#8. Humberto Sanchez, RHP
Position: P Full Name: Humberto A. Sanchez
Born: May 28, 1983 Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic
Height: 6-6 Weight: 230 Bats: R Throws: R
High School: South Bronx (Bronx,NY)
College: Rockland Community College

Humberto Sanchez, acquired from the Detroit Tigers in the Gary Sheffield trade, has yet to throw a meaningful pitch for the New York Yankees.

After missing the latter part of the 2006 season with elbow inflammation. The Yankees shut Humberto down in April of 2007 for Tommy John surgery.

Sanchez sports (pre-surgery) a 95+ fastball, plus slider, and average to above-average curveball and changeup. His durability is questioned as is his conditioning. Sanchez has struggled with health problems in the past and suffered from a number of injuries in 2004 and 2005 which resulted in missing time, including a sore elbow, knee surgery, and an oblique strain.Sanchez has been as much as 40 pounds above his listed playing weight.

He was throwing and following a conditioning program in late 2007 and it will be interesting to see what condition he is in during Spring Training of 2008.

Sanchez has had the best stuff of any prospect out there; however surgery and other problems question whether or not his will just be a suspect or a prospect. I would rate him higher but now sure how he will return from surgery. The Yankees have a lot of solid pitching prospects and won't have to rush Humberto to the majors. We see Humberto Sanchez as a long reliever or possible short man out of the bullpen. Until he proves that conditioning is a priority, a major league starter he is not.