New York Yankees: Top 10 Prospects Update

With the recent trade between the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves, the former organization lost two prospects off of its 40-man roster, which posted to Fangraphs on the same day that the trade was announced. Both left-hander Michael Dunn and right-hander Arodys Vizcaino are now property of the Braves organization. As such, there are now two openings on the club’s Top 10 prospect list. And the new members are (drum roll)…

9. D.J. Mitchell, RHP, High-A
DOB: May 1987 Bats: R Throws: R
Signed: 2008 10th round – Clemson University
MLB ETA: Mid-2011 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3
Repertoire: 88-92 mph fastball, curveball, change-up

Mitchell just missed the original Top 10 and the more I look at his numbers, the more I think he should have been there in the first place. The right-hander had a nice ’09 season and he allowed just 124 hits in 140.1 innings, while doing a solid job of keeping the ball in the park with just two homers allowed. A heavy ball allowed him to post an impressive 62% ground-ball rate. He had some splits issues with a .287 average against left-handed hitters, compared to .203 versus righties. Six of Mitchell’s 25 appearances came in low-A ball, while the final 19 came in high-A ball. At the senior level, the 22 year old showed respectable control with a walk rate of 3.31 BB/9 and his strikeout rate was OK, although nothing special, at 7.23 K/9. All in all, a solid showing for his first pro season.

10. Jeremy Bleich, LHP, High-A
DOB: June 1987 Bats: L Throws: L
Signed: 2008 supplemental first round
MLB ETA: Mid-2011 40-Man Roster: No Options: 3
Repertoire: 88-93 mph fastball, curveball, change-up

It was a tale of two seasons for Bleich in ’09. He began the year in high-A and posted some solid numbers, although he did allow his fair share of hits with 79 in as many innings and his strikeout rate was modest at 6.35 K/9. His walk rate was good, though, at 2.50 BB/9 and his FIP was just 3.28 (3.40 ERA). With the move to double-A, Bleich’s game was “Blech.” His FIP rose to 4.40 (6.65 ERA) and he allowed 84 hits in 65.0 innings. The control slipped and his rate rose to 4.71 BB/9, but oddly he missed more bats: 8.31 K/9. Left-handed batters teed off on Bleich more in double-A with the line-drive rate rising from 9.5% to 18.3%. Cleary he has some work to do in double-A, but Bleich still has potential as a back-of-the-rotation starter or middle reliever on a good club like the Yankees.