Future Auto
- 2007 Bowman's Best
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Posted on 17 November 2008
H/W: 6-5 230 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 6/24/86
Calamitous, injury riddled, disappointing; these are just a few words that could describe Phil Hughes' anticipated foray into Yankee lore. Hughes was miserable in April compiling a 0-4 record with a 9.00 ERA and a 2.18 WHIP in 22 IP. Hughes then missed a considerable amount of the season recovering from a stress fracture in his rib. After a lengthy minor league rehab, Hughes returned to the Yankees and pitched well in a couple of September outings and his Arizona Fall League season, while it has had its ups and downs, has shown that Hughes is once again healthy. Hughes still has dynamite stuff His fastball can still hit 95 MPH and his curveball, slider and change are all potentially solid pitches. Some time and patience will be needed for the 22 year old hurler to regain his confidence and refine his control.
2009 Projection: Expect the Yankees to be cautious in bringing Hughes back. Given that he has thrown in the Arizona Fall League, it would make sense for Hughes to start the season at AA or AAA. The Yankees will be addressing the holes in their starting rotation with high priced free agent acquisitions, which should allow for Hughes to slowly work his way back into the New York spotlight. Skeptical and risk averse collectors have shied away from Hughes' various '04 rookie cards, but the market for his Bowman Chrome Draft and Donruss Elite Extra autographs could heat up again after a few successful outings.
Key Phil Hughes Baseball Cards:
- 2004 Bowman Chrome Draft Phil Hughes Auto
- 2004 Donruss Elite Extra Phil Hughes Auto #/1,485
- 2004 SP Prospects Phil Hughes Auto #/400
- 2004 Topps Chrome Update Phil Hughes
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Posted on 11 November 2008
H/W: 6-1 190 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 10/8/89
Garcia skipped short season ball to pitch at Low-A Charleston where he went 6-7 with a 3.25 ERA with 95 K's in 102.1 IP. Garcia has a lively arm that features a 90-92 MPH fastball with good sink. His curve and changeup are still quite raw, though they both have promise to be plus pitches at the major league level. Garcia is very effective at forcing ground ball outs, averaging nearly 2 ground outs to every fly out. This trend Read the full story
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Posted on 01 November 2008
H/W: 6-4 225 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 11/29/89
Montero was simply awesome in '08. His season at Low-A Charleston where he hit .326 with 17 HR and 87 RBI vaulted him from being an intriguing prospect to an elite future superstar. Montero has immense strength and bat speed that launches moon shots to all fields and his exceptional hand-eye coordination helps him to mitigate the high strikeout numbers that plague many young and raw power hitters. Defensively, Montero possesses good movement for a catcher his size, though his catch and throw skills still need considerable work in order for him to stay behind the plate. Given Montero's already immense size, it is likely that he will be converted to 1B or LF before making his debut in Yankee stadium (much like Carlos Delgado's development with the Blue Jays). Additionally, Montero needs to become more adept at working deeper into counts and earning more walks. Montero's strength is his bat, pure and simple. His card values will benefit most if he is able to remain a catcher. Regardless, he hitting prowess is so special that his card values should continue to climb regardless of where he plays.
2009 Projection: Montero will advance to HIgh-A Tampa this season where his offense should continue to blossom. A promotion to AA Trenton should happen at some point during the season. Montero is the best catching prospect in the Yankees' farm system and the Bronx Bombers need a replacement for Jorge Posada soon. If he sticks at catcher, Montero will join Baltimore's Matt Wieters as baseball's best young backstops.
Key Jesus Montero Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Threads Gold Auto #/975
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
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Posted on 01 November 2008
H/W: 5-11 160 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 8/12/88
Tabata was the central prospect in the trade that sent Xavier Nady to the New York Yankees. The change of scenery seemed to rejuvenate Tabata as he hit .346 with 3 HR 13 RBI and 8 SB in just 22 games. There are mixed feelings about what kind of player Tabata will be. There are some who think that he will be a top of the order hitter with average power and there are others who think that he will be more of a slugger than hitter. Either way, Tabata has the makings of a fine hitter Read the full story
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Posted on 29 October 2008
H/W: 6-2 210 lb. B:R T:R DOB: 11/22/88
A 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft, Romine had a fine first season at Charleston showing promising pop and solid plate discipline for a teenager. Romine has above average power and great defensive tools that should keep him behind the plate. His arm is one of the strongest in the system and he is far more athletic then the average catching prospects. In light of these tools, one criticism in Romine's game has been his inconsistent use of them. Sometimes he seems to be quite agile and intriguing behind the plate and other times he looks like a future 1B.
Read the full story
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Posted on 19 October 2008
Joba Chamberlain looks to be the next great New York Yankee's Pitcher. Joba has the kind of talent that doesn't come around often. If he stays healthy he has a very real chance at becoming a hall of fame caliber pitcher.<!--more--> Based on the skills that he has showcased during his first 124 Innings of MLB Big League Pitching he could excel as a closer, a started, or both - similar to John Smoltz and Dennis Eckersley.
Joba has a huge fan following which has translated into huge hobby success. Joba Chamberlain Baseball Cards, Autographs, and Baseball Memorabilia have all skyrocketed in value, due to the long term investment potential of the items. Among his most popular cards are his 2007 Bowman Chrome Autographed Rookie Card, his 2007 Bowman Sterling Autographed Rookie Card, and his 2007 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects Refractors.
Joba Chamberlain Rookie Cards
Joba Chamberlain Autographed Baseball Cards
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Brett Gardner got a chance to prove that he was ready to step into the role of leadoff hitter for the Yankees during a 42 game audition. Unfortunately for Gardner, it didn't go very well. He struggled mightily, hitting a paltry .228 with 0 HR 16 RBI and 13 SB in 127 AB. This came on the heels of an immensely successful AAA campaign where he hit .296 with 37 SB and 11 triples in 94 games. Gardner has game changing speed and could steal 40-50 bases per season at the major league level. He is an immensely disciplined hitter who plays at full tilt at the plate and in the field. His power production has been marginal throughout his career as he is more content to slap balls through holes and in gaps for extra bases, but his early returns during spring training has already resulted in 3 HR in just 7 games. Defensively, his excellent speed makes him a very good CF, though his arm is more appropriate in LF. Gardner has all the makings of a solid top of the order hitter but, as expected, the competition in Yankee Stadium is unrelenting. Gardner currently has the inside track at the starting spot and he should perform much at a much better clip than last year's numbers.
