Meet the 2019 Yankees: Aaron Hicks

A lot of people sleep on the Yankees center fielder and I truly don’t know why. Even as recently as this offseason I have seen trade proposals from fans, by the way… as Mike Axisa of River Avenue Blues says… your trade proposal sucks, involving Hicks and others for pitchers like Madison Bumgarner, etc. Why? Let me ask you a question, we all know that Mike Trout is the best center fielder in the game, but according to WAR, do you know who the second best was? While you Google that and pull up Baseball Reference let’s meet the man with the second highest WAR for all center fielders in the game in 2018, and the man that still gets no respect. Mr. Aaron Hicks, everybody.

Aaron Hicks, 29-years old, is a switch-hitting and right-handed throwing center fielder for the New York Yankees that was acquired from the Minnesota Twins. Hicks, 6’1” and 202 lbs., is entering the final year of arbitration eligibility and will become a free agent at the end of the season if he and the team do not work out an extension before the end of the 2019 World Series. Hicks has a patient approach at the plate and will take his walks when given to him, and personally I see him leading off for the Yankees here in 2019.

Aaron Michael Hicks was born on October 2, 1989 in San Pedro, California. Hicks attended Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, California where he caught the attention of the Minnesota Twins who drafted him in the first round of the 2008 MLB First Year Players Draft. Hicks, considered a top prospect in all of baseball and the Twins top prospect for much of his Minor League career, spent time in Minnesota’s minor league system until March 24, 2013 when it was announced that he would be the team’s Opening Day center fielder entering the season.

Hicks chose to honor Dave Winfield by choosing #32 for his uniform number. Hicks struggled in his rookie season, batting just .192 before being sent down to Triple-A for the remainder of the season on August 1. Hicks was back in center field on Opening Day 2014 for the Twins, although he struggled once again out of the gate and was once again demoted to the Minor Leagues on June 9. Hicks gave up switch-hitting in 2014 due to the lack of confidence in his ability to hit left-handed, however he went back to switch-hitting less than a month later after being sent down.

Hicks improved in 2015 and finally showed glimpses of what he could be, finishing the season with a .256 average and 11 home runs with 33 RBI in 97 games. The Twins decided to sell high on Hicks and traded him following the 2015 campaign to the New York Yankees for catcher John Ryan Murphy. Hicks regressed a bit in 2016, posting a .217 average with just eight home runs and 31 RBI in 123 games, but his defense and ability to hit left-handed pitching intrigued the Yankees enough to give him the starting center fielder job once again in 2017.

The patience and work with Hicks finally paid off for New York and for Aaron in 2017. By early June, Hicks had already surpassed his entire 2016 totals in home runs (10) and RBI (34) and was among the top ten in the league in both OBP and OPS. Hicks was slowed by an oblique injury in June and again on September 3, finishing the season with a .266 average and 15 home runs with 52 RBI, all career highs. Hicks was again among the best center fielders offensively and defensively in 2018 and finished the season again with career highs in home runs (27), RBI (79) and hits (119).

What does the future hold for Hicks in 2019? Will we see an all new set of career highs? Honestly, I think so, and naturally I hope so, but you will just have to stay tuned to the 2019 Yankees to find out. We are rooting for you A-Aron!!

Meet the 2019 Yankees: Greg Bird

If Luke Voit is the incumbent, the Goliath, then you have to think that Greg Bird is David, right? I mean, aside from a big home run or two in the 2017 postseason, Greg Bird and his health have left much to be desired. Bird essentially lost his starting job at first base last season to Voit and is in camp looking to win it back. Can he do it? Only time will tell, but while we wait for it all unfold this spring let’s get reacquainted with the Birdman of New York.

Greg Bird, 26-years old, is a left-handed batting and right-handed throwing first baseman that was originally drafted as a catcher by the New York Yankees. Bird does not swing and miss as much as some, the lefty has right around a 33% swing and miss rate, but he will never be a .300 hitter at the MLB level either. Bird has an uppercut swing that could take advantage of the short porch inside Yankee Stadium if he is ever healthy enough to play a full, productive season.

Gregory Paul Bird was born on November 9, 1992 in Memphis TN. His family eventually moved him to Aurora, Colorado where the lefty swinging Bird attended Grandview High School. While at the school, Bird was a catcher and the battery mate of MLB pitcher Kevin Gausman. Bird was named the Colorado Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year as a senior and committed to attending the University of Arkansas to play college baseball. The Yankees drafted Bird in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB First Year Players Draft, hoping a $1.1 million signing bonus would convince him to bypass his commitment to Arkansas. Bird eventually signed with the Yankees and was immediately moved to first base.

