2009 Yankee Draft Signing Thread

[italstallianion]

 

 

Neil Medchill the 11th round pick out of OK State was the best college bat taken. He was considered a potential top 3 round pick. He has delivered on that promise in the NYP this yr, by tying the SI record for homeruns in a season with 12. He should easily slide into long season ball as one of our best power theats in the minors.

 

Prep Pitchers

Brett Gerritse 11th rounder who is built like a horse. He throws low 90s with a now curveball, he signed for overslot and looks to be a potential middle of the rotation starter

.

 

I didn't know that the Yankees had 2 11th round picks.

[jacksonianmarch]

Here we go, the annual pinstriped masturbation festival with MJ and his cant miss, 5 tool,hi 90s 12-6 prospects that will be beating down bostons door in the next 10 years..

Kei Igawa and Ian Kennedy best hold on tight as they will have some competetion in the next 18 months for the 4th and 5th slot in the Columbus rotation.

44th rounder out of highschool who hit 90 on the gun eh??...

Jeff Spinelli says hello from the Chelsea fruit market.

 

DeLuca can hit 95. And you know better than anyone, this draft is a crock for the most part. It isnt about where you are drafted but its how big the bonus is. DeLuca signed for 500K, or late 2nd round money.

[jacksonianmarch]

Time for the 1 yr update s/p the 2009 draft....

 

1. Slade Heathcott, OF, Texas High (Tx.) .351/.419/.452 in 37ABs- SAL

Heathcott signed too late in 2009 to get any meaningful PT. This yr, he started in EST, but was moved up to Charleston a few weeks ago. In 9 games, he is hitting over .350 with 2 steals. The power hasnt arrived yet, but he has shown nothing to detract from his reputation when he was drafted. Even though he is lighting it up, rumor has it that he is headed to Staten Island in a week when the NYP starts

 

2. John Murphy, C, Pendleton School (Fla.) .220/.273/.297 in 91ABs- SAL

Murphy also signed too late to get enough ABs last yr. He started 2010 in EST and was promoted to Charleston about a month ago. He has not had as much luck as Heathcott has thus far. There is a strong likelihood that he goes back to SI in a week to take over the starting position, since he is platooning right now.

 

4. Adam Warren, RHP, North Carolina 6-4 2.44ERA 1.10WHIP 3.9K/BB 7.0K/9IP- FSL

Warren has been everything the Yankees expected and more. His velocity bumped when he started in the NYP last yr and it has maintained to a point that the Yanks moved him past the SAL to the FSL. And he has been one of the better pitchers in the league in that time.

 

5. Caleb Cotham, RHP, Vanderbilt N/A

Cotham was a late sign and didnt play much after college last yr due to a knee injury. He reinjured the knee in spring training and required surgery which has kept him out until now. He is in EST and will probably start out in the NYP this yr or the SAL once he is completely ready

 

6. Robert Lyerly, 3B, Charlotte .304/.360/.412- SAL

Lyerly had a rough yr last yr. Drafted with high hopes, he suffered a leg injury that required surgery and knocked him out for the yr. He came into this yr the starter at third for the Riverdogs. He has been good enough with his high average and good eye, but the power they thought he had hasnt arrived. He is one of the older guys on the team (about to turn 23) and with the lack of power, he has to be labelled a disappointment right now.

 

7. Sean Black, RHP, Seton Hall 4-4 4.53ERA 1.39WHIP 1.7K/BB 6.2K/9IP

Black is a conundrum. He has lights out stuff, but was mediocre in college. He came into the NYP last yr and was untouchable. He started out this season pitching like a pitching machine, getting crushed. He has settled down significantly of late, but the power numbers never showed and his extreme GB tendencies havent been maintained (1.28GO/AO). For a guy with his stuff, he has to be considered a mild disappointment at this point. He wont get passed over like Lyerly will, but Black has about another season of mediocrity before he gets converted to the pen

 

8. Samuel Elam, LHP, Notre Dame N/A

What a disaster. Lefty, throws mid 90s, has a lights out slider. Throws out of the pen. Has absolutely no control and has continued to miss the zone in every way shape or form in 2010 in EST. If they ever get him straightened out, he could be a hell of a reliever. But 21BB in 8IP doesnt get it done.

