Yankees Have Added 13 to Spring Training Camp

The New York Yankees have added a total of 13 players to their major league spring training camp this week presumably to help with split squad games and the everyday grind of the schedule. Many "wrongs" have been righted with these call ups although many of these players are expected to go back down as soon as tomorrow. According to the transactions page on Yankees.com the following players have been added to Yankees camp:

LHP Matt Tracy

3B Dante Bichette Jr.

OF Michael O'Neill

OF Taylor Dugas

C Alvaro Noriega

RHP Caleb Cotham

RHP Mark Montgomery

3B Eric Jagielo

RHP Jaron Long

RHP Cesar Vargas

LHP Fred Lewis

SS Tyler Wade

RHP Taylor Garrison

Charleston Riverdogs Game Recap 5/9

Win in Rome: RiverDogs Take Road Series

Rallies in fourth, seventh innings secure Charleston win in series finale

ROME, GA – A five-run rally in the fourth inning and three more runs in the seventh lifted the Charleston RiverDogs to a 9-2 win over the Rome Braves in the rubber game of a three-game series on Friday evening at State Mutual Stadium in South Atlantic League action.

Charleston improves to 18-15 as Rome’s record goes to 10-24. Friday’s contest marks the final first-half meeting between these teams. The RiverDogs now have a 4-2 edge in the season series.

Tyler Wade put the RiverDogs in front with a go-ahead single in the third inning. Eduardo de Oleo began the frame with a walk before moving to second base on a walk by Gosuke Katoh. After de Oleo advanced on an Abiatal Avelino fly out, Wade produced a single for a 1-0 Charleston lead as de Oleo scored.

In the fourth inning, Charleston exploded for a five-run rally and stretched its lead to 6-0. Katoh’s one-out single brought in Brandon Thomas to open the scoring. Avelino loaded the bases with a walk ahead of Wade, who cleared the bases with a triple and knocked Rome’s Carlos Salazar out of the contest. Wade added to the advantage when he scored on Mike Ford’s two-out double.

Charleston’s shutout bid was spoiled by Rome in the bottom of the fifth. The Braves put runners on the corners and had two outs when the RiverDogs brought in Omar Luis for Ian Clarkin. Seth Moranda singled off Luis to score Jacob Schrader and bring Rome within 6-1. In a no-decision, Clarkin allowed just three hits and was charged with the run that was scored by Schrader.

The momentum quickly swung back to the RiverDogs as their lead grew to 9-1 in the seventh. Aaron Judge led off with a solo shot over the left-center field scoreboard for his third career home run. Following a Ford walk and a wild pitch, Michael O’Neill tripled and scored on a throwing error for two more runs.

Rome was able to add a run in the ninth and cut the deficit to 9-2, but the RiverDogs closed the inning and the series with no further damage. Luis would earn his first professional victory in relief of Clarkin while Wade finished with a career-high four runs batted in.

Friday’s win moves Luis to a 1-0 record this season. Salazar is 1-3 after the loss, allowing six earned runs and six walks in 3.1 innings pitched.

COMING UP: A seven-game homestand will begin at 6:05pm on Saturday with the RiverDogs hosting the Savannah Sand Gnats. Charleston LHP Caleb Smith (3-1, 0.66 ERA) opens against Savannah RHP John Gant (3-1, 2.79 ERA) at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. The first 1,000 fans through the gates receive a Tony the Peanut Man singing bobblehead, courtesy of WCSC Channel 5, and all fans have a chance to personally enhance their ballpark experience on Social Media Saturday.Tickets may be purchased at the Riley Park Box Office, (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or on-line atwww.riverdogs.com. If fans cannot make it to the ballpark, they are encouraged to tune in to all the action this year both home and away worldwide on www.riverdogs.comand locally on 1250 WTMA, the new radio home for RiverDogs baseball.

Box Score:http://atmilb.com/1mL6dK0

Being posted with permission from the Charleston Riverdogs . 

Meet A Prospect: Michael O'Niell

Michael Aaron O'Niell, the nephew of former Yankees player and YES Network color commentator Paul O'Niell, was born on June,12 1992 in Powell, Ohio to Mike and Sandy O'Niell. Michael spent his time at Olentangy Liberty High School in Powell, Ohio and spent his college years at the University of Michigan. O'Niell stands 6'1" and weighs 195 lbs and is in his age 21 season heading into 2014. The Yankees drafted O'Niell in the third round of the 2013 MLB First Year Players Draft out of Michigan marking this as the second time the Yankees drafted O'Niell in the draft, the first time in the 42nd round of the 2010 draft out of High School. O'Niell signed a contract with the Yankees after being drafted and is now playing outfield for the Staten island Yankees in the New York Penn League.

