As a die-hard Yankees’ fan and the former Head of Minor League Coverage for the FanSided New York Yankees site Yanks Go Yard, I thought I saw the last of Slade Heathcott. The former first round pick was non-tendered a few weeks ago. NJ.com reported that the Yankees have re-signed Heathcott and are giving him one more chance.
Heathcott was drafted in 2009 right out of high school. He was the 29th overall pick for the Yankees and was thought to be a highly touted outfield prospect. Of course, as Joel Sherman so kindly pointed out, the Yankees had their sights set on a different outfielder, but wound up reaching for Heathcott.
With 29th pick in ’09, #Yankees were going to take Trout. He went 25th (comp pick for Teixeira) and NYY took Heathcott #alteredhistory
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) January 5, 2015
Heathcott is a 6’1”, 195 pound, left-handed centerfielder that would become more remembered as a Mason Williams than a Bernie Williams. He was never really able to show his full potential, as he was injured numerous times. Prior to 2012, Heathcott was a Top 5 prospect for the Yankees, and Baseball America ranked him as the 63rd overall prospect in baseball heading into 2013.
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That’s when Heathcott’s knees began to give him troubles. He had a strong showing in High-A Tampa, hitting .307 with five home runs and 27 RBI while snagging 17 stolen bases in 2012. Entering 2013 in his first season at AA, expectations were high. His season ended prematurely with a knee injury and the ensuing surgery lasted into 2014. He began the ’14 season in extended spring training rehabbing the knee back to health. After just nine games at Double-A Trenton, in which he hit an abysmal .182 while striking out 13 times in 33 at bats, Heathcott was forced to once again shut it down for the year.
It shocked a lot of Yankees fans and media when talks of Heathcott making the 40-man roster over some farm favorites like Kyle Roller began to swirl. It made sense when he was quickly non-tendered from the 40-man roster and free to search out a new home. But the Yankees have decided Heathcott’s original home is where he belongs, as he now has an invite to spring training and a minor league deal.
I suppose at 24-years of age, there is still time for his knees to heal. The Yankees hope that at the very least he can provide some depth at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and work his way back to what they envisioned they drafted back in 2009. Only time, and those pesky knees, will tell.