System overview
Probably the strongest farm system in the game a couple of years ago, the Yankees system has lost that title due to trades, graduation of prospects to the majors, and injuries. The system still has many intriguing names, but there is less depth than there was in previous years, especially in hitting. Yankee drafts have been indifferent of late, so international spending has kept the system competitive.

Speaking of international spending, two new faces in New York this year will be Cuban defector Jose Contreras and Japanese import Hideki Matsui. Although technically rookies, they can't be considered products of the Yankees farm system, since both are veteran players with well-established credentials. I will not deal with them in the farm system report below. Both should be just fine, solid regulars at the least and probably better than that. We'll do a special report with more detailed projections about the pair later this spring.

2002 amateur draft
Free agent activity cost the Yankees their first, second, and third round picks. They picked up an extra second-round choice for losing Tino Martinez, so the top of the draft wasn't totally empty, but they didn't get immediate help in that slot, selecting Oklahoma high school right-hander Brandon Weeden. He's a good athlete with a live arm, but will need experience, and won't be ready to help soon.

Fourth-round pick Alan Bomer, from the University of Texas, throws in the low 90s and has good control. Fifth-round choice Matt Carson, a Brigham Young outfielder, hit just .203 in short-season ball, and had problems controlling the strike zone. Sixth-round selection Brandon Harmsen, from a Michigan junior college, throws 90-93 and posted a 3.59 ERA in rookie ball.

College draftees who could move quickly include eight-round nab Brad Halsey, a finesse lefty, and 14th-round pick Ray Clark, a finesse righty. Both University of Texas products have sharp command and pitched well in their pro debuts. The same can also be said for 10th-round pick Gary Bell, a lefty from South Carolina.

Losing so many early picks was a serious handicap, but the Yanks picked up some useful college pitchers, as well as a high-ceiling high school arm.

Top prospects
Players in the "Will Help Soon" section could see significant major league action in 2003. Players in the "Will Help Someday" section shouldn't reach the majors until '04 or later, though of course that can change. Players are listed alphabetically. No 2002 draftees are listed.

WILL HELP SOON
Danny Borrell, LHP: Posted 9-4 record, 2.31 ERA at Double-A Norwich. Fastball is average, but has very good changeup and curveball. Likely to start the year in Triple-A, but should see the Show at some point.

Julio DePaula, RHP: Like Borrell, ticketed to Columbus, but will get promoted if the Yanks need a pitcher. 90-94 mph fastball, with decent slider and very good changeup. Went 14-6 with 3.45 ERA at Norwich.

Juan Rivera, OF: Ready to play, but veterans block him. Hit .325 in half a season at Columbus, but recovered very quickly from a broken kneecap. Comparable to a young Rondell White.

WILL HELP SOMEDAY
Drew Henson, 3B: I'm putting him here because people ask about him a lot. Still has enormous power potential, but horrible strike zone judgment, erratic defense, and low batting averages are dropping his stock.

Bronson Sardinha, OF: Stole 19 bases, knocked 16 homers split between short-season Staten Island and full-season Greensboro. Athletic, with decent strike zone judgment. His power should grow.

Chien-Ming Wang, RHP: Missed '01 and part of '02 with a shoulder injury, but healthy now. Throws in the low 90s, with excellent breaking stuff and good command. Posted 1.72 ERA with 64/14 K/BB ratio at Staten Island.

KEY SLEEPER
Brandon Claussen, LHP: Listed here because people have forgotten about him. Made 15 starts for Columbus before blowing out his elbow and having Tommy John surgery. His recovery is going well, and he should be pitching again by July. Power lefty with a great curve.

Other names to know
Robinson Cano, INF; Rudy Guillen, OF; Sean Henn, LHP; Joaquin Arias, SS; Ferdin Tejada, INF; Jose Valdez, RHP; Anderson Garcia, RHP; Charlie Manning, LHP; Marcus Thames, OF; Jason Anderson, RHP; Juan Camacho, 3B; Delvis Lantigua, RHP.

John Sickels is the author of the 2002 Minor League Scouting Notebook, and is now working on the 2003 Baseball Prospect Book. His biography of Bob Feller will be published next spring. He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with his wife, son, and two cats. You can send John questions or comments at JASickels@aol.com, or you can visit his homepage at JohnSickels.com.