First-day draft picks for Yankees
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jun 05, 2008 
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Here’s who the Yankees took:
1 (28) RHP Gerrit Cole, Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS
1S (44) LHP Jeremy Bleich, Stanford
2 (75) RHP Scott Bittle, Ole Miss
3 (106) 2B David Adams, Virginia
4 (140) INF Corban Joseph, Franklin (Tenn.) HS
5 (170) OF Chris Smith, Centennial HS, Compton, Calif.
6 (200) RHP Brett Marshall, Sterling HS, Baytown, Texas
Notes: The 44th pick was in compensation for Luis Vizcaino signing with the Rockies. … Going only by what I read and what the Yankees are saying, they are thrilled with Cole. Bleich is a reach but if you’re going to reach, reach for a lefty who is smart and idolizes Andy Pettitte. … Bittle has a slider/cutter pitch he calls “The Thing” and nobody can hit it. The Yankees took him last year out of junior college and didn’t sign him. Clearly they really like him. … Adams is a gamer type. … Smith hit .700 (yes, .700) this season. … Marshall is a smallish high school righty who throws 94-95 and reportedly is committed to Rice. The Owls must hate the Yankees, who signed Carmen Angelini away from them last season.
There will be 44 rounds selected tomorrow. That’s a lot of coffee.
The cats at NoMaas have a draft blog with some good links and info. So check that out. The River Ave. Blues boys also have some good info.
If anybody finds any interesting stories on the draftees, drop me an e-mail and I’ll link to them. Obviously covering the Mustache Men and their inevitable rise to glory is my top priority, but I’ll pass along draft info whenever I can.
Seems like Marshall will demand a 7 figure bonus to sign out of high school…..great pick by the yanks as they have the resources to sign this guy….it’s like having another 1st-2nd round pick in the system….i hope they draft more college-bound talent tomorrow and give them huge bucks to sisn….it’s an awesome strategy if you have the $$
I’m hearing som reports Bleich can hit 94 mph on the gun when healthy, so IDK about that pick, the other kids I’m not that upset about.
I think all and all you have to be very happy with this draft
So, we’ve got tree OC homeboys on the Yanks; IPK, Phil Hughes, and now Gerrit Cole. Cool!
What an awesome job you’ve done coverting the draft today, Pete. Terrific stuff.
Corban Joseph is my new favorite Yankee. He played in Franklin, which is about 10 minutes from my hometown in Tennessee. Now if we can just take a couple Vandy guys I’ll be set.:)
Good job by the NoMaas guys. Nice to see they can provide quality info when they are not being know it all jack holes. They do make funny pictures though.
did I read that right LHB (1B/OF) .708 AVG and hits for power in H.S. ?
Not sure how you can say it’s a good draft, imo it takes years to be able to judge. On that note, it might be a good feature to rate the previous Yankee drafts at some point. Plus give updates on last years’ saviors.
“the Mustache Men and their inevitable rise to glory,” thats hilarious Pete. If they win the world series this season they will forever be immortalized as the Mustache Men of 2008.
go to MLB.com and watch Joseph’s draft video.
kid has a swing you can dream on.
Compton’s 1B/OF Chris Smith
wow
Here’s a huge pic of Brett Marshall:
http://blogs.chron.com/prepspo.....ita003.JPG
Going into this draft I was concerned that they’d come up short at #28 because the talent pool was thin.
Turned out there were several good high schoolers still on the board – Zach Collier, Casey Kelley and of course Cole.
Picking Cole was an absolute draft making choice. It’ll be interesting to see how this turn out because under other circumstances the tigers would have definitely taken him.
But the Tigers drafted completely for need in the hope that they could come up with a bull pen on the fly.
That’s how the cycle works – detroit trades all of their good young players – they become an old team that is underperforming and have no chips to trade – so now instaed of taking the best player they draft on need because the are build now. It’s one of those cycles that can spiral badly because when you draft for need, especially to that extent, your not getting value and your not restocking your system.
So you ‘ll have no chips to trade, your team gets old, etc. etc.
yeah I have a thing for people who hit .700+ call me crazy but thats just how I roll.
I really would like to know who he’s playing against though, it can’t be too solid or he would’ve been a much higher pick
Compton’s 1B/OF Chris Smith
wow
That kid looks like a monster. Seems like he has huge potential with the bat and he sounds pretty mature for his age.
