Grote, Weems Could be Staten Island bound

Young prospects could spend 2008 with the Baby Bombers

By: Robert Pimpsner

May 9, 2008 – The 2008 Staten Island Yankees season begins this year on June 17, a little less then two weeks after the First-Year Player Draft which is scheduled for June 5.  This year Staten Island Yankees expect record crowds to pass through the gates at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark and those who do are expected to get to see the future Yankee stars take the field.

            Last year the Yankees opened up the season with top pitching prospects Dellin Betances and Zach McAllister, who were backed up by the likes of Justin Snyder, Damon Sublett, and Braedyn Pruitt in the field.  This year it looks as if at least three members of last year’s squad will be rejoining the Baby Bombers, at least for a little while.

Right-handed reliever Dan Kapala joined the Staten Island Yankees late last season and had a 3.94 ERA in 10 appearances.  With the pile up of Yankees pitching prospects, Kapala was sent to Extended Spring Training and it looks as if he will be returning to Staten Island for 2008.  Already on the Staten Island roster is lefty Angel Reyes, who will be serving a 50-game suspension once the 2008 season starts.  Reyes spent the second part of 2006 with the Baby Bombers and was sent down at the beginning of last season due to injuries.

Also slated for a possible return trip to the ballpark by the bay are Jacinto Gonell, Matt Morris and Jason Kiley.  Gonell was promoted to Staten Island in August last season and in 9 relief appearances was 2-0 with a 5.59 ERA.  Kiley appeared in 23 games last season, all of them out of the bullpen.  In 34.2 innings he struck out 31 batters and had a 4-2 record with a 2.86 ERA.  Morris made his professional debut with the Baby Bombers last season and batted .216 with 2 homeruns and 12 RBIs.

This season Tim Dennehy, Manuel Barreda, Dickson Marquez and Francisco Gil could be toeing the mound at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark.  All four spent last season with the Gulf Coast Yankees, helping them win a Gulf Coast League title.  Dennehy made 10 appearances last season, 4 of them were starts.  He had a 5-1 record with a 3.71 ERA and 23 strikeouts, recording at least one in each of his outings last season.  Barreda was 5-0 with Gulf Coast, owning an even 3.00 ERA in 11 appearances (3 starts) and struck out 44 in 39 innings.  Dickson Marquez had a 2.66 ERA with a 2-3 record in 11 games.  He struck out 45 batters in 44 innings last year with the Gulf Coast Yankees.  Francisco Gil played in just 5 games last season for Gulf Coast, owning a 2-1 record and a 6.00 ERA.

The Baby Bombers might also receive two backstops out of extended spring training in Chase Weems and Neall French.  Weems was drafted out of High School in the sixth round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.  He has yet to play in a regular season game and is currently participating in Extended Spring Training in Tampa.  Another possible catcher this season would be Neall French.  French is a non-drafted free agent out of the University of Cincinnati.  In 2007 he batted .343 with 11 homeruns and 65 RBIs.  The 6-3 right

Prilys Cuello batted .283 in the Gulf Coast League last year.  The 19 year old second baseman had 6 homeruns and 24 RBIs.  Zolio Almonte is expected to roam the outfield for the Baby Bombers this season where batted .268 with 24 RBIs.  Taylor Grote signed last year as a free agent out of high school; he appeared in just 1 game where he was 0 for 1 with an intentional walk.  Also slated for a possible promotion to Staten Island is Melky Mesa.  Mesa batted .235 last year with 3 homeruns and 2 triples.

As with every season, the main portion of the Staten Island Yankees roster will be made up of recently drafted players.  This is merely my attempt at predicting who is possibly returning or promoted to Staten Island.

Pitchers

Tim Dennehy

Manuel Barreda

Dickson Marquez

Francisco Gil

Angel Reyes

Jacinto Gonell

Dan Kapala

Jason Kiley

Catchers

Chase Weems

Neall French

Infielders

Prilys Cuello

Outfielders

Zolio Almonte

Taylor Grote

Melky Mesa

Matt Morris