The Yankees have signed shortstop Kyle Holder from the University of San Diego, though the team has not made the signing official. Holder was the 30th overall pick in the 2015 MLB first year player draft and the Yankees second overall draft choice.
This is the 11th draft pick that has reportedly signed with the Yankees. First overall pick James Kaprielian is not expected to sign until close to the deadline as he is represented by none other than Scott Boras.
Holder’s bonus is said to be around the $1.8 million mark, slightly less than the pick valuation of $1.914 million. The San Diegan is regarded by many as the top defensive shortstop in a class where the top three overall picks were of that position. The reports are that Holder has outstanding hands, range and footwork to go along with a strong arm; tools that will translate well at the higher levels.
However, there are some worries about how his bat will perform if he reaches the big league level, but that is of no concern to the Yankees’ Director of Amateur Scouting, Damon Oppenheimer. “He hit .348 in a really good conference out there; he had as many walks as strikeouts, which is important to us,” Oppenheimer said in an interview with MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “The guy does not strike out, he had almost a 12-at-bat-per-strikeout rate, a .418 on-base percentage and a .900 OPS.”
In his junior season, Holder was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year. He hit .348 with 14 doubles, 45 runs scored and 31 RBIs in 55 games. Holder was a compensation pick the Yankees received when David Robertson signed with the Chicago White Sox this past offseason.
The Yankees have a plethora of shortstop talent in the minor leagues. Besides big league shortstop Didi Gregorius, who is only 25 years old, the Yankees have Jorge Mateo, Dermis Garcia, Tyler Wade and Abiatal Avelino, all of whom ranked in the top 30 Yankee prospects by MLB.com. You can now add Holder to a list of talented shortstops the Yankees hope one day can be a franchise player.
