Who's the next Great Yankee Shortstop™ ?

Photo by Bill Kostroun, Associated Press

By now most of you know Derek Jeter got his 3,000th hit via a home run during yesterday's game. Derek Jeter has been the Yankees starting shortstop since 1996, and for the younger generation of fans (like myself), it's hard to imagine anyone else playing the position. Yet eventually, the time will come where Jeter will need to be playing less SS and more DH. Even though I don't want to admit it, this time is definitely coming sooner rather than later.

So who will be the one to fill the big shoes and take over for Derek? Brian Cashman seems to have pretty high hopes of Eduardo Nunez, although he's not exactly a prospect anymore. The way I see it, if Eduardo Nunez was a legit prospect, he'd be down in Scranton getting more at bats, not sitting on the bench as a super utility player. The same hold's true for Ramiro Pena. It's clear these guys aren't Jeter's successors. So let's look a little deeper into the Minor League System.

One name that springs to mind is Corban Joseph. Joseph is hitting .292 for Double-A Trenton, but is also logging a very pretty .375 wOBA. He also has an above average walk rate, but lacks skill in the power department, hitting only four home runs up to this point. Minus his power numbers, Corban Joseph is a decent hitter that might be able to fill the gap at SS for brief periods of time, but that might be the extent of it. Furthermore, he is a 2B and not a SS, and although it is not the biggest issue it the world, it makes a difference.

The last name that comes to mind in the Yankee system is Cito Culver. A first round draft pick last year, Culver is currently playing for the Staten Island Yankees in the NY/Penn league. Through 20 games in 2011, he's hitting .306 with a wOBA of .354. His strikeout rate is above league average, which is something to be concerned about, but was in his scouting report when he was drafted so it shouldn't come as a surprise. Culver is only eighteen years old, and has a long way to go to the big leagues. Out of the three players I have mentioned, I believe Culver has the best chance to be a long term Yankee's SS based on his raw talent. 

Yet, players like Culver who tend to have high potential also tend to be no sure thing. It's something to keep an eye on, as Culver could either become the next Great Yankee Shortstop™... or be the next Matt Bush.