Bird played four games after signing in 2011 and another 28 games in 2012, this time due to injury. Bird had a breakout season in 2013 and even won the Kevin Lawn Award as the Yankees Minor League Player of the Year. Bird reached as high as Double-A in 2014 before heading to the Arizona Fall League after the season, including a trip to the AFL Fall Stars Game. With an AFL MVP Award in his hands he headed back to Double-A, and eventually to Triple-A, for the 2015 season before the New York Yankees big league club came calling on August 13. Bird made his MLB debut that same night and ended the game 0-5. Bird became the Yankees everyday starter after Teixeira suffered a shin fracture on a hit-by-pitch that ended his season.

Bird suffered a right shoulder injury during the offseason before the 2016 season and was never quite right, even after a successful surgery to repair a torn labrum. Bird missed the entire 2016 season before heading down to the AFL once again to get some work in before the 2017 season. Bird made it through spring training healthy in 2017, we thought anyway, but an ankle injury that he sustained in the spring landed him on the disabled list on May 2^nd, thus hampering what looked to be a strong season for the Yankees first baseman. Bird was later diagnosed with an injury to the os trigonum in his right foot and would need to have surgery to remove the bone. After missing 103 games, Bird returned to the lineup just in time for the 2017 postseason. Bird would come back and hit an integral home run off Cleveland Indians pitcher Andrew Miller in Game 3 of the ALDS, keeping the Yankees season alive. Bird served as the Yankees final out in Game 7 of the ALCS, ending the Yankees season just one game shy of the World Series.

Bird underwent ankle surgery in March of 2018 and returned off the disabled list on May 26, but he never seemed to fully have his legs under him the rest of that season. Bird struggled once again and saw him playing time diminish after the Yankees acquired Luke Voit in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. Now, Bird will have to fight for his job back this spring and either win the job outright, or presumably head back down to Triple-A to begin the 2019 campaign. Nobody wants that, so let’s put in some work. Good luck, Greg. I am personally rooting for you and counting on you because I know a healthy Greg Bird not only makes the offense better in 2019, but it makes the defense significantly better as well. Get it done!

Meet a Prospect: Chance Adams

The New York Yankees were in a bit of a predicament heading into the weekend which ultimately forced the hand of the organization into calling up the subject of our Meet a Prospect series here this afternoon. The Yankees had originally slated JA Happ to make his Yankees debut against the Boston Red Sox this afternoon, but hand, foot and mouth disease has forced the lefty onto the disabled list and Chance Adams to the Major Leagues to take his place in the rotation. In just a few hours one of the top Yankees prospects, and one that I have talked up for many, many years now, will make his MLB debut against arguably the best team in Major League Baseball here in 2018. No pressure, kid. This is Meet a Prospect: The Chance Adams Edition.

Chance Adams was born on August 10, 1994 and attended High School at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Adams spent two years playing college baseball at Yavapai College before transferring to Dallas Baptist University for his junior season. While at Dallas Baptist the right-hander caught the attention and the eye of the New York Yankees who came calling in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB First Year Players Draft drafting him and almost immediately signing him to his first professional contract. Adams was drafted as a relief pitcher and pitched out of the bullpen for the Staten Island Yankees, the Charleston Riverdogs and the Tampa Yankees before his 2015 season ended.

Adams was converted to a starting pitcher before the 2016 season and spent time starting with the Tampa Yankees (5-0 record with a 2.65 ERA in 12 games) and the Trenton Thunder (8-1 record with a 2.07 ERA). Adams was back as a starter for the Double-A Trenton Thunder in 2017, but the right-hander was not long for the affiliate as the Yankees quickly and aggressively promoted Adams to Triple-A during the 2017 season. Adams was lights out in Double-A but he did struggle some at the Triple-A level finishing the season with a combined 15-5 record and a 2.45 ERA in 150.1 innings pitched combined.

Adams was back in Triple-A for the 2018 season but unfortunately many of the struggles that found him in Scranton in 2017 followed the right-hander into the 2018 season. At the time of his call-up to the Major Leagues the Yankees young right-hander was pitching to a 3-5 record with a 4.50 ERA, 102 strikeouts, 48 walks and a 1.316 WHIP in 98 innings pitched.

The 2018 numbers and the Triple-A numbers in general were ugly, but much like the postseason… it is a new season now and none of those numbers count. Make today’s start count, because we are counting on you. Welcome to the Majors, Chance. Go Yankees!!

