1988 Yankee Prospect Profiles

AL LEITER
"Made big impression after September promotion. Leiter went 2-2 with a 6.35 ERA in four starts but showed he could be overpowering as he fanned 28 in 22 2/3 innings. He recorded his first six major league outs on strikeouts and allowed one run in six innings to beat Milwaukee, 4-3, in his debut.
Leiter has excellent movement on his fastball and is frequently compared to Dave Righetti. He shows surprising poise for his age, but will the Yankees have the patience to live with his mistakes?
Born in Toms River, New Jersey, Leiter was selected by the Yankees in the second round of the June 1984 draft. His older brothers Kurt and Mark have pitched in the Baltimore system."

-Tom Pedulla, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1988 Edition

"Just by taking the mound for his first major league start last September, Al Leiter set a team record, becoming the 48th man to play for the Yankees in 1987. By the time the then 21-year-old southpaw left the mound he cut that number in half, giving himself a chance to make the 24-man roster in 1988. Right from the start, Leiter came out firing, striking out six batters in the first two innings of his major league debut.
He started 1987 in Columbus where he suffered a broken nose, and while working his way back at Double-A Albany he went on the DL with a tender left shoulder. Leiter came back strong, winning two postseason games for Columbus before making his debut for the Yankees.
After looking impressive for New York, the baseball world took note. The Yankee brass turned down several offers for the youngster over the winter, and now Leiter is vying for a spot in the team's rotation. 'After last year I have a real shot at making the team,' he says. 'That's all I can ask for.'"

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"Leiter began the 1987 season at Columbus but was placed on the disabled list on May 1 with a broken nose, suffered while running sprints in the outfield. He was reinstated from the DL on May 23 and was re-optioned to Albany on May 24. While in AA ball, Leiter was placed on the DL on June 14, this time with a tender left shoulder. He was activated on July 3 and remained with Albany until being re-optioned to Columbus on August 27.
He finished his Albany season with a record of 3-3 with a 3.35 ERA, appearing in 15 games and starting 14. At Columbus he was 1-4 with a 6.17 ERA in five games, all starts, in the regular season. Al made two starts in the International League playoffs, defeating Rochester 15-3 on September 3 and downing Tidewater on September 8 in Game 2 of the Governor's Cup finals. In those two postseason starts, he allowed three earned runs in 15.1 innings pitched with nine hits, two walks and 11 strikeouts [0.72 WHIP].
Al pitched for the Yankees against the Atlanta Braves in the Hall of Fame exhibition game on July 27, going two scoreless, hitless innings with three strikeouts and was credited with the save in the Yankees' 3-0 win over Atlanta. He was recalled by the Yankees on September 10 and made his official Yankee debut at age 21 on September 15 in a starting assignment against Milwaukee. Al became the youngest player to pitch for the Yankees since 19-year-old Jose Rijo appeared on July 6, 1984 at Minnesota, and the youngest to start for the Yankees since Rijo on June 11, 1984 at Boston. In that start he also became the 48th man to play for the Yankees in 1987, breaking the record of 47 players used in 1979 and 1982.
In that first big league start, Al showed great poise while allowing the Brewers just one run on one hit in six innings, walking four and striking out eight en route to his first career victory as the Yanks defeated the Brewers 4-3. By winning that game he became the youngest Yankee pitcher to win a game since Rijo defeated Baltimore on June 23, 1984, and was the youngest Yankee starter to record a victory since 20-year-old Gene Nelson beat Baltimore on June 4, 1981.
Leiter suffered his first major league loss on September 20 against Toronto, losing 6-2 while allowing home runs to George Bell and Nelson Liriano. He won his second game on September 25 at Baltimore, winning 6-4 while allowing the Birds four runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings pitched, walking five and striking out 10, the first time Al struck out 10 or more batters in a game in his professional career. He finished the season by picking up his second loss with the Yankees, dropping a 7-0 decision to the Red Sox on September 30, going only 3.1 innings and giving up six runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
He finished with a 2-2 record with the Yankees in four starts with 6.35 ERA, along with 15 walks and 28 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched, giving up 16 runs (all earned) on 24 hits [1.72 WHIP]. Coming into 1987 he had a career minor league strikeout-to-walk ratio of 1.5 to 1, but in '87 it was 1.8 to 1.
Leiter was selected by the Yankees in the second round (regular phase) of the June 1984 free agent draft. He began his pro career at Oneonta of the 'A' New York-Penn League, going 3-2 in 10 starts with a 3.63 ERA. Al notched 48 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched.
He began the 1985 season with the 'A' Ft. Lauderdale Yankees and posted a 1-6 record and a 6.48 ERA in 17 starts and recorded a complete game. He finished the year at Oneonta and went 3-2 in six starts with a 2.37 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 38 innings, with two complete games.
In 1986 Leiter appeared in 22 games (21 starts) for Ft. Lauderdale Yankees and posted a 4-8 record with an ERA of 4.05 (117.2 IP, 96 H, 63 R, 53 ER, 90 BB. 101 K) [1.58 WHIP]. He had one complete game, a 2-hit 6-0 shutout of West Palm Beach on May 24, recording eight strikeouts in that contest. He followed that by pitching five shutout innings of 2-hit ball with seven strikeouts against Daytona Beach on May 30 and received credit for the Yankees' victory. Al had a season high nine strikeouts twice, on May 13 against Vero Beach and on July 9 at Ft. Myers, but did issue six or more walks six times including a season high of seven walks on June 17 at St. Petersburg. He missed two starts when he was sidelined with a bruised left elbow from July 26-August 8.
Al graduated from Central Regional High School in Bayville, New Jersey in 1984, where he participated in baseball, football and track and led the baseball team to the state championship. His older brother Kurt was a pitcher in the Orioles organization from 1982 through 1984 and his older brother Mark has been a pitcher in the Oriole system since 1983.
Al's favorite player is Tom Seaver and his favorite entertainer is Bruce Springsteen. His favorite spectator sport is college basketball, and his most memorable sports moment: 'My first six major league outs were strikeouts.'"

