Yanks Take a Bulldog and a Moose on Day 1

The Yanks had a very interesting first day of the draft,  and I'm sort of happy I was at the game for it. In the first round, the Yanks went off most boards and took South Caronlina's RHP Clark Schmidt. It's the second time in three years that they've taken a college pitcher, and they certainly love that South Carolina program.  But as everyone now realizes, Clarke Schmits just had TJS.  In fact, Clarke will be on the just about the same rehab schedule as James Kaprielian (who was also at the game last night).  It was instantly clear that they were going be able to save a lot of dough in round one, and whenever he's healthy again, they get an absolute bulldog, who's four pitch mix features a fastball that was flashing 96, a good curve, a sick slider and a change.   He's 6'1" and 210.

We didn't have to wait for the Yanks to start spending their savings.  In the second round the Yanks took "signabilty" RHP Matt Sauer out of Ernest Righetti HS in Southern California.   Matt was was top 30 type talent who fell on signability.  Rumor has it that the Yanks were on the phone with Matt before the draft and may have worked something out.  Matt is 18, and after a growth spurt now stands 6'5" 210.  That is essentially the size you're looking for in a starter.  Matt was hitting upper 90s this Spring, and also has an electric curve and slider, and the beginnings of a change.  Matt's mechanics are sort of screwy, perhaps because of the growth spurt, and he's going to need to be straightened out.

That said,when you see this kid: everything moves.  The big fastball has a tail and the breaking stuff is filthy, so even though I'm seeing inconsistent mechanics, there is very substantial upside with this kid.