Yanks Post Draft Stuff Pt.4

As I've mentioned, at least in passing a few times, the Yanks have clearly gotten more sophisticated in the way the go about drafting people over the years. Since the Draft, the Yanks have signed 22 of their 40 picks including Dom Thompson-Williams, Jordan Scott, Joe Burton and Edel Luaces.  What these four players have in common is fast twitch hyper athletecism.   Let's go on for a second, they got DTW for a below slot deal in the 5th, and must have gotten off pretty easily on Scott, Burton and Luaces - because frankly - they're not going high overslot for anyone until Blake and Nolan are on board.

So, we're forced to concede that the Yanks were able to add 4 athletic gems at pretty great prices. That admirable and not all what they used to do.  During the Lin Garret years especially, the used to overapay for athleticism and undervalue production.  For example back in the 2003 Draft the Yanks took a great athlete named Estee Harris in the 2nd round and perhaps even a greater athlete in the 3rd named Tim Battle. Not sure what the money was for either of them, but that was under the old rules, and even the D and F rules, so using your second and third picks in a 50 round draft on two great athletes who weren't yet great players was a major cost.

So the bet then seemed to be that they could make them baseball players, and in both cases they couldn't.  Though to be fair, Estee battled Cancer, and Tim gave his all during his 2 or 3 years in the Sally League.

Anyway, that's what can happend when you pick great athletes who aren't necessarily great players.  Of course when you hit on one, you can get Superstar.  But the chances are somewhat remote, thus, you don't want to risk too much on them, and it doesn't look the Yanks are doing that anymore.   Btw, all of DTW, Jordan and Luaces have crazy speed.  Jordan has surprising speed for his NFL Linebacker body, like Aaron Judge does for his NFL Tight End body.

Of course, not quite all of the high upside athletes have been signed.  Rutherford could have gone to college as a wide receiver, though he has no less than a 70 pure hitting tool, which makes him more baseball player than athlete.   Nick Solak has 60 o 70 speed, but also has a plus pure hit tool. And the unsigned Evan Alexander the CF from Hebron HS, is also said the have elite speed. Solak should be done Monday, and the Post reported progress is being made with Blake Rutherford.  No news on Alexander.

But, very surprised the Yanks could buy such athleticism so cheaply.