The majority of the Yankees minor league affiliates have been filled out, and the results are very interesting. With Cashmoney’s reliance on the farm system, the rosters are really starting to fill out nicely. Level by level, here are the players to watch:

AAA: Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees

General Overview
 

C Chad Moeller	SP Alan Horne	RP Jose Veras
1B Eric Duncan	SP Jeff Marquez	RP Chris Britton
2B Bernie Castro	SP Kei Igawa	RP Scott Patterson
3B Cody Ransom	SP Steven White	RP Edwar Ramirez
SS Alberto Gonzalez	SP Darrell Rasner	RP Heath Phillips
LF Justin Christian		RP Scott Strickland
CF Brett Gardner		RP Dan Giese
RF Jason Lane
DH Juan Miranda

SWB is probably the least interesting of the full-season teams on the farm. The primary function of SWB this year is to house both positional players that are future Major League backups, and pitchers who are middle relievers and/or longmen out of the pen. Of all the teams, SWB probably has the most filler while also containing the lowest ceiling. While the Yankees AAA affiliate is still the most boring team to follow prospect-wise, it does need to mentioned that they are stocked much better than they have been in recent years.

Team Strength
The pitching, and specifically the relief arms. CHRIS BRITTON, SCOTT PATTERSON, EDWAR RAMIREZ, and JOSE VERAS are all viable Major League middle relief options.

Most Exciting Player To Follow
Right-handed starter ALAN HORNE is the player with both the highest ceiling and the best on-field performance thus far. We told you last year how much we think of Horne, and we haven’t moved off that position in the least. Towards the end of spring training Horne really started to round into shape, showing true dominance in his minor league starts. Here at NoMaas we expect Horne to be in the Bronx this year at some point, even if it means coming out of the bullpen and throwing that nasty two-seamer in the mid-nineties.

Most Underrated Prospect
Right-handed starter JEFF MARQUEZ is underrated because his ceiling isn’t as high as the majority of the other Yankees top prospects, however he logs innings and gets outs. He’s a durable starter with a great sinker and surprising velocity. If he can polish his changeup and miss more bats, he has a great chance to be a starter in the majors. Talented defender ALBERTO GONZALEZ has always been known for his range at SS, however in the winter league and spring training he showed some pop in his bat.

Can He Develop?
Former first-round pick ERIC DUNCAN is a favorite of many Yankee fans because he’s a local (Seton Hall Prep alumni), but Duncan has been one of the most frustrating prospects many of us have ever seen. Between being rushed and falling victim to debilitating back injuries, there have been plenty excuses, but at some point time is going to start running out with the lower levels graduating more and more legitimately talented players. Duncan has shown exceptional Isolated Discipline and Isolated Patience, however he has also been a horrid defender with an inability to make contact. We’re rooting for him to work it out, but there aren’t any rational fans that expect it to happen at this point. When he returns from injury it will be interesting to see where Bronx native HUMBERTO SANCHEZ picks up.
 

AA: Trenton Thunder

General Overview
 

C P.J. Pilittere	SP George Kontos	RP David Robertson
1B Cody Ehlers	SP Daniel McCutchen	RP Eric Wordekemper
2B Reegie Corona	SP Chase Wright	RP Mike Gardner
3B Marcos Vechionacci	SP Jason Jones	RP Joshua Schmidt
SS Kevin Russo	SP Phil Coke	RP Steven Jackson
LF Colin Curtis		RP Zach Kroenke
CF Austin Jackson		RP Bo Hall
RF Jose Tabata
DH Chris Malec

The Thunder are coming off their first Championship last year after employing one of the best minor league rotations in recent memory last year. This season the focus has shifted away from the pitching staff and onto the hitters, as JOBA CHAMBERLAIN, IAN KENNEDY, ALAN HORNE, and JEFF MARQUEZ have all graduated to higher levels.

Team Strength
The outfield in Trenton is gifted all around, boasting JOSE TABATA, AUSTIN JACKSON, and COLIN CURTIS. From a ceiling standpoint, it’s as legitimately talented an outfield as many Yankee fans have seen on one minor league team in over a decade.

Most Exciting Player To Follow
While Jackson is a 5-tool talent who really whet our appetite last summer, Tabata is the player with the offensive talent that really has us at NoMaas salivating. The prospect of him playing healthy this year, having had hamate surgery in the offseason, is very intriguing because of the skills he has already displayed in his career:  a discerning eye at the plate, the ability to use all fields, and a knack for solid contact are what makes Tabata special at such a young age. While Jackson is a great talent with a huge ceiling, its Tabata’s consistency and all around offensive skills that have us looking for big things in 2008 from the 19 year old.

Most Underrated Prospect
Coming out of Arizona State in 2006 the Yankees broke slot and signed Curtis for $450K. What they got was a solid all-around player with good plate discipline and contact skills. Older than many other Yankee prospects at 23, he gets overlooked because he doesn’t truly excel in any facet of the game, but he has a nice lefty swing and stands a decent chance to make the Major Leagues at some point in his career if he can get past the hiccup he had upon being promoted to Trenton last season.

Can He Develop?
The Thunder roster has several players that have question marks surrounding their future. Primary among them is third baseman MARCOS VECHIONACCI, a fixture of Yankee prospect lists for the past 5 years. ‘Nacci shows truly exceptional defensive skills, but only gives brief glimpses of his offensive ceiling. If he can produce consistently at the plate, the still-only-22-year-old will be a legitimate top prospect. Reliever DAVID ROBERTSON has a low 90s fastball and is generally considered undersized, but put up dominating numbers in A ball last year. Spending a full season at Trenton will be a great measuring stick for the righty’s future. Starter GEORGE KONTOS has great stuff, but according to prospect guru John Manuel, he hasn’t been as focused as necessary to harness that talent and reach his potential.
 

