The New York Yankees broke my heart and traded Robert
Refsnyder to the Toronto Blue Jays after designating the utility infielder for
assignment earlier in the week. In return the Blue Jays sent the Yankees a bit
more first base depth when they sent over first baseman Ryan McBroom. McBroom
was immediately assigned to Double-A Trenton with the Trenton Thunder to start
his Yankees tenure and career so let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The
Ryan McBroom Edition.
The Toronto Blue Jays drafted McBroom in the 15th
round of the 2014 MLB First year Players Draft as a college senior out of the
University of West Virginia. McBroom was added to the Northwest League where he
completely dominated younger competition to the tune of 11 home runs and 23 doubles
in just 70 games. McBroom followed that up proving that this wasn’t a fluke in
2015 winning the Midwest League Most Valuable Player Award hitting
.315/.387/.482 with a league-best 39 doubles and 12 home runs while striking
out just 96 times in 538 at-bats. McBroom is a big, power-hitting first baseman
that has hit well at every stop throughout his minor league career.
McBroom is listed at 6’3” and 230 lbs. so when I say he is a
“big, power-hitting” first baseman I mean big and power-hitting in the most literal
of ways. McBroom is somewhat limited defensively in terms of range and will be
a first baseman or DH if he ever reaches the Major Leagues. McBroom is a
right-handed hitter that throws with his left hand making him ideal at first
base so all the talk and speculation of potentially moving him to a corner
outfield spot while in the Blue Jays organization may be all for naught. At the
time of the trade McBroom was slashing just .243/.321/.402 but did have 19
doubles and 12 home runs to his credit which earned him another All-Star Game
appearance down in Double-A.
McBroom has a long swing which may explain why his batting
average drops as he climbs the organization’s ladder and faces tougher and more
advanced talent but McBroom also finds a way to get that swing through the zone
smoothly and effectively. In other words he may never hit .300 but if he makes
contact with the ball it is going a long, long way. McBroom has a big leg kick
that provides much of his power at the plate and has shown an ability to get
around on the ball quickly with a good pitch recognition despite the length in
his swing.
McBroom is already 25-years old so don’t expect the future
at first base for the Yankees with this trade but what it does do is give the
Yankees some much needed depth at the position down on the farm. For a player
that was rarely used and designated for assignment I guess you can’t complain
too much about that. Welcome to the family Ryan!