With Eduardo Nunez in DFA limbo and Addison Maruszak no longer in the organization, here is something to ponder: If something were to happen to Derek Jeter and/or Dean Anna, the next players on the depth chart are Zelous Wheeler and Carmen Angelini. Wheeler has 141 games of minor league experience at shortstop, while Angelini was (at one time) an intriguing prospect in the Yankees system, but isn't anymore.
Pete O'Brien hit the organization's (which includes the big league club!) first home run of the season for Tampa tonight.
The depth becomes better whenever Branden Ryan returns, but we don't even have a timetable on that.
Suffice to say, I will bet that the Yankees are scouring every minor league roster and minor league free agent to see if there is anything they can add to their depth.
Scranton (Defeated Syracuse, 4-1)
John Ryan Murphy: 0-for-4.
The Yankees should just call him up now because I am going to get tired of typing "John Ryan".
Zoilo Almonte: 0-for-4
Part of me wishes he had Ichiro's role. Then I realize that Ichiro barely moved from his place on the bench the first two nights of the season. Perhaps it is best that Zoilo plays every day here.
Ramon Flores: 2-for-4, 3B (1), RBI
Flores can be very useful to the Yankees if he is able to get his career back on track. Given his age and plate awareness, he could be attractive trade bait for infield help, as he doesn't really fit into the Yankees' plans in the near future.
Austin Romine: 0-for-4
DH'd today, while Murphy did the catching.
Russ Canzler: 2-for-4, 2 2B (2), RBI, RS
The soon-to-be 28-year old veteran is our backup plan at first base right now.
Scott Sizemore: 3-for-3, RS
If Solarte falters in his utility role over the first several weeks or so of the season, Sizemore could be a candidate to take over if he can just prove he can stay healthy. The Yankees can really use a right-handed bench bat.
Zelous Wheeler: 2-for-4, 2B (1), RS
He does own a career .780 OPS in the minors.
Jose Pirela: 1-for-4, RS
After spending an eternity in Trenton, he finally earns a gig at Scranton. Mostly plays second base exclusively nowadays. There was a time not long ago where that would have been a death sentence in this organization.
Bruce Billings (W, 1-0): 5 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K
28-year old RHP is depth only. Has pitched in four major league games.
Preston Claiborne: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
His flame blew out towards the end of his stint in the big leagues last year.
Danny Burawa: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
The Yankees are a factory for hard-throwing right-handed relief pitchers who actually develop into major leaguers. Is Burawa next?
Mark Montgomery: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Remember him? If his arm is back to full strength, he still is their top relief prospect.
Matt Daley (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
One of the last cuts in spring, the 31-year old threw well in his late season call-up to the Bronx last year. Just like the Yankees are good at drafting and developing relief pitchers, they are excellent in finding value off the scrap heap.
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Trenton (Lost to New Hampshire, 6-0)
Gary Sanchez: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
If history is any indication, he will end this season at Scranton. His path to date has been to play most of the season at a certain level before getting moved up to the next level to finish his season.
'Mason Williams: 1-for-4
Not much to say about Williams - this is a huge season for him.
Rob Segedin: 1-for-4
2013 had to be frustrating for the 24-year old third baseman. He started off on fire (.338/.390/.606 in 18 games) before succumbing to a season-ending injury.
Robert Refsnyder: 0-for-4, 2 K
23-year old 2B had a big year between Charleston/Tampa last year (.293/.413/.413 in 467 AB with 23 steals in 29 attempts)
Ben Gamel: 0-for-4, 2 K
Smallish OF has hit just enough to keep him somewhere on the radar (.267/.342/.387 in 431 AB last season with 22 steals in 27 attempts). Like Ramon Flores, he could be a bit of a tweener - not enough power for a corner; not good enough of a fielder to man center field consistently.
Taylor Dugas: 0-for-2, BB
Talk about smallish (5'9", 180). Dugas is pretty much an OBP guy only, as he posted a .405 number last year to go along with a tiny .339 SLG. Also will need to work on basestealing (17-for-28) if he wants any kind of future.
Bryan Mitchell (L, 0-1): 4 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
We will keep waiting and waiting to see if anything clicks with Mitchell, who has extreme talent but just hasn't been able to put everything together to date.
