Horne, Sanchez Take Another Step

Alan Horne continues to make his way back from a bicep strain by tossing nearly six innings and reportedly could join the Scranton Wilkes-Barre rotation as soon as next week.

Since his injury on April 10th, Horne has gradually passed every test thrown at him and now finds himself with a high enough pitchcount to again knock on the big league door:

Horne threw 5.2 innings on 77 pitches today in extended spring training and said he expects to rejoin the Triple-A rotation this week.

According to his father, Horne had good command and bite on his curveball and slider. He allowed three or four hits, struck out 7 and only walked the last hitter he faced when [again, according to his father] Horne was losing his leg strength in the 97 degree heat.

Meanwhile, another power prospect - Humberto Sanchez - has been working his way back from Tommy John surgery and will soon be pitching to live batters. His armstrength has been built up to about 40-45 pitches.

Though the Yankees have yet to say anything official regarding Sanchez's role, it's widely believed he will break into the Yankees farm system as a late inning reliever.

I, myself and many other prospect watchers believe this is the right gameplan for an often injury ridden pitcher who possesses closer stuff. For me, Sanchez's ETA remains September, though that is simply an estimate on a very fickle athlete and injury recovery period.