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide


JAY BUHNER
"Ever since he was acquired from the Pittsburgh organization in 1984, Jay Buhner has done nothing but excel as a Yankee farmhand.
The strapping young Texan enjoyed his finest pro season last year as he hit .279 with 85 RBI and an International League-leading 31 home runs. He capped off the year by getting called up to New York for most of September. In the Bronx, Buhner impressed with his strong arm, good range and quick, powerful swing.
Buhner may have a tough time becoming a Yankee regular in 1988, but he is sure to be a prominent fixture in the near future."

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"Buhner spent most of the 1987 season with the AAA Columbus Clippers of the International League, where he batted .279 (40-for-152) in 134 games with 31 home runs and 85 RBIs. He led the league in homers, ranked third in RBIs, second in total bases with 258 and finished tied for third with 12 game-winning RBIs. Jay was named one of the outfielders on the postseason International League All-Star team.
He hit 12 of his 31 homers in August, when he also had 26 RBIs, and was recalled from Columbus to New York on September 10. Buhner made his major league debut the next day, September 11 at Toronto, as the starter in left field. His first major league at-bat came in the second inning when he flew out to center field off Mike Flanagan. He went 0-for-4 in that contest but did record his first major league RBI. Jay started the next day, also at Toronto, and went 2-for-3 off Jimmy Key. His first major league hit, a single to left in the fifth inning, came off Key as did a single to left in the seventh.
Jay played in five more games with the Yanks. He went 1-for-3 on October 2 against Baltimore, hitting a double off Jeff Ballard for his first major league extra base hit, and had his second career multi-hit game on October 4 against Baltimore, going 2-for-4 with a double. In his seven games with the Yankees he hit .227 (5-for-22) with two doubles, a RBI, a walk and six strikeouts.
He was ticketed to start the 1986 campaign at the AA level but suffered a fractured ulna bone in a spring training game on April 1. As a result, he was placed on the disabled list on April 11 and remained there until July 27. Jay made his season debut on July 28 with the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees of the 'A' Florida State League. In 36 games with that club, Jay hit .304 (42-for-138) with 24 runs, nine doubles, seven home runs and 31 RBIs.
Jay was acquired by the Yankees along with Dale Berra and Alfonso Pulido in exchange for Steve Kemp and Tim Foli in December 1984. He spent the 1985 season with Ft. Lauderdale, batting .296 in 117 games with 11 home runs and 76 RBIs. Jay led the Florida State League in game winning RBIs (15) and was named 'Star of Stars' in the FSL All-Star Game.
He was the Pirates' second round pick (secondary phase) in the January 1984 draft. In his first pro season, at Watertown of the 'A' New York-Penn League, Buhner hit .323 in 65 games with nine home runs and a league leading 58 RBIs. He was named to the New York-Penn League All-Star team as an outfielder.
Buhner graduated in 1982 from Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas where he was All-State in baseball. He attended McClellan Community College in Waco, Texas. Selected in the ninth round of the regular phase of the June 1983 draft by Atlanta, Jay signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Texas prior to being drafted by the Pirates. He was awarded a college scholarship only after attending a tryout camp.
An avid hunter and fisherman, Jay's favorite spectator sports are pro basketball and baseball. His favorite team growing up was the Cincinnati Reds and his favorite players were Dave Parker and Willie Stargell. The greatest influences on his career were Stargell and Bucky Dent.
Jay would like to start a guiding business (hunting and fishing) after his baseball career. His favorite entertainers are Chuck Norris, John Wayne and Dominique Wilkins."

