2016 Yankee Draft

[$heriff Tom]

OF - Blake Rutherford 1st round, 18th overall

Rutherford has size, strength, athleticism and power potential for scouts to dream on, and would likely be the consensus top prep bat in the class if he had a more consistent spring or if he were a year younger. Rutherford turned 19 as the calendar turned to May, offering less projection than other prep outfielders, with a physically mature 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. Scouts have to project on Rutherford's home run power; he's produced this spring after being the biggest bat last summer for USA Baseball's 18U team. However, he hasn't taken the next step with his power, at times trying too hard to pull and yank balls for power. When he stays with his approach, he's as impressive as any prep hitter in the class, with power to all fields, a line-drive swing path that covers the plate and the athleticism for center field. Some scouts see him as a potential power-hitting center fielder in the Jim Edmonds mold.


2B - Nick Solack 2nd round, 62 overall

He's moved back and forth between the outfield and second base for Louisville and in the Cape Cod League last summer, but Solak has worked hard to become a fringe-average second baseman whose hitting ability makes up for his limited range. What Solak does really well is hit. He has an uncharacteristically quiet setup. He simply sets his hands, takes a simple stride and starts his hands with almost no load. It doesn't generate much power, but Solak sprays stinging line drives from gap to gap. He's hit over .300 in each of his three years at Louisville and he also hit .329 to lead Bourne last summer in the Cape. He missed three weeks with a deep bruise after he took a pitch off his hand, but when healthy he was hitting nearly .400. Solak is an above-average runner who can handle left field as well as second base. He profiles as an offensive second baseman or corner outfielder, not as much a utility infielder as a bat who play multiple positions.

RHP - Nolan Martinez 3rd round, 98th overall

Martinez was born and raised in Culver City, just west of central Los Angeles, but has committed to San Diego State as a two-way player, picking the Aztecs because he wants to hit and pitch. Scouts prefer him on the mound, though he has enough pop and athleticism to potentially be a contributor at an infield corner for the Aztecs. Martinez has some twitchiness to his thin frame (he's listed at 6-foot-3, 165 pounds) and a quick arm that had him throwing 93 mph in the summer but bumping up to 95 mph this spring. Trackman measured his fastball with the highest spin rate of all pitchers at the massive World Wood Bat Association even in Jupiter in October 2015. He still sits more typically at 87-93 with the fastball, and has flashes of throwing his breaking ball (generally described as a slider) both with power in the upper 70s and for strikes. He doesn't use his changeup much, but his athleticism and two potential above-average pitches have him with early-round helium.

RHP - Nick Nelson 4th round, 128 overall

A two-way workhorse at Gulf Coast State JC, Nelson led the Commodores in both innings pitched and at-bats. Professional scouts are most interested in him as a pitcher, though he would remain a two-way player if he continues on to Florida, where he is committed. Nelson isn't particularly tall (he's listed at 6-foot-1), but has a strong, physical frame. Along with that comes some solid arm strength, and he sits in the low 90s with his fastball. He pairs that with a breaking ball that shows some promise. Nelson profiles best as a reliever. As a hitter, he provides some righthanded power that should play well in college.

[$heriff Tom]

OF - Dom Thompson-Williams 5th round, 158th overall

Drafted out of Iowa Western CC in 2014 in the 19th round by the Cardinals, Thompson-Williams opted to return for another year, then transferred to South Carolina for his junior season. Scouts have pointed to maturity issues in the past, but he's grown as a person, player and in terms of physical strength. A gifted athlete and a plus runner, Thompson-Williams can make highlight-reel plays in the outfield but other times can be too aggressive and take poor routes. A lefthanded hitter, Thompson-Williams can handle offspeed pitches but at times has difficulty catching up to 90-plus mph velocity. He's gotten his hands started faster to compensate, as some scouts have knocked his bat speed. Though he has tools, most evaluators view Thompson-Williams as a fourth outfielder more than an everyday player.

RHP - Brooks Kriske 6th round, 188th overall

Southern California lost its opening series to North Dakota at home and never seemed to recover, sitting around .500 all season. However, the Trojans likely will have as many or more players drafted than any Pac-12 team, with Kriske surging toward the front of the field as a priority senior who has stuff and has performed. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder used to top out around 90 mph in the past but improved his velocity significantly this season, with scouts saying he's hit 95-96 mph regularly with his fastball. His secondary stuff was raw when he came to Troy, but his breaking ball has become a serviceable pitch. At times, it's a true slider with depth and tilt, earning average grades. Kriske should wind up a priority senior sign this year.

C - Keith Skinner 7th round, 218th overall

Skinner won the Atlantic-Sun Conference batting title in 2016 as a senior, hitting .382/.466/.486 at North Florida. The lefthanded hitter has a mature, disciplined approach and does a good job of putting the barrel on the ball. He does not provide much pop, but does a good job of turning on balls. Skinner has work to do defensively, as he is a below-average defender with fringy arm strength.

