SB Nation New York - MLB Draft 2011 Prospects: Yankees Pick 51st in 2011 MLB Drafthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2011-06-06T13:47:19-04:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/19490182011-06-06T13:47:19-04:002011-06-06T13:47:19-04:00New York Yankees Farm System In Good Shape
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> will not select until 51st overall when the 2011 MLB Draft begins Monday night. The Yankees have no first-round pick, having lost it to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> when they signed free-agent reliever <span>Rafael Soriano</span>. The Yankees also lost the 44th pick for signing free-agent reliever <span>Pedro Feliciano</span>. The 51st pick, a 'sandwich' selection, is compensation for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/florida-marlins">Florida Marlins</a> signing <span>Javier Vazquez</span> as a free agent.</p>
<p>As the draft approaches the Yankees will be looking to supplement an already strong minor-league system. In his pre-season ranking of minor-league system, Frankie Piliere of AOL Fanhouse <a target="_blank" href="http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/10/2011-farm-system-rankings/">ranked the Yankee system fourth</a> among all 30 teams.</p>
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<p>It's been awhile since the Yankees could legitimately claim to have one of baseball's best farm systems. This year they are undoubtedly part of that group. <span>Jesus Montero</span> is the best catching prospect in the game, and their collection of young arms -- headlined by <span>Manny Banuelos</span>, Dellin Betances and <span>Andrew Brackman</span> -- stacks up with any in baseball. There is more coming from the lower levels.</p>
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<p>The Yankees are flush with catching prospects like Montero, <span>Austin Romine</span>, Gary Sanchez and J.R. Murphy. They have pitching, led by Manuel Banuelos, <span>Dellin Betances</span> and Andrew Brackman.</p>
<p>What the Yankees do not have a lot of is positional talent at places other than catcher. They took high school outfielder Slade Heathcott No. 1 in 2009 and high school shortstop <span>Cito Culver</span> a year ago.</p>
<p>General manager Brian Cashman <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110602&content_id=19930608&vkey=news_nyy&c_id=nyy&partnerId=rss_nyy">recently called draft day "the most important day of the year."</a> That, of course, is a statement the Yankees would not have made a few years ago.</p>
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<p>"We're going to have to sit out and wait for a little while," Cashman said. "But it's a deep enough Draft where I know Damon [Oppenheimer, vice president of amateur scouting] feels like we're still going to get access to some quality players."</p>
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<p><b>Recent Yankee No. 1 Picks</b></p>
<ul>
<li>2010 -- Cito Culver, SS (Class A Staten Island)</li>
<li>2009 -- Slade Heathcott, OF (Class A, Charleston)</li>
<li>2008 -- Gerrit Cole, RHP (Did not sign)</li>
<li>2007 -- Andrew Brackman, RHP (Class AAA, Scranton-Wilkes Barre)</li>
<li>2006 -- <span>Ian Kennedy</span>, RHP (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Arizona Diamondbacks</a>)</li>
</ul>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> are expected to use the first pick in the draft on Cole, who went to UCLA in 2008 rather than sign with the Yankees. The first round and supplemental round will be held tonight, with the remainder of the draft split between Tuesday and Wednesday. Live coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET at MLB.com and MLB Network.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/6/6/2209432/mlb-draft-order-2011-yankees-draft-picks-schedule-tv-times-gerrit-cole-piratesEd Valentine2011-06-01T15:40:25-04:002011-06-01T15:40:25-04:00MLB Mock Draft 2011: Minor League Ball Selects Williams Jerez For Yankees
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<p>In his latest <a href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/5/30/2195280/2011-mock-draft-mark-ii-supplemental-round" target="new">2011 <span class="caps">MLB</span> Mock Draft</a>, John Sickels of SB Nation’s Minor League Ball — one of the most astute minor-league experts in the business — has selected high school outfielder Williams Jerez for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> with the 51st pick. The Yankees do not have a regular first-round pick, with the 51st selection being compensation for the free-agent loss of <span>Javier Vazquez</span>.</p>
<p>Jerez is a local product from Brooklyn High School. Of Jerez, Sickels writes: “I had another local product, New Jersey prep Kevin Comer, here in the last mock, but Jerez’s stock is rising and he’s linked with the Yankees.”</p>
<p>Here is a <a href="http://mlb-baseball-blog.com/yankees/2011-draft-williams-jerez/" target="new">scouting report on Jerez</a>:</p>
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<p>Jerez certainly passes the eye test. He’s fantastic athlete and a big kid at 6-foot-4 and 190 lbs., showing off all five tools. Power is his weakest tool at the moment, but the lefty swinger gets good leverage in his hacks and projects to have average pop down the road. Jerez has good foot speed that he uses both in the field and on the bases, and his arm is strong and accurate. How much he fills out and slows down as he gets older will determine if he can remain in center field long term. There is definitely some rawness to Jerez’s game, especially since he hasn’t faced the best competition as an amateur. He’s a long-term project, not doubt about it, but one with considerable ceiling. … Damon Oppenheimer has always been fond of toolsy athletes, and he really kicked it up a notch last year. Jerez fits that profile to a tee.</p>
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<p>The Yankees need athletic position players, and with their resources they of course have time to develop them. So, a pick like this one might make sense.</p>
<p>Thoughts, Yankees fans?</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/6/1/2201391/mlb-mock-draft-2011-minor-league-ball-select-williams-jerez-forEd Valentine2011-05-26T12:19:12-04:002011-05-26T12:19:12-04:00Kevin Comer: New Jersey High Schooler A Target For Yankees?