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide


ORESTES DESTRADE
"Destrade signed as a free agent with the Yankees in 1981 and has averaged over 22 homers a year since 1985. He spent most of 1987 with Columbus, hitting .263 with 25 home runs and 85 RBI, and hit .263 with the Yankees last September."

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"Destrade spent most of 1987 with the AAA Columbus Clippers, where he hit .256 (119-for-465) in 135 games with 26 doubles, three triples, 25 home runs (fourth in the International League) and 81 RBIs (fifth in the IL). He also ranked fifth in the league in games played and second in walks (79). After finishing the season at Columbus, Destrade was recalled to the Yankees on September 10.
He made his major league debut on September 11 at Toronto in a pinch-hitting capacity, for Wayne Tolleson, and was walked by Mike Flanagan. Orestes went 2-for-5 on September 22 at Milwaukee (Game 2) with a run scored while notching his first major league hit in that contest, a single to center in the third inning off Dave Stapleton. He also made his first major league start in that game.
Destrade pinch-hit for Don Mattingly (who had the flu) in the fifth inning of an October 1 game against Boston and flied to left, becoming the first player to pinch-hit for Mattingly since Vic Mata did so on August 3, 1984. He then notched his first big league RBI on October 3 against Baltimore. In his final at-bat of the season, on October 4 against Baltimore, Orestes was in a pinch-hitting role for Roberto Kelly and was the fifth consecutive pinch hitter used by the Yankees in that inning (9th), tying a major league record.
In all, he played nine games with the Yankees in 1987, batting .263 (5-for-19) with five runs scored, a RBI, five walks and five strikeouts.
Destrade was having an exceptional year at Columbus in 1986 when he suffered a season-ending broken and dislocated right ankle sliding into second base in a game at Tidewater on July 23. He underwent surgery (by Dr. John Bonamo) to repair the injury on July 28 and missed the remainder of the season.
He finished with a batting average of .276 (99-for-359) in 98 games with 59 runs, 21 doubles, four triples, 19 home runs, 56 RBIs, 185 total bases and a slugging percentage of .515. At the time of his injury, he ranked first in the International League in total bases, second in home runs and third in runs scored. Despite missing more than a month of the season, Destrade still finished tied for third in the IL in home runs and was second in slugging percentage. He hit a home run once every 18.89 at-bats, the fourth-best ratio in the IL, led Columbus in home runs and finished third on the club in RBIs. He was named as the Rookie of the Year in the International League and was named IL Player of the Week for May 19-25.
Destrade has progressed steadily through the minors while showing the ability to play both first and the outfield. A switch-hitter, he hits the ball to all fields from both sides but makes better contact from the right side.
In 1981 at Paintsville he led the Appalachian League in home runs with 14 and in 1982 hit four homers with 30 RBIs in 64 games at Oneonta. In 1983 at Ft. Lauderdale he led the Florida State League in walks with 82 and was named the league's All-Star first baseman; Orestes was second on the Ft. Lauderdale club in homers and RBIs with 18 and 74 respectively. In 1984, he led the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees with 12 home runs and also had six homers in 35 games with Nashville.
In 1985 Orestes led Albany (AA Eastern League) in games (136), at-bats (564), runs (82), hits (119), doubles (24), home runs (23), RBIs (72) and slugging percentage (.471). He was named Eastern League All-Star designated hitter despite leading the circuit in games played at first base (134), total chances (1,194), putouts (1,103) and double plays (99). He finished second in the EL in homers and total bases (222), tied for second in walks (86) and third in runs.
Orestes attended Coral Park High School and Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, where he graduated in 1980. He was all-city in basketball and baseball and was offered college scholarships in both sports. Orestes was a junior college All-American at Florida College and was signed by Yankee scout Fred Ferreira.
His hobbies are basketball, reading, movies and computers and his favorite spectator sport is college basketball. His favorite teams growing up were the Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds and his favorite player was Tony Perez.
Orestes is nicknamed 'Big O.'"