Meet a Prospect: Reid Anderson

With their 40^th round pick, 1207^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Reid Anderson, a right-handed pitcher out of Brown University. Let’s meet the man that concluded the Yankees 2018 Draft when he was selected. This is Meet a Prospect: The Reid Anderson Edition.

Anderson, an Aledo, Texas native, was a starter for Brown University all four years while at the school pitching in a total of 31 games, 26 as a starting pitcher. Along the way Anderson racked up 130 strikeouts over 143 innings across four seasons including a team-high 41 K’s as a junior in 2017. Anderson did pitch to a 5.98 ERA while at Brown University, but the right-hander was much stronger in High School pitching to a 12-1 record with a 0.72 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 70 innings.

The Yankees have signed their 40th round pick so let us be one of the first to welcome him not only to the Yankees organization, but to the Yankees family as well. You can follow Reid on Twitter by following @YouKnowTaco , one of the best Twitter handles in all of baseball in my opinion.

Meet a Prospect: Sincere Smith

With their 32^nd round pick, 967^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Sincere Smith, a shortstop out of East Bladen High School in North Carolina. Sincere is a versatile athlete that played both baseball and football in high school, playing shortstop and pitching for the baseball team while playing quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback as a member of the school’s football team. Wow. Let’s meet this young man. This is Meet a Prospect: The Sincere Smith Edition.

Smith stands at 5’11” and weighs in at 170 lbs. while throwing and batting from the right side. Smith was a Four County (NC) All-Conference First Team selection and was also named the East Bladen High School’s team MVP in 2018. Smith’s speed and arm strength will be on full display at the lowest levels of the Yankees minor league system, but something tells me that with a little hard work from Sincere that he won’t be down there for long.

Sincere has sincerely enjoyed the whole MLB Draft has experience and has already signed a deal with the New York Yankees, let’s welcome him not only to the organization but to the family as well. Unfortunately, we will have to do that the old-fashioned way as Sincere does not have any known Twitter or social media accounts as of the time of this writing.

Meet a Prospect: Max Burt

With their 28^th round pick, 847^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Max Burt, a third baseman out of Northeastern University in Massachusetts. Burt was a senior at Northeastern and had not been previously drafted, let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Max Burt Edition.

Burt stands 6’2” and weighs in at 185 lbs. as he bats and throws from the right side. Burt has four years of college under his belt at Northeastern where he played shortstop and served as the team captain for the Huskies while leading the team to an NCAA tournament appearance in 2018. Burt also helped Northeastern become a perennial contender in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) showing that his leader skills and maturity may become an invaluable tool for him going forward as he begins his professional career. 

Burt is defensive player more so than an offensive player and he even won the CAA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2017. Burt has a strong throwing arm and can man the third base position with ease, but his offense and lack of power may not translate to him sticking there if he were to reach the Major League level. Burt had just 12 home runs in his four years with the Huskies and another three home runs while playing in the Cape Cod League for two seasons.

Burt has experience as an amateur at shortstop, third base and as catcher so he may become one of those versatile players that the Yankees love so much, and the type of player that every team covets. Stay tuned. Burt has already agreed to sign with the club so let’s welcome him not only to the Yankees organization, but to the family as well. You can follow Max on twitter by following @MaxBurt14.

Meet a Prospect: Mickey Gasper

With their 27^th round pick, 817^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Mickey Gasper, a first baseman out of Bryant University in Rhode Island. Surprisingly, Gasper was the first, first baseman to be drafted by the Yankees in the 2018 Draft, so let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Mickey Gasper Edition.

Gasper stands 5’10” and weighs in at 190 lbs. as he throws right-handed and bats from both sides of the plate. Gasper was originally listed as a catcher at the time of him being drafted, but the Yankees requested that he be listed as a first baseman going forward. Gasper is a four-year college senior that slashed .344/.469/.524 with 119 RBI while playing at Bryant University. As a senior Gasper slashed .340/.468/.539 with just 20 strikeouts in over 200 at-bats.

Gasper is a power hitter and the Yankees are hoping that some of his doubles turn into home runs as he matures and fills into his body going forward. Gasper has played in the Cape Cod League in 2016 and 2017 meaning he knows his way around a wooden bat, an important aspect as he begins his professional career with the Yankees.

Mickey has already decided to sign with the club so let’s welcome him not only to the organization, but to the Yankees family as well. You can follow Mickey on Twitter by giving @_Mick_the_Kid_ a follow.

Yankees Top Prospects List Post 2018 MLB Draft

The New York Yankees added a ton of depth and pitching to an already budding farm system through the draft and the future is bright once again here in the Bronx. Even with the graduation from prospect’s status of both Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres the Yankees farm system is still loaded with young talent on the cusp of making an impact, many of which are listed here on my post-2018 MLB Draft top Yankees prospects list. Enjoy!

