Humberto Sanchez

Sanchez was brought along very slowly last season after missing all of 2007 with Tommy John surgery. The sample size of 16.2 innings scattered across the Gulf Coast League among three other levels simply isn't enough to draw any significant conclusions. In 12 innings of relief during the Arizona Fall League, Sanchez struggled mightily with his command (4:11 K:BB ratio) and was largely ineffective (.389 BAA). He'll likely spend the beginning of 2009 trying to get back on track at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but the Yankees have plenty of other relief prospects knocking on the door, so they can afford to proceed cautiously with Sanchez.

With Sanchez on the shelf for 2007 because of Tommy John surgery, the door was open for the team's other right-handed pitching prospects, namely Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy, to leapfrog him on the depth chart and make an impact in the bigs a year or two earlier than initially planned. Sanchez had his operation last April and is expected to be on the mound for the start of spring training, but given the emergence of the other prospects, the Yankees can take their time and let him fully recover at Triple-A before deciding if they want to devlop his power arm for the rotation or the bullpen. Sanchez is still talented enough to be on the keeper league radar, so don't write him off just yet.

Sanchez broke out in a big way last season, posting a 2.63 ERA and 129:47 K:BB between Double- and Triple-A. Unfortunately, he went down with an arm injury late in the year that eventually forced him to miss the rest of the season. Injuries have been a problem for Sanchez and his weight often comes into question as well. The Tigers decided to use Sanchez as trade bait this winter and sent him to the Yankees along with other prospects to acquire outfielder Gary Sheffield. If Sanchez can stay healthy this year there is a good chance we'll see him in pinstripes before the season is over. He has the stuff to be a good major league pitcher so be ready to pounce on him if he gets an opportunity.

Groin and lat strains limited Sanchez to 64 2/3 IP at Double-A last season. He has a lively fastball but must prove he can stay healthy. There's another year at Double-A in the cards but a promotion to Triple-A shouldn't be far off if he gets off to a good start.

Sanchez's pure stuff ranks as high as anyone's in the Tigers system but his mechanics have been a problem. He has a live fastball, a plus curve and a developing changeup. Sanchez will open 2005 at Double-A Erie.