Draft Review Part Two: Batty

Okay, beyond the 6 or 7 C's the Yanks drafted earlier this week, they also drafted 10(9) other positions players, most of whom have both patience and pop or high grade speed. Starting with the Tyler Austin pick, what now seems like years ago, the amateur scouting department has done a great job of finding Yankee Bats. Now with the advent of analytics and sports science, most of the guess work is gone. What's more, since the Yanks re-fangled their player development department a few years ago, the hits have outnumbered the misses and stalled, talented guys like Melky Mesa aren't really happening anymore.  So, if you like Bombers bombing, they brought in some more good candidates. Let's take a look.

In round 3, they popped Kentucky Prep CF Ryder Green.  I was hoping for more lefty power, but handedness never trumps goodness and this kid is the goods. There's still a question as to whether or not Ryder has the wheels to stay in CF, there's no question that he has some of the best power in this entire draft class. Because he was also 93 from the mound as a pitchers, a lot of people are projecting him to RF.  We'll see. We just need a steady flow of power hitters, and he jumps right into it. Wonder which GCL team he'll be on, or if they'll send him straight to Pulaski.

In round 5, they took a speedster with no positional questions: CF Brandon Lockridge. He OPS'd 909 this Spring and went 25/28 in steals.  He's said to have 70-80 speed on the 80 scale. One thing I do hope they do with Brandon that they didn't do with Gardy is teach him to use bunts as a weapon. I always wanted the Yanks to hire Brett Butler to teach Gardy the short game when he was young, now I'd like them to do it for Lockridge and the other really fast guys they have. Lockridge bats righty, so the stadium might not give him the same lift it gives Gardy, and might have given Ellsbury, if he ever played,

They didn't take any other hitters outside of the top 10, so we know they are signing the both catchers and both OF's.

On Day 3, things got really interesting.

In round 12, they took VMI RF Matt Pita, a junior slugger who OPS'd 1.180 He not only drives the ball, he takes walks and has a knack for getting hit by pitches.  Oh, and he's a lifelong Yankee fan who cites Nick Swisher as one of his favorite players.  He's a former football guy who plays with some abandon, but let's hope he doesn't go full Slade, and constantly injure himself.  He's a college guy who had to come to terms with his sports mortality playing football, so probably not. He seems inclined to sign.

In round 13 they took CF Isaiah Pasteur, but they listed him as a P.  So who knows what the plan is there? I guess we'll know if and when he signs and where he starts playing.

In round 14, they took WVU 2B Kyle Gray.  Finally a left handed bat who discovered explosive pop when he adjusted his stance a bit. He OPS'd 1.139 with plenty of walks mixed in and could be the impact 2B to replace the regretably traded Nick Solak in the system. I'm not sure we're going to want to give Didi a big long contract extension, since SS is Gleyber's best position.

In round 19, the Yanks took their second speedster in CF Alex Junior from Tennessee Tech. He OPS'd 919 with some bombs, some walks and some HBP's mixed in.  I also hope he learns to use bunts to take advantage of his speed and stay out of slumps. Now I don't know if this fast guy is going to sign with Lockridge already locked in.  We've had some fast guys who looked like they might sign then didn't over the 10 round pool era.

In round 21, they took Canadian 3B Mitchell Robinson, who is a 4th year senior and should sign unless there's border trouble. He's also a guy on whom the baseball cube has no recent data.  So we'll have to see when and if he can get from Canada to Florida.

In round 27, they took 1B Mickey Gasper, who had mostly been a C till the Yanks called him a 1B.  He's a switch hitter just like Seigler, and will no doubt try to learn the first baseman's trade at one of the short season stops.  He can also be an additional Yoda to all the kid Catchers coming in.  The brother can hit, too. Oh and he's already signed!

In round 28, they took Northeastern 3B Max Bert.  This guy does not seem to have Yankee bat,  so I don't know if he's an organizational place holder, or there's stuff that just hasn't be revealed yet.

In round 32, they took SS Sincere Smith who is also a pitcher and a football player.  Seems like a freak local athlete they might take a swing at, but he's most likely off to some school where he can play all of his sports.

In round 34, they took 2B Matt McGarry, another guy who may be seen as an organizational place holder and doesn't seem to have a Yankee bat.

In round 39, they took prep OF Brady Allen.  He's going to college.

So there you have it, a bunch of none catching or mostly catching Yankee bats an d Bert and McGarry.  Hopefully, the Pita and Gray will be signed, sealed and delivered soon. And maybe, just maybe they are sincere about Sincere.