Beating the Bushes is counting down to the start of the 2010 baseball season, which kicks off April 4 at Fenway Park when the Yankees take on the Red Sox.
In the first part of our season preview, we’ll look at each of Baseball America’s Top 10 prospect lists for the Mets and Yankees organizations from 2000-2009. Today we’ll look at the 2006 lists.
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The Top 10 list for the Yankees is made up of some interesting names. Some have made it to the majors and had some success in New York, others have been dealt away for prospects, and still others have either flamed out or had to deal with numerous injuries.
10. Tyler Clippard, RHP – A ninth-round pick in the 2003 draft, Clippard made a brief stint in the majors with the Yankees as a starter in 2007. After the season, he was dealt to the Nationals for reliever Jonathan Albaladejo. He then made another brief appearance in the majors as a starter for Washington in 2008 before having a nice year out of the bullpen for the Nationals last year.
9. Jeff Marquez, RHP – Marquez, a supplemental first-round pick in the 2004 draft, was considered at one point to be one of the brightest pitching prospects in the organization – an organization that, at that time, included Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain. However, Marquez’s star dropped in 2008 when he struggled mightily for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, and was dealt after the 2008 season as part of the Nick Swisher deal. He had a disastrous 2009 with Triple-A Charlotte, going 2-8 with a 9.85 ERA.
8. Christian Garcia, RHP – For more information on Garcia’s career, check out the 2005 list.
7. Marcos Vechionacci, 3B – For more information on Vechionacci’s career, check out the 2005 list.
6. Eduardo Nunez, SS – After a strong stint with the Staten Island Yankees in 2005, Nunez, then 18, was considered a big-time prospect. In the years since, however, he floundered a bit, struggling at the plate from 2006-08 at Low-A Charleston and High-A Tampa. But last year with Double-A Trenton as a 22-year-old, Nunez got things figured out. He hit .322 with nine home runs, 55 RBI and 19 stolen bases for the Thunder in 123 games, and should play at Triple-A this season as a 23-year-old.
5. Austin Jackson, OF – Jackson excelled at every level of the minor leagues over the past few years, evolving from a player who turned down a basketball scholarship at Georgia Tech to sign as an eighth round pick in 2005 to a player that became the centerpiece of a deal for All-Star centerfielder Curtis Granderson this past offseason. Jackson should start for the Tigers in center on Opening Day this year after starring for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre last season en route to being named an International League All-Star.
4. C.J. Henry, SS – Henry, like Jackson, was a baseball/basketball star growing up. Unlike Jackson, Henry’s baseball career quickly went nowhere. A first-round pick in 2005, Henry was part of the Bobby Abreu trade, and then came back to the Yankees after he flamed out with the Phillies. His baseball career has already ended – Henry is in Lawrence, Kansas, playing a bit role for the No. 1 Jayhawks.
3. Jose Tabata, OF – Tabata had his fair share of troubles in the Yankees system. He is a talented player, but had several off-field issues, including a bizarre marriage situation and going AWOL from the Double-A Trenton Thunder in 2008. He was the main piece going to Pittsburgh as part of the deal that brough Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to New York in July 2008, and spent last year split between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis. He will likely spend a full season at Triple-A Indianapolis this year.
2. Eric Duncan, 3B – For more information on Duncan’s career, check out the 2004 list.
1. Phil Hughes, RHP – For more information on Hughes’ career, check out the 2005 list.
tbontemps@nypost.com