1B - Dalton Blaser 8th round, 248th pick

Blaser is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior who was one of Cal State Fullerton’s top performers in 2016. He’s a lefthanded hitter with gap power who controls the strike zone well and is a fringy to below-average runner

[$heriff Tom]

1B - Tim Lynch 9th round, 278th overall

Lynch, a senior, has a big body at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, and produces some lefthanded power. He hit 19 home runs the last two season for Southern Mississippi and ranked 11th in Division I among the toughest players to strike out, with just 13 strikeouts in 233 at-bats. He controls the strike zone and has a good approach at the plate. He’s a below-average athlete.

LHP - Trevor Lane 10th round, 308th overall

Lane is a lower-slot, undersized (5-foot-11) sinker/slider lefty with an 88-91 mph fastball. He went 8-5, 1.41 with 90 strikeouts in 70 innings as a senior.

LHP - Connor Jones 11th round, 338 overall

Not to be confused with the Virginia righthander of the same name, Georgia's Jones is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound lefthander that has touched 95 mph. Moving into the rotation this spring after two seasons in the bullpen, Jones had an up-and-down 5-6, 4.66 season for the Bulldogs, striking out 74 and walking 37 in 75 innings. Though he's 93-95 mph from the left side, Jones has erratic command and hasn't proven he can consistently throw strikes. Fairly athletic with a functional delivery, Jones' command issues don't necessarily stem from a mechanical flaw. Jones' breaking ball is a little short and the changeup needs refinement, but a team should take a flier on his lefthanded arm strength.

RHP Taylor Widener 12th round, 368 overall

The No. 2 prospect in the Coastal Plain League in 2015, Widener has always teased with his electric stuff but has struggled to find consistency throughout his college career. The 6-foot, 200-pound righthander has served a variety of roles for the Gamecocks, closing some and beginning this spring in the weekend rotation. He sits 90-93 mph with a repeatable delivery, but he's touched as high as 97 mph and uses a hard mid-80s slider as his main offspeed weapon. Widener had ulnar nerve transposition surgery in the fall and has had issues with his knee and back in the past. He's probably a reliever at the next level.

[$heriff Tom]

OTHERS WITH SCOUNTING REPORTS

RPH Zach Linginfelter 16th round, 488 overall

One of the more physical righthanders in the class at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, Linginfelter established himself on the showcase circuit with his firm fastball, which routinely sits in the low 90s, bumping as high as 95 at its best. His second pitch is a curveball, which shows slurvy break from a three-quarters arm slot. At its best, Lingfelter's breaking ball plays as an average pitch. He has a thick, sturdy frame and an athletic delivery with a high leg kick and an online landing. His arm action is on the longer side and it includes a curled wrist in the back, giving some evaluators concerns about his ability to repeat his arm slot and find a consistent release for his breaking ball. He had mono early in the spring and did not show the progress scouts hoped for, but evaluators saw him plenty on the showcase circuit and few players have his physicality and track record against elite competition. He is committed to Tennessee.

3B - Mandy Alvarez 17th round, 518 pick

Alvarez finished the season with a .409 batting average that was sixth-best in Division I. Alvarez works the whole field, making for a difficult at-bat for a pitcher because he's rarely caught trying to do too much. His bat stays in the zone a long time and his hands work well. He's also shown average power as well with the ability to turn on a pitch if a pitcher tries to challenge him inside. Alvarez is an average runner. He played third base for Eastern Kentucky and he's fringy there with an average arm and playable hands, but he profiles better as a pro at second base, where he played earlier in his college career. Alvarez should get a chance to see if his advanced approach will translate to pro ball as a senior sign with talent to go with a smaller asking price.

2B - Carlos Cortes 20th round, pick 610

A broken finger limited Cortes early on the showcase circuit last summer, but he has still established a long track record of hitting. He has a knack for finding the barrel with his short, compact lefthanded swing. He has some power in his 5-foot-8, 195-pound frame, but he mostly produces hard line drives, which he sprays to all fields. While Cortes looks at home in the batter's box, he has yet to find one in the field. He has played second base, the outfield and even tried catching during his high school career. He throws with both arms, playing in the dirt as a righthander, the outfield as a lefthander and occasionally switch-pitching. But with fringy arm in the infield, below-average speed and his short stature, it is hard to find a position where he truly profiles. If Cortes hits enough, a team will find a spot to play him. But he may have to go to South Carolina, where he is committed, to further prove himself.

