Minor league injury updates
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jan 11, 2011 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
This morning, Yankees vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman was good enough to provide some updates on a few of the injured players in the Yankees minor league system.
Two quick updates: Damon Sublett missed most of last year with a thumb injury, but he was back by the end of the season and is expected to be fine for spring training. Jairo Heredia, who seems to have been perpetually injured, made it through last season and is expected to still be healthy heading into spring training.
Eduardo Nunez
Bruised face
Back in December, Nunez was hit in the face by a botched bunt attempt in the Dominican Winter League. He missed some time, but he’s back on the field, playing shortstop again in the DWL postseason. He should be 100 percent in spring training.
Reegie Corona
Broken arm
In late July, Corona had to be carried off the field after a violent collision on the final play of the game. The diagnosis was ultimately a broken humerus bone in his right arm. Corona is in Tampa, but he won’t be healthy enough to open the season on an active roster. He’ll likely be limited to designated hitter before he’s ready to play the field.
David Adams
Broken ankle
Initially labeled as a sprain, Adams fractured his ankle sliding into second base back in May. He missed the rest of the season, but Adams is healthy again and should be ready to open the season, probably back in Trenton.
Jeremy Bleich
Torn labrum
A supplemental first-round pick in 2008, Bleich was eight games into the Double-A season when he underwent surgery to repair a torn left labrum. He’s expected to pitch again in 2011, but Newman said it’s unlikely Bleich will be able to open the season.
Carmen Angelini
Torn hip labrum
A significant risk-reward pick back in 2007, Angelini struggled through his first three professional seasons, then lost all of last year because of a hip injury and a few smaller lower-body ailments. Angelini is healthy again, but it’s uncertain whether he’ll open in Tampa or return to Charleston, where he played all of 2008 and part of 2009.
Caleb Cotham
Knee and shoulder surgeries
A fifth-round pick out of Vanderbilt in 2009, Cotham has pitched eight professional innings, but he’s missed most of two seasons because of knee surgery followed by shoulder surgery to repair his labrum. Cotham showed quite a bit of promise before the injuries — “Good arm, strike thrower,” Newman said — but shoulders are tough and Cotham has missed a lot of time. He’s throwing again, but Newman said they won’t know much until he gets into spring training.
Caleb Cotham
Knee and shoulder surgeries
A fifth-round pick out of Vanderbilt in 2009, Cotham has pitched eight professional innings, but he’s missed most of two seasons because of knee surgery followed by shoulder surgery to repair his labrum. Cotham showed quite a bit of promise before the injuries — “Good arm, strike thrower,” Newman said — but shoulders are tough and Cotham has missed a lot of time. He’s throwing again, but Newman said they won’t know much until he gets into spring training
———————–
Sounds similar to the saga of one of my favorites: Christian Garcia.
My guess on Bliech is that if he’s able to come back strong he could move fairly quickly. Doesn’t have the upside of most but is pretty polished.
what happened to alan horne?
I’ll never forget Duchsherer badmouthing the Yankees back during that Dallas Braden debacle.
He’s a good pitcher so i hope the Yanks get him…
but I won’t be surprised if he takes an offer from another team and will just use NY for leverage.
“Corona is in Tampa, but he won?t be healthy enough to open the season on an active roster. ”
Seems a long rehab time for a broken arm.
Hey GB7 not sure if you are around but just wanted to pass on that I read that Torre Tyson is going to be defensive coordinator for the minor leagues
YsGuy January 11th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
what happened to alan horne?
—————–
Injuries forced him out of baseball I believe.
pat January 11th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
“Corona is in Tampa, but he won?t be healthy enough to open the season on an active roster. ”
Seems a long rehab time for a broken arm.
—————–
Not really – figure 2 months to get the bone mended and then another two to build back up muscle in the arm and then he can start baseball activities.
Alan Horne is one of the guys I know best from my time covering the minor leagues, but oddly enough, I completely forgot to ask about him. He’s been out of the mix for so long that he slipped my mind. I can’t imagine the Yankees know what to expect at this point, even if he’s 100 percent in spring training. Those injuries have really piled up.
MLB needs to drastically change this awful Type-A and Type-B free agent classification and rules.
A guy like Grant Balfour, who has done nothing wrong but pitch very well, can’t cash in while other lesser relievers are signing big contracts, because other teams (rightfully) don’t want to lose their 1st rounder.
Same with Rafael Soriano.
Then, teams like the Sawx, abuse (good for them though) the system by trading for Felipe Lopez only to get a “free” supplemental first round pick this year.
