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Five prospects the Yankees should be eyeing in the first round of tomorrow's MLB Draft
https://www.downtownyankees.com/sin...be-eyeing-in-the-first-round-of-the-MLB-Draft
The MLB draft is tomorrow and with an unfortunate season-ending Tommy John surgery looming for prized 2015 first round pick James Kaprielian and 2013 first round pick Ian Clarkin unable to stay healthy. The Yankees may have to look at some pitchers in the 2017 draft. Here are five prospects the Yankees should target
Griffin Canning, RHP, UCLA (21 years old)
2017 College Stats: 17 starts, 7-4, 2.34 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 140 strikeouts in 119.0 IP
The former Colorado Rockies draft pick back in 2014, decided to continue on through college and it has definitely been a spectacular business decision for Canning. The 21 year old has been considered a prospect that has one of the higher floors in the draft, but because of that has a lower ceiling. With the Yankees as mentioned previously, having some concern with former first round pitcher Ian Clarkin, this pick would not be surprising in the slightest.
Canning has four pitches right off the bat that would make him a favorite to be a back end rotational starter, and as we have seen over the course of the major leagues, you can't have too many pitchers. Canning is only 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds. He is not a physically imposing or high-velocity pitcher, this is a guy that is going to ultimately win with his off-speed stuff. Canning, a former teammate of James Kaprielian who the Yankees took two years ago. Might be the favorite to come to the Yankees organization and reunite with Kaprielian. The crazy thing with this one would be that the Yankees have the same pick (16th overall) that they used to draft Kaprielian. Could the Yankees repeat history in drafting a UCLA pitcher at 16th overall? Only time will tell, but for now, Canning seems to be a good bet to end up with the Bombers.
David Peterson, LHP, Oregon (21 years old)
2017 College Stats: 15 starts, 11-4, 2.51 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 140 strikeouts in 100.1 IP
This Oregon Duck left-hander right here is my favorite pitcher on this list. The big 6-foot-6 and 240-pound pitcher is exactly the opposite of Griffin Canning. Peterson is my type of pitcher, the physically imposing and overpowering pitcher that just looks like a giant on the mound. Again, another pitcher enters the list due to previously mentioned concerns in the Yankees farm system.
Peterson is most known for striking out 20 batters and being a pitcher that has very solid control. If you are looking for a 100-plus mph pitcher, you won't find it with Peterson, but his slider is very good and he will surely make it to the majors if injuries do not rob him of the opportunity. Just like Canning, Peterson is expected to cruise through the minor leagues with a high floor and lower ceiling. Bottom line is this, as long as Peterson can maintain his control and breaking balls he will be a force in the MLB.
D.L. Hall, LHP, (HS) Valdosta, Georgia (18 years old)
The first prep arm on the list goes to D.L. Hall, who by all means has all the potential to be number two or number three starter someday. He has been compared to the likes of Scott Kazmir due to his size (6-foot-0, 190 pounds) and if he is anything like Kazmir, that could be a huge get for the Yankees. Hall, is, of course, a prep arm who is only 18 years old so because of that it is not a guarantee he would sign with the Yankees, but if he did the Yankees would be getting an impressive young arm. Hall has committed to Florida State, so he could realistically bypass the minor leagues to develop further in college.
Overall, this kid has a great fastball which has more velocity than the previously mentioned names and a very encouraging curveball. He has a higher ceiling than the two mentioned above and might not make it to the Yankees pick at 16. If he falls to the Yankees though and they decide to pull the trigger, that would show confidence in the pitchers at the top of the farm and not desperation to find a pitcher that will make it to the major leagues the fastest. Hall would definitely be an option as the best player available and should definitely be on the radar for Yankees fans.
Jordon Adell, OF, (HS) Ballard, Louisville (18 years old)
Okay, I'll be honest with you, he probably is not going to fall into the Yankees lap at 16 overall, but he also isn't going number one overall either. He is slated between the pick range of 9th-to-13th, but stranger things have happened. Going back to the 2013 draft I had Aaron Judge at the top of my board and many felt like he would not be there for the Yankees in the later portion of the draft. He was, and now we are seeing the benefits first hand.
Adell, may not be the pitcher that the Yankees may need for bulking up their farm, but this player is one of the hardest working in the draft, he's a young 18 years old. Meaning he just turned 18 earlier in the year and he has rare speed and power that you just love to see in an outfielder. So why would he fall? Often times, teams are scared to draft prospects like this out of prep school because most often they do not sign. Adell is a player that if he does not sign this year, he will likely be a top 3-to-5 talent next year. He's got great size at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds and while the Yankees have a loaded outfield at the moment, Adell would be way too hard to pass up on. He reminds me a lot of how Byron Buxton was in the draft.
