The Yankees haven’t had much success taking high school players in the first round, but that didn’t stop them from taking one Thursday night.
With the 18th selection in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, they scooped up California outfielder Blake Rutherford, a highly regarded left-handed hitter who some projected to go in the top 10.
“I think he’s a future Alex Gordon type,” Baseball America editor John Manuel said during MLB Network’s broadcast.
ESPN’s Jim Bowden, the former general manager of the Reds and Nationals, said: “This guy is a steal for the Yankees. I see him as a 20-homer, 20-double guy.