Jairo Heredia: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Shoulder surgery in 2012 has dimmed his prospect status significantly. Posted a 3.39 ERA in 69 innings between 3 levels last year with a 68/19 K/BB ratio.
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Tampa (Defeated Lakeland, 4-0. Held them to one hit)
Pete O'Brien: 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 RS
The right-handed basher probably doesn't belong here, but he is back to being a full-time catcher, and the organization's top prospect is at the level higher than him. Hit 22 home runs and drove in 96 in 2013.
Eric Jagielo: 0-for-4, 3K
The writing is on the wall: The Yankees have no real future at third base, free agents and trades for third basemen are hard to come by, and Jagielo's path is about as clear as anyone's in the entire organization.
Cito Culver: 2-for-4, 2B (1), 2 RS
He did put up a .355/.394/.484 line in 62 late season AB here last year. Of course, he did strike out 14 times.
Dante Bichette: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RBI
Has a changed approach with a more compact swing....blah blah blah. We obviously need to see results, not talk.
Jake Cave: 1-for-4
CF hit .282/.347/.401 in his first season of professional ball for Charleston in 2013.
Manny Banuelos: 3 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K
He is on a strict innings limit and won't be promoted to Scranton until warmer weather settles in up north.
Dietrich Enns (W, 1-0): 4 IP, 1 H, 4 BB, 5 K
The LHP was one of the big surprises in 2013, compiling a 0.61 ERA in Charleston with 69 K in 44.1 IP. The Yankees then did a surprising thing: Not only did they promote him to Tampa, they put him in the rotation. The results weren't great (5.63 ERA in 38.1 IP before being shut down for the season), but it seems clear that the Yankees feel they have a legitimate prospect on their hands. They will probably stretch him out again this season.
Ty Webb (S, 1): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K
LHP was drafted in the 2013 draft, and I believe he was the first promoted to a full-season league. Had a 3.31 ERA in 35.1 innings with a 48/8 K/BB ratio for Staten Island/Charleston last year.
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Charleston (Defeated Augusta, 5-1)
Gosuke Katoh: 1-for-2, 2 RS, 2 BB, SB (1)
19-year old 2B was a breakout star in the GCL last season (.310/.402/.522), but now the real test begins.
Aaron Judge: 0-for-4
Professional debut for 21-year old OF. 6'7", 230 pounder with an extremely high ceiling.
Abiatal Avelino: 1-for-5, 2B (1), RBI
19-year old SS hit .303/.381/.399 in 198 AB for GCL/Staten Island last season.
Miguel Andujar: 1-for-4, 3B (1), RBI
You will hear a lot about the 19-year old third baseman this season, as many see him as the organizational sleeper. Hit .323/.368/.496 in 133 AB for the GCL last year.
Luis Torrens: 1-for-3, RS
17-year old (!) catcher (will turn 18 in May) hit .241/.348/.299 in 174 AB for the GCL squad last season. Next big Yankees catching prospect? Could be.
Tyler Wade: 0-for-5, K
19-year old SS (DH'ed tonight, while Avelino played SS) hit .291/.412/.349 in 175 AB for GCL/Staten Island last season. His .429 OBP for the GCL squad ranked second in the league.
Michael O'Neill: 1-for-4, RS
Paul's nephew had a rough debut in Staten Island last year (.219/.282/.293 in 256 AB)
Brandon Thomas: 0-for-4
Like O'Neill, struggled in first taste of pro ball (.214/.318/.337 in 66 games with 90 K)
Rookie Davis (W, 1-0): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
More than just a nice name, Davis went 2-4 with a 1.90 ERA in 13 starts between Staten Island and Charleston last year with a 47/13 K/BB ratio over 52 innings. 14th round pick in 2011 out of high school.
Cesar Vargas: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Vargas threw very well in Charleston last year (3.24 ERA in 108.1 innings), but got pounded in Tampa (19 runs in 12.1 innings).
Phil Walby: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Not sure if there is much of a prospect here, but striking out the side will always get noticed an the Yankees are very good at finding relief candidates. Had a 2.75 ERA for Staten Island last season, but with a 37/30 K/BB ratio over 36 innings.
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