1.       Estevan Florial

2.       Justus Sheffield

3.       Albert Abreu

4.       Chance Adams

5.       Luis Medina

6.       Jonathan Loaisiga

7.       Domingo German

8.       Anthony Seigler

9.       Dillon Tate

10.   Freicer Perez

11.   Thairo Estrada

12.   Domingo Acevedo

13.   Billy McKinney

14.   Matt Sauer

15.   Trevor Stephan

This was genuinely hard to do, and that is the best problem to have. Having a top arm like Domingo Acevedo ranked 12^th, only because of how far away he is from the majors and having an MLB-ready outfielder like Billy McKinney 13^th is just a gluttony of talent. The team is still loaded, even after losing Gleyber and Andujar on their prospects list, and will be, if Yankees GM Brian Cashman can navigate the coming trade seasons and offseason well, for the foreseeable future.

Meet a Prospect: Keegan Curtis

With their 22^nd round pick, 667^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Keegan Curtis, a right-handed pitcher out of the University of Louisiana Monroe. Another round and another college experienced right-handed arm to add to the fold, let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Keegan Curtis Edition.

Curtis stands 6’0” and weighs in at 175 lbs. and was drafted as a college senior with a .600 winning percentage in 20 games played at ULM. Curtis allowed just 11 runs all season long including two home runs which was good for a 2.88 ERA and seven saves as a closer. Curtis struggled as a starting pitcher in his previous three collegiate seasons before breaking out in 2018 while pitching out of the bullpen.

Curtis could be fast-tracked through the Yankees system as a relief pitcher, although it wouldn’t surprise me to see the team try and pitch him as a starter a la Chance Adams, Jonathan Holder and others.

Keegan has already agreed to a contract with the organization so let us not only welcome him to the team, but to the Yankees family as well. You can follow Keegan on Twitter by following @Curtis_Keegan06.

Meet a Prospect: Mitchell Robinson

With their 21st round pick, 637^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Mitchell Robinson, a third baseman out of the University of British Columbia. Robinson was previously drafted four years ago out of High School by the Miami Marlins in the 22^nd round, but ultimately decided to head to college where he was a four-year senior. Let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Mitchell Robinson Edition.

Robinson is a large guy down at third base standing 6’3” and weighing in at 200 lbs. Robinson is right-handed both in batting and throwing and he uses his big frame to generate a ton of power while at the dish. As a senior, Robinson posted an impressive .361 average with eight home runs and 54 RBI while taking more walks, 28, than he struck out, 27, all of the 2018 season.

Robinson has the potential to be a versatile player for the Yankees in their minor league system after playing third base, catcher and first base while at the University of British Columbia, with Florida International and at Central Arizona University. Robinson’s defensive versatility and polished college bat may see him fly through the Yankees system in a couple of years.

Mitchell has already signed with the club since the draft so let’s welcome him not only to the Yankees organization, but to the Yankees family as well. You can follow Mitchell Robinson on Twitter by following @mitchrobinson44.

Meet a Prospect: Alex Junior

With their 19^th round pick, 577^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Alex Junior, an outfielder out of Tennessee Tech University. Alex reminds me a lot of Brett Gardner in a way, so let’s meet the man who suddenly has a huge comparison to live up to. This is Meet a Prospect: The Alex Junior Edition.

Junior stands just 5’10” and weighs in at just 188 lbs. which make the comparisons to Gardner obvious right away, but it isn’t just his size that leads me to believe that he plays the game like the Yankees current left fielder. Junior is also a speedy leadoff type hitter that slashed .326/.458/.494 in 250 at-bats this season as a redshirt junior. Junior also walked 49 times this season with only 50 strikeouts showing a patience and plate discipline that I also compare to Gardner’s approach at the plate. Junior also plays a good center field, the position that Gardner came up playing before shifting to left field when the team acquired Jacoby Ellsbury and Johnny Damon in recent years to play center.

Junior prioritizes getting on base as an important aspect of his game, which he explained in an interview with Baseball America before the Draft:

“I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT. MY ONE TRUE GOAL IS JUST TO GET ON BECAUSE I KNOW I HAVE THE BIG DONKEYS BEHIND ME TO GET ME IN, WHETHER I’M AT FIRST OR SECOND. I FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO GET ME IN NO MATTER WHERE I AM. IT SORT OF TAKES OFF THE PRESSURE WITH ME. SOMETIMES THERE’S RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION THAT I’VE GOT TO GET IN, BUT FOR THE MOST PART I’M JUST TRYING TO GET ON SO THOSE GUYS CAN HIT ME AROUND. I KNOW THEY CAN AND I KNOW THEY WILL.”

