Scott Thompson, SNY.tv | Twitter |
The Yankees own the 28th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft that will take place on June 10. Who they go with at that selection is up in the air at the moment.
As we've looked at other directions they could go, we have yet to touch on the top-rated catchers who will be available to draft.
Why would the Yankees go catcher? Well, Gary Sanchez has been their rising star at the position for quite some time now. But to be honest, there is some wonder as to whether or not the Yankees will be offering him an extension due to his drop in numbers at the plate and questionable defensive play.
Anthony Seigler was selected in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft, but the Yankees could find someone they like even more in this draft. Here are some options...
1) Patrick Bailey, NC State: 17th-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline
Bailey could easily be the first catcher off the board in this draft. A switch-hitter with some pop and solid defensive skills is something the Yankees know teams would love after they had someone like that before (Google Jorge Posada).
We're not making that comparison here, but Bailey does have the tools in both aspects of the game to be a stud at the next level. His hitting approach will need to get better, and his defense needs some fine tuning as well.
If the Yankees see him fall to them, though, it would be hard to pass up the opportunity to draft him.
2) Tyler Soderstrom, Turlock High School (CA): 19th-ranked prospect
The 18-year-old is a hitter first, and that's definitely not a bad thing after watching what he did this past summer. Soderstrom lit up the Perfect Game All-American Classic as well as MLB's Prospect Development Pipeline, and that was good enough to solidify his rank as a projected first-rounder.
He's a lefty at the plate, but throws righty in the field. When Soderstrom makes contact the ball is usually flying off the barrel, and at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, there might be more power found in his bat at the pro level.
A UCLA commit, Soderstrom would definitely consider jumping right into pro ball if the Yankees were to take him this early.
3) Dillon Dingler, Ohio State: 24th-ranked prospect
He was never drafted out of high school, but Dingler put his name on the map during his time with the Buckeyes.
Dingler started off as an outfielder, but quickly made the transition to catcher where he showcased a solid arm behind the dish. His receiving skills can improve at the next level, but he is uber-athletic for the position.
Also, he was raking in his junior campaign before it was suspended, hitting .340/.404/.760 with five homers and 14 RBI in 13 games.
There is more to get out of Dingler, and the Yankees' developmental coaches could certainly do so as he is considered a very coachable player with great makeup. And we know the Yankees love high character draft picks, something that went into selecting Anthony Volpe out of Delbarton last year.
4) Austin Wells, Arizona: 27th-ranked prospect
A catcher who has also seen time at first base is always solid. Oh, and he was drafted back in 2018 by the Yankees in the 35th round. Obviously that was the right choice as he could now be a first-rounder.
The Las Vegas native is a left-handed bat who sprays the ball with power all across the field. That's his calling card. However, his position is up in the air, and the Yankees might be swayed away from him if they believe he might not be fit to be a catcher at the end of the day.
But if they like the versatility, remember Wells' name on Draft Day.
5) Drew Romo, The Woodlands High School (TX): 35th ranked prospect
He is signed to go play for LSU next season, but Romo might find himself as a first-round choice if the Yankees love what they see.
At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, and 18 years old, Romo is unlike the other candidates we see above: defense comes first. A tremendous arm and exceptional receiving skills makes him arguably the best defensive catcher in this draft. He was the starter for the U.S. 18-and-under national team for the past two seasons, and scouts love his poise and work ethic.
While his bat may have questions, he is a switch-hitter, so that is a good asset to have. Romo comes from the same high school that has produced players like Paul Goldschmidt and Jameson Taillon, so the Yanks may feel inclined to dip into that pool with their own pick as well.