 

9. Gavin Brooks, LHP, UCLA N/A

One of those head scratching moves of the early season, Brooks was passed over for promotion to the SAL. No injury news, and after being very strong in 2009 out of the pen in the NYP, it looks like he is headed back there. You would think that a lefty with low 90s heat and good secondary stuff out of the pen would move fast, but not here. Makes me wonder if there is something that isnt being publicized (like an injury or disciplany s***)

 

10. Tyler Lyons, LHP, Oklahoma State- did not sign

 

11. Neil Medchill, OF, Oklahoma State .184/.273/.276- FSL

Tale of 2 seasons. Last yr, he set the NYP record for homeruns. He ended the yr prematurely with a wrist injury. Came to ST, and showed that he was healthy and earned a promotion past the SAL. Well, he has been overmatched in a pitcher's league. Surprised he hasnt been demoted yet. He has always been billed as a major power guy, the question has been how his approach and his ability to make contact will progress. The answer at this point is not much

 

12. Brett Gerritse, RHP, Pacifica High School (Cal.) N/A

Gerritse spent some time in the GCL last season. He is probably headed back there again as there will be a serious logjam in the NYP this season. In the EST, some of his mechanical issues have been worked out and rumor has it that his velocity has improved.

 

13. Deangelo Mack, OF, South Carolina .241/.326/.382 SAL

Another guy who was drafted after a solid college career who was dominant in the NYP last yr. He started out well, but hit a major rut in the road. As a short framed OFer with medium range power projection, his hit quality would have to be off the charts to make it in the bigs. Right now, he is struggling too much to make any good projections on him aside from org player

 

14. Graham Stoneburner, RHP, Clemson 4-5 2.38ERA 0.91WHIP 3.7K/BB 9.8K/9IP- SAL/FSL

Stoneburner was considered a signability case due to his DES status. His talent was never in doubt. He has combined of the tougher sinker slider combos in the minors and has just torn through his first two long season leagues. The key with him will be the development of his change. If he makes it a major league caliber pitch, then he profiles as an innings eater with a possibility to be a top of the rotation guy. If he doesnt, then he profiles as a solid pen arm. Regardless, this kid was a great pick and definitely has a big league future

 

15. Shane Greene, RHP, Daytona Beach CC (Fla.) N/A

Greene is an interesting character. He is a JuCo signee, but probably one of the rawest on the list. He was converted the yr prior to his drafting to pitcher. He throws hard, but is very raw, so we will see how he progresses. He is expected to end up in the GCL

 

16. Bryan Mitchell, RHP, Rockingham County High School (N.C.)- NYP

The last signee of the 2009 class, Mitchell is expected to be the headline starter in the GCL. He was one of the most impressive guys in the EST ranks along with Stoneburner and continues to impress in the EST games.

 

17. Chad Thompson, RHP, El Toro High School (Cal.)- did not sign

 

18. Hector Rabago, C, Southern California .205/.289/.282- SAL

Filler, nothing more

 

19. Luke Murton, 1B, Georgia Tech .292/.376/.500- SAL

Probably the most consistent hitter at the SAL level for the organization. He's got good power, a good approach, and some contact ability. Looks more like an organizational guy, but should still move through the system. Maybe he turns into a Shelley Duncan

 

20. Thomas Keeling, LHP, Oklahoma State- did not sign

 

21. Joe Talerico, OF, Brookdale (N.J.) CC- released prior to EST by the Yanks

 

22. Richard Soignier, SS, Louisiana-Monroe- did not sign

 

23. Kevin Mahoney, 3B, Canisius

Mahoney has been playing sparingly in the AA and A+ level as a backup. Has good power, but doesnt have a big league future

 

24. Isaac Harrow, 2B, Appalachain State N/A

I think he was released. If he wasnt, he should be. He sucks

 

