Manuel Banuelos (born March 13, 1991) is a minor league baseball pitcher in the New York Yankees organization. He currently plays for the Yankees Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
Career
In 2008, the Yankees signed four players, including Banuelos and Alfredo Aceves, from the Mexican League for $450,000.[1] Banuelos participated in the All-Star Futures Game in 2009.[2]
Banuelos missed some time during the 2010 season with an appendectomy, but has since demonstrated strong development, with a mid-90s fastball and above-average secondary pitches that include a changeup and curveball.[3] In 2010, Banuelos split time between the Class-A Advanced Tampa Yankees and the Class-AA Trenton Thunder. Banuelos was also a standout during the 2010 season of the Arizona Fall League, earning the start in the team's all-star game.
Before the 2010 season, He was rated as the Yankees sixth best prospect according to Baseball America and in 2011 he was rated as the fourth best.[4][5] He was also one of the top 50 overall prospects according to MLB.com.[6]
In 2011, Banuelos was invited to spring training with the Yankees for the first time, drawing rave reviews.[1][7][8] Mariano Rivera said that he believes Banuelos is the best pitching prospect he has seen.[9] He won the James P. Dawson Award, given annually to the best rookie in camp.[10] He was promoted to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees on August 2. In his Triple-A debut, Banuelos struck out eight in five innings against the Phillies Triple-A affiliate Lehigh Valley IronPigs. [11]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Harper, John. "Yankees left-handed pitching prospect Manny Banuelos is turning heads at spring training", Nydailynews.com, 2011-02-24. Retrieved on 2011-03-10.
- ↑ "Manny Banuelos to Pitch in ‘09 Futures Game - OurSports Central - Independent and Minor League Sports News", OurSports Central, 2009-06-25. Retrieved on 2011-03-10.
- ↑ Piliere, Frank. "Full Scouting Report: Manny Banuelos", Fanhouse, 2010-08-19.
- ↑ Manuel, John (2009-12-16). New York Yankees 2010 top 10 prospects. Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-02.
- ↑ Manuel, John (2010-11-10). New York Yankees 2011 top 10 prospects. Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-02.
- ↑ Hoch, Bryan (2011-01-25). Trio of Yankees among Top 50 prospects. MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved on 2011-08-02.
- ↑ Hoch, Bryan. "A fan first, Manny Banuelos living a dream at Yankees camp", MLB.com, 2011-03-09. Retrieved on 2011-03-10.
- ↑ Barbarisi, Daniel. "Rookie Pitchers Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances Turn Heads in Yankees Camp", Wall Street Journal, 2011-03-01. Retrieved on 2011-03-10.
- ↑ Marchand, Andrew. "Spring training 2011: New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera on Manny Banuelos: I like everything about him - ESPN New York", ESPN, 2011-03-10. Retrieved on 2011-03-10.
- ↑ Major League Baseball (2011-03-29). Manny Banuelos wins 2011 James P. Dawson Award. Press release. Retrieved on 2011-08-02.
- ↑ Nalbone, John (2011-07-31). Trenton Thunder ace Manny Banuelos is on the move ... to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. NJ.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-02.