Vitals: 24 years old (turned 24 on Jan. 26); 6-foot-2 and 174 pounds; both hit and throw right-handed; signed by the Yankees as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2004; right-handed pitcher; ranked 24th on this list a year ago.
Performance: Noesi was a fast-mover in 2010, jumping from High-A Tampa to Double-A Trenton to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre by the end of the season. Noesi went 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA for Tampa, striking out 53 and walking six in 43 innings. He followed that up by going 8-4 with a 3.10 ERA for Trenton, striking out 86 and walking 18 in 99 innings, before going 1-1 with a 4.82 in three starts with Scranton/Wilkes Barre at the end of the season.
Outlook: Noesi falls into the same long-term camp as fellow right-handed pitching prospects Dellin Betances, Andrew Brackman, Ivan Nova, Adam Warren, David Phelps, Graham Stoneburner and D.J. Mitchell, where you have to wonder where he fits into the Yankees future. With CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett as part of the rotation for the next three years – and with Manny Banuelos all but certain to take one of the final two open spots – that leaves seven possibilities for the final open rotation spot. Noesi will likely return to Scranton/Wilkes Barre in 2011, and could very easily become part of a trade for the Yankees this season.
tbontemps@nypost.com