Cox, Kontos & Texeira Have Been Invited to George M. Steinbrenner Field

(Zell's Pinstripe Blog)

Three more Yankees prospects have been invited to camp down in Tampa—J. Brent Cox, George Kontos, and Kanekoa Texeira. I was wondering why Kontos and Cox weren’t invited before. Cox was a highly regarded reliever from the University of Texas. I had high hopes for this kid, but injuries have set him back. He has pretty good stats in the minor leagues, but he wasn’t all that impressive last season. Maybe he can have a bounce back year?

George Kontos (23), I think, has the stuff to be a really good pitcher, but I just don’t see how he can have any future in the Yankees' rotation. The rotation is pretty much going to be filled in the next few years. His 2008 statistics:  151.2IP  (W-L) 6-11  3.68ERA  1.26WHIP  9.0K/9IP.

I don’t know much about this guy Kenkoa Texeira. All I know is that he was obtained by the Yanks’ in that deal for Nick Swisher. Check out his stats here. Not bad, not bad at all…

From the Yankees official website:

"

Cox, 24, was 5-4 with a 4.75 ERA in 28 relief appearances at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last year, finishing 12 games. In 36 innings, he allowed 30 hits and 21 runs (19 earned), walking 17, and striking out 16. The Yankees’ second-round pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Cox also pitched briefly at Class A Tampa and Double-A Trenton.

Kontos, 23, was 6-11 with a 3.68 ERA in 27 starts at Double-A Trenton. In 151 2/3 innings, Kontos allowed 134 hits and 76 runs (62 earned), walking 57 and striking out 152. He was the Yankees’ fifth-round selection in 2006.

Texeira, 22, was acquired from the White Sox on Nov. 13 with first baseman-outfielder Nick Swisher as part of a five-player trade.

Last year, Texeira was 6-3 with 21 saves and a 1.33 ERA in 51 combined relief appearances for Class A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham. He pitched 61 innings, allowing 46 hits and 15 runs (nine earned), walking 21 and striking out 60.

"

One more workout in the books / BtB’s Three Facts / It’s still Jeter’s worldCox, Kontos and Texiera added to big league camp  / Is A-Rod really off steroids?

How much is a single from a leadoff hitter worth? / 3 UP: A-Rod, Jeter, Abreu

Joba Chamberlain says A-Rod will thrive despite steroid scandal