Baseball America is releasing report cards centered around each team's 2013 draft class, determining prospect superlatives and some scouting report information as well. The Yankees were evaluated by Clint Longenecker.
Longenecker called Eric Jagielo the best pure hitter of the Yankees' draft and the likeliest to make it to the majors first.
Eric Jagielo has a smooth stroke with loft to all fields, a disciplined approach and the ability to make consistent hard contact.
With Dante Bichette Jr. getting the move up to High-A Tampa, Jagielo could start the season in Low-A Charleston.
He, of course, gave Aaron Judge the nod for best power hitter.
Aaron Judge has raw power that rates at least 70 on the 20-80 scale, and he can put on a show in batting practice. He has tremendous natural strength in his extra-large frame.
Longenecker says he will play winter ball in the Dominican Republic over the offseason and will start the 2014 season in Staten Island.
He believes that Michael O'Neill was the fastest runner that the Yankees took and has well above-average speed and could make it as a center fielder. That being said, he also thinks Gosuke Katoh is a plus runner and, because of his first-step quickness, could be faster down the line.
Unfortunately, an unsuccessful 2013 debut could keep O'Neill with Staten Island to start the 2014 season, while Katoh has gotten high praise from Baseball America, ranking him as one of the top prospects in rookie ball, and declaring his 2013 season to be one of the best pro debuts of any high schooler in the draft. He will be in Low-A Charleston next season, whether he starts the season there or back in rookie ball.
Shortstop Tyler Wade was the best defensive player of the draft, says Longenecker.
Tyler Wade, who could hit for average, is a good athlete with above-average speed, good actions, steady hands and an above-average arm.
As the double play partner to Gosuke Katoh, the Yankees could want to promote them together for as long as they can, so where one ends up, the other will likely go too.
Longenecker ranked right-handed pitchers David Palladino, Nick Rumbelow, Cale Coshow, and Phillip Walby as having the best fastballs in the draft with all four throwing over 96 mph (Walby up to 98). He thought lefty reliever Tyler Webb had a good fastball too, but for different reasons.
Tyler Webb pitches with average velocity, but his fastball plays up because of his command and deception
Palladino could end up staying in Short Season, while Rumbelow and Walby moving up to Low-A Charleston and Coshow sitting on the fence. Webb has already succeeded there and could find himself in High-A Tampa right away.
On the Yankees' best secondary, Longenecker talked up Ian Clarkin, David Palladino, and Nick Rumbelow.
Ian Clarkin (1) has the makings of a plus curveball. Palladino's curveball and Rumbelow's slider are plus at their best.
Clarkin didn't get much of a chance to play this season due to a sprained ankle, so he'll be pitching for Staten Island again next year.
Caleb Smith and Dustin Fowler were noted as the best late-round picks of the draft, with Longenecker higlighting Smith's potential for a plus changeup and fastball, and Fowler's make up as a good athlete with a simple swing and above-average speed. He also named Brandon Thomas as the best overall athlete.