New York Yankees: 2018 MLB Draft names to look for day one

The 2018 MLB Draft is almost upon us. What can we expect from The New York Yankees in the first round? Let’s dig into the options!

Monday night will mark the start of the 2018 MLB Draft. Other names for it include the Rule 4 Draft, and the MLB First Year Player Draft. But whatever you call it, it’s an exciting time for prospect hounds. Of course, if you consider yourself a prospect hound, you’ve probably got a few names in mind for who the Yankees might select in the first round. If not, this primer might give you a reason to tune in for the first night. The draft runs for three days and encompasses 40 rounds of selections.

Like most teams, the Yankees have had some successes in the first round. They’ve also had some busts, and some in-between results. From recent drafts, Blake Rutherford stands out as a good pick. He managed to crack the top 50 on Baseball America’s top 100 list last year. And he was an integral part of a trade that brought the Yankees Todd Frazier, Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson. Going back a little further, Aaron Judge was the 32nd overall pick in 2013. He’s worked out okay, I suppose. 70 grade power that plays in major league games isn’t THAT hard to find. Right? Right..?

The 2013 draft had an incredibly deep first round, actually. Kris Bryant, Clint Frazier, Austin Meadows, Colin Moran, Jon Gray, Hunter Renfroe, J.P. Crawford, Tim Anderson, Sean Manaea and Corey Knebel were all drafted in that round as well. And even with that depth, Aaron Judge may be the best of them. Only Kris Bryant has a claim to be better, and given enough time, that could change. So who else have the Yankees drafted in the first round over the years?

The New York Yankees select…

Here are some picks that turned out to be good major leaguers. Gerrit Cole was selected in 2008 but did not sign. Ian Kennedy in was the first round selection in 2006. Joba Chamberlain was called later that round as a supplemental first rounder. Phil Hughes had his named called in the first round of the 2004 draft. Mark Prior in 1998, who also didn’t sign. And if we go back to 1992, there’s some guy named Derek Jeter.

On the other end of the spectrum are names like Andrew Brackman, Ty Hensley, Cito Culver and Eric Duncan. In fact, that 2013 draft I referenced is the exception, not the rule. It’s actually really hard to hit on a first round pick, even when you’re picking high in the round. So when you are perpetually in the back half of the draft order, even moderate success on your picks is coming out ahead of the curve. The Yankees have done pretty well for themselves over the years. So what can we expect with pick number 23 on Monday?

Well, to start, Benjamin Chase has been running Mock Drafts for a while and you can find them here:

• There is Mock MLB Draft, Version 1.0.
• Then we have Mock MLB Draft, Version 2.0.
• That was followed by Mock MLB Draft, Version 3.0.
• Which brought us to Mock MLB Draft, Version 4.0.
• And finally Mock MLB Draft, Version 5.1.

Names hanging around the board near the Yankees pick.

2018 MLB Draft: Joe Gray, OF – Hattiesburg HS (MS)

It might seem odd for the Yankees to use a first round pick on an outfielder given the long term depth they have at the major league level. But the upside of Joe Gray might be enough to convince the Bronx Bombers to take a shot. The high school outfielder has excellent power, a plus arm, and currently shows plus speed. He’ll likely grow out of that speed. But with good routes and jumps, he can probably stick in center field for a while before moving to right.

And as a high school draftee, we’re talking four or five years most likely before he’d be ready for a call up. That’s plenty of time for the major league roster to change. Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton could move to DH. Judge could choose to test free agency and end up leaving. Brett Gardner will certainly be gone by then. Yes, the club has Clint Frazier waiting for a shot, but you don’t draft for need. And Joe Gray offers a high enough ceiling that he could be relatively high on the Yankees draft board Monday night. Should a few of their preferred options get scooped up by other teams, don’t be surprised to see this name called.

The one downside with Joe Gray is his contact rate. He swings and misses quite a bit which is likely why he is showing up in the mid to late 20’s in mock drafts. That said, Aaron Judge has plenty of swing and miss in his game and that didn’t stop the Yankees from grabbing him.

2018 MLB Draft: Noah Naylor, 3B/C – St. Joan of Arc Catholic HS (Ontario, Canada)

Noah Naylor is a bit divisive in these mock drafts. Baseball America has him going number 18 to the Kansas City Royals. But The Athletic has him as low as 27. And Jonathan Mayo’s latest draft pins him one lower than that at 28 for the Houston Astros. As the younger brother of current San Diego Padres prospect Josh Naylor, Noah draws frequent comparisons. And one area in which he comes up short against his sibling is power. While not devoid of it, he’s more of a gap to gap power hitter at this stage of his development. However, the hit tool is considered a plus.

There is disagreement about where he will end up defensively. Some think third base; others believe he’s athletic enough to catch. If the Yankees select him and stick him behind the plate, his eventual arrival may coincide with moving Gary Sanchez to DH. But Noah Naylor has a lot of work to do if that’s where he ends up playing. If he’s on the board at 26, the Yankees may well pull the trigger.

2018 MLB Draft: Ethan Hankins, RHP – Forsyth Central HS (GA)

Ethan Hankins has been showing up all over the place in mocks. He could go in the top 10, or he could fall to the competitive balance round. That volatility is due to the shoulder injury he suffered after his incredible junior year.

He was considered the best pitcher for this draft class until getting hurt. And even though he hasn’t gotten back to the elite fastball that had some wondering if he’d go first overall, he’s shown he can get back on the mound at least.

The potential he flashed last summer will get someone to bite. And if he’s around at pick 23, it might be the Yankees. With incredible depth at starting pitcher in the minor leagues, the Yankees can afford to make a bet on Hankins recovering fully after being drafted. They did just that with James Kaprielian. And while his injuries continued, his upside was enough to help swing a trade for Sonny Gray last summer.

