Exclusive Interview w/ SI Yankees David Palladino

For the first time we bring you an interview with Yankees prospect and recently drafted David Palladino. David was taken in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB First Year Players Draft and is currently a member of the Staten Island Yankees. We hope that you enjoy the interview as much as I enjoyed doing it, so get to reading and enjoy!

The Greedy Pinstripes: David Palladino, how are you today sir? How is your offseason going?

David Palladino: I’m great thanks for asking. My offseason has been great, I love working and training to become a better player at the game I love so much. What about yourself?

TGP: We have had an awesome year and an even more awesome offseason, you're the first to ask so we thank you for that. 

TGP:  How important is your family to you in your life and especially in your career?

DP: My family is everything to me. I have two brothers as well and it’s great that we are so close that we practically do everything together. My parents are my biggest supporters, they have been through everything with me and I couldn’t ask for a better family to be a part of. In my career my family is behind my back 100% and are very honest with me with I am not playing up to my ability. They push me to become the best ballplayer I can be but also become the best man I can become.

TGP: How do you think your faith has helped you in your career?

DP: Faith is everything. Everything I do is because of God. I have a cross that was given to me from my family, and it never leaves my neck, if I don’t have it on, I don’t feel right. I bring it everywhere I go.  I truly believe that God has a plan for me and whatever it is I would like to work to become the best I can be at whatever he has in stored for my future. Most importantly, faith has helped me out so much because all the tough times I had growing up from baseball and in school. I would always say, “Its okay, I will get stronger from this.” I had many injuries which doctors didn’t think I would play again and I had to overcome these injuries to be where I am today.  Before each time I step onto the mound, I say a prayer and when things are tough I say the same prayer, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”

TGP:  What's your best memory attending Howard College? Do you miss the whole college experience sometimes?

DP: My best memory of Howard college was towards the end of the year, when we were in Fort worth, Texas. We were in the tournament to get to Grand Junction, we lost but I felt that we all became so close those last few games, that is was unbelievable how we played. Everyone left it out there on the field, none of us have regrets. That is what the game is all about, and I will never forget that. I do miss college sometimes because of the school work and everything that goes about it. At the same time, playing professional baseball was everything I always dreamed of coming from a small town.

TGP: Have you ever considered going back and coaching? Maybe mentoring? Either in the offseason or after baseball?

DP: I actually want to open my own place one day, because I think it would be great teaching the younger players everything I have learned from my experiences. I would want to run teams through it and have all of the strength and conditioning trainers the players would need, so they could reach their full potential as I am working to do. Also currently with this being my first offseason, after all the training and throwing, I have been helping around running some camps and lessons, and I couldn’t be happier.

TGP:  What teams and sports did you root for and watch growing up?

DP: I am a big sports fan. I was always a Devils fan for hockey, Barcelona fan for Soccer, Yankees fan for baseball, Giants fan for football, Knicks fan for basketball.

TGP: As a recent draft pick I would love to hear about your thoughts on the new draft rules, the slots, allocated money, and all that? Does it help or hurt the game and the players in your opinion?

DP: I really don’t have much to say on the draft rules. I love playing the game to much to worry about the money amount playing. I received an opportunity to be a part of what I think is the greatest organization of Major League Baseball, and wearing that jersey is an honor. I am just looking forward to work hard and play in Yankee stadium one day.

TGP: Do you have a girlfriend/wife waiting for you at home while you are on the road so much?

DP: I do have a girlfriend. She’s a great girl and is very passionate in what she loves to do and has many goals for herself which I would help push her towards, at the same time her family and she understand what it takes for me to be where I want to be and support me. I’ve known her for years which is great because we were always great friends. It makes it a lot easier when being away doesn’t cause fights because were both working hard to reach our own goals but at the same time pushing each other.

TGP: What are you doing this offseason to improve on your 2013 season?

DP: I am doing palates once a week, Yoga two times a week, Strength and conditioning five times a week, throwing bullpens, lots of pfp work and long toss. Also been reading some books to help with the mental side of baseball and pitching.

TGP: What do you do during the offseason to keep yourself occupied?

DP: I am always on my feet, I love doing outdoor activities such as paintball, golf, basketball(Only HORSE though so I don’t roll an ankle), etc.. Also since we have a lot of snow,  I like doing manual labor which would involve snow plowing, and shoveling. Besides all that I love to work on things to get better and that’s why I put so much time into working out and doing different types of training to become a better athlete and ball player.

TGP: Favorite restaurant to eat at?

DP: Sushi

TGP: What current Major League player do you think you compare to the most?

DP: I have always said to myself one day I want to be able to pitch like Roger Clemens, He was my idle growing up. But current major leaguer I would have to say Felix Hernandez.

TGP: Do you have a plan yet for after baseball? Or maybe even a Plan B?

