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

Names that have actually been predicted as the Yankees pick.

2018 MLB Draft: Brice Turang, SS – Santiago HS (CA)

This one is sort of reach. He’s not listed as going this low in many mocks. But Benjamin Chase does have him going as low as 30 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in mock drafts 4 and 5. Baseball America has him going at 19 to the St. Louis Cardinals, as does Beyond the Boxscore. Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com saw him going at number 16 in his April 30th draft to the Tampa Bay Rays. And The Athletic predicts the Texas Rangers will scoop him up with the 15th pick.

Turang is actually a good transition from names hanging around the Yankees to names predicted to go to them. In his most recent mock draft, Jonathan Mayo has picked him to end up at number 23 overall. So who is Brice Turang? He’s a small bodied short stop with plus speed, excellent contact skills, patience, and solid defense. His power is questionable, but he’s a left handed hitter who would be hitting in Yankee Stadium. So that might not be an issue if he cracks the majors down the road. His ETA would be timed pretty well with Didi Gregorius reaching his decline phase, so there isn’t likely to be a conflict there.

Turang has been competing against the best prep players in the country for three seasons now. And he has always more than held his own. While he didn’t take a step forward this year as hoped and put himself at the top of the first round, he’s never really struggled even while an underclassman. This might not be the most exciting pick the Yankees could make but he would be a very solid one if he’s available.

2018 MLB Draft: Jordyn Adams, OF – Green Hope HS (NC)

Jordyn Adams is going to be a tough sign. He’s committed to North Carolina as both a baseball and football player and his father is a coach for the football team there. That said, he’s one of the most athletic draft eligible prospects available this year which includes game breaking speed. With a chance to be a difference maker in center field and on the base paths, it’s no wonder he’s being talked about as a potential first round pick. What makes him even more enticing is that his hit tool is intriguingly good.

He hits a lot of hard line drives, and some scouts can see the potential for him eventually developing plus power. That depends on how much muscle he packs onto his wiry frame. This may end up having to be an over-slot bonus but with the ceiling he presents, it would be worth it. If the Yankees call his name on Monday night, this is one worth getting excited about.