Alex has already signed with the club after the draft so let’s welcome him not only to the Yankees organization, but to the Yankees family as well. You can follow Alex on Twitter by following @JuniorCloud9.

Hello… UPDATED 2018 MLB Draft Tracker

The New York Yankees made 40 selections in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft so here is a quick update on who they drafted and whether they have signed with the organization or not. Enjoy!

And Kari, I may not have picked you first in my life but knowing what I know now I will pick you every time from here on out. I love you.

Meet a Prospect: Alex Guerrero

With their 18^th round pick, 547^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Alex Guerrero, a catcher from Eagle High School in Idaho. Guerrero, in an interesting stat, did not have a stolen base during his entire High School baseball career, so let’s meet the man who far from threatens starting pitching while on the base paths. This is Meet a Prospect: The Alex Guerrero Edition.

Alex stands 6’0” and weighs in at 185 lbs. batting from the left side but throwing from the right. I joked about his lack of stolen bases while in High School and mentioned that he did not threaten starting pitchers while on the bases, but he definitely threatened them as a senior at Eagles High School with his bat. Guerrero batted .413 with three home runs, 16 RBI and eight doubles which was good for a .532 OBP and .682 slugging percentage.

Here is what PerfectGame.org had to say about Guerrero prior to the Draft:

“GUERRERO IS SOLID BEHIND THE PLATE DEFENSIVELY BUT HIS BEST TOOL IS HIS STRONG LEFTHANDED BAT. HE HAS QUICK HANDS AND A SHORT AND DIRECT SWING AND HAS SHOWN THE ABILITY TO DRIVE THE BALL WITH CARRY TO ALL FIELDS. GUERRERO HIT .452-3-24 AS A JUNIOR AT EAGLE HIGH SCHOOL, AND AT WASHINGTON, WHERE HE IS SIGNED, HAVING AN OUTSTANDING TRIO OF CATCHERS IN THEIR 2018 SIGNING CLASS, IT HAS BEEN SPECULATED THAT GUERRERO MIGHT MOVE TO A CORNER POSITION TO GET HIS BAT IN THE LINEUP.”

Guerrero has already signed with the club, thus foregoing his commitment to the University of Washington, so let’s welcome him not only to the Yankees organization, but to the Yankees family as well. Guerrero unfortunately does not have a Twitter account that we know of, so we will have to send our congrats and well wishes the old-fashioned way I guess. Make us proud, Alex.

Oh, and it is also worth mentioning that in High School the newest Yankees catcher did post a 4.1 GPA and scored a 1360 on his SAT’s. Between that and his decision to sign with the Yankees the guy seems to be a pretty smart guy.

Meet a Prospect: Derek Craft

With their 16^th round pick, 487^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Derek Craft, a center a wide receiver a right-handed starting pitcher out of the University of Texas-San Antonio (UTSA). Craft is an imposing figure out on the mound, so let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Derek Craft Edition.

Craft stands 6’8” and weighs in at 200 lbs. making him an uncomfortable at-bat for opposing hitters every time that he takes the mound. Craft was dominating as a junior posting a 1.89 ERA in 52.1 innings of work as he split time between the bullpen and the starting rotation. Craft made 24 appearances in 2018, although only three of them came as a starter, and held opposing hitters to a .211 batting average against while striking out 62 in 52 innings of work.

2018 was definitely a breakout season for Craft after struggling for much of his sophomore season so be on the lookout for him as he could potentially fly through the Yankees system. New York may opt to go the Chance Adams route with Craft and convert him into a starter, or the team could simply have another bullpen weapon waiting in the wings for Aaron Boone’s disposal in a couple of seasons.

Craft has signed with the New York Yankees as of the time of this writing so let’s all welcome him not only to the organization, but to the Yankees family as well. You can follow Derek on Twitter by giving @pitchDMC a follow. While you are there go ahead and give us a follow as well, @GreedyStripes. We follow back!

Meet a Prospect: Nick Ernst

With their 15^th round pick, 457^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Nick Ernst, a right-handed starting pitcher out of Miami University in Ohio. It will be a while before we see Ernst on the mound at any of the Yankees affiliates as this season the right-hander tore his UCL, resulting in Tommy John surgery, but let’s meet him regardless. This is Meet a Prospect: The Nick Ernst Edition.

