Every Wednesday, Minor Matters will unveil its top 10 Thunder players to watch next season. Considering that the Tampa Yankees took home the Florida State League crown in 2010, there's no reason to believe that the upcoming season will have a shortage of talent around the diamond.

No. 1 - Manny Banuelos

Bio: Signed out of Mexico in 2008 by Lee Sigman, Banuelos has quickly gained both velocity and hype. He went from the high-80s/low-90s to the mid-to-upper-90s in the span of just three seasons, and has quickly established himself as one of the system's premiere arms. He stands 5-foot-10 and, after spending a few weeks around Cory Arbiso, seemed to take to wearing all black.

2010 season: After an emergency appendectomy just before he was due to start Tampa's opener, chances seemed slim that he'd see Waterfront Park in 2010. Still, as he and his magnificent change-up dominated the Florida State League, it grew increasingly clear that he was well above his competition.

So, after Zach McAllister -- 2009's Trenton ace -- was swapped to the Indians, word came quickly that he and Dellin Betances were moving up to Trenton, and Hector Noesi and D.J. Mitchell were heading to Triple-A.

Banuelos made three starts with the Thunder in the regular season, none terribly impressive, results-wise. The plus stuff certainly was there, though. Then came the postseason, when it all came together in the Eastern League Division Series.

He dominated the Fisher Cats in the clincher, and was flashing as high as 97 miles per hour with his fastball. Things didn't go as well in the ELCS, when he allowed four runs on five hits in just 4 2/3 innings before exiting after a line drive caught him in the neck.

Still, the game in New Hampshire showed he has exactly the kind of potential the Yankees were hoping for when they brought him into the fold.

What's Next: More than likely he'll open the year back with the Thunder. Depending on how he performs and how the rest of the system advances, he should see Scranton by year's end.

I started the Thunder top 10 series back in November as a way to pass the winter while waiting for April. Since then, I've run down the team's best games of the year, players of the year, players who will be on the team next year, players who the Thunder will face next year, and numbers that best represent the team's season. Here, now, is a quick recap of how I've ranked them. Feel free to tell me what you think.

GAMES OF THE YEAR

10. Hector Noesi's complete game
9. Austin Krum's incredible defensive day
8. Andrew Brackman's debut
7. The Joseph brothers' reunion
6. Andy Pettitte in Game 1 of the ELCS
5. Laird's grand slam completes the cycle
4. Andy Pettitte and Adam Warren dominate the Fisher Cats
3. Adam Warren strikes out 15
2. Betances outduels Drabek

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

10. Hector Noesi
9. Justin Christian
8. Dan Brewer
7. Marcos Vechionacci
6a. Dellin Betances
6b. Manny Banuelos
5a. David Phelps
5b. Lance Pendleton
4. Austin Romine
3a. D.J. Mitchell
3b. Adam Warren
2. Andrew Brackman

PLAYERS FOR 2011

10. Pat Venditte
9. Adam Olbrychowski
8. Brett Marshall
7. Craig Heyer
6. Jose Gil
5. Shaeffer Hall
4. Graham Stoneburner
3. Melky Mesa
2. Dellin Betances

OPPOSING PLAYERS FOR 2011

10. Charlie Culberson
9. Travis d'Arnaud
8. Tony Sanchez
7. Derek Norris
6. Aaron Hicks
5. Anthony Gose
4. Jacob Turner
3. Nick Hagadone
2. Austin Hyatt

NUMBERS OF THE YEAR

10. 23 (Laird's home runs)
9. 1,125 (Thunder Ks)
8. 17 (Romine's hit streak)
7. 0 (Manny Banuelos' wins)
6. 39 (David Adams' games)
5. 69 (Garcia's pitches for the year)
4. 29 (Brewer's stolen bases)
3. 37 (Betances' and Banuelos' combined Ks)
2. 1 (New Hampshire runs against the Thunder in the ELDS)

Every Wednesday, Minor Matters will unveil its top 10 Thunder players to watch next season. Considering that the Tampa Yankees took home the Florida State League crown in 2010, there's no reason to believe that the upcoming season will have a shortage of talent around the diamond.

No. 2 - Dellin Betances

Bio: An eighth-rounder whom the Yankees rewarded with a $1 million signing bonus way back in 2006, Betances is an imposing specimen. He stands 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds, and comes equipped with high-octane gas and plus secondary stuff. He finished recovering from ligament reinforcement surgery in the middle of 2010.

2010 season: Better than anyone could have expected. Once he got back from his surgery, in early June, Betances quickly made up for lost time. After allowing a run in his opening start, he allowed just one more over his next 30 frames. By the time he left Tampa for Trenton, he had gone 8-1 with a 1.77 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 71 innings.

He fanned 20 against three walks over three starts with Trenton, but he wasn't terribly efficient while doing so. He lasted more than five innings just once, but that was partly due to a stringent pitch count.

The only really troubling part of Betances' game is his inability to hold runners or field his position. I cannot stress enough how truly gruesome his pickoff throws are, despite being charged with just three errors all year.

