Yankee days short-term for many

N.Y. prospects often end up elsewhere

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

Although minor league baseball player Cody Ehlers wears a Yankee uniform, he has just as good a chance of breaking into the big leagues in another color than he does of putting on the pinstripes.

Ehlers, starting first baseman for the Tampa Yankees and the organization's 11th round pick in the 2004 draft, entered Tuesday as the Florida State League leader in home runs with five and RBI with 15.

"The player-development guys always tell us: 'When you go out there, you're not just playing for us. You're playing for all of the big-league teams,' " Ehlers said.

Consider how the 2006 New York Yankees were built:

Of the current 25-man roster, only five players ever wore a Tampa Yankee uniform. Two others, outfielder Bernie Williams and catcher Jorge Posada, also were homegrown Yankee players but did not play in Tampa.

Of the other 18 players, six were obtained in trades, and 12 were signed as free agents.

Meanwhile, 13 of the Twins 25-man roster once played for the Miracle.

In any given season, several former Miracle players have the chance to make the Twins roster out of spring training, as infielder Luis Rodriguez, pitchers Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker, Willie Eyre and outfielder Jason Kubel did this season.

Only one such player, first baseman Andy Phillips, did so with the Yankees out of camp this spring training.

"We usually don't give those kids a chance," Yankees manager Joe Torre told The News-Press during spring training. The exception in 2005 happened to be second baseman Robinson Cano, who took over for free agent signee Tony Womack, a rarity in Yankee land.

"We needed a pick-me-up," Torre said. "And the rest, is already history."

The Tampa Yankee players realize their situation.

"Having to come up through the Yankees system has to be the hardest system to get through and make it to the big leagues," said Tampa relief pitcher Chase Wright, 23, a third-round draft pick in 2001 out of Iowa Park (Texas) High School.

"That's not on my mind when I go out there," Wright said. "I just try to do my job and not worry about all of that."

Said Ehlers: "They can always trade us. It's a business. That's exactly what it is."

Tampa Yankees manager Luis Sojo also realizes that should he do his job in developing the players, they might one day play for teams other than the New York Yankees.

"That's just the way it is," Sojo said. "When you have an owner like George Steinbrenner, you have to sacrifice your prospects in order to get a good team."

One of those prospects, outfielder Erold Andrus, has ended up with the Miracle, having been picked up by the Twins from the Yankees in the 2005 Rule V Draft in December.

Andrus, who hit .241 with five home runs last season for the Tampa Yankees, said getting into the Twins organization might boost his chances to reach the big leagues.

"The Yankees, they try to get the big stars," Andrus said. "You never know what could happen, but I think it gives me a better chance being here. But you never know."

GAME DAY

Who: Fort Myers Miracle vs. Tampa Yankees
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Hammond Stadium
What: Florida State League baseball