The Yankees drafted LHP TJ Sikkema from the University of Missouri with their Competitive Balance Round A pick, which was No. 38 overall pick, in the 2019 MLB Draft on Monday.
Sikkema, 20, is the No. 57 ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline and becomes the 10th pitcher to be taken in the first five rounds out of Missouri, which includes Max Scherzer and Kyle Gibson.
The southpaw has three effective pitches, reaching 95 mph on his fastball and throws a sinker between 89-91 mph. He also throws a high-spin slide between 78-83 mph and a sinking changeup, per MLB Pipeline.
Sikkema is 7-3 with a 1.36 ERA in 79.2 innings with 91 strikeouts this season at Missouri. His ERA is second-best in the SEC and he is tied for fifth in strikeouts.
Sikkema has a fastball that sits between 89 and 91 mph that can touch 95 mph, according to MLB.com. His off-speed pitches have also garnered praise.
"He has tremendous feel for manipulating the shape of his high-spin slider, which ranges from 78-83 mph and is a plus pitch at its best," MLB.com wrote. "He also has advanced feel for a sinking changeup that he'll throw in any count."
MLB.com wrote that Sikkema projects as a left-handed reliever or a back-end rotation pitcher at the MLB level.
"He not only throws strikes," MLB.com wrote, "but he'll also use any pitch in any count and work inside against left-handers and right-handers. He has one of the higher floors among college pitchers in this Draft."
The Yankees had drafted SS Anthony Volpe out of Delbarton School in New Jersey with their first pick in the draft at 30.