What's Next: More than likely he'll open the year back with the Thunder. Depending on how he performs and how the rest of the system advances, he has a real shot of reaching the majors by the end of 2011.

Every Wednesday, Minor Matters will unveil its top 10 Thunder players to watch next season. Considering that the Tampa Yankees took home the Florida State League crown in 2010, there's no reason to believe that the upcoming season will have a shortage of talent around the diamond.

No. 3 - Melky Mesa

Bio: Signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Yankees seven seasons ago as a 16-year-old, Mesa started his career in 2006, and didn't move stateside until 2008, when he excelled with the Staten Island Yankees.

2010 season: He hit .260/.338/.813 with Tampa, including 19 home runs, 74 RBIs and 31 stolen bases against just nine times caught. That the 23-year-old Mesa fanned 129 times against just 44 walks, however, doesn't portend well for his future at the upper levels. He also doubled 21 times and legged out nine triples.

What's Next: Mesa's future lies in the Thunder outfield for 2011, most likely in center field. If he is able to build on his exceptional tool set, he could be a dynamic and exciting force in the upper third of the Trenton lineup.

Every Wednesday, Minor Matters will unveil its top 10 Thunder players to watch next season. Considering that the Tampa Yankees took home the Florida State League crown in 2010, there's no reason to believe that the upcoming season will have a shortage of talent around the diamond.

No. 4 - Graham Stoneburner

Bio: A 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-hander, Stoneburner was the Yankees' 14th-round choice in the 2009 draft. That was the same draft with Sequoyah Stonecipher, awesomely. Also, the Dodgers took a kid named Casio Grider in that round of the draft. Stoneburner pitched collegiately at Clemson, on the same staff as D.J. Mitchell, a big part of the Thunder's staff last year.

2010 season: Stoneburner, whose injury history is extensive, succeeded at both Low-A and High-A this season. He finished with a 9-8 record, a 2.41 ERA, allowed a scant 107 hits over 142 innings, including just six longballs. He struck out 137 against 34 walks.

What's Next: Almost certainly, Stoneburner will begin (and probably finish) the season in Trenton, where his long-term future more than likely be determined.

Every Wednesday, Minor Matters will unveil its top 10 Thunder players to watch next season. Considering that the Tampa Yankees took home the Florida State League crown in 2010, there's no reason to believe that the upcoming season will have a shortage of talent around the diamond.

No. 5 - Shaeffer Hall

Bio: The Yankees' 25th-round selection in 2009, Hall starred as a Kansas Jayhawk. He, along with Stephen Strasburg (remember him?), is one of two pitchers to throw a no-hitter against Air Force. He's an affable left-hander who was also drafted in 2006 (Rangers) and 2008 (Indians).

2010 season: Hall started his first full year with the Charleston RiverDogs, with whom he excelled over the first half. In 68 innings before his promotion, he posted a 1.85 ERA, a WHIP of 0.93, and just one home run. With Tampa, he went 9-5 with a 3.91 ERA over 69 innings. He also threw five shutout innings in the T-Yanks' first playoff game.

What's Next: If Lance Pendleton gets kept by Houston (likely, I think), there's a pretty good chance he starts the season in Trenton's rotation, along with Graham Stoneburner, Dellin Betances, Manny Banuelos and Cory Arbiso.

Every Wednesday, Minor Matters will unveil its top 10 Thunder players to watch next season. Considering that the Tampa Yankees took home the Florida State League crown in 2010, there's no reason to believe that the upcoming season will have a shortage of talent around the diamond.

No. 6 - Jose Gil

Bio: Gil has seen Trenton twice, playing a combined 43 games in 2009 and 2010. In that time, he's homered seven times and driven in 29 runs. He was signed by the Yankees in 2005, and recently was re-signed by the club after a brief dabble into free agency. Back in the fold, he's a good bet to be the Thunder's starting catcher in 2011.

2010 season: Gil began the year as Austin Romine's backup, and was doing a fine job before being sent to Tampa when the Yankees plucked Rene Rivera from the Atlantic League. He wasn't much to write home about at the plate (.236/.305/.758), but threw out 11 of 24 potential base-stealers in just 26 games.

What's Next: As I mentioned earlier, Gil is a good bet to be Trenton's primary backstop in 2011, especially with Myron Leslie and Rene Rivera also on the market as minor league free agents. He also may split time with Mitch Abeita, who manned part of the duties at High-A before Gil's demotion.

Every Wednesday, Minor Matters will unveil its top 10 Thunder players to watch next season. Considering that the Tampa Yankees took home the Florida State League crown in 2010, there's no reason to believe that the upcoming season will have a shortage of talent around the diamond.

No. 7 - Craig Heyer















Bio: Heyer is a strike thrower of the highest degree. He was drafted twice by the Diamondbacks (2004, 2005) before he finally signed with the Yankees in the 22nd round in 2007, out of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. One notable who also came from that round is the Phillies' Jiwan James.

He's walked 43 men over 301 1/3 innings in his minor league career, and has permitted just nine long balls during that span. Certainly impressive numbers, but he's 25 years old, and he hasn't thrown a pitch above High-A.