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide


CHRIS ALVAREZ
"Acquired from the White Sox in February 1986, Alvarez hit .305 with Albany-Colonie in 1987 and was named the starting third baseman in the Eastern League All-Star Game. He finished the season with Columbus.
Alvarez was voted the Yankees 1986 Minor League Player of the Year."

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"Chris began 1987 with the Albany-Colonie Yankees (AA Eastern League). He was placed on the disabled list on May 23 with a bruised heel and was reinstated on June 2. In the month of May he hit .385 (25-for-65) in 17 games with three homers and 15 RBIs, and in June hit .310 (35-for-113) in 30 games with four home runs and 15 RBIs. Chris was promoted to the Columbus Clippers on July 2 (AAA International League).
At the time of his promotion, he was hitting .305 in 62 games with Albany (71-for-233) with 44 runs, 16 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 37 RBIs and was named as the starting third baseman in the Eastern League All-Star Game. While at Columbus, Chris injured his hamstring and was placed on the DL on July 16. He was reinstated on August 1, then reinjured the hamstring on August 3 and went back on the DL until August 25.
His injuries limited him to just 19 games with Columbus, where he batted .203 (13-for-64) with nine runs, a double and two RBIs. This is his first appearance on the Yankees' 40-man roster.
Chris was obtained by the Yankees along with catcher Ron Hassey, pitcher Eric Schmidt and outfielder Matt Winters from the White Sox on February 13, 1986 in exchange for pitcher Neil Allen, catcher Scott Bradley and outfielder Glen Braxton. He spent the season with the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees ('A' Florida State League) and batted .322 (151-for-469) in 133 games with 79 runs, 30 doubles, eight homers and 90 RBIs and played 129 games at third base. Chris was named the 'Star of Stars' in the Florida State League All-Star Game after going 5-for-5 with two home runs. He was voted the 1986 Yankee Minor League Player of the Year.
He was selected by the White Sox in the 6th round of the January 1985 free agent draft. In his first pro season, Chris hit .276 (43-for-156) in 54 games for the Sarasota White Sox, Chicago's entry in the rookie Gulf Coast League, with 20 runs, four doubles, four triples, five home runs and 31 RBIs. He led the GCL in homers (5), game-winning RBIs (9) and intentional walks (5). In addition to his 41 games at third base, he also played two games in the outfield and caught in five games.
Chris grew up in Miami and attended Miami Senior High. His favorite team growing up was the Boston Red Sox. Chris' hobby is music and his favorite entertainer is Robin Williams."

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide


TROY EVERS
"Evers returned from 1986 elbow surgery to post excellent figures in 1987. He spent the entire year at Fort Lauderdale where he was 13-5 with a 3.05 ERA and seven complete games.
A hard thrower, Evers has a minor league career record of 24-6 with a 2.27 ERA."