High school numbers really don’t mean much. But that said Smith’s numbers are absurd.
In addition to the .700 BA he has a slugging % of 1.529.
He has an ops of 2.292!
does he sign ? he chokes up the bat like Bonds, slugs like Papi …Jesus that is a ridiculously FILTHICIOUS (yeh that’s right I made it up) OPS
Paul Pierce dude. Oh my
CB, Yanks did well today….As I posted a little while ago, I didn’t anyting about the draft until I landed at John Wayne Airport…..Yanks have a Fort Knox of power arms at every level……Between the Laker game and trying to get caught up on the postings is insane….What’s SJ & V’S take on today’s selections….
I strongly recommend people wanting to find out about the Yankees’ draft picks check out mvn.com/milb-yankees, riveraveblues.com, and sites such as Baseball America and SaberScouting (for looks at other teams’ prospects as well).
Mike A. at River Ave. Blues did a fantastic job covering the Yankees’ picks today, and there were some good discussions about the draft in the comments there, too.
Pat M.,
I was hoping you’d post. I didn’t catch your prior post so I’m glad you checked in.
Pat I gotta tell you I am very, very happy. This was just not a good draft. Not that good at all and all week I was getting ready for the all of the high ceiling guys to be off the board by the time the yanks picked.
In particular, I thought Detroit would pick coal unless they decided to draft for need – which is what they wound up doing.
I really can’t believe they wound up getting cole. You probably didn’t see this but on ESPN when the cole choice was announced Gammons sounded sort of deflated. You could tell he loved the kid and was just picturing the future yankee staff and not liking what was happening.
Bottom line – Cole very well may have the best arm in the draft. None of the college guys had really special arms – not Matsuz, not Crow. They’re both very good but not guys you look at and say – he can be an ace.
The one guy in this draft you could say that about with the highest probability was cole. And they got him.
Next year both Cole and Brackman will enter the system – that’s two guys who can throw triple digits entering a system in the same year.
The fire power at every level like you said is just sort of shocking. As a yankee fan I still pinch myself as I can’t believe they have locked away this much talent.
SJ was also very happy with Cole. He really liked Bittle the reliever they took in round three. He throws this strange sort of cutter/change/slider pitch. Struck out 130 in 70 innings. Unbelievable!
The second and third round picks were on the conservative side but after getting cole that’s fine.
The kid they took in the 6th was a great choice. Very, very good arm. Committed to Rice. If hey can sign him this because a very, very good draft for them.
So a question for you – do you know anything about this OF Chris Smith from Centennial High? He’s from LA – Compton I believe. His high school hitting line is insane – he’s hitting .735 with a 1.500 Slugging %.
If you have any connections with people in that area and can find something out about smith that would be great.
“Hell I bet the boys from Beantown are crapping in their chowda….Yanks are cornering the market in young power arms…What a stockpile….”
Pat M.,
I just caught your prior post. I’m not joking – this was exactly the expression on Gammons face when the yanks took Cole. It was truly priceless. He just looked kind of glum and sounded the same way.
You could just see the exact thought you described running through his head.
SJ said this before – if the Sox had drafted Cole Gammons would have been besides himself saying the Sox just drafted the next Beckett.
…and just wait until the Yankees sign Inoa, CB.
God damn…
CB,
Considering the Tigers’ new philosophy, maybe the Yanks can get Porcello for Humberto and someone like Robertson
Does anyone have a link which lists the top international guys this year (at least the top projected signings) ?
Why does everyone get their panties in a bunch over ESPN’s coverage and Gammons?
Who cares?
Gammons is from the area and was a Boston beat writer for decades.
CB I was telling you about that face, I hope was watching or whoever does the video recaps puts it. You can tell he did not want the Yankees landing Cole. Selig when he announced the Mets pick was upset then the Tigers pick made him scuff, he actually sighed when Cole was announced to the Yankees. Gammons looked DEJECTED
Cole is great on paper but please remember he is an 18yr old high schooler. These guys aren’t sure things. While he has talent, it takes way more than natural ability to make the show. Let’s be patient and let these young kids grow.
Thought this was aniteresting areticle by Tyler also please note the link to his Melancan story which runs tomorrow. Jeff Patterson who knew this is what he was doing lol
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/.....draft-day/
BD,
How about this – Porcello for Farnsworth?
