49 picks, how many major leaguers?
by Travis G on Jun 13, 2009 11:00 PM EDT
in Minors
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PrintThat's always the question. Only a small percentage of draftees will ever make the Bigs, and an even smaller percentage will be good, everyday players. For example, the Yankees draft of 10 years ago (50 players) produced four major leaguers, and only one who could come close to being called a regular (Andy Phillips).
The Yankees selected 49 players overall in the 2009 amateur draft. Here's the breakdown:
- 16 right-handed pitchers
- 8 southpaw pitchers
- 4 middle-infielders
- 3 corner-infielders
- 6 centerfielders
- 5 corner-outfielders
- 4 catchers
- 13 high-schoolers
- 36 collegians
It began with (6'1", 196 lb.) Texas prep-star Zach 'Slade' Heathcott, a toolsy, left-handed centerfielder that Frank Marcos (MLB Scouting Bureau's director) described as "kind of a Josh Hamilton look, a little smaller guy... there aren't a lot of guys with better tools than this." Heathcott has verbally committed to LSU, so the negotiations may not go quite as smoothly as the Yankees hope, but should ultimately get done. This year, he hit .457 in 46 at-bats with four homers and eight doubles.
The reason he fell to #29 is two-fold: He had ACL surgery in the fall and has had a tough upbringing. The surgery apparently sapped some of his speed, but the fact that he still showed above-average speed is a good sign that when he does fully heal, he'll have great speed. The off-the-field problems consist of (formerly being a Red Sox fan, and) both his parents having drug problems. Who's to say if that will have an effect?
The other day one pick was #76 overall, (6'0", 180 lb.) John Ryan 'J.R.' Murphy, a prep-catcher from Florida. Check out his season stats: .629 BA, 32 XBH, 12 SB, 4 K. His team played in four tournaments and won them all - Murphy was named MVP in each.
I’ve been told that I remind people of Russell Martin, but I model my game after Pudge (Rodriguez). His intensity. His leadership. He hits and likes to go the other way with pitches. He’s not a huge guy. He knows how to work with pitchers. He’s respected.
- A full rundown (with short scouting reports) of the day two picks.
- Notable day two and three draftees include:
Shaeffer Hall, a lefty pitcher from Kansas (25th round). It's already the third time he's been drafted, and since he still has a year of eligibility left, he may not sign.
Adam Bailey: 31st round out of Nebraska, decided to return to college already.
Pat White, the quarterback from West Virginia, was taken in the 48th round. He's a longshot to sign. He hasn't played baseball at all in college.
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hey leave Pat White alone
he’s a Dolphin >:0
Yankees seemed to do pretty good this year
The 1st and 2nd round picks look to have nice potential. Its tought to compare Heathcoat to Josh Hamilton (who if he didn’t have that addiction thing, my be ahead of Albert Pujols for best MLB player overall right now) and they compare Murphy to Pudge or Russel Martin? That’s tough. Id be happy if they make the big leagues and do something.
Then in the third round they managed to grab Adam Warren, who was the best starter on UNC, one of the top teams in the NCAA this season? Seems to be a very nice pick.
There’s a few other that stand out too, like Tyler Lyons, not a hard thrower by any means, but commands all his pitches well (Ted Lilly?), Chad Thompson, a 6"8 power pitcher out of HS that would have went a whole lot higher if he didn’t have TJ surgery?
Obviously who knows if they pan out, but when you look at some of the scouting reports of the guys the Yanks got vs some of the reports the other teams got in the same rounds, they Yanks did pretty good.
I wonder if they'll come to terms with Pat White?
maybe the yanks want to run the wildcat?
by FreeBradshaw on Jun 14, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
A little more analysis
Here’s something from today’s NY Post.
The most interesting pick either organization made all week was the first one, when the Yankees selected Texarkana, Texas native Slade Heathcott at No. 29 overall. A five-tool athlete who led his high school to its first state title this week, Heathcott was considered a big talent that may have slipped to the Yankees for other reasons.
“He’s a first-round talent – slam dunk,” Baseball America’s John Manuel said. “But there were teams that were definitely scared off by his makeup. He has first-round tools, but that’s why he wasn’t a consensus first-round player.”
After Heathcott, the Yankees spent several of their picks through the first 10 rounds on some high-upside college pitchers such as Seton Hall right-hander Sean Black (seventh round), UCLA left-hander Gavin Brooks (ninth) and Oklahoma State left-hander Tyler Lyons (10th).
“It’s not even so much that I like the players, though I do, but I like the strategy,” ESPN’s Keith Law said. “They went after some arms because they have extra resources and the money to go over slot. That’s a good way to use it in my opinion.”
Looks like the Yanks have stayed with their ‘high-risk, high reward’ philosophy. I kind of like it. They wll miss sometimes, but if they hit on a guy like Heathcott the reward could be enormous.
I don't really think they necessarily made
‘high risk’ picks. This talk about Heathcoat being high risk is a bit of bullcrap, its really his parents that are degenerates but by all accounts ‘Slade’ is a real good kid both on and off the field(pink shirts on facebook aside…)
They made some high risk picks in the later rounds, like Chad Thompson in round 17. Tall dude, TJ surgery and commited to college, but if he signs he’s a real talent.
Guys like Adam Warren who was UNC’s #1 this season even if he didn’t have Alex White’s stuff, he’s a high command type pitcher. And Tyler Lyons like I said seems like one of those college lefties that just know how to pitch and come in and have nice careers.
It is nice to speculate about these lower round guys, cuz its just amazing that some of them pan out. Guys like Posada and Pettite just show that these rounds count too.
by FreeBradshaw on Jun 14, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Slade's makeup
Hi there! This is Kimberly. I am Slade’s mother. I know ya’ll are just going off what has been said in the press. Slade is a great kid. He hasn’t done anything wrong. He is a typical 18 yr old boy that has an extrordinary gift in sports. He plays hard, goes all out all the time, is agressive and tough as nails, which in return unfortunately causes people to says untrue things sometimes. Despite all rumors I am very much in his life, I do attend games, I have NEVER touched a drug. I don’t do drugs of any type nor have I ever been in trouble for doing or having drugs. I still have Slade’s 16 yr old brother at home. I have recently moved to another town due to getting remarried. I am a good, hard working and extremely devoted and proud mother of both of my boys and always have been. I hate the things that are being said about me, but if this is the price to pay for Slade to be where he is at right now then so be it. I do however VERY much appreciate all of the great things that ya’ll are saying about my son. He is truly a great kid and has worked very hard to get where he is at. Thanks for your time……….also…. his father is not in prison either. GO YANKEES!!!!!
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