Now I know what you’re thinking, the Yankees drafted yet another college experienced right-handed starting pitcher for their upper levels of their farm system. Yes and no. As I alluded to earlier Ernst tore his UCL and has already undergone Tommy John surgery to repair the ligament, a surgery that will force him to miss the 2018 season and likely most of the 2019 season. When healthy Ernst is not the type of pitcher the Yankees have drafted recently in previous drafts. Ernst is a huge frame standing 6’3” and weighing in at 195 lbs. but that is where the similarities begin and end. Ernst is not a guy throwing in the high 90 MPH range and he is not going to be a pitcher that strikes out nearly 10 batters per nine innings either. Instead Ernst sits around 92 MPH with the ability to touch 94 MPH with a devastating slider that he uses as his out pitch. 

Here is what CollegeBaseballCentral.com had to say about Ernst: 

 “MOST TEAMS WOULD STRUGGLE AFTER LOSING THEIR FRIDAY NIGHT STARTER TWO WEEKS INTO THE SEASON. NOT ONLY DOES THAT MEAN YOU’VE LOST WHAT IS TYPICALLY THE BEST STARTING PITCHER ON THE ROSTER, BUT IT ALSO MEANS THAT EVERYONE ELSE ON THE STAFF HAS TO SLIDE DOWN A SPOT, WHICH HURTS YOUR DEPTH.

MIAMI (25-15, 11-7) WAS IN THAT POSITION AFTER THE SECOND WEEKEND OF THE SEASON, WHEN NICK ERNST WENT DOWN WITH A TORN UCL. THAT WAS AFTER, MIND YOU, ERNST BEGAN HIS SEASON BY THROWING SIX INNINGS AGAINST ARIZONA STATE, GIVING UP JUST FOUR HITS AND ONE RUN WITH NO WALKS AND SIX STRIKEOUTS IN A 4-2 WIN THAT GAVE THE REDHAWKS THEIR FIRST OPENING DAY WIN SINCE 2007.”

“NICK ERNST LOOKED LIKE HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO A BREAKOUT JUNIOR SEASON AS HE SHUT DOWN ARIZONA STATE IN MIAMI’S SEASON OPENER, BUT HE LEFT HIS NEXT START WITH AN ELBOW INJURY THAT REQUIRED TOMMY JOHN SURGERY. ERNST COULD HEAD BACK TO THE REDHAWKS FOR HIS SENIOR SEASON, BUT HE COULD STILL BE DRAFTED BY A TEAM INTRIGUED BY HIS 90-94 MPH FASTBALL AND PROMISING SLIDER.”

Nick has already signed with the team since the draft so welcome to the Yankees organization, and welcome to the Yankees family as well. You can follow Nick on Twitter by following @NickyE123.

Meet a Prospect: Matt Pita

With their 12^th round pick, 367^th overall, in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft the New York Yankees selected Matt Pita, an outfielder from the Virginia Military Institute. Imagine that, the Yankees drafted someone, and it wasn’t an experienced college starting pitcher. Let’s meet the man that “defied the odds.” This is Meet a Prospect: The Matt Pita Edition.

Pits stands just 5’10’ and weighs in at 175 lbs. which immediately, based on size, garners comparisons to the Yankees current left fielder Brett Gardner. Gardner is left-handed while Pita is right-handed, but both can swing the bat well, which was never more evident than during Pita’s three years at VMI. At VMI the outfielder slashed .359/.428/.639 including a .389/.459/.721 here in 2018.

Pita, now 21-years old, is beginning to develop power which translated to 41 extra-base hits in 2018. Here is what the VMI athletics page had to say about Pita prior to the draft:

“18 OF HIS 55 HITS WENT FOR EXTRA BASES…FINISHED FIFTH IN THE SOCON (BIG SOUTHERN CONFERENCE) IN BATTING AVERAGE AND EIGHTH IN SLUGGING PERCENTAGE (.583)…CLOSED OUT THE YEAR ON A 10-GAME HITTING STREAK, EIGHT OF WHICH WERE MULTI-HIT GAMES.”

Matt has already signed with the Yankees so congratulations to him and to his family. Welcome to the organization and welcome to the Yankees family. You can follow Matt on twitter by giving @Matt_Pita a follow.

Meet a Prospect: Josh Maciejewski

Pinstriped Prospects image credit

With the New York Yankees 10^th round selection in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft and 307th pick overall the organization drafted Josh Maciejewski out of UNC Charlotte. Yes, you guessed it… Maciejewski is a college starting pitcher, this time from the left-side though, with a huge frame standing 6’3” and weighing in at 209 lbs. Let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Josh Maciejewski Edition.

