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So the draft is in the books. Overall, the Yankees stuck with their plan of prep talent and were able to nab a bunch of guys. They were pretty light on the college players, and let a couple slip away at the end, notable Ijames and Viramontes. On the prep end, they never had a shot with Dean, Kish's expectations were sky high, and they just couldnt agree on Desze, which boggles my mind. Rumor has it, they were only about $100K off in negotiations, and the bonus was expected to be in the $600K range. Chump change for this franchise. But overall, the draft is a good one.

 

I liked what they did at the beginning. After initially hating the pick, I now see why they went with Cito Culver. They knew him better than anyone, and they are as sure of his defense as anything in this draft. Knowing that he'll stick at SS increases his worth significantly. Damon Oppenheimer believes in his bat from both sides of the plate and thinks he'll develop double digit homer power. And obviously, his speed has a lot to do with it as well. And the fact that they got him for slot allowed them to do other things later in the draft.

 

The Angelo Gumbs signing took a little while to get my head around. He's a righty, but he sounded initially like a clone of Culver. But, he isnt. He's a little slower, but still has plus speed. He's got a better power projection, with a bit more rawness in his approach and swing. His defense is also nowhere near as good as Culver's, likely relegating him to 2b or to CF, where he is more comfortable. Regardless, he's a good pick at the end of the second round, especially if his approach improves and his power blossoms, which is what DO is banking on

 

The Rob Segedin signing is the second best pick in the draft, IMO. Segedin is a power hitter with an advanced approach and a good hit quality as well. The fact they got him for barely overslot is amazing, as I thought he'd be a 7 figure draftee. He's gonna be moved to RF in the system and give the Yankees the advanced bat in the OF that they have been waiting to develop. He's gonna fly through the system once he gets used to the wood bat

 

Mason Williams is my favorite pick in the draft. He's a 4 tool player. Meaning, he has gap power projection, but 10HRs may be the maximum he ever hits in his career. But he's got an elite contact skill, an advanced offensive approach, and he'll be challenging Gardner for the fastest guy in the system. He's a dynamite CFer defensively, with a cannon arm that could have played out on the mound. This is why he took home the highest bonus in the draft, at $1.4million. He's a CFer without a doubt.

 

Tommy Kahnle is one of the triumvirate of college relievers that we drafted. I like the Kahnle pick, hard throwing guy with a dynamite slider who can run through the system with ease. And he's actually shown it to some degree, as he's started his career with 4 perfect innings striking out 7. He's gonna shoot through this system fast

 

Gabe Encinas is one of their trio of prep arms that they signed. Big frame, throws low 90s at 18 with a now slider. He's going to enter the fray in the short season leagues and if he learns a changeup, he'll be dynamite. And if his stuff grows into his frame, watch out

 

Taylor Anderson is another plus hit tool guy the Yankees took out of the prep ranks. He's an infielder right now, but projects into the outfield. He runs above average, not blazing, and will probably be relegated to a COF spot if he makes the transition. He has a good arm, but his biggest tool is his hit ability. He's been compared to Corban Joseph offensively, gap power, advanced approach with a lot of projection in the power area. Anderson tore his UCL at the beginning of his pro career and underwent TJS. He'll probably start out next yr as a DH until he can throw, then he'll go back to the OF

 

Kyle Roller in the 8th round might just be a filler pick, but he's just a masher, plain and simple. Butcher on defense, but his hit ability was too much to pass up in the 8th round. He should move through the system quickly, but his lack of position may relegate him to organizational player

 

Taylor Morton in the 9th round was a steal. He signed for overslot (notice, all but Roller and Culver are overslots) and really looks to be an ace in the making. Big frame, throws low 90s, topping out at 96mph. His offspeed stuff needs work, but he is ultra-projectable and should move through the system with ease.

 

Ben Gamel in the 10th round was also another overslot signing. He's a better OFer at this juncture than Anderson and probably has a better power tool as well. He's expected to hit for a lot of power as well.

 

Varce is a guy who looks more like a filler, but Oppenheimer likes what he sees out of him. Looks like a projectable pen arm, but probably not gonna make the leap, IMO

 

Love the Burawa pick. He was the closer at St. Johns and the Yankees once again signed him for overslot. He throws really hard, 95-96mph with sink and a lights out slider. His control is an issue, but if some tweaks can help him locate better, he'll rifle through the system.

 

Tyler Austin is a high school OFer/Catcher who is truly a masher. Not a great OFer, which is why he might be moved behind the dish. He's got probably the best power tool in the prep portion of the draft. He broke his wrist in his first minor league action and wont be heard from again until instructs

 

The Evan Rutchkyj pick is all about projectability. He's got immense size and has thrown the ball well in his limited scouting action. Throws low 90s and can spin the ball, but he is incredibly raw. I expect him to be in the short season leagues for 3 yrs a la Nik Turley, who he reminds me of a lot. Tall, projectable Canadiens who comes out of the draft very raw. He was also an overslot pick

 

And the last pick in the draft that is actually a true overslot is Zach Nuding. He finishes the trio of college relievers between him, Kahnle, and Burawa. He throws mid to high 90s, power slider and not a whole lot of control. He needs work, but he has the raw tools to become a closer in the bigs. He just needs to refine them

 

 

Thats about it. The rest of the guys look like filler picks, and maybe one or two of them will surprise. But regardless, the Yankees took advantage of signing their 1st rounder for slot, so they spread out their bonuses pretty thickly. A ton of prep talent in this draft for the Yankees, especially on the hit end. They restocked their MIF with Culver and Gumbs. They restocked their OF with Williams, Austin, Anderson, and Gamel. The college bat of Segedin might be the best of them all and Roller adds some power to a system lacking it in its entirety. Good draft for what they spent, but would like to see the Yanks use their financial clout a bit more in the coming yrs.

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