25. Shaeffer Hall, LHP, Kansas 4-2 1.69ERA 0.89WHIP 4.8K/BB 6.5K/9IP SAL-FSL

Hall is an interesting story. He throws 86-88mph with his FB, but has superb location and command of 3 MLB caliber off-speed pitches. He wasnt even supposed to make the SAL team, until injury struck and put him in the rotation. He has dominated ever since. He should hit some trouble on moving up the ladder, but his production is a testament to his command. He might, might end up as a fringe MLBer at this point

 

26. Stephen Bruno, SS, Gloucester Catholic High School (N.J.)- did not sign

 

27. Jeffrey Farnham, New Mexico State N/A

Scrub, nothing more

 

28. Aaron Meade, LHP, Missouri State- did not sign

 

29. Scott Matyas, RHP, Minnesota- did not sign

 

30. Kyle McKenzie, RHP, Thayer Academy (Mass.)- did not sign

 

31. Judd Golson, OF, Mountain Brook HS (AL) N/A

Interesting kid. Blazing speed, good D, long way to go with the bat. Will probably be back in the GCL this yr

 

32. John Ebert, 1B, U South Carolina Columbia- did not sign

 

33. Andrew Aplin, CF, Vanden HS (CA)- did not sign

 

34. Jacob Petricka, RHP, Indiana St U- did not sign

 

35. Brett Bruening, RHP, Grayson County Col- did not sign

 

36. Kyle Ottoson, LHP, South Mountain CC- did not sign

 

37. Justin Milo, OF, U Vermont

Milo is an interesting character. Was a dual sport, hockey/baseball guy and signed with the intention of playing for UVM in hockey. But was thrown off the team this past yr, so he is now focusing on baseball. Is inbetween Charleston and EST thus far and hasnt been impressive. He is more of a project who will probably start in the NYP this yr

 

38. Adam Bailey, RF, U Nebraska Lincoln- did not sign

 

39. Cody Stiles, RHP, Taravella HS (FL)- did not sign

 

40. Ben Watkins, RHP, U Pittsburgh Johnstown 2-2 4.44ERA 1.31WHIP 1.9K/BB 4.8K/9IP SAL

Watkins is a filler pitcher who is probably not long for the organization

 

41. Mariel Checo, RHP, Norman Thomas HS (NY N/A

Another interesting sign. Very raw, lanky kid with mid 90s fastball and potential with his curve. He is destined to head back to the GCL this yr

 

42. Daniel Black, SS, Feather River Col- did not sign

 

43. Isaiah Brown, CF, Paradise Valley CC N/A

Sucks, may have been released

 

44. Evan DeLuca, LHP, Immaculata HS (NJ) N/A

Should be in the GCL rotation with Mitchell and Gerritse this yr. He had a bump in velocity in EST, throwing mid 90s from the left, so big things are expected

 

45. Jeremy Baltz, OF, Vestal HS (NY)- did not sign

 

46. Anthony Plagman, 1B, Georgia Tech- did not sign

 

47. Shane Brown, C, U Central Florida- did not sign

 

48. Patrick White, CF, West Virginia U- playing for the Dolphins

 

49. Xavier Esquivel, RHP, Loyola Marymount U- did not sign

 

50. Steven Kaupang, 1B, Cypress Col- did not sign

[jacksonianmarch]

Time for an update thread...

 

 

1. Slade Heathcott, OF, Texas High (Tx.)- Heathcott has played the entire yr as a 19 yr old in the long season leagues. His OPS is barely over .700, but that has a lot to do with his power as his .364OBP is pretty solid. The power is expected to eventually come, but the approach has been dynamite. He needs work on the bases. He has speed to burn, but has only stolen 13 of 22 attempts. His defense has been stellar in CF. Thus far, the tools havent lied. They are just waiting for him to grow into his body. He was a solid pick

 

2. John Murphy, C, Pendleton School (Fla.)- JR Murphy started off very poorly with Charleston as well. He just turned 19 this past May and is, like Slade, very young for his league. He is also OPS'ing right around .700, but for different reasons. JR is much less patient than Slade, but has also showed more power than his counterpart, hitting 7 homers on the season. The big thing that Yankee draft buffs will look at, though, is his OPS by month. From May to August, he has improved steadily, with an OPS now at .810 for August. He's also clubbed 6 of his homers after the ASB. Looks like the power should be coming. In terms of position, he is taking to the catcher's position, but he definitely still has a long way to go. Thus far, holding his own in low A and looks like a quality pick