It’s a complete joke.
Chad Jennings January 11th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Alan Horne is one of the guys I know best from my time covering the minor leagues, but oddly enough, I completely forgot to ask about him. He’s been out of the mix for so long that he slipped my mind. I can’t imagine the Yankees know what to expect at this point, even if he’s 100 percent in spring training. Those injuries have really piled up.
——————-
I always had high hopes for Horne and Christian Garcia – which is part of the reason I don’t get all dreamy-eyed when I hear good things about the B-Boys. So much can go completely off the rails between the minors (even the high minors) and the Bronx.
BD (Boston Dave) January 11th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
MLB needs to drastically change this awful Type-A and Type-B free agent classification and rules.
A guy like Grant Balfour, who has done nothing wrong but pitch very well, can’t cash in while other lesser relievers are signing big contracts, because other teams (rightfully) don’t want to lose their 1st rounder.
Same with Rafael Soriano.
Then, teams like the Sawx, abuse (good for them though) the system by trading for Felipe Lopez only to get a “free” supplemental first round pick this year.
It’s a complete joke.
—————
Agreed – draft pick compensation makes no sense.
Teams should also be allowed to trade picks.
BD – I will say this though – I would love to see the Yankees take advantage of the system the way Boston does while it’s in place.
No reason not to have offered Kerry Wood arbitration.
Deal around August for those Type B free agents on crummy teams – with the understanding that they decline their arbitration offers.
chad i remember you seemed to be on horne’s text speed dial back there for a while. i hope he’s got a shot to get back on the hill and maybe even find his way up to the majors, be that with the yankees or elsewhere.
BD is right. The current compensation system probably affects relievers more than any other position. It also reflects that they probably shouldn’t be paid that much, with few exceptions.
Chip–
Christian Garcia was a favorite of mine. Last year, I was hoping they would put him in bullpen and convert him to a closer–so as to not tax his arm too much. Oh well…maybe he can still make it back (from second Tommy John operation).
A TYU article says the Yankees don’t seem interested in signing another reliever. Is there any reason to think that they still are looking at that market or is that a position only the Tweeter and bloggers are still considering or discussing?
I always had high hopes for Horne and Christian Garcia
///
Garcia was a much,much,much better prospect.may he RIP.
A new “Yankeetorial” from El Duque over at the “It Is High”
http://johnsterling.blogspot.c.....d-ban.html
maybe he can still make it back (from second Tommy John operation).
///
x2.truly elite talent.
somebody blogs under the name of el duque?
BoJo January 11th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Chip–
Christian Garcia was a favorite of mine. Last year, I was hoping they would put him in bullpen and convert him to a closer–so as to not tax his arm too much. Oh well…maybe he can still make it back (from second Tommy John operation).
—————–
I believe the club released him – so I don’t think they see any future at all for him. Two TJ’s I think there was a shoulder and knee operation in there too…but undeniable talent.
I also thought his future was in the pen – kind of like Jonathan Papelbon who ended up there because his shoulder couldn’t hold up to starting.
Justin D. would look good in a Yankee hat. But then again who doesn’t, or who wouldn’t.
The club did release him, but I recall seeing on his facebook account or somehwere that he was rehabbing and the Yanks were still interested in him.
Bojo – as I recall when they asked Newman about resigning him his response was tepid.it’s probably a wait & see.if he can get healthy again,they might remember how much talent is in that arm & roll the dice one more time.I sure would be rooting to see it happen.
yea Chip Garcia has been star-crossed on every body part.knee injury I remember too.
JAP–that is how I recall it now that you mention it. Got the impression that they were monitoring it.
While signing Duchscherer has risks attached to it,i like to see them restrain themselves but giving up A spects for mediocrity.take the creative route & see how it goes.
Re; Alan Horne
http://thunderbaseball.wordpre.....road-back/
Lovesong,
do you know of this book?
http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Cow.....0061567132
“El Dugue” was one of the editors. Funny guy.
*by NOT giving up A spects for mediocrity. burned my finger & can’t type that well.lol.have to split any way.
Bronx Jeers January 11th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Lovesong,
do you know of this book?
http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Cow…..0061567132
“El Dugue” was one of the editors. Funny guy.
////
No,never heard of this but I saved it to bookmarks, thanks.I read the blog link entry of “el duque” & laughed.he should be funny, the real El Duque is a pisser.somebody gave me a a B&N card for my birthday & I still have lots of room.think I’ll do the “read inside this book” thing & if I like it I’ll order.