New York Yankees Mock Draft: Last-Minute Picks and Predictions
June 5, 2013 · Anthony Maimone · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The New York Yankees will be one of the busier teams during the 2013 MLB amateur draft.
With three first-round picks all toward the back end of the draft its crucial the Yankees are successful this year in their selections.
Below are the latest predictions from ESPN.com’s Keith Law for each of the Yankees’ first-round picks as well as who I believe the Yankees should end up choosing.
26th Pick
Law is predicting the Yankees go with a bat with their first pick in the draft and select high school left-fielder out of Texas, Billy McKinney.
I don’t see the value in McKinney. He grades out with below-average speed and a below-average arm.
He is a pure bat and should project to have a strong balance of average and power at the plate, which I’m sure are the qualities the Yankees are looking at.
However, the Yankees have several outfielders in their system already and I believe they should be adding a bat with this pick at a different position.
Though many scouts have stated the Yanks will try to draft this kid with a later pick, I don’t want to see the Yankees pass on third baseman Eric Jagielo here.
32nd Pick
Law rolled the dice and passed on Jagielo with the 26th pick and was able to snag him here at the 32nd pick.
The Big East player of the Year out of Notre Dame is one of the most polished college bats in the draft, according to Law.
I can’t recall the last time the Yankees have played a homegrown top prospect at third base.
I really like Jagielo and believe he will rise through the system quickly. With Alex Rodriguez‘s questionable future with the Yanks, they will need him to.
Since I’ve already taken Jagielo early, I believe the Yankees will look to grab a pitcher here.
I don’t believe he will still be available at this pick, but if his price tag allows him to slip the Yankees can’t pass on right-handed pitcher Kyle Serrano.
33rd Pick
I guess since the Yankees have back-to-back picks here they are very much interchangeable.
I went with Serrano with the earlier pick but don’t fully believe he will still be there at that pick.
I have a little more hope because Law has the Yankees selecting the high school pitcher with this pick.
Serrano has committed to play for his dad, Dave Serrano, at the University of Tennessee.
The only problem, a good one at that, is that Serrano has tore it up this spring, piquing the interest of several teams and moving his stock up greatly.
He sits between 90 and 94 mph on his fastball and, according to Law, has one of the draft’s best pure curveballs.
I believe Serrano who be a steal for the Yankees with either of these two picks. Since I snagged him with the 32nd pick, I believe the Yankees stay with a pitcher with this pick as well.
A lot of people like the local boy, lefty Rob Kaminsky. He has been linked often to the Yanks, but frankly if the Yanks have the option I would prefer them to go with a much larger lefty in Cody Reed.
Reed’s upside seems slightly higher, and the Yankees like to take risks.
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