#3. Scott Patterson, RHP
Position: P Full Name: Scott Patterson
Born: June 20, 1979 Oakdale,Pennsylvania
Height: 6-7 Weight: 225 Bats: R Throws: R
College: West Virginia State College

Scott Patterson is a lanky right-hand pitcher that looked extremely good at AA Trenton last season striking out 91 and walking only 15 in 74+ innings and equally impressive in Winter Ball. Patterson was signed by the Yankees as a free agent on November 16, 2007, after spending most of the previous two seasons with their minor league AA affiliate, the Trenton Thunder. Prior to spending time in the Yankees organization, he was in the Atlantic League, an independent baseball league.

Patterson spots the ball well and is listed on the Yankees 40-man roster in 2008. He will be given the chance to make the club during Spring Training and could be a major impact player in the Bomber relief corps. We don't see Patterson as nothing more than one who could eat up a lot of 5th and 6th innings. However this role is key to the Yankees; not only in saving the bullpen over the course of 162 games, but also in keeping New York in the game early giving their high powered offense a chance to come back.

Even if Patterson doesn't make the team out of the 2008 Spring Training, he hopes to make an impression on the new Yankee management team for a look when a need arises. If Patterson is unsuccessful in his first attempt, expect him to begin the season at AAA Scranton/Willkes-Barre.

#4. Jose Tabata, OF
Position: OF Full Name: Jose Nicolas Tabata
Born: August 12, 1988 Anzoategui,Venezuela
Height: 5-11 Weight: 160 Bats: R Throws: R

Jose Tabata was signed in 2005 out of Venezuela. Tabata joins the likes of Marcos Vechionacci, Irwill Rojas, and Luis Nunez as prospects the Yankees have signed in recent years out of baseball's newest talent hotbed, Venezuela. Jose won't be 20 until this August! Tabata's progress in the Yankee Minor League system has been slowed due to a wrist injury that occurred in July of 2006. He eventually had the hamate bone removed via surgery in August of 2007. Despite the fact that Tabata has been injured, he has still put up decent numbers hitting above or near .300 in his three seasons at Rookie and A level ball.

There are question marks about his power (or lack of) and whether or not his body thickness could limit his pure athletic ability. But he remains a likely replacement for Bobby Abreu in right field...as soon as 2009. He rates as an above average fielder with good range and a decent arm. Baseball America rates Jose Tabata as their number 3 Yankee prospect in 2008.

Look for a healthy Tabata to put up big numbers at AA Trenton this season; moving along to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre later in the season. Tabata will become an option should one of the Yankee outfielders go down this year (Matsui, Abreu, Cabrera, Damon). Keep an eye on Tabata and his numbers this season in the Minor Leagues. Big numbers could come early and earn Jose a fast promotion to the Yankees.

#5. Alan Horne, RHP
Position: P Full Name: William A. Horne
Born: January 5, 1983
Height: 6-4 Weight: 195 Bats:R Throws:r

Alan Horne was drafted out of the University of Florida in the 11th round by the Yankees in 2005. Horne was ranked by some as the top high school pitcher in the 2001 draft, but fell to the Cleveland Indians at #27 due to signability concerns. Horne is a 6' 4" righty who sports four effective pitches with a peak 94-95 MPH fastball. Horne did have Tommy John surgery while at the University of Mississippi (he's played for a total of three colleges).

Horne is ranked by Baseball America as the Yankees number 5 overall prospect. He had a impressive 2007 season at Trenton where he was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year, after leading the Thunder to their first ever Championship. Horne should begin the season at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but there does seem to be a logjam at this level. Are we actually presuming that the Yankees have multiple pitching prospects? Wow!

Anyway, we see Horne making a mid-season impression at the Major League level. Possible injuries and the doubtful future of Mike Mussina (could not put anyone away in his Spring Training start yesterday) should push Horne into the Yankee rotation; if not just for a couple of starts. Right now, Horne projects somewhere along the lines of a number 3 or 4 starter.

#6. Juan Miranda, 1B
Position: P Full Name: David Robertson
Born: April 25, 1983 Consulacion del Sur, Cuba
Height: 6' 0" Weight: 220 Bats: L Throws: L

Signed by the Yankees in 2006 with a 4-year, $4 million contract after being in limbo for two years as a Cuban defector. Miranda can hit! His 16 HRs and 96 RBIs in A-AA ball last season is an indication. Juan does strike out a little too much (when his swing gets long; 106 Ks in 446 ABs), but he did sport a .350 OBP and .471 SLG last season. Considering his two-year layoff from professional baseball, the Yankees were extremely pleased with his offensive showing last season and they believe he could provide a powerful left-handed soon; especially since this is the final year of Jason Giambi's contract.

“Juan Miranda has impressed our scouts with his talent and his strength,” Yankees Dominican Republic scouting supervisor Ramon Valdivia said. “His biggest asset is his bat. He has the ability to hit for power while showing excellent plate discipline. We’re excited to see what he can contribute to the future of this ballclub.”

Despite Miranda's weakness with LHP, we feel that Juan could see significant playing time; especially in the second half of this season. Jason Giambi can be expected to miss playing time and the rest (Shelly Duncan, etc.) have yet to prove themselves. Another powerful left-handed bat could be in the future soon for the New York Yankees.

#7. David Robertson, RHP
Position: P Full Name: David Robertson
Born: April 9, 1985 Birmingham, Alabama
Height: 5' 11" Weight: 185 Bats: R Throws: R

David Robertson, a 17th rounder in 2006, continued to impress beyond the University of Alabama (second-team Freshman All-American by Baseball America as a relief pitcher) throwing 84 innings in relief, striking out 113 while walking 32. David held his opposition (primarily A ball) to a .154 overall average giving up just 45 hits.

David is undersized, with a quick arm and clean delivery. Robertson throws both 2-seamer and 4-seamer in the mid-90s. He has a devastating mid-80s plus slider along with an average cutter. He will cut his fastball in any count.

Robertson won't make the Yankees out of spring training, but should get a look or two later in the season. He'll probably start out at AA Trenton (where he finished last season). Robertson's numbers seem to project a closer, however scouts point to his size as a reason not to over emphasize those numbers. We think David will make a nice contribution to the Yankees this season and an be in position in 2009 for a possible setup man for Mariano Rivera.

#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.