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For all those thinking that the Yankees need to start opening up their scouting doors to new locations, they may have just impressed you. The Yankees have announced the signing of Brandon Stenhouse, a 17-year-old right-handed pitcher from Melbourne, Australia. The teen is now the proud recipient of a six-figure deal, an educational scholarship and a Yankee cap.
Stenhouse caught the attention of teams when he pitched in the US at the Under 18 National championships in Canberra. Scouts have been following him over the last two years while he consistently hit 93 mph on the radar gun pitching for the Cheltenham Rustlers of the Victorian League. Yankees Australian scout, John Wadsworth has been "waiting for many years to see if Brandon Stenhouse had the physical and mental makeup to be considered as a possible Yankee...I am pleased to see just how far this young man has progressed and his future is exciting to us all.''
The Yankees will bring Stenhouse in to spring training camp for a two-week orientation in April before he returns home to complete his Victorian Certificate of Education. After that he will return to America and officially begin his professional career, likely playing rookie ball in the Gulf Coast League.
He's obviously a long way away, but if he's already reaching over 90 mph as a teenager, then he has a bright future ahead of him. I'd like to know where he might rank within the system. Stenhouse is actually the second Aussie to sign with the Yankees in as many years. He will join 19-year-old outfielder Adam Silva, who got 15 professional plate appearances in 2013 in the Dominican.
