Christian Parker

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #20 prospect in 2001
  Parker was a throw-in in the trade that sent Hideki Irabu to Montreal last spring. He wasn't protected on the Expos' 40-man roster the previous winter, nor was he selected in the major league Rule 5 draft. So the term "breakthrough" doesn't quite do justice to Parker's 2000 season, when he threw 40 consecutive scoreless innings in Double-A and led the minors in innings. His fastball shot up from 86-90 mph to 91-93, and he touched 93-94 mph every game. Parker already knew how to throw strikes, change speeds and mix his pitches, which also include a cut fastball, slider and changeup. After surrendering 11 homers in 89 Double-A innings in 1999, he permitted just eight in 204 innings last year. Parker will get Triple-A experience in 2001 but has a good chance to surface in New York in the second half.