DP: In life you always have to have a Plan B, and I do for sure. I would want to open that baseball place as I explained earlier but also go back and finish my degree. I want to get a minor in business and go to law school and become a lawyer.

TGP: Do you have anything embarrassing that most people would not know about you that you wouldn't mind sharing?

DP: I am a New Jersey guy but loves country music.

TGP: Most embarrassing song in your iPod?

DP: Taylor Swift- We are never getting back together.

TGP: We'll finish with this one, where do you see yourself in life and your career in five years?

DP: I see myself in five years, pitching in Yankee Stadium.

Thank you once again David for taking the time to do this for us, it is truly appreciated. We wish for nothing but the best for you this coming season and in everything you do outside of the baseball field. You can follow David on Twitter by following @dpall2. 

Baseball America: Yankees 2013 Draft Report Card

Clint Longenecker evaluated and gave a write up for Baseball America on the New York Yankees 2013 prospects that we got in the draft by giving us a report card. Will the Yankees need to hide this report card from their parents? Let's see...

Longenecker called our first overall pick Eric Jagielo the best overall hitter, most pure hitter, and the likeliest to make the major leagues first. Longenecker said of Jagielo that he had a "smooth stroke with loft to all fields, a disciplined approach and the ability to make consistent hard contact." Dante Bichette Jr. was moved up to High A with the Tampa Yankees so Jagielo may start 2014 in Low A with the Charleston Riverdogs.

Longenecker called Aaron Judge the best power hitter in the system and said that Judge has "raw power that rates at least a 70 on the 20-80 scale, and he can put on a show in batting practice. He has tremendous natural strength in his extra large frame." Judge has yet to make his professional debut so he will likely start 2014 in the Gulf Coast League or, at best, with the Staten Island Yankees. Judge will play winter ball this year before his 2014 season.

Tyler Wade was given the nod for the best defensive player in the draft as a shortstop which is encouraging for us. Longenecker said of Wade that Wade "who could hit for average is a good athlete with above average speed, good actions, steady hands and an above average arm." The Yankees seem to want to keep Wade and Gosuke Katoh together so where one goes the other probably will and Wade seems ready to go to Charleston with the Riverdogs.

Michael O'Niell is the fastest Yankees runner from the draft with well above average speed that could keep him in center field long term. Gosuke Katoh was also praised for his speed not only in the field but out of the box. O'Niell will probably repeat Staten Island in 2014 while Katoh, who had one of the best professional debuts from a High School player will go to the Charleston Riverdogs in A Ball.

Longenecker liked our pitching and ranked David Palladino, Nick Rumbelow, Cale Coshow, and Philip Walby as having the best fastballs in the draft as all four of the pitcher touch or top 96 MPH. Walby even touched 98 MPH comfortable but Longenecker praised left hander Tyler Webb because of his "average velocity but his fastball plays up because of his command and deception." Palladino will probably stay in Staten Island with Coshow while Rumbelow and Walby head up to Charleston. Webb already has tore up the scene with the Riverdogs and could be headed to High A with the Tampa Yankees by 2014.

The best secondary stuff went to Ian Clarkin, Nick Rumbelow, and David Palladino. Clarkin missed most of the 2013 season with an ankle injury but Longenecker says Clarkin "has the makings of a plus curveball. Palladino's curveball and Rumbelow's slider are plus at their best." Clarkin will "repeat" Staten Island in 2014 but with his stuff, as raw as it is, I do not see him staying there long.

Finally Longenecker praised Dustin Fowler and Caleb Smith as the best late round picks because of Smith's potential for a plus fastball and changeup and Fowler's athleticism to go with his simple swing and above average speed. Finally, and this makes me very happy, Brandon Thomas was named the drafts best athlete. I like this because I live in metro Atlanta, Georgia and support the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and that is where Thomas spent his college career.

Kendall Coleman Signs An Above Slot Deal

Kendall Coleman, it was reported here earlier in the week, signed a deal with the New York Yankees after being drafted in the 11th round of the 2013 MLB First Year Players Draft. Kendall's slot recommendation, like everyone drafted in rounds 11-40, is $100,000 so he will require an extra $50,000 coming from the Yankees surplus. As reported earlier when David Palladino signed an above slot deal as well, by my math, the Yankees had an extra $172,000 to play with roughly. With this hit against the surplus the Yankees now have $122,000 to give to Ian Clarkin or other draftees over slot.

Yankees Sign David Palladino To Above Slot Deal

The Yankees have announced that they have signed their fifth round pick David Palladino to an above slot deal. David was taken 164th overall in the 2013 MLB First Year Players Draft and came with a slot recommendation of $278,100 but ended up signing for  $371,000. The $93,000 extra will have to come from other guys who have signed for less like Brandon Thomas who signed for half his slot recommendation when he signed for $75,000 saving the Yankees $75,000. John Murphy also signed for $20,000 which is $190,000 less than the slot recommendation so the Yankees, even after signing Palladino, still have an extra $172,000 to give to players like Ian Clarkin without paying penalties.

