New York Yankees Top-15 Prospects of 2010, No’s 6 – 15

ALSO SEE – Yankees Top Prospects, No’s 1 – 5

Grades are based on a prospect’s projected value over the course of his career and how likely it is that prospect will fulfill his projected value. Various factors are accounted for including upside, red flags, actual performance, and closeness to the majors. See the 2010 Prospect Primer for more information as it relates to prospect grading and philosophy.

Hitters must have 100 or fewer Major League ABs to qualify for this list. Starting pitchers must have 50 or fewer Major League innings to qualify for this list. Relief pitchers must have 25 or fewer Major League innings to qualify for this list. Ages are listed as of May 1st, 2010. Levels are based on the highest level in which a prospect played in 2009. All grades are subject to change based on any new information I receive before the season starts.

If you need to reach me in any way, please contact me via e-mail or post a comment at the bottom of the page and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. The first two prospects are available for everybody to read.

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Player Grades
Contact – 35/40 Now | 50 Future
Power – 40 | 60
Discipline – 35 | 50
Speed – 45 | 40
Defense – 45 | 60
Arm – 65 | 65
Instincts – 40 | 55
ETA – 2015
Final Grade – B-

Body Type – He’s pretty big for his age, but he has some room to fill out

Scouting Report

Gary Sanchez was rated by most as a top-5 talent coming out of Latin America during the Internation signing period of 2009.

He’s a true catcher with plus potential behind the plate or with a bat in his hand. However, scouts that have seen him have said, while he’s put on impressive displays during batting practice, it hasn’t completely carried over to in-game situations.

Sanchez has a solid swing combined with quick/strong forearms that allow him to generate plus bat speed and hopefully for the Yankees, plus power down the line.

*Credit to Kiley McDaniel

Sanchez starts out with an open stance and uses a toe tap as a timing mechanism, rocking his body back, and then striding forward. He loads his hands deep and turns well through the ball. He gets excellent extension at contact and he finishes his swing well, making sure not to cut his swing short.

Sanchez is a good athlete for a catcher right down to his running ability though as he fills out, he’s going to lose some of that athleticism and speed.

Defensively, Sanchez has tremendous pop-up times to go along with a plus-plus arm that is both strong and accurate. He needs a lot of work on the intricacies of catching, however.

Best Case Outcome – All Star level catcher

More Likely Outcome – Too soon to say

Player Grades
Contact – 40 Now | 55 Future
Power – 35 | 45
Discipline – 40 | 50/55
Speed – 50 | 40
Defense – 40 | 50
Arm – 55 | 55
Instincts – 50 | 60
ETA – 2014
Final Grade – B-/C+

Body Type – Pretty muscular with room to get bigger

Scouting Report

J.R. Murphy is another in what is a long list of catching prospects scattered throughout the organization. He hasn’t been playing catcher for very long and it’s not clear he will stay at the position, but it’s nice to have the option to. He’s not a slug and is an overall good athlete, so he’ll have his choice of a couple positions if he is in fact moved off catcher. For now, however, the Yankees are commited to Murphy at catcher and he’s been said to be a quick study. He already has the arm for it as well.

Murphy has a good feel for hitting and a solid approach at the plate for someone so young. He has a quick bat and an ability to make hard contact, but his power grades out as below average at this point. He has to get stronger and make some subtle adjustments to his swing to maximize his power output.

Murphy doesn’t incorporate his lower body as much as he should. Right now he’s pretty handsy…he has to work on keeping the hands back, letting the ball travel and then unloading on the pitch as it approaches. He needs to focus on getting the rotational power of his hips more involved in the process of his swing.

Murphy is an average runner, but as he continues to catch, his body will eventually slow down from the wear-and-tear. Like most young catchers, Murphy will have to work on the intricacies of catching.

Murphy will play 2010 in Single-A Charleston.

Best Case Outcome – Above average everyday catcher

More Likely Outcome – Too soon to say

Brief Rundown on Prospects 8 – 15

*Mark Melancon is not a prospect based on the criteria I’ve set forth for these lists

8. David Adams | 2b | Grade – B-/C+ – Offensive second baseman with nice pop. Would like to see him cut down on the strikeouts just a litttle…for an extended look at Adams, click here and click here

9. Jose Ramirez | RHP | Grade – C+ – Sleeper pitching prospect is getting a lot of buzz recently…starting for now, but a likely reliever in the future

10. Kelvin De Leon | RF | Grade – C+ – Very raw, very toolsy outfielder…chances of reaching upside are low, but not many prospects in the organization has his upside

11. D.J. Mitchell | RHP | Grade – C+ – Ground ball machine projects as a middle reliever in the future

12. Corban Joseph | 2b/3b | Grade – C+ – Can play multiple positions, but there are concerns about him moving off of second base, which would hurt his value…Yankees used him in center field a little bit during Spring Training

13. Caleb Cotham | RHP | Grade – C+ – Does a good job of missing bats…I feel his stuff would play up out of the bullpen

14. Hector Noesi | RHP | Grade – C+ – Potential back of the rotation starter, but he’s another guy that looks more like a reliever to me…click here for an extended report on Noesi and to watch him action

15. Jeremy Bleich | LHP | Grade – C+ – Decent enough stuff, but numbers are a little underwhelming…command can be an issue

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Other C+ Prospects

16. Jairo Heredia | RHP | Age – 20 – Injured for much of last year, but he’s young with good stuff and solid control…injury and reports of being out of shape in 2009 complicates things

17. Adam Warren | RHP | Age – 22 – Drafted out of college, Warren has a strong track record of success, good control of all his pitches, but his upside is limited and hasn’t proven he can throw a breaking ball effectively

18. Ivan Nova | RHP | Age – 23 – Low upside starter does a good job of getting ground balls, but he’s not a great athlete or overpowering by any means

18. Wilkin De La Rosa | LHP | Age – 25 – Still relatively new to pitching, he’s got a live arm, but he still lacks a good feel for pitching and he has to improve his command…looks like a left handed specialist since he really struggled against right handed hitters.

HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no particular order) – Eduardo Nunez (UTI) | Zolio Almonte (CF) | Gavin Brooks (LHP) | Andrew Brackman (RHP) | Cristofer Cabrera (RHP) | Daniel Brewer (OF) | Sean Black (RHP) | Brett Marshall (RHP) | Dellin Betances (RHP) | David Phelps (RHP) | DeAngelo Mack (OF) | Brett Gerritse (RHP) | Jaime Hoffman (OF) | Damian Arredondo (SS) | Neil Medchill (OF) | Kyle Higashioka (C) | Brad Suttle (3b) | Kevin Russo (2b) | Melky Mesa (CF) | Jimmy Paredes (2b) | Bryan Mitchell (RHP) | Christian Garcia (RHP) | Brandon Laird (3b) | Juan Miranda (1b) | Graham Stoneburner (RHP) | Kevin Whelan (RHP) | Reggie Corona (2b) | Abraham Almonte (OF) | Jose Pirela (SS)

ALSO SEE – New York Yankees Top Prospects, No’s 1 – 5

UP NEXT – Tampa Bay Rays Top Prospects, No’s 1 – 5

Other References and Resources Used for This Article – First Inning and Minor League Splits