NY Yankees: Stock Up, Stock Down for Yankees' Top 10 Prospects for Week 6

As the Yankees finish off a series win over Kansas City, New York’s injury problems continue to appear in the headlines.

Eduardo Nunez is now on the 15-day DL, as are several other players that started on opening day.

It seems like every week there’s a new player getting a start in the infield.

But the front office continues to stay away from their prized top prospects and search out of the organization for stopgaps.

So as the Bombers continue to push through an injury-ravaged season, let’s check out how their top prospects did last week.

10. Zoilo Almonte, Outfield

Stats: 35 G, .272 BA, 19 RBI, 24 K, .366 OBP

Stock: Down

Week-to-week Zoilo Almonte seems too up and down—he can never put two strong weeks together.

This past week was a bit of a slide for the 23-year-old outfielder.

His average dropped, and he only picked up a couple of runs batted in through the seven games.

With Curtis Granderson playing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, much of the focus should have been shifted away from Almonte.

But he was not able to capitalize on Granderson’s presence in the lineup.

Don’t be surprised if next week, Almonte turns it back up.

9. Dante Bichette Jr., 3B

Stats: 33 G, .173 BA, 7 BB, 37 K, .231 OBP

Stock: Down

Every week Dante Bichette’s numbers seem to get lower and lower.  His average drops, and his strikeouts continue to add up.

This past week wasn’t an exception.

The third baseman’s average dropped by 13 points, and he struck out four times in five games.

What’s even more concerning is his low on-base percentage and low number of walks.

In his 33 games this season, Bichette has walked seven times.

This kid may have a quick bat with some power, but he definitely lacks discipline at the plate.

Bichette needs to start getting on base more if he ever wants to move up.

8. Mark Montgomery, RHP

Stats: 11 G, 1.45 ERA, 18.2 IP, 10 BB, 26 K

Stock: Up

Mark Montgomery continues to dominate Triple-A competition.

This past week, Montgomery added six strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work.

His earned run average dropped below two once again, and opponents are hitting only .200 against him.

So will Montgomery ever get the call to play in the Bronx?

It doesn’t look very likely.

Even with Joba Chamberlain’s injury, Montgomery has stayed in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Whatever the front office’s reasoning is behind the move to keep Montgomery in Triple-A, it will be hard to keep him there for the entire season.

Montgomery has been lights-out for most of the season, and this week was no exception.

7. Angelo Gumbs, 2B

Stats: 8 G, .088 BA, 3 H, 6 K, .139 OBP

Stock: N/A

A sprained middle finger on Angelo Gumbs’ throwing hand has limited him to only eight games this season.

Gumbs is reportedly in extended spring training, working to get back into Charleston’s everyday lineup.

It will be key for Gumbs to come back strong from his stint on the disabled list.

If he can continue to improve in the middle infield, Gumbs can find himself moving through the farm system quickly.

The Yankees haven’t had an exciting prospect in the middle infield in a few years.

Gumbs has the potential to be exciting if he can get healthy.

6. Ty Hensley, RHP

Stats: N/A

Stock: Down

It looks like Ty Hensley will not be back in 2013.

The Yankees’ first-round pick in 2012 had surgery to repair labrum damage in his hip earlier this season.

This isn’t good news for Hensley, who has had a tough start to his career as a Yankee.

Hensley’s stock has dropped heavily from this news, and this will hinder his progress in the New York farm system.

It seems almost fitting that as the Yankees struggle through injuries, their top pick from last year has also succumbed to a season-ending injury.

5. Manny Banuelos, LHP

Stats: N/A

Stock: N/A

Much like Hensley, Manny Banuelos will be missing the 2013 season.

Banuelos had Tommy John surgery and is in the early stages of getting back to throwing.

So instead of talking about Banuelos, let’s take a quick look at another young pitcher in the Yankee system that isn’t in the Top 10.

After six starts, Dellin Betances has been moved to the bullpen.

Betances was 3-2, with an ERA over six in his time as a starter, but in his first time coming out of the ‘pen, the big righty was unhittable.

He went 2.1 innings and struck out three while giving up no hits and only one walk.

This might be a good sign for the Yankees—moving Betances to the bullpen might turn his career around.

4. Slade Heathcott, Outfield

Stats: 28 G, .204 BA, 4 2B, 33 K, 3 SB, .279 OBP

Stock: Up

Slade Heathcott has been fighting his tough start, and he continues to slowly move his numbers up.

This past week wasn’t great for Heathcott, striking out eight times in four games. But the young outfielder was able to pick up a few hits and push his average up over .200.

Heathcott was also able to steal a base last week, putting his total up to three.

His current numbers aren’t great, and they aren’t where Heathcott wants to be, but this is his first season in Double-A Trenton.

Any improvement for Heathcott is a step forward.

3. Tyler Austin, Outfield

Stats: 35 G, .260 BA, 22 R, 19 RBI, 39 K, .380 OBP

Stock: Down

Last week wasn’t a terrible one for Tyler Austin, but it wasn’t good, either.

Austin’s average only slightly dropped, but his 39 strikeouts aren’t good at all.

Consistency has been Austin’s game all season and that hasn’t changed—he was able to add four runs batted in last week.

Austin has been solid in Trenton so far this season, but he needs to get better if he wants to move up any time soon.

This week was another quiet week for Austin—he didn’t do great, but he didn’t do awful.

2. Mason Williams, Outfield

Stats: 32 G, .234 BA, 6 2B, 20 BB, 24 K

Stock: Down

The past three weeks haven’t been too good for Mason Williams.

First Williams was arrested, then he began struggling last week.

This week, the young outfielder’s struggles continued as his average went down for the second straight week.

Williams struck out three times and only walked twice, which is a good sign that he is making contact.

Nonetheless, he is the Yankees’ top outfield prospect, and he is getting ever closer to the Mendoza line while still in Single-A Tampa.

Both Williams and the Yankees need the youngster to have a good season this year.

Right now though, Williams is struggling.

1. Gary Sanchez, C

Stats: 33 G, .268 BA, 8 2B, 6 HR, 27 RBI, .820 OPS

Stock: Up

Last week I wrote about how Gary Sanchez needed to stop his numbers from a free-fall after his hot start.

That’s exactly what Sanchez did this week.

The young catcher hit another home run and picked up five RBI in six games last week.

Sanchez continues to show his power and ability to hit base runners in.

If Sanchez can continue this production, he will be making a strong case to be moved to the next level.

Right now Sanchez’s production is great, but it is only in Single-A Tampa.