It also increases the odds that you do come out of the next 12 months with a potential ace in-hand. Don’t be surprised if he’s long gone well before the Yankees are getting ready to pick. But if he’s there, he may well be worth the risk.

2018 MLB Draft: Grayson Rodriguez, RHP – Central Heights HS (TX)

The Yankees are stocked with hard throwing starting pitching prospects. So, at the very least, we know they love them. Grayson Rodriguez certainly fits the mold, living in the high 90’s late into games this year. The pitch has life and he can command it, which means it could end up a plus-plus offering. He also throws a curveball and a slider, and has a show-me changeup.

The other thing that makes this a potential match is that Rodriguez is very collected on the mound. His approach is very much in the mould of just get out there and do your job which would fit in very well with the Yankees. He’s a long ways off, coming out of high school, but Grayson Rodriguez is in the mix for being one of the best high school arms in this draft. And since teams don’t draft for need, the Yankees may decide to add yet another arm to their enviable minor league collection.

2018 MLB Draft: Kumar Rocker, RHP – North Oconee HS (GA)

This is another volatile name in the mock drafts. On April 30th, Jonathan Mayo had him going to the Yankees with their first round pick. In the mock drafts since he’s gone as high as 12 to the Blue Jays in The Athletic’s mock. And as low as 42nd to the Colorado Rockies in Mock Draft 5.1 here at Call to the Pen. Why would the Yankees be the team to select him?

Well, he’s another hard throwing starting pitcher who routinely touches 98 in games. He’s got a big pitcher’s body at 6’4 and 240 pounds, but doesn’t lack athleticism. He backs up that plus fastball with two advanced breaking pitches. One is either a slider or a curve (scouts have classified it as both) which comes out of the hand in the low 80’s and breaks late. The other is a changeup that lives 88-91 or so and dies as it crosses the plate. Kumar Rocker, like Grayson Rodriguez, would be a wonderful addition to a deep pool of potential starting pitchers.

2018 MLB Draft: Mason Denaburg, RHP/C – Merritt Island HS (FL)

While he both caught and took the mound in high school, Mason Denaburg spent all of 2018 as a pitcher. His catching background gives him a slightly higher floor than most pitching prospects. He could be moved there should he fail to thrive in his preferred role. Denaburg has solid power at the plate for teams to hope on if it goes that way.

For now, he will be drafted as a pitcher who can throw in the mid-90’s and touch 97 MPH. He has flashed some secondary pitches with promise but hasn’t shown them consistently yet. So they remain a question — as is his future as a starter.

The young right-handed hurler missed some time this year with biceps tendinitis and may eventually have to move to a bullpen role. That uncertainty is why there is a chance he could be available when the Yankees pick at number 23.

2018 MLB Draft: Tristan Beck, RHP – Stanford University

Tristan Beck is another amateur who has had his draft stock held back by injury. A stress fracture in his back cause him to miss all of 2017. While he appeared to be back to form early this season, inconsistency with his pitches and struggling to go deep at times raised some questions. He has a four pitch mix and all four pitches are at least average. His fastball flashes plus which would be a huge weapon if he can get it there consistently. Working a four pitch mix off of a plus fastball is a great way succeed as a pro.

While his name was showing up in the first round in earlier mock drafts, none of the most recent mocks have him going that early. So if you see the Yankees call his name on Monday night, it might be a reach. That said, if they do it, they likely see something they really like there, so don’t be dismayed. He may not have the ceiling of an ace, but getting a solid middle of the rotation starter out of the first round is a good use of a pick. Especially one that can move quickly and fill in a rotation that will be seeing veterans depart over the next few years.

2018 MLB Draft: Triston Casas, 1B – American Heritage HS (FL)

Triston Casas is young for a draft-eligible high school player since he reclassified to make himself eligible this summer. Of course, being so good at such a young age means he may not fall to 23 overall. Beyond the Boxscore had him doing just that in this week’s mock draft, however, slotting him at number 26 for the Red Sox.

If he falls that far, the Yankees might not be able to resist picking him. Just imagine his 70 grade power from the left side playing in Yankee Stadium. Never mind a year or two in a lineup with still in his prime Aaron Judge, and still able to mash with the best of them Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez. His monster power isn’t the only thing he has going for him, either. With a plus arm, it’s not inconceivable he could play a little third base. Or maybe he ends up a DH who can cover both infield corners to give people a rest. And, you know, hit the ball 500 feet.

Benjamin Chase also had him going to the Red Sox in Mock MLB Draft, Version 2.0 but has since moved him to number 13 for the Miami Marlins. If this this monster hitter tumbles down the draft, the Yankees will have to think long and hard about scooping him up before the Red Sox come around at pick 26.

Anything can happen.

While prognosticating on the 2018 MLB Draft can be fun, it’s one of the more unpredictable drafts out there. Unlike the NFL or NBA, these players won’t be showing up on YES broadcasts for a few years at least. And teams rarely draft for need. So the order in which players are selected mostly comes down to differences in scouting.

Hopefully the above list gives you a few things to look for on Monday night, which will be broadcast on MLB.com and the MLB Network. If none of these names is selected, or if you have a favorite whose name isn’t called don’t get down. After all, Mike Trout went 25th overall in 2009 and even that seemed like a reach to some. You never know who the next big start is going to be.

Next: NCAA Tournament preview: The Road to Omaha

So sit back, relax, order some pizza or wings and enjoy the night. You might just see the next all-time great to don the pinstripes being selected.