High A: Tampa Yankees

General Overview
 

C Kyle Anson	SP Michael Dunn	RP Mark Melancon
1B Braedyn Pruitt	SP Ivan Nova	RP J.B. Cox
2B Damon Sublett	SP Ryan Pope	RP Wilkins Arias
3B Mitch Hilligoss	SP Eric Hacker	RP Jose Valdez
SS Eduardo Nunez	SP Edgar Soto	RP Jonathan Hovis
LF Josue Calzado		RP Grant Duff
CF Tim Battle		RP Stephen Artz
RF Seth Fortenberry
DH Andres Perez

The talent on Tampa’s roster is the most wide-open (from a range of outcomes perspective) in the system. Nobody is a sure-fire bluechip talent, yet there are very intriguing prospects in every area of the team, from the lineup to the bullpen. It will be interesting to see what directions the prospects in Tampa take in 2008.

Team Strength
The starting rotation for the Tampa Yankees is solid from start to finish. IVAN NOVA, ERIC HACKER, EDGAR SOTO, MICHAEL DUNN, and RYAN POPE should have the team contending for their division title.

Most Exciting Player To Follow
This is a tie between righty starter Nova and potential closer MARK MELANCON. Nova has great stuff, but pitched to a lot of contact last year. He gave up almost 11 hits per nine innings while posting a K/9 of less than 5. Nova has a ceiling that is significantly higher than those results, and 2008 will go a long way towards determining if he will approach it. Melancon is a legitimate option for the Bronx bullpen this season, and tracking the progress of his mid 90s fastball and hammer curve will be one of the most interesting aspects of the minor league season this year.

Most Underrated Prospect
As the only lefty in the Yankees system who did anything even remotely notable last season and still has a decent ceiling, MICHAEL DUNN has a chance to rise up prospect lists in 2008. Dunn made a full season of starts last year, giving up less hits than IP in the nearly 150 innings he threw. He also had a K/9 just below 9.00, and a K:BB of right around 3.00.

Can He Develop?
There are too many stories in Tampa to isolate one in this category. Converted third baseman KYLE ANSON has displayed encouraging skills at the plate and a rocket arm behind it after taking up catching. MITCH HILLIGOSS and SETH FORTENBERRY are both older, college prospects with enough skills to catch your eye initially (Hilligoss’ contact ability, Fortenberry’s arm and approach at the plate), but not enough to keep it for any extended period of time. EDUARDO NUNEZ and TIM BATTLE are toolsy prospects that have had their reputations tarnished by failing to live up to expectations thus far. BRAEDYN PRUITT and DAMON SUBLETT are 2007 draftees who put up monster numbers in short-season ball last season, but have question marks about just how accurately those performances reflect their true abilities going forward. The Tampa team is rife with prospects that could go in any number of directions in 2008, and this doesn’t even include the biggest enigma of them all, CHRISTIAN GARCIA who will begin the year on the DL.
 

Low-A: Charleston RiverDogs

General Overview
 

C Austin Romine	SP Dellin Betances	RP Jason Stephens
1B Brandon Laird	SP Jairo Heredia	RP Wilkins De La Rossa
2B Justin Snyder	SP Zach McAllister	RP Jesse Hoover
3B Carmen Angelini	SP Adam Olbrychowski	RP Gabe Medina
SS Brad Suttle	SP Noel Castillo	RP Jonathan Ortiz
LF Austin Krum		RP Lance Pendleton
CF Abraham Almonte		RP Craig Heyer
RF David Williams
DH Jesus Montero

This is the most anticipated minor league team the Yankees have had, perhaps ever, as it is just loaded with talent. The lineup is completely stacked with prospects, the rotation has potential studs in it, and there are multiple guys with All-Star ceilings. If you are ever going to start following the minor leagues, this is the season and team to do it with. The 2008 RiverDogs have the potential to be the single most exciting minor league team any Yankee fan has ever followed.

Team Strength
Sexiness. Ridiculous sexiness.

Most Exciting Prospect To Follow
There are too many to name, but JESUS MONTERO has to be the answer if we are forced to pick only one. The imposing physical presence has as much power as you could ask for in a prospect, and has shown a very encouraging ability to make contact. More importantly, he will take his walks and he has demonstrated a knack for applying his immense power to the opposite field…all as a teenager. The question about Montero is whether or not he can stay behind the plate, but his bat looks like it will play anywhere so those concerns are generally overblown. Montero has shown the skills to be an absolute monster, hitting for power, average, and a high OBP.

Most Underrated Prospect
Having a brother in the Majors didn’t seem to do BRANDON LAIRD any favors on draft day last year when the Yankees took him in the 27th round, but he quickly caught everyone’s attention by hitting .339 and posting an OPS of .944 in the GCL. While his plate discipline is lacking, he has huge power and solid contact skills. 2008 could be the year that he starts landing on top prospect lists. ZACH MCALLISTER has everything you could hope for in a young pitching prospect – great build, strong arm, and willingness to learn. He posted great numbers for the majority of 2007 yet was overshadowed by the bigger name pitching prospects in the system. He’s a potential horse with exceptional groundball tendencies.

Can He Develop?
BRAD SUTTLE had his swing mechanics reconstructed after being drafted and subsequently had a horrible time in the Hawaiian Winter League.  DELLIN BETANCES stands 6’8” and can hit the upper-90s, but seems to be destined for arm trouble. JESSE HOOVER and LANCE PENDLETON are former hard-throwing relievers who are attempting to come back from major injuries.

If that doesn’t get you excited, you’re probably a sports writer for a major NYC tabloid.