Nick Pratto, 1B, (HS) Huntington Beach, California (18 years old)
I have seen Pratto mocked to the Yankees more than anyone not named Griffin Canning. It seems like the Yankees are willing to just take the best available and Pratto is realistically going to be the best available bat. Adell maybe more of a pipe dream, but Pratto is projected to be there for the Yankees at 16 and they continue to be linked to him as we go into the draft.
The 6-foot-1. 195 pounder has committed to USC, but he is expected to sign if he is offered real first-round money. He is a smooth hitter and has been considered the best prep hitter in the entire draft. He is expected to grow into his frame and hopefully add more power for the big league level. He's an overall good fielder at first base and appears to be a likely candidate to easily translate to the next level. The only question scouts have is his power doing the same. He is a really talented first base prospect, but he is going to have to have to improve his power or he will likely have no chance playing first base for the Yankees with players like Greg Bird and Tyler Austin at the top of the organization with plenty of power. Pratto could definitely end up being the pick so definitely do not be surprised if the Yankees grab him and give him a healthy deal to influence him in bypassing college.
Honorable mentions:
Trevor Rogers, LHP, (HS) Carlsbad, New Mexico (19 years old)
Has a chance to be a dominant starter with a high-velocity fastball and good size. Older prep arm that doesn't normally lead to success or at least as much success as others.
Sam Carlson, RHP, (HS) Burnsville, Minnesota (18 years old)
With his stock soaring as of late, I don't think he will be there at all. Carlson is another pitcher who has a chance to be dominant and likely if he went to college for one year, he would have a chance to be the first overall pick. Solid frame with a year-to-year improvement with his velocity.
Blayne Enlow, RHP, (HS) St. Amant, Louisiana (19 years old)
A later projected pick in the first round has a chance to be really good. He has a great curveball and a smooth motion that should allow him to grow without worry. The only worry is the fact he will likely be too hard to sign as he is likely to go to LSU for at least one year.
What are your thoughts Yankees fans? Do the Yanks need another arm or another bat? Who are you eyeing in this draft? Let us know!
https://www.downtownyankees.com/sin...be-eyeing-in-the-first-round-of-the-MLB-Draft
The MLB draft is tomorrow and with an unfortunate season-ending Tommy John surgery looming for prized 2015 first round pick James Kaprielian and 2013 first round pick Ian Clarkin unable to stay healthy. The Yankees may have to look at some pitchers in the 2017 draft. Here are five prospects the Yankees should target
Griffin Canning, RHP, UCLA (21 years old)
2017 College Stats: 17 starts, 7-4, 2.34 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 140 strikeouts in 119.0 IP
The former Colorado Rockies draft pick back in 2014, decided to continue on through college and it has definitely been a spectacular business decision for Canning. The 21 year old has been considered a prospect that has one of the higher floors in the draft, but because of that has a lower ceiling. With the Yankees as mentioned previously, having some concern with former first round pitcher Ian Clarkin, this pick would not be surprising in the slightest.
Canning has four pitches right off the bat that would make him a favorite to be a back end rotational starter, and as we have seen over the course of the major leagues, you can't have too many pitchers. Canning is only 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds. He is not a physically imposing or high-velocity pitcher, this is a guy that is going to ultimately win with his off-speed stuff. Canning, a former teammate of James Kaprielian who the Yankees took two years ago. Might be the favorite to come to the Yankees organization and reunite with Kaprielian. The crazy thing with this one would be that the Yankees have the same pick (16th overall) that they used to draft Kaprielian. Could the Yankees repeat history in drafting a UCLA pitcher at 16th overall? Only time will tell, but for now, Canning seems to be a good bet to end up with the Bombers.
David Peterson, LHP, Oregon (21 years old)
2017 College Stats: 15 starts, 11-4, 2.51 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 140 strikeouts in 100.1 IP
This Oregon Duck left-hander right here is my favorite pitcher on this list. The big 6-foot-6 and 240-pound pitcher is exactly the opposite of Griffin Canning. Peterson is my type of pitcher, the physically imposing and overpowering pitcher that just looks like a giant on the mound. Again, another pitcher enters the list due to previously mentioned concerns in the Yankees farm system.
