Starter Number 352

Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but Al Aceves joins the likes of Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Chien-Ming Wang, Darrell Rasner, Carl Pavano, Sidney Ponson, Joba Chamberlain, Brian Bruney, Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes, Dan Giese, and Kei Igawa when he gets the nod tonight as the Yankees starter.

Aceves was in the Mexican League last year before being signed by the Yankees. He dominated in eight starts for Tampa in the Florida State League, going 4-11, 2.11 and held opponents to a .188 average. His success continued in Double-A Trenton where he went 2-2, 1.80 in seven starts.

With the Yankees needing starters at the major league level, Aceves was promoted to Triple-A Scranton, where he struggled for the first time, and also spent some time on the DL. Aceves produced mixed results with a 2-3, 4.12 record in 10 starts, eight of which were starts. He was promoted to the Yankees after striking out eight hitters in each of last two starts, both of which lasted six innings.

In two relief appearances with the Yankees, Aceves has allowed just one run in seven innings and has recorded seven strikeouts.

Peter Abraham has more on Aceves, including info on his father who played in the Mexican League, and a brother who was once in the minor leagues.