Final Review on 2016 Yankees Draft

The 2016 Minor League Baseball season is officially over. The championships have been won, the games have been played and the rookies that were drafted this June can now be evaluated. When the 2016 MLB First Year Players Draft was all said and done I thought the Yankees had initially done well with their picks of Blake Rutherford, Nick Solak and others but now with half a season under their belts will I change my mind? Not likely but let’s find out.

Blake Rutherford, and call me bias if you want to, was the biggest steal of the MLB Draft. Rutherford was once thought of as first overall talent and he did nothing to make anyone believe any different in 2016. Rutherford fell because of signability concerns and the Yankees got him signed. It’s as simple as that. Rutherford is already considered to be a Top 50 prospect in all of baseball by many lists published online including Minor League Ball’s John Sickels and for good reason.

I also really like the Nick Solak pick although some didn’t. Some thought he was simply signed and drafted because the Yankees could save money on their slot recommendation with him to give to Rutherford. While that is true that doesn’t mean Solak was an empty pick either by any means. Solak proved that in his pro debut in Staten Island posting a .321/.421/.421 with a 155 wRC+ and eight stolen bases, 30 walks and just 39 strikeouts. I also like the Dom Thompson-Williams pick because many experts had the outfielder going in the third round. The Yankees stole him in the fifth round and the Brett Gardner comparisons began almost immediately.

The one thing the Yankees needed more than anything though was pitching and they drafted a few key arms to look out for including closer/reliever Brooks Kriske. Kriske may be moved from closer to starter a la Chance Adams but either way his arm is strong and the talent is there. Taylor Widener is another arm I see a lot of potential in after reading up on him from his years at South Carolina. Widener finished the season with a 3-0 record, 0.47 ERA, 1.50 FIP and an insane 13.9 K/9 strikeout ratio in 38.1 innings in his professional debut. Widener, another reliever, will get his chance to showcase his 97 MPH fastball, slider and secondary pitches in the rotation once again a la Chance Adams in 2017 and could turn out to be a special arm for the Yankees in the future.

All this without mentioning High School pick Nolan Martinez. New York did well for themselves this draft and the final stat lines this season prove that. Now’s the hard part, development. 

OFFICIAL 2016 MLB Draft Yankees Recap

The deadline has come and gone for each team to sign their draft picks from the 2016 MLB Draft and the Yankees did just that more times than not this season. New York signed each of their Top 10 draft picks this season including 18th overall pick Blake Rutherford and 3rd round pick Nolan Martinez which were part of an impressive haul by the Yankees this season. Here is what the Yankees got done before the draft signing deadline.

The top 10 picks for the Yankees were OF Blake Rutherford, 2B Nick Solak, RHP Nolan Martinez, RHP Nick Nelson, OF Dom Thompson-Williams, RHP Brooks Kriske, C Keith Skinner, 1B Dalton Blaser, 1B Tim Lynch and LHP Trevor Lane.

Outside the Top 10 rounds New York also signed 18 of their remaining 30 draft picks including every single player in the first 15 rounds of the draft. Pinstripe Alley has the complete list and it's awesome and well done so go check it out. HERE

When all was said and done the Yankees spent $7,123,000 in this year's draft.

ICYMI: Yankees Sign 3rd Round Pick Nolan Martinez

3rd rd pick Nolan Martinez gets $1.15 mil from @Yankees (pick 98 value=$608,200). HS RHP from Cali with solid 3-pitch mix @MLBDraft

— Jonathan Mayo (@JonathanMayo) June 23, 2016

In case you missed it, because surprisingly this did not get much attention, the New York Yankees signed their third round pick from the 2016 MLB First Year Players Draft Nolan Martinez. This is significant because unlike the majority of the second round pick Nick Solak and picks 4-10 (the rounds that affect the draft pool allocation) Martinez was a high school pitcher at the time of his drafting. Martinez is now in the fold leaving just #18 overall and the Yankees first round pick Blake Rutherford left to make his decision on whether to sign or not in the first ten rounds. Let's get to know Nolan Martinez a little.

Martinez came with a slot recommendation of $608,200 and ended up signing out of a California high school for $1.15 million. The Yankees saved over a million in slot money singing Solak and the rounds 4-10 guys and much of that money was thought to be allocated for Rutherford. Now with Martinez gobbling up basically $40K of it New York should still have more than enough to sign Rutherford (roughly $3.15 million available according to Mike Axisa and River Ave Blues) as well if he wants to sign.

Martinez is a solid pick with the 98th pick after Baseball American had the right-hander ranked as their 67th best prospect in the draft. Welcome to the family Nolan!

Meet a Prospect: Trevor Lane

The New York Yankees went very college heavy in the early rounds of the 2016 MLB First Year Players Draft and for good reason. The Yankees farm system is loaded with talent but much of the talent hasn’t sniffed Double-A competition yet leaving New York desperate for depth from their farm system at the Major League level. The quickest way to get a draftee to the Major Leagues is to draft a college pitcher or position player that is considered to be polished and more MLB ready and let them loose to fly through the system. That’s exactly what they did with their 10^th round pick in this year’s draft Trevor Lane. Let’s meet him.

