Yankees Minor League Baseball Blog

Kevin Goldstein recently released his list of the top eleven Yankee prospects and there’s little surprise that Joba Chamberlain is at the top of the list.  The guy ascended all the way from High A Tampa all the way to the Yankee bullpen in what can only be called the fast track and I was happy to hear his future is in the rotation. 

Ian Kennedy pretty much followed Chamberlain through the minor league system and into the majors and he comes in at number two.  Like Chamberlain, he’s a major league ready starter and we should see him in the rotation in 2008.   This is assuming he’s still with the team because he appears to be one of the team’s big bargaining chips in a blockbuster trade.

Austin Jackson is the highest rated position player and he comes in at number three.  Jackson is probably a year away but he could be the heir apparant to Johnny Damon out in centerfield.  He followed up a solid 2007 season with a solid stint in the Hawaiian Winter Baseball League.  He’ll probably play in Trenton to start the 2008 season but him ending things with a cup of coffee with the Yankees.

Jose Tabata and Alan Horne round out the top five.  2007 first round draft pick, Andrew Brackman, is listed as the eighth best prospect and he’ll miss all of 2008 after he had Tommy John surgery in August.  One of the top guys last year, Humberto Sanchez, fell all the way to eleventh with his injury concerns.

Angel Chavez doubled home Brett Gardner in the top of the eleventh inning to win it for the Yankees.  Chavez also pitched in earlier in the 5-4 win with a solo homerun and Bronson Sardinha had a team high three hits.

Ian Kennedy had a mediocre start (for him) and he gave up three runs on seven hits and four walks with two strikeout in two innings.  Edwar Ramirez struck out five in two innings and he improved to 1-0 on the season.

The Yankees took care of the Red Sox in both games of their doubleheader and the wins extended their winning streak to four games.  It was Ian Kennedy who got it done in the first game and he threw six shutout innings to pick up his first Triple A win of the season.  He gave up five hits and a walk and he struck out nine in the 4-0 win.  Alberto Gonzalez went two for three with a triple with three RBIs and a run.

The second game was more tight but it was a win none the less.  The game winner came in the seventh inning when Chris Basak doubled home Kevin Reese and Bronson Sardinha to win it.  T.J. Beam picked up the win with two shutout innings to close out the game.

Like Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy transitioned nicely and threw six shutout innings in his debut for SWB.  He gave up two hits and two walks with six strikeouts.   It wasn’t good enough though because the pen gave up three runs and the hitters were shutout in a 3-0 loss.

SWB hitters reached base just five times with three singles and two walks.  Erubiel Durazo and Kevin Reese both singled and drew walks.

You have to feel for Chase Wright.  He got off to that fantstic start for Trenton and it earned him a couple of starts for the big league club.  Then he got sent down to Scranton where did he pretty well but found himself the odd man out when they wanted to test Ian Kennedy and Joba Chmaberlain at Triple A.  So he ends up back at Trenton and in his first start there, he gets pummelled for ten runs in his first Double A loss of the season.

Matt Carson went two for four with a homerun and three RBIs.  Juan Miranda singled, scored a run and drove in a run.

Philip Hughes continued his rehab assignment to the delight of SWB Yankees fans as he picked up the win.  He gave up just two hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in six shutout innings and with the promotion of Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy to Triple A, SWB now has most of the top flight pitching prospects in the organization.

Erubiel Durazo was one of the hitting stars in the 4-0 win over the Bats.  He went two for three with a walk, a double a run and an RBI.

The Thunder broke a 2-2 tie with a big five run ninth inning to take care of New Britain 7-2. Ian Kennedy didn’t get a decision but he had a nice start none the less.  He gave up two runs on three hits and one walk with six strikeouts in five innings of work.  Scott Patterson threw a shutout eighth inning and he picked up the win.

Alberto Gonzalez went three for four with a double, three RBIs and a run.  Juan Miranda went two for five with a double, three RBIs and a run.

Ian Kennedy didn’t get the decision in the Thunder’s 6-4 win even though he threw a nice game.  He gave up just two runs on three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.  Justin Pope threw two no-hit shutout innings and he picked up the win.

Bronson Sardinha pretty much put the team on his back as far as the hitters go in this one.  He went three for three with a triple, a homerun, four RBIs and two runs.

Ian Kennedy got it done again as he improved to 5-1 on the season in the Thunder’s 5-2 win over Harrisburg.  He gave up two runs on two hits and three walks with four strikeouts in six innings of work.

Juan Miranda went two for four with two doubles, an RBI and a run.  Matt Carson went three for four with two doubles and a run.

Ian Kennedy continued his pheonomonal season with five more shutout innings in Trenton’s 9-1 win over Harrisburg.  He didn’t give up a single hit and he walked three with nine strikeouts in those five innings and the win pushes his record to 4-1 on the season.

Matt Carson knocked in more then half of Trenton’s runs despite having just one hit.  He hit a grand slam and he finished with five RBIs in the win.

For the second straight start, Ian Kennedy had a good enough start but he didn’t pick up the win because of a lack of run support.  He gave up one run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings of work.  Jeff Kenard took the loss and he gave up two runs in three innings.

Brett Gardner went two for four with a double and a run.  Andy Cannizaro singled twice and he scored the other run.