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<p>Scout.com considers Kevin Comer "<a target="_blank" href="http://yankees.scout.com/2/1064116.html">the top pitching prospect from New Jersey</a> in the 2011 MLB Draft." John Sickels of SB Nation's <a target="_blank" href="http://minorleagueball.com">Minor League Ball</a> considered Comer a potential target for the New York Yankees with the 51st pick of the June draft, and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/5/9/2159407/2011-baseball-mock-draft-supplemental-round">has chosen Comer for New York</a> in his most recent mock draft.</p>
<p>Sickels explained the choice this way:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>High upside, won't be cheap to sign away from Vanderbilt, but the Yankees have the money and he's local.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/draft-preview/2011/2611794.html">Baseball America ranks Comer No. 102</a> on its list of draft-eligible prospects. Comer is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-hander who has a commitment to attend Vanderbilt in the fall.The Yankees, as you know if you follow them at all, don't generally let that deter them. They are perfectly willing to offer prospects they like contracts that are "above slot" -- or, above the amount Major League Baseball recommends for a player selected at a certain point in the draft.</p>
<p>This sounds like a Yankee-type pick because this seems like a player who has upside, but may slide because of the signability issue.</p>
<p>Comer told Scout that he is willing to consider backing out of the Vanderbilt commitment for the right offer.</p>
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<p><span class="storybody"> I have the commitment to Vanderbilt, but I’m also still willing to look at what comes out of the draft – I’m not trying to have anything hold me back. </span></p>
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<p>Here is Comer discussing his repertoire of pitches.</p>
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<p><span class="storybody">Right now what I’m working with is a four-seam, which I’ve been told has topped out at 94 MPH. Then I have a two-seam around 90-91 MPH that I’ve changed up over the summer and have moving more like a sinker now, and that’s been helping me out. I actually just developed a changeup over the winter, which is nice to have, and it’s really working well for me. It’s got a lot of drop on it and comes in around 82-83 MPH. Then I have a spike curveball as my last pitch, and that is normally my out pitch. I can throw it big and looping or hard, but most of the time I’m throwing it as hard as I can <i>[laughs]</i>. I’ll throw that anywhere from 76-80 MPH. <br></span></p>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/5/26/2191554/kevin-comer-new-jersey-high-schooler-a-target-for-yankees-2011-mlb-draft-prospectsEd Valentine2011-05-25T11:44:58-04:002011-05-25T11:44:58-04:00MLB Draft 2011 Prospects: Yankees Hope For Tasty 'Sandwich'
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> do not have a pick in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft next month, having forfeited it to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> for the free-agent signing of <span>Rafael Soriano</span>. I guess that is another reason why the Yankees right now<a target="_blank" href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/5/25/2189305/rafael-soriano-injury-brian-cashman-dr-james-andrews-pedro-feliciano-damaso-marte"> look like they made a mistake</a> giving the sore-elbowed reliever a three-year, $35-million dollar contract.</p>
<p>The Yankees don't pick until 51st overall, when the have a first-round 'sandwich' selection, which is compensation for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/florida-marlins">Florida Marlins</a>' free-agent signing of <span>Javier Vazquez</span> during the offseason. In two tours of duty with the Yankees being signed by someone else could turn out to be the best thing Vazquez ever did for New York -- if the Yankees can find a useful player with the pick.</p>
<p>In 2006 the Yankees had great luck with a 'sandwich' pick, snagging <span>Joba Chamberlain</span> with the 41st selection that season.</p>
<p>In 2001 the Yankees selected outfielder <span>Bronson Sardinha</span> with a sandwich pick, 34th overall. Sardinha played 10 big-league games for the Yankees in 2007. In 2004 the Yankees had sandwich picks at 37 and 41, but outfielder Jon Poterson and pitcher Jeff Marquez made his big-league debut last season with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">Chicago White Sox</a>, pitching one inning. In 2008 the Yankees used a sandwich selection on left-handed starter <span>Jeremy Bleich</span>, who is currently out after undergoing shoulder surgery. He has not advanced above AA.</p>
