Yankees' "Best Kept Secret"

In a BA piece today, George King called 22 year old George Kontos potentially the 'best kept secret' in the Yanks' farm system.

While Kontos' record does not stand-out at 4-6, 4.02, his peripheral numbers were more impressive. In 94 ip in 2007, Kontos allowed 95 hits and 30 walks while striking out 101 (3.36:1 k/bb).

Kontos then went to Hawaii where he was named among the 10 top prospects in all of Hawaiian baseball. He went 3-4, 3.21 and in 34 ip stuck out 40 and walked 10.

"His stuff is really good," Mark Newman said of Kontos, whose fastball ranges from 90-94 mph. "He also has a quality slider and an emerging curveball. A changeup makes him a four-pitch guy. He is a smart guy who works at it and is committed."

Based on his first 2 seasons, the Yankees believe Kontos is at least in the discussion with their other prized young arms such as IPK, Joba and Phil.