We’ll be updating this post as the 2013 First-Year Player Draft continues through Sunday.
The Yankees came into the 2013 First-Year Player Draft with more picks in the first round than any other team in baseball. Director of amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer looked at it as a good chance to make a huge impact on the organization by revitalizing a slowed down farm system. Also, with the Yankees hoping to trim payroll, the more talent they have stockpiled in the minors the better. We now know who they picked at Nos. 26 overall, 32 and 33. Here is a summary of each pick:
**Each pick has a scouting grade. Players are graded on a scale of 2-8. 2-3 is well below average, 4 is below average, 5 is average, 6 is above average and 7-8 is plus. The present grade is on the left of the slash, with the projected grade on the right. Scouting grades courtesy of MLB.com.
First Round
3B Eric Jagielo
Bats: L, Throws R
6’3″, 215 lbs – 21 years old
Junior from Notre Dame (26th overall): Jagielo represents the first collegiate player taken by the Yankees in six years. He first opened eyes back in 2012 when he hit .310 with 13 home runs as a sophomore. He wasn’t considered a first rounder until he played in the Cape Cod Summer League that year, when he hit .291 with a .374 OBP. He was second in the league with 13 homers, so he has some power potential – something you want in a corner position. This season, Jagielo put up a batting line of .388/.500/.633 with 19 doubles in 56 games, and was named the 2013 Big East Player of the Year. Although his defense doesn’t stand out, it’s improved over his time at Notre Dame and should only get better the more he plays. Jagielo projects as a corner infield/outfield guy.
Hitting: 4/5, Power: 4/6, Speed: 3/3, Arm: 5/5, Fielding: 4/5
OF Aaron Judge
Bats: R, Throws: R
6’7″, 240 lbs – 21 years old
Junior from Fresno State (32nd overall): The first thing you say when you look at Judge is “wow.” Standing at 6’7″, he is an imposing figure at the plate and might be the most physically impressive player in this draft. Judge was a three year starter at Fresno State, playing mostly centerfield. He has the most raw power out of anyone in the draft, but hasn’t shown it consistently even though he won a collegiate home run derby last summer. Mechanically, Judge has a lot of moving parts. Being 6’7″ works against him, so he can get beaten on fastballs up. He has the patience to walk, but adjusting to big league breaking stuff is always a challenge. Defensively, Judge runs pretty well and has a solid arm as he has all the tools of being an everyday right fielder. How he performed his junior year at Fresno State was going to determine his draft stock. He hit .369 (76-for-206) with 45 runs, 15 doubles, 12 home runs, 36 RBIs and 12 stolen bases with Fresno State this season, leading the team in each category. If Judge can become more consistent, the sky is the limit.
Hitting: 3/5, Power: 4/7, speed: 5/5, Arm: 6/6, Fielding: 5/6
LHP Ian Clarkin
Bats: L, Throws: L
6’2″, 190 lbs – 18 years old
James Madison HS (Calif.) (33rd overall): Clarkin throws his fastball up to 92-93 mph, has a power curve and a decent changeup. As an 18 year old and already throwing that hard, he should increase in velocity as he matures. Clarkin is a very high ceiling prospect, already having three pitches he can go to to get hitters out. Although he has been a little inconsistent with fastball command, he drew plenty of interest leading up to the draft, being labeled as one of the top prep-school pitchers in the class.
Fastball: 5/6, Curve: 4/5, Changeup: 4/5, Control: 5/6
Overall, the Yankees had a very solid first round. Their three picks were the most in the first round since 2001.
Second Round
2B Gosuke Katoh
Bats: L, Throws: R
6’2″, 180 lbs – 18 years old
Rancho Bernardo HS (Calid.) (66th overall): Katoh is an absolute defensive genius at 2B, which is what stood out the most to the Yankees. He has good speed and a good approach with the bat, but there is a concern that it won’t translate to the big-league level. Katoh, who used to be a right-handed hitter, says he switched to the left side after seeing his idol, Ichiro. Katoh has committed to UCLA in the fall, but could still possibly sign with New York. He may want to get more seasoning with the bat at the college level and hope for an earlier pick down the road.
– no scouting grade available
The draft will conclude on Sunday. Between now and then, New York will pick 103rd overall, 134th, 164th, 194th, 224th, 254th, 284th and 314th.