Maciejewski is another college senior the Yankees drafted, this time out of the University of North Carolina – Charlotte. Maciejewski has a high 80 MPH fastball that he mixes with a changeup and a developing slider, a pitch the Yankees organization has seemingly fallen in love with over the years. Maciejewski used that repertoire to post a 9-2 record this season with a 2.25 ERA en route to earning First team All-Conference USA honors.

Here is what the UNC-Charlotte athletics page had to say about Maciejewski:

“SET CHARLOTTE ALL-TIME RECORD FOR MOST STARTS IN A CAREER WITH 55 AFTER HIS COMPLETE-GAME, THREE-HIT SHUTOUT OF UAB IN THE CONFERENCE USA TOURNAMENT ON MAY 24TH … MADE ALL 15 STARTS ON THE WEEKEND IN 2018 GOING 9-2 WITH A 2.25 ERA … THREW 104 INNINGS WITH 104 STRIKEOUTS ALLOWING JUST 31 RUNS, 26 EARNED AVERAGING NINE STRIKEOUTS PER GAME AND A 4/1 STRIKEOUT-TO-WALK RATIO…  PUT UP CAREER BEST NUMBERS IN ALL MAJOR CATEGORIES DURING HIS FINAL SEASON INCLUDING WINS, ERA, INNINGS PITCHES, RUNS/EARNED RUNS, STRIKEOUTS AND OPPONENTS BATTING AVERAGE (.215) … IN ADDITION TO EARNING THE TOP SPOT ALL-TIME FOR CAREER STARTS, THE LEFT-HANDER FINISHED FIFTH WITH 330.1 CAREER INNINGS PITCHED, SIXTH ALL-TIME WITH 264 STRIKEOUTS AND TIED FOR SIXTH WITH 21 CAREER WINS.”

The Yankees should have no problem churning out, at worst, a healthy crop of good relief pitchers in the near future from the farm system. At best, though, the organization has stockpiled a ton of pitchers that could potentially move quick through the farm system. Nice work by them, kudos.

Maciejewski has already signed with the club so a warm welcome to the organization to him, and an even warmer welcome to the Yankees family. You can follow him on twitter by following @J_Maciejewski22.

Meet a Prospect: Mick Vorhof

This is just getting silly with the experienced right-handed college pitchers being drafted by the New York Yankees in the 2018 MLB First Year Players Draft. With the Yankees ninth-round selection, 277^th overall, the team took right-handed pitcher Mick Vorhof, a senior out of Grand Canyon University, so let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Mick Vorhof Edition.

Vorhof stands 6’1” and weighs in at 205 lbs. perfectly fitting the mold of what the organization has been drafting lately. Some opined that Vorhof was a slot saving pick since he is a senior and has very few options to fall back on if he decided not to sign with the Yankees, but after pitching solely as a reliever at GCU he could be a fast mover through the Yankees system. In 2018 Vorhof posted an 11.67 K/9 ratio while only giving up three walks in 38 innings of work the entire season. Vorhof is a fastball/curveball type pitcher that relies on amazing command and control.

Vorhof has been working under former Yankee and current GCU Head Coach Andy Stankiewicz which could have aided the team in their drafting of Vorhof. Would Vorhof want to start once inside the Yankees organization? Here is an exact quote from him before the Draft:

“I LOVE THE BULLPEN NOW,” VORHOF SAID. “I DON’T SEE IT ANY OTHER WAY, REALLY. I STARTED MY WHOLE LIFE BUT, BEING IN THE BULLPEN NOW, I FOUND MY PLACE. I LIKE TO WORK QUICK. IT ALLOWS ME TO BE AT MY BEST WITH THE STUFF I HAVE. I LIKE THE PRESSURE. IT MAKES IT FUN.”

Vorhof has already signed with the organization so welcome to the team, and also welcome to the family! Follow Mick on Twitter by following @MickVorhof.

Meet a Prospect: Connor Van Hoose

Another round and another college right-handed starting pitcher for the New York Yankees. I have to admit that it is an interesting strategy the Yankees have been working with the last two MLB Drafts. Stockpile the system with experienced right-handed arms that can be groomed quickly either to help out at the Major League level or to use as trade bait in potential trades. The latest arm to join the organization was that of Connor Van Hoose who the organization selected with their 8^th round pick, 247^th overall. Let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Connor Van Hoose Edition.

