In recent years the Yankees have gone full college route when it comes to the draft. These picks tend to be a bit safer as there are is more scouting reports and data that teams can look at. They also tend to be who they are going to be.
You very rarely see college kids develop additional skills after being on campus. You will see tools play better when they can focus on a sport full time but that is usually it. Sometimes it is hard for them to get out of bad habits that college coaches have them do. This is an example of the Stanford swing which has killed some pro potential careers.
With keeping that in mind I think the Yankees had just an ok draft. I prefer high school players because the chance of developing them is a lot higher. Now with that being said they haven’t really done a good job of developing players recently. Each of the draft picks had a carrying tool which is good.
Kaprielian with his four pitch mix with all of them being mlb average. Holder with very good defensive but a potential for a below average bat. Degano is a lefty who has a good fastball and offspeed pitch that could be a reliever if he doesn’t anchor the back of a rotation.
It’s easy to think the Yankees could have done more. We will really see today as I think two of those picks were slight stretches so the Yankees might have gotten some discount on money that they can use today. Also it’s easy to say they should take someone when it isn’t your job on the line.
The start of the draft today will be interesting because teams will have had time to make calls and talk to players to see what their number is. You could see Donnie Everett (someone the Yankees were tied to by media people) go early if people aren’t afraid of his Vanderbilt commitment.
Being aggressive and signing players here is going to be the key from an ok draft to a good draft. We will just have to wait and see if the board shakes out for them.
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