BA's Top 100 Prospects

Baseball America released its list of the top 100 prospects in baseball.

Only three Yankees made the list. Austin Jackson came in at #36,(the) Jesus Montero came in behind him at #38, and Andrew Brackman was rated #92. The list put AJax's ETA at 2009, which I agree with. I think he'll definitely get a cup of coffee towards the end of the year in '09, unless of course the Yankees are in a tight race. They estimate Montero to come up in 2011, which I also agree with. He's gotta get some time to develop, especially at something higher than the South Atlantic League. Brackman, the team's first round pick in 2002 will finally make his debut in pro baseball this season after having surgery that shelved him for all of last year, save for the Hawaiian League. His ETA is 2010. If AB can make it to the Bronx by 2010, color me incredibly excited.

All three of these guys represent a future need for the Yankees. Jackson projects to be an average to above average hitting CF with good defense, something the Yankees need.

Jesus Montero, granted he can stay at catcher, and I think he should, will be the next version of Jorge Posada; he may not be great with the glove, but his bat will be very advanced for his position. This argument has left many people to rate Montero lower than his talent and skill merits. Unless Montero is absolutely awful behind the plate, he should stay there. If his defensive skills have the ceiling of those of Mike Piazza or Jorge, he should stay there. His bat is not nearly as valuable to the Yankees in the future any where else.

Andrew Brackman is a starter. The Yankees--and the other 29 teams--always need starting pitching.