They’re collecting fire balling right handers in detroit who are major league ready.
I really hope the Yanks continue to flex their financial might. They give enough in rev sharing that they should overpay for any talent they can find.
I was hoping the Yanks would draft more position players this year considering the age of our lineup but considering all the pitching that was available there’s nothing wrong with perhaps drafting the next highly touted pitching prospects for the organization.
Here’s a good link on some of the top international players this year including Inoa:
http://www.baseballamerica.com.....cts/?p=733
You can’t exactly nitpick first round draft choices. The Tigers may have hit a homer with that college reliever. Total crap shoot. Bad karma to trash a draft because they don’t take a higher ceiling (supposedly) kid out of high school.
“I was hoping the Yanks would draft more position players this year considering the age of our lineup but considering all the pitching that was available there’s nothing wrong with perhaps drafting the next highly touted pitching prospects for the organization.”
MLB drafts are not about major league needs. it is about the best guy on the board. It takes usually a min of 3 yrs to make it from time drafted so it makes no sense to draft for a specific need at the major league level. If the best talent is a pitcher than you take the pitcher.
You get yourself into trouble when you start drafting for need or who can get to the majors quicker. You end passing on high upside future all stars. For example, the Mets 3 years ago. Took Pelfrey cos he was ready. And passed over Bruce, Maybin, and McCutcheon.
“Cole is great on paper but please remember he is an 18yr old high schooler. ”
Ollie,
Your exactly right. Quite honestly, good chance Cole isn’t successful and never pitches for the yankees.
But that’s why selecting him makes sense.
With young pitchers you can’t put your eggs in one basket. That goes with Joba or Phil or Brackman or Betances or any one of them.
What’s different and encouraging is that now they have such a deep collection of power arms that its reasonable to assume at least 2-3 will pan out and anchor the staff.
They have multiple guys with front line starter potential. While the chance any one of them becomes an ace isn’t that high, the probability that at least a couple do become frong line starters is significant.
Drafting cole increases that probability.
The Tigers drafted for a need and they will regret doing that especially if in 3-4 years Cole is in the majors. Terrific upside pick. Marshall too. They wouldn’t have taken him this early if they didn’t know they could sign him.
Great draft from everything you read. And the way Damon O has been going you have to give him the benefit of the doubt no matter what you think of some of the draftees.
I’m all for him, CB.
No one else there with that talent and high end upside. Like Brackman last year.
It’s good to be excited about these young kids. Just remember it takes a long time for them to show their talent especially high schoolers.
It is real fun having a system that is this talented. Bout time, right?
anyone take that mallard kid from tampa yet?
Thanks for the link CB.
Ollie, that’s the idea. Load your system with “top prospects” and a few of them are bound to pan out.
The Yankees don’t need to pray that their one top pitching prospect is the real deal like they had to in the past. They just need some of the many to.
All I know about him is that he’s an outstanding athelete…Centennial is a smallish type school, for tough luck type kids…..They play in a small weaker league in LA….Maybe similar to private Academy league…..Sorry that’s all I know…..I’ll call around, but it’s Orange County where all my contacts are…..
hmmm, I didnt read CB’s last post though it looks like I copied it.
Chris Smith
CB,
have you read this one?
http://www.baseballamerica.com.....7#more-737
CB,
have you read this one?
http://www.baseballamerica.com.....7#more-737
I’m really loving this draft so far. I’m a big fan of risk over certainty.
I was scratching my head over the supplemental pick, but hopefully the Yankees know more than I do. He -is- a lefty, and if he truly CAN hit 94 when healthy, who knows?
Stockpiling tons of power arms in the minors is definitely the way to go. Even if you get a mediocre 10-20% prospect to majors rate, you’re going to have a couple studs in the majors.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Inoa sign for $4-6 million.
How exactly does signing D.R. players work? Can they sign whenever > 16 yrs old? Total free-for-all negotiations?
Thanks Pat. I know your mostly around the orange county area but whatever you might be able to dig up – he’s committed to USC. But there’s not a lot about him.
I figured he was playing in a league he was just orders of magnitude to talented to be in.
At the same time he must have impressed to get an offer form USC.
The yanks need more athletes in the system so it seems like a good risk.
