Just months before the New York Yankees won their 27th World Series, they drafted outfielder Slade Heathcott in the first round out of Texas High School. He received a $2.2 million signing bonus and headed to the Gulf Coast League to begin his career.
Now over six years later, Heathcott was optioned to minor league camp just weeks before the 2016 season begins.
Heathcott has just 17 major league games under his belt, but once again will spend time in the minor leagues. With Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran and Aaron Hicks under contract, there just isn’t room for him on the Opening Day roster.