Big Guy's Minor League Notes

It's the midway point of spring training so I thought I'd take a look at how some of the minor leaguers are doing at spring training. Some of the younger kids have already been sent over to the minor league camp across the street from Legends Field.


POSITION PLAYERS:

Brett Gardner: Gardner has been very good so far and is currently hitting .435. He's thrown out 2 runners at the plate and has stolen 6 bases in the process. He’s also walked 4 times and driven in 3. If he doesn't make the team he'll be starting at SWB in center, but with Joe Girardi’s recent comments, there is a chance you may he could make the roster as a 5th outfielder.

Justin Christian: He has been pretty good thus far hitting .250 with a HR and 4 RBI, and 2 stolen bases so far at camp. He'll be in the SWB outfield.

Cody Ransom: Signed as a free agent to play 3rd base at SWB, Ransom has looked good so far at spring training hitting .280 with a homer and has been good on the defensive end as well.

Francisco Cervelli: Out for 8-10 weeks on the infamous slide. He'll go to the AA Trenton when he recovers.

Alberto Gonzalez: The slick fielding SS will start the year at SWB. He's hitting .278 in 18 ABs, and has driven in 2 so far this spring.

Colin Curtis: Curtis is having a very nice ST. He's hitting .375 in 8 Abs, and will be in the Trenton outfield this year.

Juan Miranda: The Cuban born first baseman didn't do much with the bat at ST, OK; he didn’t do anything with the bat going 0-for-9. He was robbed of what would have been an extra base hit. Miranda was sent down early to minor league camp and will start the year at SWB.

Jose Tabata: One of the Yankees highest rated prospects, Tabata had only one hit in limited action (1-for-9 in 6 games), and drove in a couple RBIs before being sent down to minor league camp. He'll start the year in the outfield for AA Trenton.

Austin Jackson: Another highly touted prospect, Jackson, like Tabata, had only one hit (1-for-9, RBI) before being sent to the minor league camp. He'll be at AA Trenton in CF between Jose Tabata and Colin Curtis.

Jesus Montero: The young catcher showed off his power with an opposite field homer before being sent back to minor league camp. He’ll be at Charlotte to start the season.

PITCHERS:

Ross Ohlendorf: He’s in the running for a spot in the bullpen, and if you ask me he should make the team. So far he's thrown 4.2 IP, and only allowed 1 run on 8 hits, while striking out 3 and walking none.

Jose Veras: Has struggled so far this spring he's given up 3 runs in 4 IP.

Chris Britton: Britton is having a pretty good spring. He's allowed 1 run on 3 hits in 4 IP while striking out 2 and walking none.

Edwar Ramirez: The skinny right-hander has been inconsistent but better of late. He had 4 K's in his last game. He’s thrown 4.1 IP, allowed 3 runs, struck out 6 and walked only 1. He will probably start the year with SWB.

Steven White: White had a rough camp before being sent to the minor league camp. In 3 IP he gave up 7 runs on 7 hits while also walking 4. He'll be at SWB to start the season.

Scott Patterson: He’s pitched great so far at camp. In 6 IP, he's allowed no runs and only 1 hit while fanning 5 and walking none. He's slated for the SWB bullpen, but he's really pitched well so far and could make the team to start the year.

Jeff Karstens: Trying for the long man role Karstens has been very inconsistent. So far on the spring he’s thrown 6.1 IP and allowed 6 runs on 12 hits.

Darrel Rasner: Started off slow, then showed some improvement, but got hit hard again yesterday against Cleveland. He’s thrown 8.1 IP and allowed 8 runs on 11 hits, he’s also K’d 4 and walked 7.

Sean Henn: The lefty is out of options, but he hasn't done much to impress anybody as of yet. He’s allowed 2 runs on 6 hits in 3.1 IP, while striking out 6 and walking 1.

Mark Melancon, Alan Horne, Jeff Marquez, and Dan McCutchen all threw at least 1 inning and were sent to minor league camp. Melancon will start at Tampa. Horne and Marquez should be in the SWB rotation, and McCutchen should start the season at Trenton.

NEWS AND READING MATERIAL:

- The Yankees signed Neall French, a 6-3 220 lb catcher out of the U. of Cincinnati. Cleveland drafted him in 2003 but he decided to go to college, and went undrafted in ‘07. At Cincy last year he hit .343 with 11 homers and 65 RBI. Source: Our Sports Central.

- Lisa Kennely wrote this article about Brett Gardner's chances of making the team.

- Tyler Kepner wrote this one about Scott Patterson, and the accident that turned his career around.

- Here's another article on Scott Patterson from the Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times

- Bryan Hoch had this about Yankees pitching prospect Jeff Marquez.

(as always I'd like to thank Big Guy for his great contributions)