Possible Help for New York Yankees Found in Farm System, Part I

No one saw it coming last year, but 2006 1st supplemental pick Joba Chamberlain (thank you, Tom Gordon!!!) became a new sensation in the latter part of the season in 2007 with his mid-to-high 90s fastball, diving hard slider that runs to 90mph and a curve (in high 70s) with good break that he doesn't throw as much.

Other rookies who showed up to MLB last year for Yankees were the highly-touted Phil Hughes, 2006 1st rounder Ian Kennedy, and AAA slugger Shelley Duncan. As of now in mid-May 2008, Chamberlain is still solid as the Yankees set-up man (bound to be starter later in the season), Hughes is out with broken rib, Kennedy has struggled in April, and Duncan is also struggling on the Yankee bench.

The question is, with Yankees having 20-21 record, could there be another savior like Joba Chamberlain in 2007? The answer is that there are some possibilities on the pitchers' side. In fact, these are the names that you could be hearing in the late-season New York tabloid media all over and over by the end of the season.

Alan Horne: Horne, a former 1st round pick by the Indians in 2001, has made a big comeback to the higher prospect status in his breakout 2007 season in AA.

Before 2007, it is a quite of a story of what had happened to him. After passing on being an Indian after the 2001 draft, he suffered an elbow injury in his college years and had a TJ surgery. In 2004, he was picked by the Angels in the later rounds, but he passed on them. 2005 did put some stock in his status when he was a factor of the Florida Gators as he led them to the College World Series.

He was later drafted by the Yankees in the 11th round. In 2006, Horne had a mediocre year in high-A Tampa Yankees with a 4.84 ERA in 122.2 innings pitched. While he showed a very low hits allowed rate (105 hits in 122.2IP), he clearly had a control problem with 61 walks allowed. Some scouts compared his stuff to AJ Burnett's based on his "knee-buckling" curveball and the fastball that runs between low to mid 90s fastball that can touch 96mph.

In 2007, Horne improved significantly on control with 52 walks allowed in 146.1 innings pitched and had a 3.20 ERA. This breakout season basically set up Horne as one of the caliber prospects for the Yankees and a possible Major League call-up candidate for 2008 season.

In 2008 so far, Horne suffered a biceps injury in his second start in AAA and is currently rehabbing in Tampa right now. According to his father (whom I know online), his rehab has been going very well and he's now up to face the live hitters sooner or later.

Could Horne be promoted to MLB sometime this year?

Absolutely, only if he can show his stuff in AAA. The problem is that he's already 25 and some consider him being too old to be a top prospect. Another problem is the concern with his command--of course, he improved it, but it still is a concern. Where does Horne project in rotation? Stuff-wise, he's about 2nd starter of MLB rotation, but his command/control tells some fans that he's future #3 starter. Is he another Chamberlain or Clippard? Only time will tell.

Part II coming soon.