For those who follow the Yankees’ farm system, the draft is always a source of instant knee-jerk reaction. However, you can learn a lot from history, so here’s some perspective on how the Yankees’ recent first round picks have panned out.
2005 – CJ Henry
2006 – Ian Kennedy
2006 – Joba Chamberlain
2007 – Andrew Brackman
2008 – Gerritt Cole
2008 – Jeremy Bleich
2009 – Slade Heathcott
2010 – Cito Culver
2011 – Dante Bichette Jr
Since the Brackman draft, the Yankees’ first round picks have all arguably disappointed (with one exception). Cole didn’t sign. Bleich hasn’t pitched since 2010 due to shoulder surgery. Heathcott has had two shoulder surgeries and hasn’t played since last season. It’s still very early for the 19-year old Cito Culver, but he hasn’t shown the ability to hit the baseball at any level (.244/.329/.317 in 772 PAs). The only exception so far has been Dante Bichette Jr, who killed it in his first professional season (.335/.440/.507).
In all fairness, this track record is likely typical of any team that drafts as low as the Yankees do each year (due to regular season big league success). Due to draft position, the elite talents are already gone by the time they pick. Still, many of us get excited about these first round picks, but unfortunately, most of them haven’t worked out. Sorry to rain on the parade.
Yankee first round picks typically end up sucking, waaahh, waaahhhhhhhhh
43 Comments
R2-D2 June 5, 2012 10:24
I wouldn’t call Joba a failure yet and Kennedy even though he plays elsewhere isn’t a bust either Slade shouldn’t even be considered he is that young.
CJ June 5, 2012 10:29
Thus, “since the Brackman draft”
But Slade has def disappointed so far. He hasn’t been able to stay on the field.
Hate Boston/ Hate they draft better June 5, 2012 10:25
2005: Ellsbury
2005: hansen
2006: Daniel Bard
2006: Jason Place
2008: Casey Kelly – Got them Agone
2009: Reymond Fuentes – got them Agone
2010: Bryce Bentz
2010: Anthony Ranaudo
2010: Kolbrin Vitek
2011: Blake Swihart
2011: Matt Fucking Barnes
yankees suck at drafting
DormantUlcer June 5, 2012 10:27
For a second I read that as Blake Shitwart.
Jay Destro June 5, 2012 11:53
Moron.
The Truth June 5, 2012 10:53
Ellsbury, always hurt and getting ready to leave. Craig Hansen? You mean the guy the Yankees tattoed constantly. Bard? You mean the guy that sucks in the rotation and burned out in the bullpen. The two stiffs that got you Gonzalez, hell the league front office fixed it so you could have given the Padres two buckets of chicken for him. As for the rest lets wait before we put them in Cooperstown.
CJ June 5, 2012 10:55
Ellsbury had an MVP-caliber season last year. That’s not a successful draft pick. Come on, dude.
The Truth June 5, 2012 11:25
One MVP caliber season, after missing the bulk of last season and he is hurt this year again. Come on dude, part of being valuable is playing enough to help your team. Why do you think the Sox won’t give him a long term deal? He gets hurt.
Hate Boston/ Hate they draft better June 5, 2012 11:39
you are a moron, first Ellsbury injury this year is as freaky as MO’s so to just think hes made of glass is stupid, Second I would take 1 year of MVP caliber season rather than a guy who never sniffed the MLB cj henry, you have to be the biggest moron if you wouldnt take ellsbury over cj henry.
Bard also is starting for the first time, you must be one of those blind homers that are patient with your own but other teams young guys suck, go screw yourself in the asshole with cashmans face you fucking asshole
The Truth June 5, 2012 11:44
I don’t even watch baseball, I just watch Tyler Perry and laugh my fool head off!
The Real Truth June 5, 2012 13:59
No I am one of those pathetic fans that reads fangraphs, baseball prospectus, masterbates to cut outs of Bill James, Billy Beane and other stat obsessed ass monkeys who have built no world championship teams.
Theo Epstein June 5, 2012 15:15
Really? I won two.
Gene Michael June 5, 2012 15:23
Really Bitch, I built four and I probably would have won two more if not for sleepy Joe Torre.
The Truth June 5, 2012 14:06
Uh I am a moron. The guy hurt a rib in a routine collison and spent the entire fucking year on the DL.The inury was misdiagnosed by your wicked awesome medical staff and his teammates called him a pussy for receiving treatment in Arizona. As for the shoulder injury if you think that the Sox are not going to hold that against him in arbitration and contract negotiations you sir no nothing about the sport or the business of it.
As for Bard did you watch how he got progressively fucking worse last year and how they were afraid to make him Papelbon’s succesor? Perhpas you one of those blind fucktard Red Sox Fans who wore a “In Theo we trust” T-shirt while jerking off to the 07 World Series Highlight after your mom brought you a grilled cheese sandwich to the basement?
Hate Boston/ Hate they draft better June 5, 2012 15:39
You are a moron, your opinion is not valid when even one year of ellsbury is far better than cj henry who the yankees picked before him, go fuck yourself, Even if he was fragile you got production out of him and worst case scenario you trade him at high value and not a salary dumb like cj henry
As for bard you are a fucking asshole, Nova has become absolutely worse this year, does that mean the team should give up on him? of course not, Im no redsox fan, im just someone who sees these dumb drafts and gets pissed at what a pathetic team the guy with so much more resources builds
Go suck on cashman you faggot!