He' s been left unprotected for the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. If he's selected and kept by another club, he obviously won't have much value to the Thunder in 2011.

2010 season: After combining for eight starts in his first three years of pro ball, Heyer got the call a dozen times for Tampa in 2010. This is due, in part, to injuries to guys like Manny Banuelos, who was expected to be a big part of the T-Yanks' rotation, but missed half the season with an emergency appendectomy.

Overall, Heyer went 8-4 with a 3.52 ERA in 92 innings over 26 total appearances in a repeat of High-A. He struck out 66 against just 6 walks. That's a ratio of 11-to-1, which is pretty darn good, people.

The Yankees also sent him to the Arizona Fall League this season, where he made four relief appearances and started three times. He went 1-2 with a 1.80 ERA in a pretty good hitters' league.

What's Next: If he doesn't get chosen in the Rule 5, I expect him to fill the Josh Schmidt role with the Thunder next season. Long reliever, spot starter, occasional one-out guy, if necessary.

Every Wednesday, Minor Matters will unveil its top 10 Thunder players to watch next season. Considering that the Tampa Yankees took home the Florida State League crown in 2010, there's no reason to believe that the upcoming season will have a shortage of talent around the diamond.

No. 8 - Brett Marshall

Bio: The Yankees chose Marshall in the sixth round of the 2008 draft, two picks ahead of Red Sox catching prospect Ryan Lavarnaway, and gave him $850,000 to break his commitment to Rice University. He had previously committed to San Jacinto Junior College (Andy Pettitte is an alumnus), but made the late switch to Rice (many players are alumni).

2010 Season: Out of college, Marshall told the Yankees that one of his goals was throwing 100 miles per hour. That seems to have been a poor choice. He had Tommy John surgery last July, and didn't re-emerge until June, when he did some rehab work in the GCL. He ultimately threw 72 innings with Charleston before a late-season bump to Tampa, where he will begin 2011.

What's Next: If I were 100 percent sure Marshall would be at Trenton sometime in 2011, he would be much higher. That said, there's a big ol' logjam at the upper levels, and a couple of other pitchers who could see promotions before Marshall. He'll start at Tampa, but with some movement, could see Double-A at the end of the year.

Every Wednesday, Minor Matters will unveil its top 10 Thunder players to watch next season. Considering that the Tampa Yankees took home the Florida State League crown in 2010, there's no reason to believe that the upcoming season will have a shortage of talent around the diamond.

No. 9 - Adam Olbrychowski



Bio: A hard-throwing right-hander out of Pepperdine University, the Yankees took Olbrychowski in the fifth round of the 2007 draft. That round also included Orioles starter Jake Arrieta, Athletics prospect Michael Taylor, Blue Jays starter Marc Rzepczynski, Steelers quarterback Dennis Dixon and Angels shortstop Andrew Romine, whose brother, Austin, may be familiar to Yankees fans.

In 2007 and 2008, Olbrychowski worked as a starter. He accumulated a 10-13 record with 123 strikeouts against 74 walks in 156 2/3 innings. After the conversion to the bullpen, the control problems still remained. He walked 40 in 58 innings but still managed to earn a very late promotion to Double-A, after the Thunder were eliminated from the Eastern League playoff race.

2010 season: Because of the control issues and a bit of a reliever logjam (which also kept Josh Schmidt at Double-A for most of the year), Olbrychowski did a near full repeat of High-A Tampa this season. He cut down on the walks (27 in 59 innings), and brought his high-octane gas to Trenton for last part of the year and the playoffs. In fact, he threw the final pitch of Division Series against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (see video above).

What's Next: One imagines Olbrychowski will finally make the full-time leap to Double-A for the 2011 season. Because he is a hard-thrower, it's easy to see him in the mix with Tim Norton and (maybe) Grant Duff for the closer's role next season. Being a former fifth-rounder whom the Yankees paid $123,000, they're not going to give up on him quickly.

Every Wednesday, Minor Matters will unveil its top 10 Thunder players to watch next season. Considering that the Tampa Yankees took home the Florida State League crown in 2010, there's no reason to believe that the upcoming season will have a shortage of talent around the diamond.

No. 10 - Pat Venditte












Bio: Unless you've been living under a rock since 2008, you know this name by now. For the rock-dwellers, here's a quick recap: Venditte is an ambidextrous pitcher for whom a special rule had to be created. A 25-year-old drafted out of Creighton two years ago, Venditte absolutely destroyed the competition in the Florida State League but struggled in limited exposure at Double-A.

2010 Season: With Tampa, Venditte went 4-1 and a 1.73 ERA in 41 games that spanned 72 2/3 innings. He struck out 85, walked just 14 and allowed two home runs. He appeared in just two games with Trenton during the regular year, a scoreless inning against Akron, and a bit of a blow-up against Akron. Most disappointingly, he never switched hands during an inning with the Thunder.

What's Next: Barring an absolute shock, Venditte will make a return engagement with the Thunder bullpen next year, where he faces a career litmus test of sorts. Doubters all along have said that his stuff and his two-handed trick won't play at the upper levels. If he succeeds against more advanced hitters, he'll have gone a long way toward proving he's a real prospect.