Van Hoose stands 6’1” and weighs in at 175 lbs. which projects him to be more like Luis Severino, size wise anyway, than the power forwards and linebackers the team had selected in the previous rounds before him. Van Hoose came from Bucknell University where he took home Patriot League Pitcher of the Year honors here in 2018. Van Hoose posted an 8-4 record with a 2.36 ERA during the regular season only to turn it on for conference play posting a dominating 6-1 record with a miniscule 0.57 ERA.

Van Hoose has a fastball that touches 88-89 MPH and a curveball that sits around 75 MPH or so. The right-hander also uses a low 80-MPH changeup to keep batters off balance and from sitting on his fastball. Here is what the Bucknell University athletics page had to say about Van Hoose since Baseball America did not have him ranked prior to the draft:

“TURNED IN ONE OF THE FINEST SEASONS IN BUCKNELL BASEBALL HISTORY … PATRIOT LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE YEAR AND FIRST TEAM ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE SELECTON … BECAME THE FIRST BUCKNELL STARTING PITCHER IN THE PATRIOT LEAGUE ERA TO BE A TWO-TIME FIRST TEAM HONOREE … TWO-TIME PATRIOT LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE WEEK … ON APR. 21 VS. LEHIGH PITCHED THE FIFTH NO-HITTER IN BUCKNELL HISTORY … NAMED NCBWA NATIONAL PITCHER OF THE WEEK FOLLOWING THAT PERFORMANCE … MADE 12 STARTS AND WENT 8-4 WITH A 2.36 ERA … IN PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAY WENT 6-1 WITH A MINISCULE 0.57 ERA, WHILE HOLDING OPPOSING HITTERS TO A .151 AVERAGE … IN HIS SEVEN STARTS IN PL PLAY, ALLOWED ONLY 24 HITS, AND 22 WERE SINGLES … FOR THE FULL SEASON, STRUCK OUT 108 BATTERS, THIRD-MOST IN SCHOOL HISTORY AND THE MOST SINCE DON RICHARDS IN THE MID-1950S … OPPONENTS HIT ONLY .201 AGAINST HIM WITH ONLY 12 EXTRA-BASE HITS … LED THE NATION WITH SIX COMPLETE GAMES.”

Connor has already signed with the organization, so welcome to the family and congratulations! Unfortunately, Van Hoose does not have a known Twitter account at this time… or maybe he is smarter than us all (aside from Anthony Seigler who also does not have one).

Meet a Prospect: Daniel Bies

Another pick by the New York Yankees in the 2018 MLB Draft and another huge-framed, big-stature, experienced college right-handed starting pitcher for the farm system. Following a recent trend for the Yankees that dates back to the 2017 MLB Draft the Yankees are stockpiling experienced right-handed starters via the draft and the latest is Daniel Bies, a starter from the University of Gonzaga. Let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Daniel Bies Edition.

Bies stands 6’8” and weighs in at 245 lbs. giving the Yankees another option for either their football or basketball team of pitchers the organization is seemingly putting together. Bies throws and bats right-handed and was the team’s 7^th round selection this year in the draft, 217^th overall.

In 16 starts as a red-shirt junior this season Bies posted a 7-4 record with a 2.49 ERA along with 125 strikeouts and just 25 walks in 112 innings of work. That’s all the Yankees need, another pitcher with nearly a 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings ratio.

Here is what Baseball America had to say about Bies before the Draft:

“ONE OF THE BIGGEST PITCHERS IN THE 2018 DRAFT CLASS, BIES IS A 6-FOOT-8, 245-POUND RIGHTHANDER WHO HAS A FASTBALL UP TO 94 MPH AND AN ABOVE-AVERAGE BREAKING BALL. BIES HAD TOMMY JOHN SURGERY IN HIGH SCHOOL AND REDSHIRTED DURING HIS FIRST YEAR WITH GONZAGA, BUT HE HAS IMPROVED EACH SEASON SINCE 2016. BIES HAS TURNED INTO AN ABOVE-AVERAGE STRIKE THROWER AFTER WALKING MORE THAN ONE BATTER PER INNING IN A SHORT 2016 SEASON AND THEN OVER FIVE BATTERS PER NINE INNINGS IN 2017. THIS SPRING, BIES HAS GONE RIGHT AFTER HITTERS WITH A SOLID-AVERAGE FASTBALL THAT PLAYS UP THANKS TO HIS SIZE AND THE PLANE HE’S ABLE TO GET ON THE BALL.”

Bies has already agreed to sign with the Yankees so congratulations to him and his family. Welcome to the organization and welcome to the family. You can follow Daniel on Twitter by following @DBies21, or you can follow this Daniel by following @GreedyStripes. Thank you!