This is Meet a Prospect: The Trevor Lane Edition. Lane was drafted 307^th overall by the Yankees out of the University of Illinois. Lane is a left-handed power relief pitcher who began his collegiate career at Campbell before transferring to Lower Columbia Community College and then UL. While in the Horizon League Lane was considered to be one of the top relievers in all of the conference after transferring from the rotation to the bullpen this season.

As a starter in 2014 Lane posted a very impressive 12.46 K/9 ratio but he saw that same ratio drop to 7.02 in 2015 forcing his coaches to move him to the bullpen. As a senior reliever in 2016 Lane threw 70.1 innings and posted a 1.41 ERA with five saves and a 90/35 K/BB ratio despite missing time with a concussion. That impressive strikeout rate jumped Lane back to a 12.49 K/9 showing Lane and the Yankees that his coaching staff made the right decision in the move.

Lane is not a big guy by any means, 5’11” and 185 lbs., but he has good mechanics and a good delivery that should quell some of the durability concerns that come with smaller framed pitchers. Lane, like Brooks Kriske who the Yankees took with their 6^th pick out of USC, should move through the Yankees farm system rather quickly and into the Circle of Trust with Joe Girardi relatively soon. Think Jacob Lindgren circa 2015.

Welcome to the organization Trevor and welcome to the family as well.

Meet a Prospect: Tim Lynch Edition

The New York Yankees, at the time of this writing anyway, had signed eight of their first ten rounds picks with only their top pick, Blake Rutherford, and their 3^rd round pick, Nolan Martinez, yet to sign. It’s not uncommon for top picks to wait a while before deciding to sign and it’s even more common for High School players like Rutherford and Martinez to take their time before deciding to sign or not but when you draft a college player like Tim Lynch you expect them to sign rather quickly. The Yankees, and Lynch, did just that when the Florida product and first baseman signed for well below his slow value to begin his professional career. Let’s meet him.

This is Meet a Prospect: The Tim Lynch Edition. Lynch was a first baseman at Southern Mississippi at the time of his drafting and Baseball American had him ranked as the 22^nd best player in the state of Mississippi at the time of the 2016 draft. Lynch stands at 6’2” and hits left-handed which both fit the prototypical mold for a first baseman in the Major Leagues. Lynch’s big frame and left-handed swing are considered to both be disciplined with good power and solid contact making him a viable option in the future to stick at first base in the majors.

In 2016 Lynch hit .365/.470/.545 with ten home runs and 59 RBI during his senior season while striking out only 13 times to his 39 walks he drew all year long. For these reasons the Baseball Draft Report had Lynch ranked as the fifth best hitter in Conference USA in the draft. Lynch isn’t likely to play anywhere else because of his size but his bat can carry him at a position where the Yankees are seemingly very thin at the moment in the minor leagues. His bat may carry him all the way to the Major Leagues and very quickly if he plays his cards right.

We’re rooting for you Tim. Welcome to the organization and welcome to the family. 

Meet a Prospect: Keith Skinner

The New York Yankees absolutely love taking talent in the draft out of Southern California and the state of California in general but every once in a while they take a local kid with a ton of talent and they did just that with their seventh round pick in this year’s draft. With their seventh round pick the Yankees took Jersey boy Keith Skinner, a catcher, with the pick and have almost immediately signed him to begin his professional career. Sounds like a great time to meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Keith Skinner Edition.

Skinner began his collegiate career in Fairfield, New Jersey before transferring to Seminole State for the 2014 season. Skinner spent a year there before spending his final two seasons at North Florida College. It may be because of all the bouncing around that Baseball America did not have Skinner ranked in their Top 500 list but it definitely wasn’t because of his stats. This season Skinner, a catcher by trade, batted .382/.466/.486 with 16 doubles and 40 RBI in his age 22 season.

Skinner is a big guy for a catcher standing 6’1” and 185 lbs. but scouts believe he could stick back there going forward. Skinner unfortunately has not been a big power guy which is evident by his triple slash but he has produced doubles power that could always translate into power later as he grows into his frame and his body. I remember when Robinson Cano could only hit 10-15 home runs a season and he grew into his frame later on as well to add power so there is no reason Skinner couldn’t either, not to compare the two players whatsoever.

All told the Yankees signed the seventh best hitter in the Atlantic Sun Conference at an absolute bargain thus giving them flexibility to get either Blake Rutherford and/or Nolan Martinez signed. Great news and a local guy, what’s not to like. Welcome to the team Keith and welcome to the Yankees family!

Meet a Prospect: Dom Thompson-Williams

Nick Nelson is not the only Yankees draftee to recently sign with the club, the team also signed their fifth round pick as well this week. Dom Thompson was drafted 286^th overall by the New York Yankees out of the University of South Carolina and will soon be making his professional debut with the club, let’s meet him.