CB word I’m hearing about that kid is legit light tower power. I’ll dig up what I can he’s from the MLB RBI program inner city Cali and Bonds like AB w/ Ortiz power. I hope PAt M or someone else can get us more legit info.
One of the really great parts of the draft today was to see how many kids came out through the RBI program. That was a great investment by MLB.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see Inoa sign for $4-6 million.”
I don’t know – I mean the record signing bonus is a little over $2M.
Inoa is going to get a record bonus but I’d have to think it’s less than 4.
Either way – a lot of money.
In general with international guys you can tell how high teams are on them by the size of the signing bonus.
And Inoa is not some inflated Scott Boras hype creation.
Sounds like he’s very talented. Teams haven’t gotten this excited for a pitcher in a long time.
They should take JC Rodriguez from GW high school in washington heights (where manny played) because I played against him a month or so ago (in high school ball) and he can hit the ball REALLY HARD and REALLY FAR. Although i did steal third off of him (kinda).
““I wouldn’t be surprised to see Inoa sign for $4-6 million.â€
I don’t know – I mean the record signing bonus is a little over $2M.
Inoa is going to get a record bonus but I’d have to think it’s less than 4.
Either way – a lot of money.
In general with international guys you can tell how high teams are on them by the size of the signing bonus.
And Inoa is not some inflated Scott Boras hype creation.
Sounds like he’s very talented. Teams haven’t gotten this excited for a pitcher in a long time.”
I’ve heard 3-4, just saying I wouldn’t be surprised by more.
On another note, I predict that today’s game will be the turning point in the yankees’ season and from here on out the yankees will go 64-38, winning 94 games overall and beating boston in the AL east by 2 games and tampa bay by 4. 64-38 (.627) is very, very doable and if the pitching starts to fall together, 94 wins can, and will happen.
Inoa might even recieve 5 million from the Yankees, they aren’t letting him get away. Rios has been checking on him since last fall, Cashman was in La Capital think about that Brian Cashman went to the Dominican Republic to watch him and came away impressed.
Brandon,
Considering Minaya and the Mets, Sox, and other teams could be in the mix… it wouldnt surprise me if the Yanks have to up the ante.
You had said word was Inoa prefers the Yanks, right?
V,
Isnt it crazy that Inoa may get a record $4M but Yu Darvish could get, according to our friend Peter Gammons, a $100M posting fee. Of course that is ridiculous but it may be up there.
I’ll take 25 guys with Inoa’s upside vs 1 Japanese prospect.
I’m absolutely in love with the Bittle pick he has a Mo type cutter something that could translate in the majors as well some good breaking stuff he sounds like a keeper. Cole seems like a hit or miss guy could catch on or could not whatever the case Bittle sounds like an 08 bullpen guy
Man, I’m loving this Chris Smith pick more and more.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.co.....umber.html
http://latimesblogs.latimes.co.....nte-1.html
http://mvn.com/milb-yankees/20.....ris-smith/
be careful before you throw out “Mo type cutter”
Let’s see if it translates at all to the pro level first.
oh yeh in this madness I forgot to mention one blip
Wilkins De La Rosa
4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K’s
2.01 ERA, GO/AO 5-2
now that’s long relief
“You had said word was Inoa prefers the Yanks, right?”
his people want him to sign w/ NY, big money, big exposure.
BD-
You have quite the fantasy BB team going this year. I’m looking forward to seeing you in the playoffs.
No matter how high the ceiling I wouldnt go nuts about Inoa hes very young 6 years from the bigs seems like to much of a project to give him 6 million bucks Joba doesnt even make 1 million bucks
Yu,
From what I can tell, best case is Cole is a #1 or solid #2.
Worst case, he is a very good relief pitcher because he couldnt develop the secondary pitches and is working almost exclusively off of his fastball.
Rule of thumb – if it makes Peter Gammons pissed and a sour puss, then it makes me happy.
Buddy,
thanks – head to head is tough… anyone can win on any given week. I just need to play .500 ball and I should be ok the rest of the way.
Yu Darvish Joba at 16 couldn’t throw 95 mph either
I wasnt asking him to throw 95 at 16 thats absurd 94 for a teenager is insane but hes too far from the bigs to give him money that some big leaguers with a wife and kids dont see
Brandon,
Is he 15 or 16? I’ve heard both.
