From 2005 through 2008, his first four seasons as a Yankees farmhand, Hector Noesi barely saw the field. The right-hander threw 127 innings across four seasons, in part because of Tommy John surgery. Entering last year, Noesi wasn’t listed among the top 25 right-handers in the Yankees farm system, according to Baseball America.
But since the beginning of 2009, Noesi, 23, has stayed healthy, and, as a result, has begun to rise through the Yankees’ system. After going 6-4 with a 2.92 ERA in 26 games for Charleston and Tampa, Noesi entered this year as the 24th overall Yankees prospect, according to Baseball America.
If those rankings were done today, though, the he 6-foot-2, 175-pound hurler likely would be much higher. Noesi has been brilliant this year, going a combined 11-3 with a 2.21 ERA in 17 starts for High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton, striking out 104 and walking 17 in 102 innings. That performance helped the Domincan Republic native earn a spot on the World Team in tomorrow’s Futures Game.
“It just looks like he’s playing catch when he throws,” Trenton pitching coach and former major league pitcher Tommy Phelps said. “He’s got a free and easy arm, and it shoots up there and comes up on the hitters.”
Because of Noesi’s injury history, some have wondered whether the right-hander will be able to remain a starter long term. But Phelps, who said Noesi’s easy delivery reminded him of former Yankees reliever LaTroy Hawkins, said that he thinks he has a shot.
“He’s developing a fourth pitch, and almost all successful pitchers in the majors are starters,” Phelps said. “I think it’s too early to tell. I think he has the makeup of a starter, because he can throw all four pitches for strikes.”
Noesi will be joined in the Futures Game by Austin Romine, his catcher with Trenton, who also will play for the American team. He is hitting .286 with six homers and 44 RBIs. The Mets lone representative is right-hander Jeurys Familia, who is 2-4 with a 5.61 ERA in 13 starts for High-A St. Lucie.
One player who many Mets fans would have expected to see in such a game is Wilmer Flores. Ranked second overall in the Mets system entering the season by Baseball America, behind only Jenrry Mejia, Flores has been playing like a man on a mission since being promoted from Low-A Savannah to St. Lucie late last month.
The 18-year-old is hitting .431 (25-for-58) with a home run and 13 RBIs in 13 games with St. Lucie. In 66 games with Savannah, Flores hit .278 with seven homers and 44 RBIs.
tbontemps@nypost.com
Down on the farm
Andrew Brackman, RHP, Double-A Trenton
Brackman fell to 0-3 with a 5.06 ERA with Trenton after allowing four runs in six innings at Akron Monday.
Brandon Laird, 3B, Double-A Trenton
Laird’s incredible season continues for Trenton, as he is tied for the Eastern League lead in home runs (19) and easily leads the league with 81 RBIs in 85 games.
Brad Holt, RHP, High-A St. Lucie
Holt’s struggles have continued following a demotion from Double-A Binghamton to St. Lucie. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 5.79 ERA in three starts there after allowing four runs in five innings in a loss to Charlotte Monday.