This is Meet a Prospect: The Dom Thompson-Williams Edition. Williams was a center fielder with the Gamecocks and was the ninth best player in the state of South Carolina at the time of his drafting. Baseball America had Thompson-Williams ranked 286^th overall due to concerns about whether his bat can carry him to the next level of competition. Williams is a left-handed batter and a speedy center fielder but his bat may make him more of the Chris Young or Aaron Hicks type (as they are today) and less of an ideal starter for most teams.

Obviously a lot can change between now and whenever Williams may potentially be knocking on the door to the Bronx and it’s worth mentioning that the Yankees have had some success with picks that no one really batted at eye at before, especially in the outfield. See Dustin Fowler as a recent example of this not to compare the two players whatsoever. Most prospects can hit a fastball and it’s whether they can hit the breaking stuff that defines them but the complete opposite is the case for Williams who has shown an ability to hit offspeed pitches while it’s the fastball that gives him fits, especially the higher velocity fastballs that you see all around the league today.

In 2016 Williams posted a .329/.430/.529 triple slash with seven home runs and 17 stolen bases even with those concerns about his bat speed. If the Yankees can make a slight mechanical or swing adjustment to give him another half second on his bat speed the Yankees may have one of the steals of the drafts on their hands with this fifth round pick. If not he may be out of the organization in four-to-five years, prospects are fickle creatures.

Williams is in the fold after signing a below slot deal that also paves the way for a potential signing of Blake Rutherford, Nick Solak, Nolan Martinez or all of the above. Welcome to the team Dom and welcome to the family!

Meet a Prospect: Nick Nelson

With the Yankees fourth round pick in the 2016 MLB First Year Players Draft the organization selected a right-handed pitcher out of Gulf Coast Community College and his name was Nick Nelson. Nelson became the 128^th overall pick in the draft despite being committed to the University of Florida (the 3^rd ranked college baseball team in the nation) and had recently signed with the club for below slot beginning his professional career. Let’s meet him.

This is Meet a Prospect: The Nick Nelson Edition. Heading into the draft Baseball America had Nelson listed as their 325^th best prospect on the board and the 38^th best prospect in the state of Florida making him a bit of a reach for the Yankees. Either New York liked Nelson more than everyone else did, everyone else was worried about his commitment to the Florida Gators or the Yankees simply drafted him to save some pool space in order to sign Blake Rutherford. Either way Nelson has signed, for below cap once again, and is officially a part of the organization.

Nelson is just 20-years old and is listed at 6’1”. Nelson is a two-way player in college but will shift to the mound full time after posting a 4.48 ERA in 15 starts and 90.1 innings this season. In those 90 innings Nelson struck out 99 batters while walking 38 while also playing some first base. Nelson was much better in 2015 posting a 2.96 ERA in 24.1 innings, six starts and one relief appearance.

Nelson boasts a low 90’s MPH fastball with a developing breaking ball. Since Nelson owns just two pitches currently his future may be in the Yankees bullpen although New York has already announced that they would give him every chance to start much like they have done with Jonathan Holder, Vicente Camps and Chance Adams in recent years.

Nelson is in the fold and he saved a little money for the team to give to one of Blake Rutherford, Nick Solak or Nolan Martinez. Welcome to the team, welcome to the organization and most importantly welcome to the Yankees family!

Meet a Prospect: Nolan Martinez

The 2016 MLB Draft is in the books after the New York Yankees selected 40 potential prospects to add to the farm system. We've already met the first two in Blake Rutherford and Nick Solak so this morning we meet the Yankees 3rd round pick, a High School right-handed pitcher named Nolan Martinez.

Martinez was drafted in the third round by the Yankees out of Culver City High School in California, yeah another California pick for Damon Oppenheimer and the Yanks. Martinez was drafted as a pitcher but in High School he could hold his own with the bat as well standings at 6'3" and 165 lbs. Martinez brings a fastball that sits between 87-93 MPH but it can tough 95 MPH with plenty of room to grow into his frame and into his body adding movement and velocity. Martinez also throws a power slider, seemingly the Yankees favorite pitch for a player to throw in their system, that can hit around 78 MPH and that he can command for strikes. Martinez also owns a changeup but it is considered to be raw at this point which is not uncommon for High School pitching. Especially pitching that fell to the third round.

On the scout's scale of 20-80 Martinez has a 55 ranked fastball while his curveball and control are both ranked at 50. His changeup was graded at a 45 and his overall game and repertoire was also ranked as a 45 which made him the 10th best pitcher in the state of California. Again you must remember the Yankees have drafted a High School pitcher and not a college pitcher that is polished and MLB ready. Martinez is a project and he has projectability, that's why New York drafted him in the third round.

So Martinez comes with two above-average pitches and a repeatable delivery that should lead to some durability in the big show. Baseball America ranked Martinez 67th on their rankings while MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus had him 99th and 108th overall respectively. Either way Martinez was said to be excited about joining the organization and that's the type of players we need here. Players that want to be here. Congratulations Nolan and, unofficially of course, welcome to the family!