Also, do you know if the Yankees spend any money in PR in the DR? Or do anything to try and keep their popularity? Obviously money talks but it seems like the Yanks are the team that everyone wants to play for (which is fine with me).
Felix was in the majors at 19…
It seems like Japanese players dislike the Yanks and prefer Boston while Caribbean players prefer NY odd set of circumstances perhaps its NY’s large latino population as opposed to Boston
Zack, I agree with you on how today’s game could be the turning point the club has been waiting for…..Besides, I dropped $ 300.00 on the Yanks to win 92 games back in Febuary when the futures were posted…….Cashman has had 1/3 of the season to determine what the club needs, now he has about 6 weeks to fill in the holes…..I still say when Kennedy & Hughes return, they’ll have a positive impact…Even for so than last September when they so very instrumental in securing a playoff spot…..Im eating crow on The Moose, and gladly….However come the stretch run it’ll be Wang, Pettite, Hughes, Kennedy & Joba that’ll prove to be the difference…..8th inning arms will be the key for any play come October…..I’ll see what I can find out about Chris Smith….I do know he’s a plus muti-sport kid…..
BD he is 16 (legit) and yeah the Yankees have expanded in the Dominican Republic, they haven’t dipped into Latin America like this, my people out there say before it was different because they’d check on you but just show interest. Now they are sending reps., players even coaches. Luis Sujo was out there and Carlos Rios’s name is starting to get well known over there, lets put it like this when the GM of the team goes out there they mean business.
“I wasnt asking him to throw 95 at 16 thats absurd 94 for a teenager is insane but hes too far from the bigs to give him money that some big leaguers with a wife and kids dont see”
It’s economics.
This guy is potential top-of-the-line talent. Felix Hernandez type talent.
The type of guy that a team with an almost endless wallet can gamble on.
Yu that is incorrect, Okajima wanted to go to the Yanks, Yu’s parents prefers him to go to the Yankees or Red Sox, rumors are Yu would want to build his own legacy, but the price tag for Yu is insane.
Pat- you must have not tuned in for Wednesday’s game or for the past month Mussina with 9 wins is getting bumped out of the rotation for Ian Kennedy and his 8 ERA wtf?
That was a mistake not grabbing Okajima and I dont think this kid has Felix Hernandez talent Hernandez had a nasty breaking ball at 15
This kid just seems like a hard thrower and with how the yanks treat their pitchers he wont see A ball until 2011
Jose Rijo pitched for the Yanks at 18 in 1984.
more inside info on Chris Smith
via Snatch Catch on NYYFAN -”His coach saw Strawberry, Davis, and Coco Crisp when they were in the Crenshaw/Compton area. He says Smith may be the best of all of them.”
my take, now Crisp I really don’t care about, but when a H.S. coach hypes you about being better than Darryl Strawberry and Chilli Davis I’m listening.
keyword 1984 they are ridiculously cautious with young pitchers in the 80′s pitch-count was hardly a rule as it is today
“more inside info on Chris Smith
via Snatch Catch on NYYFAN -â€His coach saw Strawberry, Davis, and Coco Crisp when they were in the Crenshaw/Compton area. He says Smith may be the best of all of them.â€
my take, now Crisp I really don’t care about, but when a H.S. coach hypes you about being better than Darryl Strawberry and Chilli Davis I’m listening.
”
Yeah, check my 12:12 am links. Could be a steal of a pick. Need to buy out his college commitment though.
“This kid just seems like a hard thrower and with how the yanks treat their pitchers he wont see A ball until 2011″
mid-90s fastball with clean, repeatable mechanics at 16 is amazing.
Rijo was too young, Steinbrenner was trying to steal some thunder from the Mets & Gooden.
“Yeah, check my 12:12 am links. Could be a steal of a pick. Need to buy out his college commitment though.”
V thanks for the heads up I didn’t even see your links at first.
A few minutes ago on SportsCenter;
“Tomorrow a 3 hour special: A Nation in Crisis; what’s going on at Fenway???”
(or something like that, I’m trying to enjoy some ramen while I type)
It’s funny ‘cos it’s true.
Just from reading the links you guys posted on here, I’m really excited for Chris Smith. I hope he works out.
You keep reading stories about how African American kids just aren’t into baseball anymore. It’s nice not only to see the Yankees draft one, but draft a kid who sounds mature for his age and wants to be a role model. It sounds like he has character.