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"Evers had an outstanding season at Ft. Lauderdale ('A' Florida State League) in 1987. He posted a 13-5 record and a 3.05 ERA in 24 games (22 starts) with 73 strikeouts and 153 hits allowed in 147.2 innings pitched [and 52 walks for a 1.21 WHIP] and had seven complete games. This is his first appearance on the Yankees' 40-man roster.
He was handled gingerly at the start of the season after his surgery in 1986, but finished strongly, winning his last seven regular-season decisions and two playoff games. Beginning with his first start in July, Troy went 7-0 in his final nine regular season starts with a 2.63 ERA (18 ER, 61.2 IP). Included in that span were his five starts in August when he went 5-0 with a 0.95 ERA and four complete games (38 IP, 18 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 9 BB, 15 K [0.71 WHIP]), and was named Yankee Minor League Pitcher of the Month.
In 1986 Evers pitched in only one game, with Ft. Lauderdale, getting the win in a 2.2 inning scoreless relief outing. He underwent surgery on July 30 to have an ulnar nerve transposition in his right elbow and for the removal of bone spurs. The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama, and he missed the remainder of the 1986 season.
Troy was the Yankees' second-round pick in the regular phase of the June 1985 free agent draft. In his first pro season, he posted a 10-1 record with Oneonta ('A' New York-Penn League) with a 1.18 ERA in 14 games (12 starts) along with 85 strikeouts while allowing just 69 hits and 25 walks in 99.1 innings pitched [0.95 WHIP]. Troy pitched a no-hitter in the semifinal playoff game against the Geneva Cubs on September 3.
He attended Iowa State and was selected by the Mets in the tenth round of the regular phase of the June 1982 free agent draft but did not sign. His hobbies are golf and bowling and his favorite spectator sport is football.
Troy's favorite team growing up was the Pittsburgh Pirates, his favorite athlete was Roberto Clemente, and his most memorable moment was pitching his playoff no-hitter."

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide


CLAY PARKER
"Acquired from the Mariners in December 1987, Parker owns an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio. He was 15-6 with an ERA under 3.00 in Seattle's farm system [in 1987] and finished the year in Seattle.
Parker was a three-year starter for the Louisiana State football team."

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"Parker began the 1987 season at the Mariners' AA Chattanooga affiliate and made 16 appearances (all starts), going 7-5 with a 2.73 ERA and five complete games along with 60 strikeouts in 112 innings pitched. He was promoted to AAA Calgary on July 5, and in 12 games with Calgary (all starts) was 8-1 with a 2.93 ERA and four complete games along with 44 strikeouts in 86 innings pitched. He was recalled from Calgary to the Mariners on September 12.
He made his major league debut in Seattle against Cleveland on September 14, pitching 2.1 innings of relief and giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits, one walk and four strikeouts, and was not involved in a decision in the Mariners' 11-8 defeat. He made his second appearance on September 23 against Kansas City, finishing that game by pitching one inning of relief, giving up two runs (earned) on two hits with two walks and a strikeout, and did not figure in the Royals' 9-0 win.
Clay made his third and final appearance of the season, a start on October 2 at Texas, going 4.1 innings and giving up four runs (all earned) on eight hits (including a two-run homer by Ruben Sierra) with a walk and three strikeouts, and again was not involved in a decision in the Mariners' 5-4 victory. In his three major league outings, Clay pitched 7.2 innings without a decision, giving up 10 runs (nine earned) for a 10.56 ERA while allowing 15 hits (including two home runs) with four walks [2.48 WHIP] and eight strikeouts.
He was acquired by the Yankees from Seattle along with Lee Guetterman and Wade Taylor in December of 1987 in exchange for Steve Trout and Henry Cotto.
In 1986, Parker was Wausau's top starter with a 2.88 ERA (eighth in the 'A' Midwest League). He led the club in innings pitched and shared honors in starts, was second in complete games and strikeouts, and was fifth in the league with a 1.92 walks-per-nine-innings pitched ratio (38 BB, 178 IP). Parker was Seattle's 15th round pick (16th selection) in the 1985 June draft. He led all Northwest League ('A') pitchers with a 1.55 ERA and a .857 winning percentage (6-1 record) in his first year in pro ball.
Clay graduated from Caldwell Parish (Columbia, LA) High School in 1981. He was named All-State in baseball, football and track, where he was the state javelin champion. He attended LSU on a football scholarship and was a three-year starter, playing in the 1983 Orange Bowl and the 1985 Sugar Bowl. He also played four years of baseball. Clay declined a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys and signed with the Mariners.
His hobbies are hunting and fishing and his favorite spectator sport is football. His favorite team growing up was the Miami Dolphins and his favorite player was Larry Csonka. His most dramatic moments in sports were playing in the 1983 Orange Bowl and 1985 Sugar Bowl. His most humorous moment: 'Celebrating after tackling Willie Gault, not realizing he had returned my 48-yard punt 47 yards.'
Clay's favorite entertainer is Randy Travis."

