Brando Mayea

Scouting Report

The Yankees first spied the Cuban-born Mayea training in the Dominican Republic in 2020, and he immediately became their top priority in the 2023 international class. They signed him for $4.35 million, the third-highest bonus in that cycle, with one scout comparing him to a smaller version of Gary Sheffield. Expectations have been revised downward after he hit .282/.370/.326 with 19 steals in 35 games during his U.S. debut in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League last summer. A right-handed hitter with a reputation for advanced bat-to-ball skills, Mayea struggles with pitch recognition and often is off balance when he makes contact. That flaw produces a lot of soft grounders and reduces his impact, not letting him take advantage of his bat speed and projectable strength. He used his quickness to beat out a lot of infield hits in the FCL, something that won't be as easy to do against better defenses. Mayea's best tool is his plus speed, which allows him to create havoc on the bases and chase down balls in center field. He's a solid defender who can become better than that if he can refine his reads and routes. His strong arm is an asset anywhere in the outfield and notched nine assists in his first 66 pro starts.