Consider this post a placeholder for the draft coverage that I plan to put online over the next few days. I have the good fortune of counting among my closest friends a top-notch amateur scout; he’s agreed to provide me some good insider content on certain players the Yanks are looking at in this week’s Rule IV MLB Draft, which is spread over the next three days.
Check back here if you’re interested in draft coverage!
Update #1 (12:20 p.m.): I’ve compiled all of the names the Yanks have been associated with via various mock drafts and projections from the writers at Baseball America, Keith Law (ESPN.com), Jonathan Mayo (MLB.com), Frankie Piliere (MLBFanHouse) and John Sickels (minorleagueball.com). Instead of listing the links for each incarnation of the mock draft these sources have published, I’ll just list out the names the Yanks are supposedly considering.
Baseball America — Kyle Parker (OF/1B, Clemson); Tyrell Jenkins (RHP, Henderson (Texas) HS); Ryan LaMarre (OF, Michigan); Christian Yelich (1B/OF, Westlake (California) HS)
Jonathan Mayo — Austin Wates (OF, Virginia Tech)
Keith Law — Tyrell Jenkins (RHP, Henderson (Texas) HS); Christian Yelich (1B/OF, Westlake (California) HS); Gary Brown (OF, Cal-State Fullerton)
Update #2 (2:15 p.m.): Frankie Piliere just released his most updated mock draft so I’ve added the new name below in italics. I’ve also compiled Andy Seiler’s mock drafts from his MLBBonusBaby website.
Frankie Piliere — Anthony Ranaudo (RHP, LSU); Jedd Gyorko (SS, West Virginia); Drew Vettleson (OF, Central Kitsap (Washington) HS)
Andy Seiler — Justin O’Conner (C/SS, Cowan (Indiana) HS); Cameron Bedrosian (RHP, East Coweta (Georgia) HS); LeVon Washington (OF, Chipola (Florida) Junior College); James Paxton (LHP, Grand Prairie AirHogs (Ind. League)); Barret Loux (RHP, Texas A&M); Matt Harvey (RHP, North Carolina); Zach Lee (RHP McKinney (Texas) HS)
Update #3 (2:25 p.m.): John Sickels just released his most updated mock draft so I’ve added the new name below in italics.
John Sickels — Matt Harvey (RHP, North Carolina); Nick Castellanos (3B, Archbishop McCarthy (Florida) HS); Jedd Gyorko (SS, West Virginia)
Bear in mind that these names come from various incarnations of mock drafts going back as far as October 5th of last year. Since the MLB draft is a huge guessing-game of signability issues and players climbing/falling draft boards, it’s really hard to get a read on where the Yanks will go with the 32nd (and final) pick of the first round.
Scouting reports and other content to follow…stay tuned!
Update #4 (9:15 p.m.): YES! Christian Yelich and Gary Brown were just taken by the Marlins (#23) and Giants (#24), respectively! I feel like we dodged a bullet there because those were two of my least favorite players associated with the Yanks in the mock drafts. Only seven more picks until the Yanks add some talent to the system!
Update #5 (9:45 p.m.): With only three more picks before the Yanks make their selection, the “best available” players are:
Nick Castellanos, 3b, Archbishop McCarthy HS, Southwest Ranches, Fla.
Stetson Allie, rhp, St. Edward HS, Lakewood, Ohio
Justin O’Conner, c, Cowan HS, Muncie, Ind.
Brandon Workman, rhp, Texas
Asher Wojciechowski, rhp, The Citadel
Peter Tago, rhp, Dana Hills HS, Dana Point, Calif.
I’d piss my pants if we ended up with Castellanos but I have a feeling we’re going to take either the college arm (Workman) or the prep arm (Tago). I guess we’ll find out…