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide


MITCH LYDEN
"Selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 1983 June draft, Lyden opened the '87 campaign at Columbus but was optioned to Albany-Colonie in late May. He hit .253 in 71 games at Albany and committed only five errors in the 61 games he caught there.
Lyden still has home run potential."

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"In 1987 Lyden was a member of the Yankees' 40-man roster at the start of spring training but was optioned to Columbus on March 19. He played in 29 games at Columbus and batted .220 (22-for-100) with three doubles and eight RBIs.
Mitch was optioned to Albany-Colonie on May 30, where he finished the season. In 71 games with Albany, he batted .253 (59-for-233) with 25 runs, eight homers and 36 RBIs and had a slugging percentage of .425. His home run total ranked fourth on the club while his RBI total was fifth best on the team. He committed just five errors in the 55 games he caught at Albany.
In 1986 Lyden suffered ligament damage to his left knee on April 6 in spring training after sliding into home plate as a baserunner. Surgery on the knee was performed the following day by Dr. Dan Kanell.
Following rehabilitation, Lyden joined Sarasota, the Yankees' entry in the Rookie Gulf Coast League, where he batted .340 (17-for-50) in 17 games with eight runs, seven doubles, three homers and 16 RBIs and had a slugging percentage of .660. He was promoted to Albany-Colonie (AA Eastern League) on July 13 and hit .302 (48-for-159) in 46 games with 14 doubles, a triple, eight home runs, 29 RBIs (including five game-winners) and had a slugging percentage of .553. He homered once every 19.9 at-bats and committed just three errors in his 31 games as a catcher. Mitch joined the Columbus on August 31 following the completion of Albany's schedule and was 0-for-7 in two games with the Clippers.
The Yankees' first pick (fourth round) in the June 1983 free agent draft, Lyden hit just .148 in 47 games with Oneonta in '83 but led New York-Penn League catchers with a .991 fielding percentage. He began the 1984 season at Sarasota and hit .235 in 54 games. He was promoted to Greensboro and batted .219 in 14 games.
Mitch played a full season at Fort Lauderdale ('A' Florida State League) in 1985. He was second on the club in games (116) and at-bats (438); tied for second in doubles (21) and home runs (10); and third in total bases (155) and RBIs (58). He caught 101 games, led FSL catchers in fielding percentage (.988), assists (63), putouts (607) and total chances (678), and was named to the Florida State League All-Star team.
Mitch graduated from Beaverton [OR] High School in 1983 and was signed by [Yankee scout] Whitey DeHart. He played baseball, football and basketball in high school, was all-state in football as a defensive back and was offered both football and baseball scholarships by a number of PAC-10 colleges.
His hobbies are fishing, camping, skiing and traveling, and his favorite spectator sport is football. His favorite team growing up was the Cincinnati Reds and his favorite player was Johnny Bench. The greatest influence on Mitch's career was Bucky Dent.
Mitch likes uniform No. 13 because Wilt Chamberlain was his idol as a young basketball player."

