What To Expect In The First Round: American League

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NEW YORK YANKEES

Top 10-Rd. Picks: 26, 32, 33, 66, 103, 134, 164, 194, 224, 254, 284 & 314

Bonus Pool: $7,957,400

Scouting Director: Damon Oppenheimer (ninth year)

Oppenheimer’s First-Round History: C.J. Henry (17th overall, 2005), Ian Kennedy (21st overall, 2006), Andrew Brackman (30th overall, 2007), Gerrit Cole (28th overall, 2008), Slade Heathcott (29th overall, 2009), Cito Culver (32nd overall, 2010) & Ty Hensley (30th overall, 2012)

Oppenheimer’s Top 5-Round Breakdown: 41 picks (16 college pitchers, seven college position players, four high school pitchers & 14 high school position players)

Oppenheimer’s top picks in the last five drafts have been high school players with mixed results. Cole didn’t sign, Heathcott is very talented, but has battled off-field and injury issues, Culver has a minor league OPS of .638 through his first four seasons and recently gave up switch-hitting, Dante Bichette is repeating at low Class A after a rough year there in 2012 and Hensley recently had hip surgery and will miss most of the season.

Since 2007, Yankees drafts have produced six big leaguers, but no regulars—David Phelps, Brandon Laird, Austin Romine, D.J. Mitchell, Andrew Brackman and Adam Warren. All but Romine are college products.

With three first-round picks, the Yankees have a chance to add some serious talent to a young farm system. College players such as Notre Dame third baseman Eric Jagielo, Mississippi righthander Bobby Wahl or perhaps even Michigan outfielder Michael O’Neill—whom the Yankees drafted out of high school—could be in the mix. O’Neill’s uncle Paul played for New York and works for its YES Network. On the high school side, outfielder Billy McKinney from Plano (Texas) West High, shortstop Dustin Peterson from Gilbert (Ariz.) High and lefthander Rob Kaminsky from St. Joseph High in Montvale, N.J., merit consideration.