Among the Yanks' Top 30, Who Will Play for Trenton?

Although a fair distance to the west, the Trenton Thunder, a New York Yankees AA minor league affiliate, is easily accessed from several Jersey Shore communities like Belmar, Brick, Manasquan and Point Pleasant. From these areas one can take Interstate 195 West toward Trenton. From 195 drivers would get on Route 29 North. Stay left and look for 29 North/Capital Complex/Lambertville signs. After you exit a tunnel you will find the Trenton Thunder ballpark on the left side.

The Trenton Thunder blog has an entry with brief descriptions of the top 30 Yankee minor league prospects as initially detailed in Baseball America's annual Prospect Handbook. Of the top six prospects three are catchers and three are pitchers. The surnames of the three pitchers all begin with the letter B. The pitchers are Dellin Betances, Manny Baneulos and Andrew Brackman.

Jesus Montero, the Yankees top prospect, is a big catcher with an imposing bat. He and number six ranked Austin Romine could be battling for a slot with the Yankees in Spring training and Scranton is likely as an alternative place to play out the season. But if neither make the Yankees' 25 man roster then Montero would likely start the season with AAA Scranton and Romine with the Trenton Thunder.

The second ranked prospect is Gary Sanchez, a catcher who will play the 2011 season while only 19 years of age. Sanchez may start the season with the Class-A Charleston team but could progress up the ladder to Trenton if he does well.

One other prospect caught my attention. Eleventh ranked right handed pitcher Brett Marshall, has been clocked in the high 90s and had a 2.50 ERA last season. He had Tommy John surgery in 2009.