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide


HENSLEY MEULENS
"Meulens signed with the Yankees as a free agent in October 1985 and had an outstanding 1987 campaign at Prince William. He showed tremendous home run potential at the plate, hitting .300 with 28 home runs and 103 RBI in 116 games. Developing as a fielder but already a lethal offensive weapon, Meulens was named to the Carolina League All-Star team in only his second year of pro ball. He finished the '87 season at Fort Lauderdale.
He's nicknamed 'Bam-Bam.'"

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook


RANDY VELARDE
"Acquired from the White Sox in January 1987, Velarde split the '87 season with Albany-Colonie and Columbus, hitting .317 and .319, respectively. He played eight games in New York late in the year.
Velarde is an excellent glove man with a good bat."

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"Velarde was acquired by the Yankees from the Chicago White Sox along with pitcher Pete Filson in exchange for pitcher Scott Nielsen and infielder Mike Soper in January of 1987. He began the season at Albany-Colonie (AA Eastern League) and in 71 games there batted .316 (83-for-262) with seven home runs and 32 RBIs. Randy was promoted to Columbus on June 29 and hit .319 (59-for-185) in 49 games there with five home runs and 33 RBIs.
His contract was purchased by the Yankees on August 20 and he made his major league debut that night in Seattle, starting at shortstop and going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. In his next game on August 21 at Oakland, Velarde went 2-for-3 with a RBI, getting his first major league hit, a single off Steve Ontiveros. He became the 29th shortstop to play alongside Willie Randolph in Randolph's career with the Yankees. He had another two-hit game, on August 24 at California, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Randy played in six games with the Yankees, batting .190 (4-for-21) with no homers and a RBI before being optioned to Prince William ('A' Carolina League) on August 29. Randy never reported to that club, remaining with the Yankees and was recalled by the Yankees three days later, on September 1, at the conclusion of Prince William's season.
He was 0-for-1 in two games after rejoining the Yankees to finish with a .182 batting average (4-for-22) in his two stints with New York. He struck out six times and committed two errors at shortstop, both coming on August 21 at Oakland.
Velarde began the 1986 season playing for the White Sox 'A' affiliate in Appleton, batting .252 in 124 games (105-for-417) with 11 home runs and 50 RBIs. He was promoted to Buffalo (AAA American Association) and hit .200 (4-for-20) in nine games there.
In 1985, he broke into professional baseball playing 67 games at Niagara Falls, batting .220 (48-for-218) with a home run and 16 RBIs. He was used as an outfielder and at second base in addition to his normal shortstop position.
Velarde graduated from Robert E. Lee High in Midland, Texas."

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide


AMALIO CARRENO
"Carreno signed with the Yankees as a free agent in November 1983. He was 6-6 last with Columbus, Albany-Colonie, and Prince William.
He's a starter-turned-reliever who's beginning to mature."

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"Carreno spent time on all three levels of minor league baseball within the Yankee organization in 1987. He began the season with the Prince William Yankees ('A' Carolina League) and was promoted to the Columbus Clippers (AAA International League) on June 4. He was sent down to the Albany-Colonie Yankees (AA Eastern League) on July 5 and was recalled to Columbus on July 16. He was returned to Prince William on July 30 and was again promoted to Albany on August 15. Carreno was added to the Yankees' 40-man roster following the conclusion of the 1987 season, making his first appearance on the Yankees' roster.
In his stint at Prince William, where he spent the bulk of the season, Amalio posted a 5-2 record and two saves with a 3.03 ERA in 26 games (including four starts) and tossed two complete games. He struck out 49 batters in 62.1 innings while allowing only 53 hits and 30 walks [1.33 WHIP]; he posted a 3-0 record in two starts in August with a 2.25 ERA when he notched his two complete games. In nine games with Albany (three starts) Carreno was 0-3 with a 7.88 ERA with one save, while in 11 appearances with Columbus, all in relief, he was 1-1 with one save and a 7.79 ERA.
He began the 1986 season with Sarasota, the Yankees' entry in the rookie Gulf Coast League, and went 5-0 in seven games (all starts) along with a 1.70 ERA and a shutout to earn a promotion to Ft. Lauderdale, where he was 1-1 with a 4.02 ERA in three games (all starts), including a complete game. Elbow problems in his right arm all but wiped out his 1985 campaign, when he was limited to only one game with Sarasota (2 IP, 1 H, 1 R) and did not get a decision.
Amalio was signed as a free agent by [Yankee scout] Fred Ferreira on November 22, 1983. In his first professional season, he was 1-6 with a 4.91 ERA in nine games (seven starts) with Sarasota, but did strike out 31 in 33 innings pitched."

