FanHouse MarkMelancon

It might be a tough Monday morning in Yankeeland.

It's not just that they were swept by the hated Red Sox in Fenway Park. It's that their all-world closer, Mariano Rivera, coughed up a two-run lead with two outs in the ninth inning en route a 5-4 11-inning loss Friday night. It's that $82.5 million free-agent addition A.J. Burnett was gifted a six-run lead Saturday afternoon and he blew it, only to be matched by the bullpen in a 16-11 loss. It's that to add insult to a number of injuries, Jacoby Ellsbury stole home -- on a straight steal no less -- against Andy Pettitte Sunday night to cap off the sweep.

In a town like New York where the pressure is always on, it's bad enough to get swept. It's much worse to have it happen because of blown saves, flat-out lousy pitching and a mental error by a veteran starting pitcher.

Wondering which young players could have an impact in the majors this year? Let MLB FanHouse guide the way in Better Know a Prospect. In this edition we look at three players from the New York Yankees who could help the bullpen this season.

Mark Melancon, RP: A first-round talent with questions about the health of his arm, Melancon fell to the Yankees in the ninth round of the 2006 draft. He wound up needing Tommy John surgery, but has recovered his velocity and command. He throws hard and has an above-average curveball, which he used to strike out 22 batters in 20 Triple-A innings in 2008. He's unlikely to break camp with the Bombers, but could provide a boost to the bullpen around mid-season. If all breaks right, Melancon will be in the mix to replace Mariano Rivera as the team's closer one day, if not, he should still be an effective relief pitcher.

We've had the Joba Rules and the Kershaw Decree, is it time to ready ourselves for the Melancon Mandate? The Yankees need to answer questions about their bullpen now that Joba Chamberlain is in the rotation, a need Kyle Farnsworth reminded them of yesterday, and that answer may come in a familiar package.

In 2007, Chamberlain went from Single-A straight to the Bronx where he provided the Yankees with a salve for their relief woes. It's looking like Mark Melancon will do the same thing this season. He's currently at AA Trenton where he's struck out 15 hitters in 17 2/3 innings giving credence to the idea that he can help in the big leagues sooner rather than later.

"If I pitch well and continue to do what I'm capable of doing, I don't see why not," Melancon said. "Why not? Why isn't it close? I really do believe I am capable of doing what they're doing, all those guys out there. So, yeah, I think it's close."

Melancon was drafted in the ninth round of the 2006 draft, slipping that low because of elbow troubles that led to Tommy John surgery. The Yankees gave him second round bonus money, though, part of the big money for pitchers draft philosophy they continued yesterday. Not many teams could afford that risk but it's paying off. Melancon is talked about as the heir to Mariano Rivera and could begin his ascension before much longer.