While many teams have instructional league sessions that last four to six weeks, the Yankees prefer more of a short-and-sweet version of the fall gathering. That doesn't mean, though, that it's not jam-packed with information for the organization's younger players.

Just ask Kyle Higashioka, the Yankees' seventh-round pick out of Edison High School in Huntington Beach, Calif., this past June. The 18-year-old catcher just finished up the two-week instructional minicamp in Tampa, and headed back to Southern California feeling much more like a pro than he did earlier this summer.

"We had a bunch of great instructors working on, for me, hitting and catching," Higashioka said. "We were getting hands-on, basically one-on-one instruction. I think I improved a lot in just two weeks.

"The instructors were so thorough and in-depth. My whole game got better. They're trying to elevate me to another level and they're doing a great job."

Higashioka only got a brief introduction to pro ball after signing, getting in 18 games of Gulf Coast League action and hitting .261 in that time. A quick study, the backstop learned just how different the high school game -- even the highly competitive one in California -- is from even the lowest level of the Minor Leagues.

"There are certain things that are different in professional baseball that I wasn't accustomed to," Higashioka said. "This minicamp helped me adjust to the lifestyle of playing professional baseball.

"We were around guys like Reggie Jackson and Tino Martinez, and they were working with us. Then there were Minor League instructors like Butch Wynegar, Julio Mosquera and Victor Valencia for catching. There were a bunch of guys with a lot of experience. I was really able to absorb a lot of information because of the wealth of knowledge they had."

It should come in handy as Higashioka heads into his first offseason and prepares for his first Spring Training in Tampa. The Yankees, without a ton of catching in the system, have not hesitated to push young backstops to full-season levels right away, as they did with 2007 draftee Austin Romine and international signee Jesus Montero. Higashioka wants to follow their paths to Charleston and the South Atlantic League next April.

"A bunch of people told me how hard it's going to be once I get into full-season ball," he said. "I'll try to get as strong as I can, and keep working on my hitting and catching, maintaining quickness as well as strength. I want to come to Spring Training in really great shape and impress all the coaches and staff, so hopefully they put me in the full-season level."

Higashioka had been on scouts' radars for a while as one of the better prep catchers available in this year's draft class. He was known more for his defensive ability, though he does possess some upside with the bat, as well. He "slid" to the seventh round partially because of a strong commitment to Cal. But the Yankees were able to get him signed for an above-slot $500,000. Had that not happened, he would have been on Cal's campus getting ready for his first college season. Needless to say, he feels he's ahead of the game in terms of what he eventually wants to accomplish.

"I believe wholeheartedly I made the right decision," Higashioka said. "I know Cal would've been great, but my No. 1 goal was to play Major League Baseball, and this was the best way to move toward that. I don't regret my decision at all."