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide


BILL FULTON
"The Yankees' second-round pick (secondary phase) in the 1983 June draft, Fulton spent the majority of last season with Columbus. He made 31 appearances (including 19 starts) and went 7-8 with one save, and made three relief appearances with the Yankees in September.
Fulton features a rising fastball and an outstanding curve."

-The New York Yankees Official 1988 Yearbook

"Bill spent the majority of 1987 with the Columbus Clippers (AAA International League). He made 31 appearances for the Clippers (including 19 starts) and went 7-8 with one save. In 144.2 innings pitched he allowed 179 hits, 89 runs (76 earned) with 30 walks and 73 strikeouts [1.45 WHIP] along with a 4.73 ERA. Bill was recalled by the Yankees from Columbus on September 10.
He made his major league debut at Toronto on September 12 and pitched 1.2 innings in relief, giving up five runs on six hits. Bill began the seventh inning of that game and pitched out of a bases loaded jam without giving up a run, but after retiring the first two batters in the eighth gave up three consecutive home runs to Ernie Whitt (3-run), Jesse Barfield and Kelly Gruber before being relieved.
Bill allowed one run (a Willie Upshaw homer) in his next outing, one inning of relief on September 20 against Toronto. In his third and final Yankee appearance of the year, on September 28 against Boston, he pitched two innings of scoreless innings of relief, giving up one hit and recording his first major league win in the Yankees' come-from-behind 9-7 victory as the Yanks scored six times in the ninth inning for the win.
In three appearances with the Yanks, he was 1-0 with an 11.57 ERA (6 ER, 4.2 IP), with nine hits, a walk [2.14 WHIP] and two strikeouts. Bill has a riding fastball which can sink and also features an outstanding curve.
The Yankees' second-round pick in the secondary phase of the June 1983 free agent draft, Bill had been selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the first round of the January 1983 free agent draft. On July 25, 1983, Bill pitched a no-hitter against the Geneva Cubs in a game won by Oneonta 1-0. In 1984 he posted a 2-3 record in 10 games (eight starts) with 'A' Greensboro, including three complete games, and had a 4.15 ERA.
He started the 1985 season in Florida in the Florida Instructional League and moved to the Fort Lauderdale Yankees on May 29. Bill hurled a seven-inning no-hitter against Lakeland on July 2. He tied for second in the Florida State League with nine complete games, was third with a 1.61 ERA and had a .217 batting average against.
Bill began 1986 with the Albany-Colonie Yankees in the AA Eastern League. In 14 games (all starts), he was 6-6 with a 4.73 ERA (80.0 IP, 90 H, 46 R, 42 ER, 24 BB, 46 K [1.43 WHIP]) along with five complete games and had a .289 batting average against.
He had two shutouts: a 4-hit blanking of Vermont on May 4 (with a season high seven strikeouts) and a 2-hit shutout of Glens Falls with five strikeouts; both shutouts were seven-inning complete games. Bill was named to the Eastern League All-Star team but did not pitch in that game because he was promoted to the Columbus Clippers on July 5.
In 12 starts at Columbus, he was 4-6 with a 3.84 ERA along with a .301 batting average against. Bill had two complete game wins, against Maine on July 11 and Toledo on July 26. His high strikeout game with Columbus came on August 15, recording five strikeouts at Maine.
Bill's nickname is 'Fulty,' started by Bucky Dent, and his favorite spectator sport is football. His favorite team growing up was the Pittsburgh Pirates and his favorite player was Pete Rose. Bill was signed by Murray Cook."

-1988 New York Yankees Information Guide