Yankee Draft `13: Attack of the LHP's

The Yankees used to always draft left handed pitchers.  In fact, nearly 20 years ago, when the rest of the scouting community was beating the bushes for Tom Glavine types who could throw 88-91 to either side of the plate, the Yanks were already looking for more Andy Pettitte or Ron Guidry types.   Either they realized that all those Glavine types wouldn't get the 6 to ten inches on either side of the plate that Glavine always got or they just liked what they already knew.   For example guys like Alex Gramann and Sean Henn were drafted because they were big Pettitte types, and Brandon Claussen was reminiscent of Guidry.   I don't know what they thought Eric Milton was.  Still don't    And btw, one of the Andy Pettitte types they picked, Danny Borrell, is now their Low A pitching coach and he actually looked like he was gonna make it until injuries ended his career.  I think he even threw a no no in AA.   Good prospect..

Anyway, they used to draft lefties to a FAULT.   In fact, that was essentially their default setting.   Another pick coming up?  I know!  Let's take a lefty.    They obviously weren't making the distinction between goodness and handedness, ie  that a good RHP is more valuable than an average or less LHP.   When Damon Oppenheimer started running the draft, they stopped doing that, but lately because they do have a board they like to stick to and their picks haven't intersected with LHP value often, they probably have fewer LHP prospects than every before on the farm,

That started to change Thursday.  With the final pick of the first round the Yanks took LHP Ian Clarkin, and he gives them something they don't have or don't have handy, anyway with the disposition of Omar Luis Rodriguez still being worked out.    But Clarkin has a sky high ceiling and his fastball and curveball are already better than some guys in the show.   They need to clean up his mechanics a bit, help him with his change and let him grow.

(Note:  I've been down on the Yankee pitching program for the last several years.   The fact is, they haven't developed a reliable starter since Wang (and he was that before the freak injury) and the problems with Hughes (who changed his own mechanics and no one around the team has fixed them), with Joba, with Brackman, with Betances, with Marshall, etc.     But Gil Patterson has now taken charge of it, and I'm going to give him a few years to get it straightened out.)

After taking Clarkin on Thursday Night, the Yanks went on to pick 5 more LHP's over the ensuing 39 rounds.   Most of them are intriguing, and at this point I think all of them should be signed.   Let's take a look.

In the 9th round, the Yanks selected LHP the well travelled Connor Kendrick for Auburn.    He's been a productive if not limited pitcher over his career.  He's one of those crafty guys who could either stumble at AA or pitch for 20 years in the bigs.  A very reasonable bet to take in Round Nine.

Okay, and again, unless someone fails a physical or Clarkin loses his mind, the Yanks will get both  of these guys signed.  But after the top 10 rounds, they took even more intriguing LHP's.

In round 14, the Yanks took LHP Caleb Smith.  He had a bit of an up and down career as starter, but throws in the low 90s and his stuff may play up out of the pen.  Or they may be able to help him with the rest of his arsenal and give him a shot as a starter.

At 21, they took Ethan Carnes.   This guy is a junior and may have some leverage.  Just the same I'd like to get him signed up.  He's 6'4" and 205 and that's a good start for any lefty.  He transferred to Oklahoma for Howard College where the Yanks jumbo sized #5 pick David Palladino has been attending.   Ethan had more K's than innings pitched, and almost 3 times as many K's as walks.   He'll be 22 in December so hopefully he does the right thing.

In round 25, the Yanks took the super intriguing Jordan Floyd.   This guy was an honorable mention all league OL in the Fall.   So far he's only throwing upper 80's but and 6'4" 245 he's probably going to throw harder if he stays with it.  PED jokes aside remember that Roger Clemens only threw upper 80s when the Mets drafted him out of high school.

Finally, in round 36 they took Nestor Cortes, a 19 year old who is 5'11 190.  He may not be getting any taller. and seems sort of reminiscent of Daniel Camarena who's in the system now.  Maybe the have a deal they can do.

Anyway, that's the sum.  6 LHP picks and not one dumped or necessarily destined for one year at SI and out.   The system could use all 6 of them.

Okay, I'm not gonna do a righty version of the draft, but will break up the rest of my coverage into sub categories like speed, and guys who remind me of Joba (Joba Prime not messed up Joba)  and all those up the middle picks.  And maybe something about Aaron Judge.  Enjoy, and thanks for reading