Ian Kennedy fell to 3-1 on the season but it was because of a lack of run support and not the way he pitched.  He gave up one run on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings.

The offense picked up ten hits but they couldn’t push a single base runner over the plate.  Brett Gardner had a great day and he went four for five in the 2-0 loss. 

It doesn’t look like Ian Kennedy has been affected at all after his bump up to Double A Trenton.  With another nice outing, he improved to 3-0 and that improves his overall record this year to 9-1.  In the 7-2 win over Reading, he gave up two runs on four hits and two walks with an impressive nine strikeouts in five innings.

Justin Christian was the hitting star and he had a hand in more then half of Trenton’s runs.  He went two for four with four RBIs.

Ian Kennedy picked up the win in his first Double A start although it was more because of the run support then anything.  He gave up four runs on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts in five innings.  The toughest jump is from High A to Double A so some growing pains should be expected and while the ERA looks a bit bloated, this was a decent enough start from someone making his Double A debut.  I’m looking forward to seeing how he does at this advanced level the rest of the season.

Shawn Garrett had a huge day at the plate.  He went three for five with two doubles, a homerun, five RBIs and two runs.  Carlos Mendoza went two for two with a double, three RBIs and a run.

Ian Kennedy got it done again and he improved to 6-1 with seven shutout innings.  He gave up just two hits and a walk and he struck out eight.  It might be time to push Kennedy up to Trenton because he’s proved about all he can at the High Class A level.  His only loss was his very first start and he’s struck out 64 in 58 innings and he sports a 1.29 ERA. 

Jose Tabata was the hitting star in the win.  He went three for four with two runs and two RBIs.

Ian Kennedy had a nice start in Tampa’s 5-2 win over Vero Beach.  He gave up two runs on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts in five solid innings.  He didn’t get the decision though because when he left the game, the Yankees were tied 2-2.  Jose Valdez threw three shutout innings and he struck out six as he improved to 2-0.

Colin Curtis hit a two run homer in the eighth inning that was a big difference in the win.  Reegie Corona went two for four and he scored a run.

Ian Kennedy once again got it done in another fantastic start.  He gave up five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in seven shutout innings and the win improves his record to 5-1.  He’s struck out 20 batters in his last two starts to bring his season total up to 56 in 51.  I think it’s about time we find out what Kennedy can do in Trenton although I wouldn’t blame the organization if they held off until things warmed up.

Jose Tabata was the hitting star.  He went two for four with an RBI in the 2-0 win.

Ian Kennedy had another nice start and the win pushed his record to 4-1.  He gave up two hits and three walks with eleven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.  The eleven strikeouts is a season high and Kennedy now has 47 strikeouts in 44 innings.

Francisco Cervalli provided most of the offense in the 6-1 win.  He drove in five with a grand slam and a sac. fly while Edwar Gonzalez went two for five with two runs.

Tampa scored four runs from the sixth inning on to come from behind to beat Sarasota 7-6.  Jared Greenwood had the bit hit of the game.  He three run pinch hit homerun gave the Yankees the runs they needed for the win.  Kevin Russo also had a nice day and he went two for three with an RBI and two runs.

Zachary Kroenke picked up the with with a shutout eighth inning.  Ian Kennedy gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings and he struck out nine in his start.

Tampa lost 2-1 but it wasn’t because the pitching was bad.  Ian Kennedy got it done with five solid frames.  He gave up just a single run on six hits with five strikeouts.  Anthony Claggett took the loss when he gave up a single run in the eighth inning.

Reegie Corona scored the only run of the game for Tampa.  All the hitters racked up were five hits and all of them were singles.

Jeff Karstens held Clearwater to three hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five innings of work in Tampa’s 3-0 win. Ian Kennedy picked up the win in relief and he gave up just a single hit in three innings.

Jose Tabata continued to hit the ball very well. He went two for four with a triple and two RBIs.  The two hits raised his batting average to an even .400 on the season.

The Tampa Yankees got some solid pitching in both games of their doubleheader with Clearwater but only walked away with one win.  In the first game, Bryan Villalona gave up just a single run on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts in five innings.  Juan Miranda was the hot hitter in the game.  He went two for two with a homerun and two RBIs.

In the second game, Ian Kennedy had a really nice start but he took the loss because the Yankees got shutout.  He gave up a single run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts in six innings.

Ian Kennedy definitely got it done tonight as he struck out eight in five innings in the Tampa Yankees win over Lakeland.  He gave up just one run on two hits and two walks in the 3-2 pitchers duel.

Jose Tabata was very good with the stick.  The 19 year old went three for four with a triple and a run.  Colin Curtis singled, drew a walk and scored.

Coming in at number eight is the Yankees first round pick in 2006, Ian Kennedy.  He had his best showing on the Baseball America list where he finished fifth and his lowest showing was tenth on John Sickels list.  He slipped to the Yankees in the first round because of a lackluster 2006 college season at Southern Cal and he made a single start at Staten Island in which he threw 2 2/3 shutout innings. 

There’s not a lot on Kennedy but we should find out a lot in 2007.  Kevin Goldstein expects him to start the season in Tampa, and if he plays well enough, you should expect to see him at Double A at some point during the season.