RHP Blair Henley 22nd round, pick 668

Henley has a high asking price to buy him out of his commitment to Texas, so it's thought by many that he'll be a Longhorn next year. But the righthander has a very solid three-pitch mix already with an 88-91 mph fastball that will touch 92-93. His slider and changeup are both average at their best, and he's mixed in a potentially fringe-average curveball as well. Henley, a listed 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, has a compact delivery and his arm works well. If he makes it to Texas he has a chance to be a prominent prospect in three years.

[$heriff Tom]

OF - Joe Burton 24th round, pick 728

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Burton is a physical specimen, with thick extremities and muscles popping out of his uniform. He stuck out with an explosive batting practice session at the indoor Maplezone Invitational in January, then followed it up with an exceptional season as a freshman at Harford CC. Burton hit .407/.514/.749 with 16 home runs and 23 steals in 23 attempts. Burton has above-average bat speed and power, though his approach is still coming along. He runs better than most big men, and posts average run times on occasion. Burton's defense in the outfield is crude still, and he has a below-average arm, so he may end up at first base in the long term.

LHP Phillip Diehl 27th round, pick 818

Diehl was a reliable member of the Bulldogs rotation in 2016 after missing most of 2015 with an arm injury. The redshirt junior lefty struck out 90 in 80 innings.

RHP Joe Weiss 29th round, pick 878

The son of Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound righthanded pitcher with a commitment to his dad's alma mater, North Carolina. Highly regarded as a potential Day Two pick coming into his senior season in high school, Weiss has had an up-and-down spring season. With a lean, projectable frame with broad shoulders, he throws strikes, with a fastball that sits 88-91 mph. He has good feel and commands a curveball and changeup, using a high-three-quarters delivery with good arm speed. Weiss is likely to wind up at UNC unless someone gambles on the projection and bloodlines and takes him earlier on Day Two.

LHP Miles Sandum 31st round, pick 938

Sandum had one of the worst injuries of any player this spring after he ruptured his bowels while shagging flies pre-game early in the season. Listed at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Sandum lost approximately 25 pounds before returning to the field for the second half of the spring. Sandum performed, even throwing a no-hitter, but the lefty's velocity was down to the mid-to-upper 80s, after hitting 91-92 last fall. He has also shown feel for a deep 1-to-7 curveball and a clean delivery. Sandum was expected to honor his San Diego commitment.

[$heriff Tom]

C - David Clawson 34th round pick 1028

Clawson has played in front of scouts quite a bit over the last few years. He started his prep career at Mater Dei, where he was a teammate with prospects Jeremy Martinez, Ryan McMahon and Josh Stephen. Clawson then transferred to Dana Hills High for his junior year, where he played alongside 2015 draft picks Lucas Williams (Phillies, 3rd round) and Marrick Crouse (Blue Jays, 11th round). He's a fairly polished catcher defensively who profiles well with a lefthanded bat and catch-and-throw skills. A Brigham Young signee, Clawson has solid size at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, and he's shown a solid-average arm with a fairly quick release. He may have enough present strength to handle the grind of catching, but scouts are mixed on Clawson's bat, which at present lacks impact, as his swing can get long. He's old for the class and would be draft-eligible as a sophomore if he winds up in college.

RHP Zach Hess 35th round, pick 1058

Hess is the son of longtime college basketball referee Karl Hess, a notorious official in ACC country before stepping away in 2015. Like his father, Hess has made a strong impression on scouts for his toughness. A mature bodied 6-foot-6, 215-pound righthander, Hess put on a show against top prep lefthander Braxton Garrett at the National High School Invitational in Cary, N.C., throwing seven no-hit innings before folding in the extra eighth inning. Hess stands out for his arm strength, working in the low-90s and touching higher with a hard slider as his main secondary offering. There's some effort in his delivery, as well as a prominent head whack, which suggests his best fit might be as a reliever. A Louisiana State commit, Hess is part of a LSU recruiting class that also includes hard-throwing prep righthander Riley Pint.

C - Sam Ferri 38th round, pick 1148

Ferri, an Arizona State signee, might end up on the mound, where he's 90-91 mph on good days, but he also projects as a catcher thanks to that same strong arm and excellent makeup.

RHP - Brian Keller 39th round, pick 1178

Keller isn't flashy, but he's a senior with four pitches he can locate and he's proven durable.

RHP - Nate Brown 40th round, pick 1028

A 6-foot-2, 185-pound righthander who has signed with Florida, Brown has the starter set of an intriguing four-pitch mix, although there's a lot of projection left to that evaluation. Brown sits at 88-92 mph with his average fastball and he also throws a curve, slider and changeup. The low-80s slider is currently the most promising of the group, but none of his secondary pitches is yet better than a potentially fringe-average offering. Three years at Florida should help Brown refine his arsenal, but his combination of present stuff and a study build could entice a team to take a chance on him if his asking price is relatively reasonable.