<p>The Yankees did get a supplemental pick 29th in the 2009 first round for their failure to sign pitcher Gerrit Cole in 2008. They used it on outfielder Slade Heathcott, a highly-regarded outfielder playing at the Class A level.</p>
<p>It remains to be seen who the Yankees take with that 51st selection this time, and what they get out of the player. As compensation for Vazquez, though, getting anything has to be considered a bonus.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/5/25/2189605/2011-baseball-draft-prospects-yankees-draft-projections-javier-vazquez-gerrit-cole-joba-chamberlainEd Valentine2011-05-23T17:31:29-04:002011-05-23T17:31:29-04:00MLB Draft 2011 Prospects: For Yankees, Gerrit Cole Is One Who Got Away
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<p>The New York Yankees are well stocked with young pitching talent. Ivan Nova, 24, is already part of their starting rotation. Hector Noesi, 24, debuted with four shutout innings recently. Waiting for their opportunities are 20-year-old left-hander Manny Banuelos, 23-year-old Dellin Betances and 26-year-old Andrew Brackman -- all among Baseball America's top 100 prospects.</p>
<p>Imagine if the Yankees could add<b> Gerrit Cole</b> to that list. Cole is the No. 1 prospect in the nation, <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&page=FutureFifty3.0">according to ESPN's Keith Law</a>, and quite possibly the No. 1 pick in next month's MLB Draft. SB Nation's Minor League Ball <a href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/3/19/2055446/uclas-gerrit-cole-the-next-stephen-strasburg">wonders if Cole is the next Stephen Strasburg</a>.</p>
<p>Cole, as far as the Yankees are concerned, is the one who got away.</p>
<p>The Yankees drafted Cole in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft, 28th overall, despite the risk that Cole would pass on the pros and go to college. It was a gamble the Yankees lost. Yankees Senior Vice President Mark Newman, who is the top dog of the organization's minor league system, spoke about the selection of Cole <a href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/3/18/1379601/interview-with-mark-newman-yankees">during a recent interview with Minor League Ball</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We knew that was a risk because he had the UCLA commitment, his family is wealthy, and we knew that he had aggressive bonus demands," Newman said. "Because of his upside, we took the chance that we could make it work, but he went to college instead. That was one risk that didn't pan out. But to be extraordinary involves risk, and our goal is to be extraordinary."</p>
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<p>To be honest, you can't blame the Yankees for trying on that one.</p>
<p>From <b>Baseball Prospectus</b>, via <b>Minor League Ball</b>, comes this summary of what Cole brings to the table:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span style="line-height: 15px; font-size: 13px;">Cole is the best pitcher in the collegiate ranks, </span><span style="line-height: 15px; font-size: 13px;"><i>and capable of pitching in a major-league rotation as of yesterday.</i></span><span style="line-height: 15px; font-size: 13px;"> He wears his well-above-average arsenal well, with the delivery and mechanics to log heavy innings while maintaining his stuff; Cole can miss bats with all four of his pitches. </span><span style="line-height: 15px; font-size: 13px;"><b>The day Cole enters the professional ranks is the day he becomes the best pitching prospect in baseball</b></span><span style="line-height: 15px; font-size: 13px;">, and given the overall maturity of his arsenal, his stay in the minors should be very brief.</span><span style="line-height: 15px; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 15px; font-size: 13px;"><b>OFP:</b></span><span style="line-height: 15px; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 15px; font-size: 13px;">68; </span><span style="line-height: 15px; font-size: 13px;"><i>future ace at the major league level.</i></span></p>
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<p>Considering that the back end of the Yankee rotation includes Nova and veteran retreads Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon (with Phil Hughes on the disabled list) you have to wonder if Cole, 20, would be in the Yankee rotation right now had he signed with them out of high school.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/5/23/2335549/mlb-draft-2011-prospects-for-yankees-gerrit-cole-is-one-who-got-awayEd Valentine