The 2b we drafted today from UVA who is being toted a “gamer”.
I like the idea that we’re drafting positional prospects who possess character.
I think even the front office and the Yankees are ready to start finding kids and players who aren’t just blessed with talent, but also with character.
That said, I want to know why everyone is saying Cole has makeup/personality issues.
Was there an incident?
and I made a mistake on the Chili Davis thing , Pickens meant Erick Davis
Pickens saids he can be the next Strawberry 
I just saw that Manny Youklis incident – wow that was really ugly.
Manny being Manny may have reached a limit righ there. He just gave Youklis a backhand to the face. That’s just embarrassing for youklis.
They are very, very lucky to have Francona managing that team right now. They rip him for not being a “tactician” but he does a very good job keeping all of those personalities together.
Interesting to see what happens.
Eric Davis, he was a great player.
Crisp ducked that hay maker by Shields, lucky for him.
Is it too much to ask for the Red Sox to go into a vicious spiral of recrimination, doubt, and defeat?
Eric Davis was on Cincinnati, right?
Whatever happened to him?
CB, is there a video up of that somewhere? I saw the brawl, but I’d like to see the Manny-Youk action. (God, that sounded sick…LOL )
YU DARVISH…I have been watching in great amazment…Do you think that Mussina will stay pitching at this level ???? Don’t get me wrong, he’s been as much as a surprise as is Cano and his .212 BA….Will he still be a factor come August ??? My answer is no…..However for right now it’s a God sent….We’ll resume this conversation come Labor Day……
“Is it too much to ask for the Red Sox to go into a vicious spiral of recrimination, doubt, and defeat?”
Defeat is enough…recrimination and doubt are optional…
Eric Davis ended up playing with Straw in LA IN 1992-1993….Same time as the Rodney King riots…..
Mets lose by HBP.
Eric Davis came back after colon cancer and played a few more years, but his last ones were spent fighting injuries. He retired around 2000, if I remember right.
Didn’t Eric Davis play with Straw in SF too?
If I remember correctly Eric Davis had one of the quickest bats I’ve ever seen…
Pat I think Moose has found a style that suits his weakened arsenal and is thriving from that sure he doesnt dominate anymore but he gets the job done what did IPK show you that made you think gee this kid belongs here hes the answer
They didn’t play together on SF, my bad.
Mets lose by walking the bases loaded and then HBP
Davis made that great catch in the 1990 WS.
This Chris Smith kid looks like the real deal of course its just high school ball but .700 is a number no human being should be able to hit and based on what Ive read he sounds like a character young man
Im waiting on my boy Humberto Sanchez to come up I met him once he lived near my aunt in the BX he is amazing but he mght not be the same after TJ
“Buddy Biancalana
June 6th, 2008 at 1:09 am
Mets lose by HBP.” Was it a walk off walk? That would be hillarious.
When Eric Davis was 24 he had a .900 OPS and stole 80 bases. It was just amazing. What a talent. Still haven’t seen a power hitter with close to as much speed/ base stealing ability.
Yu 4 more days till his GCL debut
Hit By Pitch
Eric Davis was a great player. While Straw was the better power threat, Eric was a good defender and had more speed. He was a more complete player than Straw.
If Chris Smith even gets close to Straw or Davis (I’m throwing out Crisp here), that was a steal of a pick.
There’s something to be said for a determined young man with talent.
Sometimes I think that’s what some of these guys are lacking. Determination.
Wolf,
I saw the manny youklis thing on sports center. I’m sure there is a video somewhere but don’t have a link.
It was really embarrassing all around. Getting backhanded by a teammate is just not a good thing.
Just Manny Slapping Youky?
“Was it a walk off walk? That would be hillarious.”
Yes.
Bottom of 9th.
Walk
Walk
Ground out to 2nd (runners to 2nd, 3rd)
IBB
HBP. On the first pitch.
Youkilis should have head butted Manny, now that would have been funny.
I think of the Ian Kennedy that we watched in September …Do recall that many of us were taken back and disappointed that he was held back because of some FO illness….That’s what I expect when he returns….It’s difficult to understand the pressure of being 22 & 23 years old, pitching in the bright lights of Yankee Stadium and knowing that Johan Santana did not come to the Bronx because the Team believes in you…..Expectations that are quite extreme…..Then to try to pitch with significant injuries….Tough place to play,,,,even tougher fans to please…..All in good time
CB I’ll go this far how long till Chris Smith is signed ?