The Truth June 5, 2012 16:11
First of all shouldn’t you be on SOSH with the rest of your Klan brothers? As for Ellspussy yes your brilliant front office loves him so much they brought in Carl Crawford virtually assuring themselves of his departure.
Nova has become worse? Honestly do you watch games or do you turn into Baseball Tonight for Kruk’s analysis. Nova has never been as bad as Bard has this year. Was his spot in the rotation in jeopardy? No they have been evaluating Bard from start to start dumb ass. As for Cashman no one has ripped his ass more than me. As for your brilliant front office good luck getting someone to pick up Lackey’s contract and that Crawford contract? Brilliant maybe he Agon can ask if it’s in Gods plans for the Sox to make the playoffs.
The Truth June 5, 2012 16:29
Oh snap, Tyler Perry is gonna wear a dress tonight! Let me know who wins the Yankee game!
WTF June 5, 2012 16:35
Honestly since when has The Truth mentioned Tyler Perry. More importantly why are you defending the Sox asshole? What happened to this site?
Hate Boston/ Hate they draft better June 5, 2012 18:46
you obviously are a moron because first you think Im a redsox fan
second you cant seem to comprehend the point that the redsox have done better on the draft and you come up with your stupid comments to try to justify it with ellsbury, when you fail to notice that Ellsbury could be done and retire right now and still have been a better pick than motherfucking CJ Henry, you go on and on to try and look for ways to throw dirt on Ellsbury which is cool since you are a yankee fan but you still cant notice how Ellsbury > cj henry
as for Bard, again who is denying that he has sucked and had a bad year? but so fucking what? the point isnt about if he sucks or doesnt even though pitchers have ups and downs like Nova, the point is the success rate in their draft has been better.
now go screw your anus
The Truth June 5, 2012 22:06
What a draft pick:
http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/8013297/daniel-bard-sent-triple-boston-red-sox
Smart Guy June 5, 2012 22:36
WOW daniel bard is sent to AAA, thats never happened to any yankee pitcher drafted
Joeybagonuts June 6, 2012 22:42
Ellsbury had some injuries before last year, no?
Jay Destro June 5, 2012 10:25
Sucking? Yeah, I hear that.
Joe Páwlikowski June 5, 2012 11:53
Call me :)
A-Rod's contract June 5, 2012 10:31
Don’t worry, they’ll be drafting higher in a few seasons.
Mr. Over Slot June 5, 2012 10:43
Picking lower in the baseball draft was a monetary and signability disadvantage… but not necessarily a talent disadvantage.
The Yankees could throw big money at young stars who dropped down to them because the other teams couldn’t afford them.
So where the Yanks picked isn’t much of an excuse for the lousy performance of those they did pick, as there was legit talent there that other teams would have taken if they could have.
For whatever reason, the Yankees just aren’t very good at this shit.
With the new draft rules, this miserable track record should get worse.
Joe Páwlikowski June 5, 2012 11:53
Who cares? We got Nunez.
Akon's Driver June 6, 2012 00:07
Doesn’t matter had sex.
It was a BJ from Joe Paw, but it still counts.
Joe Páwlikowski June 6, 2012 15:24
I’d suck any guy off for a free ride. Joe Paw knows.
BJ Upton June 6, 2012 22:56
?????
Hideki Irabu's Corpse June 5, 2012 13:18
Herrrrroooo!
Captain Obvious June 5, 2012 14:40
CJ Henry was the key piece in the Abreu trade. That worked out well.
Captain Clutch June 5, 2012 14:47
I’ve got an Edge
Tri-State Ford Dealer June 7, 2012 08:48
Available now in Blazing Copper!
diseased fan on fangraphs talking about Bard June 5, 2012 14:54
“No room in the bullpen right now. Even if you cut bait on one of the legitimate scrubs in there (Morales, Albers) you’ve got Mortensen, Tazawa and Melancon all pounding on the door at Pawtuckett.”
Melancon is pounding on the door in Pawtuckett. He’s ready to burst on the scene and strikeout every batter. Beware.
jerk off June 5, 2012 23:25
Dante Bitch-ette Jr. beat up on non-prospects last year and he gets a pass? Look at his line this year.
CJ June 6, 2012 08:54
So he’s a failure because he hasn’t hit well for 1/4 of season?
jerk off June 6, 2012 10:33
So he’s a success for doing well in 1/4 of the season last year against shitty competition?
TSJC June 6, 2012 15:25
Nigga’s be all actin’ craxy and shizit.
Pineda's shoulder June 6, 2012 00:32
Why does it look like Rachel Dratch’s face is in a toilet?
BEXY June 6, 2012 15:25
SHIT ON MY FACE!
Nick Social June 14, 2012 20:14
Rachel Dratch is oddly attractive, yes?
Midland TX June 7, 2012 16:45
Dumb. You may as well say “All draft picks have a spotty record.” Some years are better and deeper than others and there’s no way to predict how things will turn out.
CJ Henry turned into Bobby Abreu and he was pretty valuable.
See also Ian Kennedy and Curtis Granderson.
With Brackman, Bleich, Heathcott, Cole, it’s a function of drafting down in the pecking order–you have to go for toolsy but risky (injuries, signability, makeup). It’s no coincidence the scouting department has done much better with international signings (Cano, Nova, Montero, Nunez, Banuelos).