The Future Of The New York Yankees: Pitching Prospects To Keep An Eye On

Now it's time to look at the pitching prospects of the Yankees. Unlike hitting prospects, the Yankees are overloading with pitching prospects and have had a much more proven history in developing them.

Here are some (who have yet to play a game in Yankee Stadium) to look out for.

Zach McAllister

This 6'6" right-hander was drafted in 2006, with Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy. Unlike Joba and Ian, McAllister came directly from high school. He was a project pick for the Yankees.

Though his rise through the minors has been slow, he has shown great progress. He throws a four-seam fastball that is mistaken for a two-seamer.

It is around the low 90s, but its natural movement is what sets it apart. Movement, not speed, is the most important thing about pitching.

Kyle Farnsworth may throw 100 mph, but it is straight and easy to make contact with.

They had McAllister stop throwing a slider and tried to teach him the curveball. His first year was disastrous due to a lack of spin and control on the curveball

Now he is 20 years old and iis lighting it up this season.

In Low-A ball he had 2.45 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP and his record was 6-3. He has 53 K to 8 BB in about 62 innings.

When he was promoted to A ball, he continued his success. His record was 7-6 with a 1.98 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Though he only had 53 K in 83 innings, he only has 13 BB.

His progression through the Yankees system will remain slow. In all likelihood he will be called up in 2011 or 2012. To me, he is capable of being a solid 3, 4, or 5 starter.

Andrew Brackman

The kid has not thrown a single pitch in the minors but still made Keith Law's top 100 prospects in the majors. He was a first round pick for the Yankees and is more of a college project.

Had he been healthier in college, some believe that he could have challenged David Price as the No. 1 pick in the 2007 MLB draft.

It doesn't usually make sense to draft projects out of college. These players are expected to be polished and make an impact quickly. Brackman, like Austin Jackson, was more of a basketball player in high school and began focusing more on pitching at NC State.

He is a 6'10", 230 lb right-handed flame thrower. He has been compared to Randy Johnson due to his size and amazing fastball. He throws both a two-seamer and four-seamer.

His two-seamer is in the lower 90s, while his four-seamer in in the upper 90s, both have exceptional movement and he can place it anywhere at will.

He throws and knuckle-curve and a changeup with average command and movement.

He had to have Tommy John Surgery right after being drafted and hasn't pitched in an actual game since the end of his junior year at NC State. He is going to start pitching in winter ball this season and will start in A ball in 2009.

If he recovers properly, Brackman may have some extra life on his fastball making it even more unhittable.

Unless he gives a Joba type performance in the minors, he won't be on the Yankees next season. He will probably be called up in 2010, possibly 2011 if he doesn't develop like he should.

His talent could make him one of the best pitchers the Yankees have. The most important question is if he can stay healthy. If he can he will be a dominant No. 2 starter behind Joba by 2012.

Dellin Betances

Another big pitcher that the Yankees picked up. The high school draftee stands at 6'9" and is 230 lb. After being thought of as a sure first round pick, teams passed on him due to the very real possibility he would go to college.

He fell to the Yankees in the eighth and they couldn't say no. Last year Betances did not advance through the system due to a injured elbow that hurt him the entire season.

This year that problem seems to have been remedied.

He throws his fastball around 95-96 mph and it can come close to 100 mph. Unlike Brackman, Betances does have a secondary pitch—the knuckle-curve—he can rely on. 

Yankee's scouts have been saying that he has made a lot of imporvement when it comes to throwing the change up. His mechanics are solid and I don't see him having many injury concerns.

This season in Low A ball, he has posted a 3.61 ERA and had a 1.24 WHIP. He was near unhittable and gave up less than one hit per inning (about .72 hits per inning). His K/9 ratio was 10.6, which is dominant.

His problem is the same problem Randy Johnson had coming up—he walked too many batters. He had 68 BB in 117 innings. That is usually a problem with big pitchers. The Yankee's coaches will be able to fix that.

This guy is exactly like Brackman in the kind of pitcher they are. These guys can be absolutely filthy. Betances could easily be anywhere from a No. 1 to a No. 3 starter.

If Kennedy and Hughes turns it around it will be interesting to see how the Yankees deal with him. If that happens, he could be the heir apparent to Mariano Rivera—just a thought.

He will probably be called up around the same time as Brackman, 2010 if things go right or 2011 if there is any delay.

Alan Horne (Picture)

The highest ranked Yankee pitching prospect other than Kennedy and Joba, Horne is by far the most polished pitcher in the Yankee's system.

He throws a four-seam fastball anywhere from 92-95 and has an good change up and slider. He can throw all these pitches for strikes consistently.

He had a great season last year. He had a 3.11 ERA and a WHIP of 1.34. He had a K/9 of 9.68 and a K/BB ration of 2.89.

However, this season was lost due to injury. His biceps have been a problem and kept him from making his Yankees debut this season as many had predicted.

Hopefully, he can rebound and pitch in the bullpen and may start next year for the Yankees.

He is 25 and time is running out for him. Yet, the Yankees should not be impatient with him. Like Aceves and Paul Byrd, some pitchers show their potential later than others. He will be the first Yankee called up in this group.

He will be called up next season and will start his career in the bullpen. Unless there is a horrible setback, he will be pitching in the first year of the New Yankee Stadium.

He will be a backend rotation guy, but that is something the Yankees desperately need stability in.

These are only the best of the best when it comes to the Yankees starters. There are other names that could make an impact for the Yankees in the future; Humberto Sanchez, Mark Melacon, Jeff Marquez, Kevin Whelan, and Jairo Heredia.

Projected Starting Rotation 2011 (without signing CC Sabathia)

1. Joba Chamberlain

2. Chien Ming Wang

3. Phil Hughes

4. Andrew Brackman/Dellin Betances

5. Alan Horne

If they sign C.C. Sabathia, he will be the No. 1 or No. 2 starter. This would just bump everyone down. If Hughes doesn't fix himself, then Betances will be a fixture in the starting rotation.

The Yankee's plethora of pitching has allowed them to be patient with their talent. They have been able to polish their players so they are ready to make an impact in the MLB.

Also, if a prospect doesn't pan out, there are plenty that can replace him which can give the Yankees the starting pitching depth they haven't had sine 2000.

Yankee's Hitting Prospects

Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Joba