Montero, Banuelos selected for Futures Game

Montero, Banuelos to represent World

Manuel Banuelos, LHP, Class A Charleston (World Team)
Many
in the Yankees organization are excited about the high-ceiling
potential of Banuelos, an 18-year-old product of Durango, Mexico, who
has already flashed a low-to-mid 90s fastball and is working on his
command.

The Mexican product signed with New York as a non-drafted free
agent in March 2008, and he has opened eyes this season with the
Charleston RiverDogs of the South Atlantic League, faring 5-3 with a
2.51 ERA in his first 12 starts at that level, populated by some more
experienced hitters.

Banuelos has excelled in June, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.14
ERA through his first four starts of the month. He made his
professional debut last season with the Gulf Coast Yankees, going 4-1
with a 2.57 ERA in 12 appearances (three starts).

Jesus Montero, C, Double-A Trenton (World Team)
The Yankees
promoted Montero to the Eastern League in early June, and the slugging
backstop has shown signs of adjusting to Double-A pitching, having
proven convincingly that he was more than capable at Class A.

The 19-year-old Montero was hitting .356 with eight home runs
and 37 RBIs in 48 games for Tampa of the Florida State League at the
time of his promotion and is working on a followup campaign to his
standout 2008 campaign, when he hit .326 with 86 runs, 34 doubles, 17
homers and 87 RBIs in 132 games with Class A Charleston.

A non-drafted free agent who signed with the Yankees in October
2006, Montero was selected to the South Atlantic League’s midseason
All-Star team and postseason All-Star team as the league’s top catcher.
He went 1-for-2 and caught the final four innings in the All-Star
Futures Game at Yankee Stadium last year.