#1. Ross Ohlendorf, RHP
Position: P Full Name: Curtis Ross Ohlendorf
Born: August 8, 1982 Austin,Texas
Height: 6-4 Weight: 235 Bats: R Throws: R
College: Princeton University

Don't be too critical of this pick early. Remember, this ranking is based on the players we think we have a major impact on the 2008 Yankees and not including the young prospects listed above. Ross Ohlendorf was the key player obtained by the Yankees in the Randy Johnson deal to Arizona.

He began his Yankee career as a starter in AAA and was hit hard. After a shift to the bullpen, Ross found his niche. Despite only six games with the Yankees at the end of 2007, Joe Torre added Ohlendorf to the playoff roster.

Ross Ohlendorf was a 4th round draft pick out of Princeton by the Diamondbacks in 2004. At Princeton, as a freshman pitcher, he was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year. Ohlendorf, a second-team All-Ivy selection, was 3rd in the League with a 3.02 ERA. He finished with a 6-2 record. Once moved to the bullpen his fastball velocity picked up a notch or two and now hits 94-95 on the gun. He backs up his fastball with an average curveball and a below average changeup. Ross Ohlendort also sports a recently added splitter. Ohlendorf is competing against pitchers such as Brian Bruney, Chris Britton, Jose Veras, Jonathan Albaladejo, Sean Henn and Edwar Ramirez.

Ohlendorf may not be the marquee player found on most prospect lists, but we believe that the Yankee bullpen is a vital cog for making another run at a World Series. This has been true the past 3 or 4 years as the bullpen struggles to get to the ninth and Mariano Rivera. Younger and more effective arms such as Ohlendor can make this happen.