Manny Banuelos

It was only a few years ago that Banuelos was considered the top prospect in the Yankees’ system, and after posting an unexpectedly high 4.32 combined ERA in short stints at Triple-A in 2011 and 2012, he blew out his elbow and was shelved for almost 23 months. Fast forward to 2014, and Banuelos pitched 12.2 innings at High-A, 49 innings at Double-A and finished the season with 15 innings at Triple-A. He displayed excellent ratios at High-A and dreadful ratios at Triple-A, with a middling 44:19 K:BB ratio at Double-A, where the 49-inning sample size was largest. All told, his 2014 season should be considered a positive step forward, as he put up a 4.46 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP with 71 strikeouts in 76.2 innings across all three levels. After an offseason trade to Atlanta, he may compete for a rotation spot in spring training. However, the Braves will likely want to see better results in the upper levels of the minors before promoting Banuelos to the big league club.

Banuelos appeared to have all the upside in the world heading into the 2012 campaign, but injuries have since derailed his career and he missed all of 2013 following Tommy John surgery. To make matters worse, his walk rate jumped upon promotion to Double-A in 2011 (career 4.9 BB/9 at that level) and has only been marginally better (4.5 BB/9) at Triple-A. Before the injury, Banuelos featured a mid-90s fastball and a plus changeup with excellent movement, but it remains to be seen if he will still possess the same top-shelf stuff when he returns in 2014, most likely at Triple-A.

Banuelos lost just a bit of his luster in 2011, but he remains one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in the game. He's capable of occasional dominance, putting up a one-hitter against Pawtucket in his second to last start of the season, but he got smoked for five runs in just 1.2 innings against the same team five days later. Banuelos shows good velocity, but needs to work on his control after averaging 4.92 BB/9IP across two levels in 2011. Considering that he only tossed 124.2 innings last season he'll likely face an innings cap again in 2012. Banuelos will be just 21 when Opening Day rolls around, and if he can improve his command he should find his way into the Yankees rotation as early as this season.

Banuelos has rocketed up the Yankees' prospect list and is now arguably the most promising pitcher in the team's farm system. Although an appendectomy delayed the start of his 2010 season, he showed no signs of rust upon his return, posting a 2.23 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 14 walks in 44.1 innings (10 starts) for High-A Tampa. Near the end of the year he made three starts for Double-A Trenton, which is where he figures to begin the 2011 campaign. Clocked in the low-90s when the Yankees first signed him, the lefty reportedly hit 97 on the radar gun last season and has demonstrated significant improvement with his changeup as well. The best part is he is just 20 this season, and the Yankees love his potential as an eventual mid-rotation starter. He could make his big league debut as a 21-year-old in 2012.