I think they're keeping Montero in AA so he and Francisco Cervelli can both catch on a regular basis. Montero's bat is probably major league ready now but he needs to work on his defense if he's going to replace Jorge Posada down the line.
So far this year Austin Jackson in AAA has a batting average of .321 with four homers, a .386 OBP, and a .452 SLG in 305 At-bats.
He's not hitting for as much power as we'd hoped but he steals bases, has a good arm (he played Right Field today and threw out a runner), decent range in the outfield, and he hits well for average. The only knock on him right now is that he strikes out way too much (in 305 AB he has 78 Ks and that's only in AAA) but we'll see if he cuts down on that in the second half of the season.
Brackman...is probably injured, or something. In any case Brackman isn't really a big deal. There are prospects that we should be taking more note of.
For example:
AAA:
Ivan Nova. He's 22 years old, and this season has had 12 starts in AA and 2 in AAA. So far he's posting a combined 2.27 ERA with 73 hits in 83.1 innings, with 54 Ks and 35 BB.
AA:
We've got a 1B named Jorge Vazquez who's posting a .948 OPS right now. Since we have Teixeira odds are he's not going to be of any use to us, but he could be valuable trade bait.
Zach McAllister: 5-4 record, 1.87 ERA. 86.2 IP, 69 H. 72 K, 26 BB. Also 22 years old.
A+ (Tampa):
Austin Romine (C): Better defense than Jesus Montero. .799 OPS with 11 HR...and even 7 SB. Needs to learn how to take a damned walk and he'll be a great player.
DJ Mitchell: 22 years old. Combined 3.05 ERA in A and A+. 92 K, 28 BB. 94.1 IP, 79 H. He's adjusting to Tampa, but other than that has been pitching great.
Hector Noesi: In 12 starts and 6 relief appearances combined for A+ and A, 2.57 ERA in 80.2 IP, 83 K, 12 BB (!!!), 68 H.
A-ball:
David Phelps: 17 GS, 100.2 IP, 106 H (kinda high, yeah), 78 K, 22 BB, 2.77 ERA. (also 22 years old)
And the kid I'm most ecstatic about...
Manuel Banuelos: 15 GS, 77.2 IP, 2.20 ERA, 61 H, 68 K, 17 BB. Get this:
Banuelos's Date of Birth? 03/13/1991. That's right. We have a kid who's 18 years old who's wiping the floor with the rest of Single-A. And he's left handed.