 

4. Adam Warren, RHP, North Carolina- Warren was selected pretty highly by the Yankees compared to where he was projected to go, but the Yankees liked his projectable frame and his ability to command a FB, curve and change. He was very well polished at the time. Well, when he came to the pros, he saw a spike in velocity, from 88-92 to 92-94, topping out mid 90s. Well, this has caused him to rifle through the system. After dominating the NYP last yr, he skipped Charleston and went to Tampa. He dominated Tampa and has moved up to AA Trenton, where he has also owned the league. In his last start, he threw 7 shutout innings, striking out 15. Not sure where he projects. His stuff would look pretty good at the top of a rotation, but he has been pretty hit or miss with his strikeout ability. Then again, he's only 22 and should be in AAA next yr at 23. Not a bad pick, and one that the Yankees could get many yrs of quality out of in the future

 

5. Caleb Cotham, RHP, Vanderbilt- what an unlucky guy. He tore a meniscus last yr, then reinjured it in instructs. He had surgery again, then while rehabbing the knee, he tore his labrum in his pitching shoulder. Cotham was billed as a lights out two pitch pitcher when signing, and was considered more of a relief option anyway. Now that he'll be rehabbing from shoulder surgery, it is very likely that he gets converted full time to relief.

 

6. Robert Lyerly, 3B, Charlotte- was injured almost immediately in the NYP and didnt get onto the field until instructs. But this yr, he's been the best hitter at Charleston, putting up a line of .313/.354/.436 while playing good D at 3b. His future will be determined by his power category, something that has been coming along nicely over the past few months, as 6 of his 7 homers have come past the ASB. Regardless, not a bad pick in the 6th round, although he is pretty old for his league (23) and the fact that the Yankees havent moved him up means they either want him to work on something or they arent too high on him

 

7. Sean Black, RHP, Seton Hall- Black had the best stuff of any college pitcher we drafted last yr, but he had trouble putting it together in college. He came to the NYP last yr and dominated. Then, on moving to Charleston, he hit a major snag. His ERA pre ASB was near 5 and his WHIP was 1.51. But after the ASB, something clicked. He put up a 2.39ERA in 9 starts with a WHIP of 1.16 while striking out 44 in 49 innings. That earned him a promotion to Tampa, where he is awaiting his first start. Overall, looks like he could be a really good pick

 

8. Samuel Elam, LHP, Notre Dame- he was drafted as a project. Lefty who can throw 96mph with a slider that has massive bite. His big problem has been control. Well, that hasnt improved yet, as he has walked 27 in 21IP this yr. If he doesnt get it close to the dish, then this experiment will be a failed one

 

9. Gavin Brooks, LHP, UCLA- lefty reliever who was lights out, albeit also wild in SI a yr ago. Was expected to close in Charleston this yr, but is going to miss the season with an injury of some sort. Not sure if it is his arm, all we know is that it is an upper body injury

 

11. Neil Medchill, OF, Oklahoma State- Neil set the NYP record for homers, then proceeded to skip Charleston and go to Tampa. Well, that was a failed experiment. He moved to Charleston where he started to hit, then was injured and hasnt been the same since. He's looking more and more like a flash in the pan here

 

12. Brett Gerritse, RHP, Pacifica High School (Cal.)- Gerritse was a bulldog looking kid when drafted with a plus curve and projectable frame. He's been hot and cold in the GCL, having runs of dominance followed by runs of awfulness. He has shown the ability to rack up K's, and has been showing improved command. Regardless, he is going to be mixed in with a lot of talented arms and is probably another yr away from contributing at the long season level. We'll see if this pick was a good one in about 2-3 yrs or so

 

13. Deangelo Mack, OF, South Carolina- came billed as a guy who K's a lot, but has a good approach and can hit for power. Well, 11 homers, 93K's and a .081IsoPatience later, and he's done nothing to dispel that. His problem is that he doesnt look like he's going to generate enough power to be a regular corner OFer and doesnt have the speed to patrol CF at the big league level. Right now, he's looking like a 4th OFer who is probably more of an org guy than anything else

