Prior to the 2019 season, the Yankees acquired the Reds’ competitive balance draft pick as part of the deal for Sonny Gray. While that move could be debated in hindsight, it at least seems as though the Yankees chose someone good with that pick, the 38th overall: University of Missouri pitcher T.J. Sikkema.
The left-handed pitcher was coming off an outstanding college career in the SEC, which is widely considered the toughest college baseball conference in the country. With a full season of college ball under Sikkema’s belt, the Yankees used him sparingly during his professional debut for Short-Season A Staten Island.