O'Niell bats and throws right handed and as I said is an outfielder by trade playing in left field and center field as recent as this season. O'Niell had various accolades in his college baseball career including being named as a Louisville Slugger Freshman All American, he is fourth on Michigan's stolen base list, many player of the week awards, many All American team nominations, and was named the Big Ten prospect to watch before the 2013 season.

O'Niell made his professional debut with the Staten Island Yankees in 2013 and finished the season appearing in 64 games and 281 plate appearances. Michael put up a slash line of .219/.282/.293/.575 which is probably not what he had in mind but at a more advanced level then some draft picks, like Gosuke Katoh and Eric Jagielo for instance,  and should be fine heading into 2014. O'Niell hit 17 doubles, one triple, and knocked in 14 RBI's for the Staten Island Yankees but was a cause for concern on the base paths stealing nine bases and being caught seven times. The fact that O'Niell also had 93 strike outs in 64 games and only drew 14 walks is another valid cause for concern but I do not put much stock into these first half seasons after the draft, for better or for worse. O'Niell will be fine and has plenty of time, seasoning, and development ahead of him and I look forward to watching him grow in a Yankees uniform.

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.

Did The Yanks Mess Up Not Drafting Jonathan Denney?

The Boston Red Sox drafted catcher Jonathan Denney with the 81st overall pick on the second day of the 2013 MLB First Year Players draft last week. Denney was expected to go on day one and shocked the world when he was not drafted due to sign-ability issues. The Yankees "need" a big time catcher in their system to with Gary Sanchez and JR Murphy but instead passed on Denney in favor of Eric Jagielo, Aaron Judge, Ian Clarkin, Gosuke Katoh, and Michael O'Neill to name a few. The sign-ability issues had to be the reason that the Yankees continuously passed on Denney one would think but the Red Sox sort of shocked us all, well they shocked me anyway, when they signed Denney. Denney signed for $875,000 which is above the recommended slot of $671,200 in the 81st overall pick slot. Did the Yankees miss a huge opportunity to sign a big time catcher that would make an immediate impact in their farm system?

Denney was ranked in the low 20's around the internet when the lists of the best prospects in the draft would come out so it was a shock to everyone when Denney was not picked on day one and fell to the Red Sox on day two. This seemed like a no brainer for the Yankees, especially into the second round, with Denney's power hitting right handed bat behind the plate with a power arm. The Yankees tend to jump all over guys like this but for some reason passed on Denney. His footwork and mechanics are not great behind the plate and has drawn comparisons to Jesus Montero but he is also a high school catcher who would have plenty of time to work on these things.

What could have and probably should have been.... Oh well.

Yankees Sign 3rd Round Pick Michael O'Neill

The Yankees have signed third round pick, and nephew of former Yankees outfielder and current YES announcer Paul O'Neill, Michael O'Neill to a contract worth $500,900. Michael, who just turned 21 years old, signed for exactly what the slot recommended so good for him and the Yankees.

Yankees Draft Trio Of Former Yanks Family

The Yankees, in my personal prospect hugging opinion, did quite well for themselves in this years MLB First Year Players Draft drafting legit first round talent and likely stealing a few key guys in the later rounds. The Yankees used those later rounds to draft a trio of former Yankees players family members.

In the third round the Yankees drafted Michael O'Neill, nephew of former player and YES broadcast announcer Paul O'Neill, with the 103rd overall pick. O'Neill seems almost certain to sign with the Yankees so water coolers beware because another O'Neill is on the way.

The Yankees used their 26th pick to draft Cal Quantrill, the son of former Yankees pitcher Paul Quantrill, with the 794th pick overall. Quantrill is committed to Stanford but the lure of pitching for the Yankees may bring the 6'2" right hander to New York.

With their 37th round pick the Yankees took Andy Pettitte's son Josh Pettitte. Josh has two no hitters already this season but is expected to go to college unfortunately to iron out his weaknesses. The right hander will more than likely go to Baylor and work on his velocity and his secondary pitches. Plus his dad wants him to go to college so it is more than likely going to happen.

Will any of these guys make it to the majors? Who knows, it is still enjoyable to see recognizable names in a draft littered with guys we have never heard of and probably never will again. I personally look forward to buying those cheap Yankees tickets and seeing these guys down in the minors if they sign.

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.