(Brendan Kuty | NJ Advance Media)

Inside Yankees' program to develop next championship core

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Inside Yankees' prospect program to develop next dynasty

While the Yankees’ youth movement took the spotlight last summer, it’s been on its way for years.

One of the biggest catalysts of the wave? Captains Camp. Born in 2014, the weeks-long program has paired the team’s brightest, most promising youngsters with an all-star array of instructors at its training facility in Tampa, Fla., teaching them not just how to be better baseball players, but also better people before spring training.

Yankees Vice President of Player Development Gary Denbo talked to NJ Advance Media about this year’s camp, which started Jan. 18 and ends Feb. 24.

Here’s what you need to know about it.

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Who's going?

While the team didn't release names of the invites, here are just a few of the prospects sources said have been around the team's training facility recently:

OF Blake Rutherford, RHP Freicer Perez, 3B Dermis Garcia, OF Estevan Florial, INF Thairo Estrada, LHP Justus Sheffield.

UTL. Tyler Austin and RHP Luis Severino have been seen there, too.

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(Brendan Kuty | NJ Advance Media)

The goal

The mission of Captains Camp is to “develop championship-type, complete players for our major-league club,” Denbo said.

“As the New York Yankees, we set the standard for how to prepare and compete as a professional,” Denbo said. “We must show respect to to gain the respect of others. Championships teams are made up of people that care about their teammates and hold each other accountable on and off the field. We embrace the fact that we are considered role models and we are held to a higher standard as New York Yankees. Captains Camp is about developing good men that will become the leaders of our future championship teams.”

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(John Munson | NJ Advance Media)

The excitment

The organization's pro, amateur and international scouts, analysts and coaches have assembled a cluster or talent that had Denbo reminiscing.

"Our current group reminds me of the exceptional group of prospects the Yankees organization had back in the early 1990s, right before our championship years," Denbo said. "We now have the same type of premium athletes, the same type of high character, highly motivated players that we had back then. We have an exceptional group of coaches that I believe are among the best teachers in the game. These men have done a great job developing Greg Bird, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Tyler Austin to prepare them to contribute to our club in New York."

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Who's helping?

Several current Yankees will mentor the players, Denbo said, after they report for major league spring training. So, too, will other coaches, front office members, scouts and "people from outside the game," Denbo said.

"One of the best things about the game of baseball is the way that veterans share their stories with young players," the VP said. "Our players know that once you are a Yankee you are always a Yankee and that you are always welcome here."

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Special guest instructors?

Retired Yankees greats Andy Pettitte, Tino Martinez and Alfonso Soriano each are expected to lend a hand at Captains Camp. Others will follow.

"We are privileged to have a group of former great players that volunteer to share what they have learned in their careers with our young players," Denbo said. "Future and present Hall of Fame players and men that have won multiple world championships with the Yankees will participate."

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Yes, A-Rod's going

Alex Rodriguez is expected to reprise his role as an instructor, too, at the camp. The 41-year-old slugger helped at the Yankees' instructional league last year.

The Yankees and A-Rod parted ways in August. Rodriguez agreed to be an instructor for 2017, reporting directly to owner Hal Steinbrenner.

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What about Derek Jeter?

Jeter has surprised players at a dinner at the camp each of the last two seasons. The team hopes he'll show up again.

"Derek is always generous with his time when it comes to sharing what he has learned with our young players, as he was when he was a player," Denbo said. "He has met with our Captains Camp group the last two years and we hope that he can join us a gain this year. He is one of the most respected players to ever play the game of baseball and he represents everything good that we are trying to teach our New York Yankee players."

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(Kim Klement | USA Today Sports)

Final word

Here's the final word, courtesy of Denbo:

"Our focus is on teaching our players that the New York Yankees are focused not just developing great players, we want players that make the team great," he said.

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