The Yankees today promoted righthander J.B. Cox from Double-A Trenton to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and righthander Mark Melancon from high Class A Tampa to Trenton.

Melancon, 23, had pitched exclusively out of relief in his 13 appearances with Tampa. Drafted as a reliever in 2006 out of Arizona, Melancon missed the entire 2007 season following Tommy John surgery. This season with Tampa, the Yankees’ No. 11 prospect had a 2.84 ERA and a 20-6 K-BB ratio in 26 1/3 innings.

Cox, who turned 24 today, ranked 26th in the Yankees system entering the season. Like Melancon, Cox also missed the entire 2007 season after having Tommy John surgery. Cox began the year with Tampa, but was promoted in late-April after just six appearances. He needed only five more appearances until the Yankees promoted him to Triple-A. In 6 1/3 Double-A innings, Cox allowed one run (1.35 ERA), three hits, two walks and had six strikeouts.