 

14. Graham Stoneburner, RHP, Clemson- best pick in the draft. Stoneburner throws hard with sink and has a lights out slider. He skipped the short season leagues, even though he didnt pitch in them last yr. And he proceeded to dominate Charleston and received a promotion to Tampa. Well, he's been just as good. ERA in the mid 2's, WHIP under 1, and 8K per 9IP. He's looking like the real deal and should start off 2011 in AA

 

15. Shane Greene, RHP, Daytona Beach CC (Fla.)- Interesting pick. Was an OFer until a few months before last yrs draft. Went to the mound, showed mid 90s heat and was drafted. The Yankees took him and stashed him in EST for a yr, then trotted him out in SI this yr. His initial work sucked, but he improved enough to earn a promotion to Charleston. In his first start in Charleston, he allowed 5 baserunners in 6 innings while striking out 7. I think his future is in the pen, but right now, he's taking all the right steps towards improving his overall pitchability

 

16. Bryan Mitchell, RHP, Rockingham County High School (N.C.)- Probably the highest ceiling arm taken in the 2009 draft. Mitchell signed late for 800K and dominated in EST. Came out in the GCL and has been hit or miss. He's only allowed 4ER in his last 22.1IP and has shown good K ability. His problem has been walks this yr, which he'll need to improve to get to the long season leagues. My guess is they take it pretty slow with him and send him to the NYP for 2011

 

18. Hector Rabago, C, Southern California- filler

 

19. Luke Murton, 1B, Georgia Tech- power hitting filler

 

21. Joe Talerico, OF, Brookdale (N.J.) CC- released

 

23. Kevin Mahoney, 3B, Canisius- filler

 

24. Isaac Harrow, 2B, Appalachain State- released

 

25. Shaeffer Hall, LHP, Kansas- interesting pitcher. Throws pus, but got a chance in Charleston, where he dominated. Moved to Tampa, where he dominated for a few more starts before he got figured out. Probably just a filler, but interesting start to his career

 

27. Jeffrey Farnham, New Mexico State- filler

 

31. Judd Golson, OF, Mountain Brook HS (AL)- will probably end up as a filler, but was drafted out of HS as a speed first kid with very raw bat skills. He's done nothing to dispel that, as he hasnt reached the Mendoza line and has shown lightning speed.

 

37. Justin Milo, OF, U Vermont- retired to play European hockey

 

40. Ben Watkins, RHP, U Pittsburgh Johnstown- filler

 

41. Mariel Checo, RHP, Norman Thomas HS (NY- very interesting pick. 18 yr old who can spin a good slider and throw mid 90s. Problem is, he has no clue where it's going. One of the only HSers I have seen be used exclusively as a reliever. He's the rawest kid from this draft and probably will need a minimum of 2 more yrs of short season before he can move to Charleston

 

43. Isaiah Brown, CF, Paradise Valley CC- filler

 

44. Evan DeLuca, LHP, Immaculata HS (NJ)- The Yankees signed this guy with minutes left in the window for 500K. He's a tall lefty with a power fastball and a projectable change. He's shown power stuff in the GCL, striking out 28 in 24IP, but he's also allowed 26ER and 22 walks in those 24IP. He's got the stuff, his location and mechanics need work. He is another project but my bet is he figures it out before Checo

[Meh]

Which are your top 5 picks in the draft?

[jacksonianmarch]

In the 2009 draft?

 

1. Stoneburner

2. Heathcott

3. Murphy

4. Mitchell

5. Warren

[Meh]

In the 2009 draft?

 

1. Stoneburner

2. Heathcott

3. Murphy

4. Mitchell

5. Warren

 

Yeah I'd agree to that, not too much else from the draft after that. DeLuca is a project with a high ceiling. I'm just a big mitchell fan and considering where he went I might just put him over Murphy. Nothing against Murphy though at all.

[jacksonianmarch]

I would have had Cotham on that list, but his injury clouds his future