On Saturday, the team held a simulated game for the fans as part of its “Night Under the Lights” event. Before the festivities began, select members of the media, including Yanks Go Yard, were allowed to speak to some of the players of this year’s team and second-year manager Justin Pope in the clubhouse.

Last year, the 2012 Staten Island Yankees left a lot to be desired. The team went 30-45, their fewest win total since 2004. Pope is looking to turn it around and is looking to the last twenty games of 2012, where the team went 14-6, as a way to build some success to start the 2013 season.

“Last year, we dug ourselves in a deep hole,” said Pope about last year’s slow start.

Pope also emphasized his goal of having the veteran players lead in improving the chemistry in the clubhouse as well as learning to play the game more aggressive, hard, and “teaching guys the Yankee way.”

There is no rotation and no lineup set for Monday’s opener, but some of the players are already excited to get this season started. This includes outfielder Brandon Thomas, the 6^th round pick out of Georgia Tech, who signed with the Yankees on Friday. Thomas discussed how the competition he faced in college, which included a trip to the regionals in 2013, helps prepare him for pro ball.

“We faced a ton of good competition in college,” replied Thomas in regards to the one thing he takes away from his college baseball experience.

 Some of the new players are just looking forward to playing in Staten Island and at Richmond County Bank Ballpark in St. George. Pitcher and Staten Island native Dillon McNamara talked about how he grew up going to games when the ballpark opened in 1999, and now he is getting ready to make his pro baseball debut in that very ballpark Monday.

I asked him about who his favorite pitchers were and who he emulated his pitching style. He told me how his favorite player is “The Sandman”, Mariano Rivera. However, he also emulates his style after New York Mets’ phenom pitcher Matt Harvey.

Some players, like infielder Austin “Bubba” Jones, recalled back to playing in front of no more than 50 people. Now, they get ready to take the field that is just a ferry ride away from New York City.

There are veterans to this team that are looking to help the new guys out as well as improve their game to further their chances of being promoted within the Yankees’ farm system.

Starting pitcher Andrew Benak talked about providing guidance to the new players while also performing better than his near 4.00 ERA last season. “I am looking to learn the ins and out and improve as a whole,” answered Benak. For Yankees’ fans new to this name, he is a pitcher with a fastball, slider, and a changeup who aims to get batters in out in three pitches or less.

Yanks Go Yard will be your home for Staten Island Yankee coverage throughout the season!

]]> http://yanksgoyard.com/2013/06/16/baby-bombers-update-si-yanks-media-day/feed/ 0 http://yanksgoyard.com/2012/11/25/yankees-minor-league-report-afl-wrap-etc/ http://yanksgoyard.com/2012/11/25/yankees-minor-league-report-afl-wrap-etc/#comments Sun, 25 Nov 2012 12:06:59 +0000 Chris Carelli http://yanksgoyard.com/?p=9515 While we were covering Baseball America’s top-10 prospects in the New York Yankees organization, the Arizona Fall League came to an end with David Adams and Slade Heathcott turning in great performances at the plate and Mark Montgomery shining on the mound. This week, we’ll recap their performances and touch upon some other notable players and their production in other winter leagues in progress now. (more…)

Baseball America’s Top-10 Yankees Prospects:

Mason Williams was named the Yankees top prospect by Baseball America. (Image: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE)

1. Mason Williams, of

Williams was a fourth round pick in the 2010 draft. Baseball America (BA) also tabbed Williams as the organization’s best athlete, fastest baserunner and best defensive outfielder. Williams went .298/.346/.474 in 383 plate appearances this season. He spent a majority of his time with Low-A Charleston. He hit 11 home runs and stole 20 bases in total. He’s projected by most to hit New York late 2014 or 2015

2. Slade Heathcott, of

Heathcott was the team’s first pick in the 2009 draft. He’s endured two shoulder surgeries since then which have significantly delayed his progress. That said he has not faltered when on the field. He hit .302/.380/.461 in 257 plate appearances mostly with High-A Tampa this season. BA also named him the prospect with the best arm in the outfield. He too is likely to hit the Major Leagues in late 2014 or the start of 2015.

3. Gary Sanchez, c

Sanchez is learning the catching trade and it is that which will keep him from hitting the bigs sooner. He’s got immense power and his 2012 slash line was .290/.344/.485 in 467 plate appearances between Low-A and High-A. He banged out 18 home runs and produced 85 RBIs. BA named him the organization’s best power hitter. He’s got a better chance of hitting the Bronx in 2014 than the first two players mentioned, but 2015 is not out of the question depending on how he develops behind the plate.

4. Tyler Austin, of

Austin was a 13^th round pick in 2010. He had a breakout season while splitting time with four different levels, ending the season at Double-A Trenton where he will likely begin 2013. He hit .322/.400/.559 in 464 plate appearances. Eye-popping numbers to be sure. BA named him the Yankees’ prospect with the best ability to hit for average. Austin is the Yankees best bet to break through in 2014 based on the quick path he has taken so far. It will depend on if the Yankees need a boost in the outfield during the season due to the poor play of a regular or in case of injury as they won’t want him to sit on the bench. If circumstances do not pan out that way, Austin would certainly be ready by 2015 barring injury.

5. Jose Campos, rhp

Campos came over in the Jesus Montero/Michael Pineda trade with the Seattle Mariners last year. He was pitching well at Low-A (3-0, 4.01ERA, 26 Ks in 24 2/3 innings over five starts), but unfortunately he felt soreness in his pitching elbow and was shutdown for the season. Because of the injury, it is hard to determine when he’ll be able to help the big club, but normal progression assuming he starts at Low-A again in 2013 probably indicates 2015 or 2016.

The Yankees have plenty of excellent talent at the top of the list, but no one is remotely close to the Major Leagues. This hurts the Yankees in their quest to lower payroll below the $189 million competitive balance tax for 2014 and limits the player’s worth in trades. It remains to be seen if their development next season will push them closer to big league level at which point their trade value could increase, but the likelihood of any of the players reaching New York as a regular in 2014 is marginal at best.

In the next minor league report we’ll take a glance at the next five players in BA’s list. The names are below.

6. Brett Marshall, rhp
7. Angelo Gumbs, 2b
8. Manny Banuelos
9. Ty Hensley, rhp
10. Rafael De Paula, rhp