Thank Brandon thought he was still months away good stuff hes a REALLY nice guy very humble havent seen him in like 5 years but if his arm allows him he’ll dominate hes got a winning attitude hes a gamer
Brandon,
I don’t know much at all about Smith. That said when a guy who isn’t very well known is taken relatively high you expect him to sign for slot.
I’d guess that’s what will happen and hopefully he’ll get into GCL games over the summer.
The only caveat to that is that he has a commitment to USC. I have no idea how strong a commitment that is.
I have a feeling he’ll sign. The yankees don’t draft this kind of player in the 5th round without signing them.
I hope he gets as much money as he can – but if he does wind up signing for slot there won’t be any nonsense with the commissioners office holding up approval of his contract.
He’s the kind of guy you’d like to get into the GCL this year.
CB – I found a clip at MLB.com, but it didn’t really show anything. I’ll be catching SportsCenter here shortly, though – thanks for the heads up. I agree it’s a very disturbing situation.
Great day in the land of pinstripes. Looking forward to day two of the draft. You guys/gals have a great night.
CB was signability an issue I mean there has been nothing said about this kid prior to the draft. Did teams shy away ? and I also hope this kid signs, he would be a perfect example of the RBI program in Compton and how you have a chance to succeed.
I hope he signs, but I guess the problem here is does he want to go to college.
I’m signing off as well….I’m hitting the golf ball tomorrow with Tim & Doug DeCines….Should be lots to rap about…Gerrit Coles,last night it was only a hope…..Now he’s going to be pitching in the Yankee Organization…He’s looking up at very crowded levels of big arms….Never can have too much pitching ,,,right guys ?????
no link yet from NYYFANS -
The Yankees drafted Franklin’s Corban Joseph in the fourth round as the 140th pick. Joseph, who is also a Kentucky signee, said he likely would turn professional.
“I’ve always wanted to play professional ball,†said Joseph, who hit .510 with 15 home runs and was named The Tennessean’s Midstate Player of the Year. “I’m pretty sure I will go.â€
Im out too, see u guys later on Im extremely excited the Sox being in a state of turmoil helps but also great draft! Go Yanks I feel the start of a streak g/night everyone
Brandon,
I think its more of an issue that he played at a small high school in a league that isn’t a powerhouse.
High school baseball in southern california is really amazing – the number of prospects, good players and good leagues is really amazing.
That area is one of the biggest pipelines to the majors in teh entire league. Its’ just enormous the density of good baseball – and they play basically year round.
Most teams have their heaviest scouting personnel placed there.
But nonetheless it’s really hard to scout the area as there are so many player to look at.
I’d guess the yankees just happened to see him and really liked his tools a lot.
They did the same kind of thing with Romine last year – he wasn’t that well known because he got hurt his senior year. In Romine’s case not many scouts got to see him play because of that injury.
I’d be very, very surprised if Smith didn’t sign. It’s not going to be an issue, IMO.
5th round is not that low to be taken. I’d be he may not have a lot of playing time guaranteed at USC.
That was part of the reason why Angellini signed with the yankees – Rice had another high school SS who was perhaps even better than Angellini as a recruit. He could have just went to rice and sat on the bench or gotten moved of SS.
Smith will sign. The yankees will make sure it happens.
I also think Brett Marshall will sign. $1M for a 6th round pick for the yanks shouldn’t be a problem. Marshall was a very good pick.
Pete,
I just want to say thank you for the great draft coverage you have provided today. I never followed the draft before but due to the emphasis on rebuilding/youth, i can’t help but be intrigued by the draft. I look forward to watching these young guys succeed in the future.
lets hope so CB
WOW. just turned the highlights on what a day in beantown. how about johnny gomes throwing some punches on coco crisp? have to admit love the rays feistyness? is that the right word? They always have eachother’s back. Listening to coco crisp after the game, ugh makes me sick what an A$$hole. His comments are deplorable.
Manny and Youkilis i love the infighting.
How awesome is is that the yankees potentially will have a guy from Compton on the team in the future?
Bleich wasn’t a reach, the people in the know had him rated as 1 rounder.
But does Cole have the Good Face ?