2013 Draft Signings For June 11th

The Yankees signed two more of their drafted players from the 2013 draft today as 5th rounder David Palladino and 31st rounder Kevin Cornelius have both agreed to sign with the Yankees pending physicals. Palladino is a 6'9" 255 lb right handed pitcher from New Jersey and his slot recommendation is right at $278 K. Cornelius, this being the second time he was drafted by the Yankees as he was drafted late in the 2011 draft, with a slot recommendation of $100 K. Both players should officially be part of the Yankees organization by this time tomorrow so congrats to both of them.

Yankee Draft Picks On Day Two

Last night I took a look at the Yankees three first round picks following night one of the MLB First Year Player draft. Round 2 also happened last night, and the Yankees decided on Gosuke Katoh, a second baseman out of Rancho Bernardo High School in California.

Katoh is a left-handed batter, who styles his swing after Ichiro Suzuki, meaning he's a contact hitter but with little power. Gosuke, like Ichiro, uses his plus speed along with a compact swing. Although he doesn't have a strong arm, it's said to be good enough for second base, and along with having good hands and good range he should be a fine defender. Katoh has verbally committed to UCLA.

The draft continued today, and the Yankees selected the following players in rounds 3 through 10...

Round 3 Pick #103 Michael O'Neill, CF University of Michigan

-Michael is actually the nephew of Paul O'Neill. Like his uncle, Michael is known for making consistent hard contact using all fields. He doesn't currently have home run power, but he has room to add muscle that could change that. Although you wouldn't call him "fast", Michael is a smart runner. He's also said to be a solid defender, although it's unclear where he'll end up as he's not fast enough for CF, but doesn't have the power of your typical corner OF.

Round 4 Pick #134 Tyler Wade, SS Murrieta Valley HS (California)

-Another left-handed hitting infielder, who had an excellent senior season. Tyler is a speedy athlete, yet stands 6'2" and weighs just 178 pounds, meaning there's plenty of room to add some bulk. Even so, scouts don't expect him to hit for power in the future, but his line-drive swing makes him somebody to keep an eye on offensively. Wade's good arm and range make it so he could remain at shortstop up to the Majors. He's committed to San Diego State.

Round 5 Pick #164 David Palladino, RHP Howard College

-Last year Palladino's season was cut short due to needing surgery to repair a tendon in his knee. After transferring to Howard from South Carolina-Upstate, David had a fine season. The  6'9" 230 pounder has a fastball that reaches the mid-90s, but it's a straight pitch that requires him to use a strong downhill angle. He also throws a curveball, changeup, and slider. Even though he's a big guy that throws fairly hard, he has an easy delivery. Palladino is committed to LSU.

Round 6 Pick #194 John Murphy, SS Sacred Heart University

-Another left-handed hitting shortstop, Murphy hit .374/.449/.576 with four home runs and 29 stolen bases for Sacred Heart this past season. Although he's a fine hitter, he's a bit impatient at the plate. If all goes well, John could be a good top of the lineup hitter.

Round 7 Pick #224 Nick Rumbelow, RHP Louisiana State University

-Rumbelow has a fastball that sits in the low 90s, but is pretty straight. However he also has a sharp curveball that could become a plus pitch, thus covering for an average fastball. The problem with Nick is that his delivery is far from effortless, and he doesn't have good control. Scouts are concerned that his poor arm action could lead to health problems, and his best-case scenario is as a two-pitch reliever.

Round 8 Pick #254 Brandon Thomas, CF Georgia Tech University

-After leading the Yellow Jackets in batting average and on-base percentage in 2012 as a junior, Thomas is having a fine senior year. Although he missed a couple of weeks with mononucleosis, he bounced back well. Brandon is a switch-hitter with a line-drive swing, but he's a strong kid that can hit for power. He's a plus runner but will need to learn to take better routes to balls if he's to stick at centerfield.

Round 9 Pick #284 Kendrick O'Connor, LHP Auburn University

-O'Connor transferred to Auburn this year, after spending time at Georgia Tech and Northwest Florida State Junior College, and split time between the bullpen and the rotation. He doesn't throw a hard fastball, which tops out in the upper 80s, but it has good movement. He has good control of his changeup and curveball, making them look like they could be average MLB pitches. Kendrick is an aggressive pitcher with some deception in his delivery, making him an intriguing prospect.

Round 10 Pick #314 Tyler Webb, LHP University of South Carolina

-A 6'6" lefty with a fastball that sits in the low 90s, to go along with a good curveball. Webb was dominant this year as the closer for the Gamecocks, but scouts are a bit wary of him due to a history of elbow injuries. Tyler seems to be in the high-risk/high-reward department.

Rounds 11-40 will start at 1pm EST tomorrow.