Yankees Lose Five Players In The Rule 5 Draft

For a Yankees farm system that so many think are terrible the Yankees lost five players in this years Rule 5 Draft. Pitcher Tommy Kahnle is going to the Colorado Rockies, Ravel Santana is heading to the Houston Astros, Mikey O'Brien is heading to the Cincinnati Reds, Kelvin Castro is headed to the Miami Marlins, and Felipe Gonzalez is headed to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Surprisingly the names not on the board were Chase Whitely and Danny Burawa. How many of them actually stick is another thing.

I can see Tommy Kahnle sticking in Colorado on the roster all season so I cannot see him being given back and is essentially gone.

One thing I did not know is players cannot be given back on the minor league phases of the Rule 5 draft.So Santana, Mikey O'Brien, Kelvin Castro, and Felipe Gonzalez are all but gone for good. I had originally written that I thought O'Brien and Gonzalez would be returned but now that point is moot. O'Brien was a AA pitcher for us, Castro was a infielder turned pitcher, and Gonzalez never made it out of the Dominican Summer League so they are not huge losses in the Yankees system. Santana used to be considered a pretty good prospect but injuries has all but derailed his career. Losing five players is never good but it could have been a lot worse.

Yankees Prospects Injury Updates

Manny Banuelos, who had Tommy John surgery, is throwing at 120 feet and doing long toss. It is a matter of weeks before ManBan is back on a mound according to Mark Newman.

Chase Whitley, who suffered an oblique injury in spring training, is throwing in extended spring training games and is a week to 10 days from returning to Scranton or Trenton.

Angelo Gumbs, who has a sprained right middle finger, is also playing in extended spring training games. Newman says that it is probably going to be a couple more weeks before Angelo is back with the Charleston Riverdogs.

Adonis Garcia, who had his hamate bone in his right hand broken this spring, is finally taking batting practice. He is not in extended spring training yet but expects to be soon.

Ravel Santana, who is still nursing a 2011 devastating ankle injury, is being brought along slowly here in 2013. He came back in 2012 but was never really right with that ankle. Ravel is now playing in extended spring training games but there is no time table on when he will be back.

Yankees Prospects Battling The Injury Bug As Well

The New York Band-aids Yankees are nursing big injury after big injury already this early in spring and their prospects are not fairing any better.

Tyler Austin was hit in the hand with a pitch while playing in a minor league game for the Trenton Thunder. The X rays were negative and he seems to be okay. Thank goodness Tyler is fine after that especially after seeing how an innocent hit by pitch derailed Curtis Granderson's season.

The Yankees first round pick in the 2012 MLB First Year Player's Draft Ty Hensley has pulled an abdominal muscle and will miss a few weeks of minor league games and work outs. The probably Charleston Riverdog will undoubtedly start the season on the disabled list due to this.

Ravel Santana has stiffness in his right ankle much like Derek Jeter has stiffness in his left ankle and will miss some time. This is the same ankle that he injured when he took a spike to it while sliding into second base just two seasons ago. No word on when he will be back into game action but let's hope that it is just "normal" like Jeter's inflammation is.

Ronnier Mustelier returned to action with the big league spring training camp after getting multiple leg contusions, aka bruises, after crashing into a camera well. He did not get a hit or get on base but he played the field so he must be okay.