Yankee Draft `13: Clarkin and Katoh are Official

Today, the Yankees continued filling out their top 10 (actually top 12 because they had two extra firsts) by signing LHP Ian Clarkin and 2B Gosuke Katoh.   The players each signed for slot so no pool savings were realized.     I think there was some belief in Yankeeland that Katoh would take an under slot deal, and his savings would be used on an overslot deal for Clarkin, but that didn't happen.   So what do we have?

Ian Clarkin adds another hight upside LHP to a system that was lacking much behind the mysterious Omar Luis Rodriguez.   Clarkin already works in the low 90's and features a nasty curve.   There's some debate about whether he will add velo or whether he's done growing.  I'm not sure players have to grow to do that, but because some think he's done growing, they're projecting as a #3 starter.   Of course those are hugely important, too.  As for now, Clarkin has to start working and smooth out his mechanics and develop a changeup.    But he can spin the baseball and he's got arm strength.

Gosuke Katoh gives the Yankees speed and a lefty bat they believe will play up in new Yankee Stadium.   Gosuke was the Yanks most surprising pick because he's a 2B and 2B's just don't get picked high.   But did have a UCLA scholarship and the Yanks have had trouble breaking those in the past.  We'll see how he hits in the GCL, because he claims to be most influenced by Ichiro and Cano.    So adding something like that, with 70 speed could be sorta big.

I believe only Judge and Rumbelow are still unsigned out of the top 10 round picks.