Peterson is most known for striking out 20 batters and being a pitcher that has very solid control. If you are looking for a 100-plus mph pitcher, you won't find it with Peterson, but his slider is very good and he will surely make it to the majors if injuries do not rob him of the opportunity. Just like Canning, Peterson is expected to cruise through the minor leagues with a high floor and lower ceiling. Bottom line is this, as long as Peterson can maintain his control and breaking balls he will be a force in the MLB.
D.L. Hall, LHP, (HS) Valdosta, Georgia (18 years old)
The first prep arm on the list goes to D.L. Hall, who by all means has all the potential to be number two or number three starter someday. He has been compared to the likes of Scott Kazmir due to his size (6-foot-0, 190 pounds) and if he is anything like Kazmir, that could be a huge get for the Yankees. Hall, is, of course, a prep arm who is only 18 years old so because of that it is not a guarantee he would sign with the Yankees, but if he did the Yankees would be getting an impressive young arm. Hall has committed to Florida State, so he could realistically bypass the minor leagues to develop further in college.
Overall, this kid has a great fastball which has more velocity than the previously mentioned names and a very encouraging curveball. He has a higher ceiling than the two mentioned above and might not make it to the Yankees pick at 16. If he falls to the Yankees though and they decide to pull the trigger, that would show confidence in the pitchers at the top of the farm and not desperation to find a pitcher that will make it to the major leagues the fastest. Hall would definitely be an option as the best player available and should definitely be on the radar for Yankees fans.
Jordon Adell, OF, (HS) Ballard, Louisville (18 years old)
Okay, I'll be honest with you, he probably is not going to fall into the Yankees lap at 16 overall, but he also isn't going number one overall either. He is slated between the pick range of 9th-to-13th, but stranger things have happened. Going back to the 2013 draft I had Aaron Judge at the top of my board and many felt like he would not be there for the Yankees in the later portion of the draft. He was, and now we are seeing the benefits first hand.
Adell, may not be the pitcher that the Yankees may need for bulking up their farm, but this player is one of the hardest working in the draft, he's a young 18 years old. Meaning he just turned 18 earlier in the year and he has rare speed and power that you just love to see in an outfielder. So why would he fall? Often times, teams are scared to draft prospects like this out of prep school because most often they do not sign. Adell is a player that if he does not sign this year, he will likely be a top 3-to-5 talent next year. He's got great size at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds and while the Yankees have a loaded outfield at the moment, Adell would be way too hard to pass up on. He reminds me a lot of how Byron Buxton was in the draft.
Nick Pratto, 1B, (HS) Huntington Beach, California (18 years old)
I have seen Pratto mocked to the Yankees more than anyone not named Griffin Canning. It seems like the Yankees are willing to just take the best available and Pratto is realistically going to be the best available bat. Adell maybe more of a pipe dream, but Pratto is projected to be there for the Yankees at 16 and they continue to be linked to him as we go into the draft.
The 6-foot-1. 195 pounder has committed to USC, but he is expected to sign if he is offered real first-round money. He is a smooth hitter and has been considered the best prep hitter in the entire draft. He is expected to grow into his frame and hopefully add more power for the big league level. He's an overall good fielder at first base and appears to be a likely candidate to easily translate to the next level. The only question scouts have is his power doing the same. He is a really talented first base prospect, but he is going to have to have to improve his power or he will likely have no chance playing first base for the Yankees with players like Greg Bird and Tyler Austin at the top of the organization with plenty of power. Pratto could definitely end up being the pick so definitely do not be surprised if the Yankees grab him and give him a healthy deal to influence him in bypassing college.
Honorable mentions:
Trevor Rogers, LHP, (HS) Carlsbad, New Mexico (19 years old)
Has a chance to be a dominant starter with a high-velocity fastball and good size. Older prep arm that doesn't normally lead to success or at least as much success as others.
Sam Carlson, RHP, (HS) Burnsville, Minnesota (18 years old)
With his stock soaring as of late, I don't think he will be there at all. Carlson is another pitcher who has a chance to be dominant and likely if he went to college for one year, he would have a chance to be the first overall pick. Solid frame with a year-to-year improvement with his velocity.
Blayne Enlow, RHP, (HS) St. Amant, Louisiana (19 years old)
A later projected pick in the first round has a chance to be really good. He has a great curveball and a smooth motion that should allow him to grow without worry. The only worry is the fact he will likely be too hard to sign as he is likely to go to LSU for at least one year.
What are your thoughts Yankees fans? Do the Yanks need another arm or another bat? Who are you eyeing in this draft? Let us know!