There are many examples of the New York Yankees going
against what the fans think they should do and it all working out in the end.
Sure there are examples and debates to be made for both sides but at the end of
the day we as fans will never have the access or information that the Yankees
GM and front office does. It is what they do with it that separates New York
from the rest of the league sometimes though, for better or worse, and this was
no more evident than in the 2015 MLB First Year Players Draft. Brian Cashman,
the Yankees GM, caught much flak for his two first round picks last season in
Kyle Holder and James Kaprielian from the fans but at least one of them is
making Cashman and company look awfully smart right about now.
When Holder was drafted he was drafted as a raw talent
despite the fact that he was a college shortstop. Holder had not committed
himself to baseball full-time until a season before being drafted so while his
defense at short is considered to be elite and MLB ready his bat leaves much to
be desired. While Holder is probably at least two seasons away we may see the
MLB debut of Kaprielian this season, and the rest of the league better watch
out.
Kaprielian was drafted, we thought anyway including myself,
because he was a polished college arm that was considered to be MLB ready
straight out of the June draft. What I don’t think any of us saw coming was
Kaprielian’s uptick in velocity and absolutely dominating stuff in the minor
leagues. Kaprielian came out of the draft with a ceiling of a #3 starter but if
Kaprielian can pitch the way he has been pitching at the Yankees minor league
complex New York may have another future ace on their hands that is ready as
soon as the 2016 season.
On Monday Kaprielian started against the Toronto Blue Jays
in a minor league game and worked three innings facing 11 batters. Kaprielian
did issue a walk and a hit or two but he managed to strike out seven of the 11
batters he faced with a dominating fastball and devastating slider. Kaprielian
was clocked anywhere from 94-97 MPH with the fastball while his slider was
coming in at 85-87 MPH.
Kaprielian is expected to skip Low-A Charleston and head
straight to High-A Tampa to start the season with his eye on the ultimate prize,
the Bronx, before the end of the 2016 season. Kaprielian seems ready and the
New York Yankees are absolutely ready to have another stud starter in their
rotation, is the rest of the league ready for it? I hope not.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)