Top 75 Prospects

Written by Greg Fertel | 23 January 2007

Bryan Smith - formerly of Baseball Analysts and currently of SI and BA - is counting down his annual Top 75 Prospects list over at SI. Tyler Clippard earned an honorable mention:

Tyler Clippard, SP, Yankees 2006 Stats (AA): 3.35 ERA, 118H/166.1IP, 175K/55BB Clippard, who has always relied on statistics to carry his prospect status, was in danger of proving the naysayers true in the 2006 season's first half. After 13 starts, Clippard was just 2-9, with a 5.69 ERA, a K/9 under nine and a HR/9 above 1.00. Clippard then tightened his curveball, trusted his change more, and his season turned around. He had a 1.74 ERA in his final 15 starts, going 10-1, and allowed just four home runs in those 98.1 innings.

No future pinstripers showed up in the 61-75 range. Howeva, Humberto Sanchez is number 52:

52. Humberto Sanchez, 24, RHP, New York Yankees 2006 Stats (AA/AAA): 2.63 ERA, 97H/123IP, 129K/47BB With the Tigers, Sanchez would have entered spring training with questions surrounding his role. Given Joel Zumaya's 2006 season, many fans would have wanted Sanchez converted to a reliever, hoping his powerful arsenal would add power in one-inning outings. Others would insist on Sanchez using his large frame to become an innings-eating starter. Now a Yankee, Sanchez is likely a reliever going forward, and his heavy fastball and big slider should make for one smooth transition.

NoYankee prospects appeared in the 31-45 range, but Jose Tabata checked in at number 23:

23. Jose Tabata, 18, of, New York Yankees 2006 Stats (A-): .298/.377/.420, 15 SB in 319 AB Like Rasmus, Tabata is a polished beyond his years. He's a good right fielder with solid baserunning instincts and excellent patience, but the big question will be his power development. The phenom has an odd body type but should have enough core strength to be a home run threat down the road.

The last 15 players will be announced later today, and I think it's pretty safe to say Phil Hughes will make the list; I'm guessing he'll be in the 6-10 range. Need a specific number, how about...6? I dunno, I'm just guessin'. Tuesday morning 24 rant: That Assad dude is up to somethin', he wants peace like David Ortiz wants a fat free yogurt...that's pretty nuts that that Graham dude is Jack's bro, can't say I saw that coming...who was Graham's wife? The actress I mean, she looked so familiar but I can't put a finger on it...know who I think is the inside guy this year (not for nuthin', but CTU's had a whole lotta moles over the years)? The Prez's sister...best season so far in my opinion, never has an hour passed as quickly as it has this year. Update: Hughes is number 4 on Smith's list:

4. Philip Hughes, 21, RHP, New York Yankees 2006 Stats (A+/AA): 2.16 ERA, 92H/146IP, 168K/34BB If Roger Clemens does not return to the Bronx in 2007, Hughes will be the hot-button issue in New York come June. By then, Hughes will be dominating AAA with every outing. The Yankees have done a fabulous job preparing Hughes for his midseason call-up, slowly increasing his workload in the minor leagues. With 146 innings last year, Hughes should be able to pitch consistently through October, by which time he might already be the Yankees' No. 2 starter. Far more impressive than Hughes' heavy sinker or jaw-dropping curveball is his understanding of pitching; he is the most intelligent phenom in recent memory. Hughes does not give in to any bat, rarely allows free trips to first base, and gets groundballs consistently from the stretch. Hughes is as good as a New York pitching prospect has been in a long time.