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2015 Draft Report Card: Yankees
October 19, 2015 by John Manuel
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QUICK TAKE
James Kaprielian had a claim to be the top healthy college pitcher in a topsy-turvy class, and the Yankees got him with the 16th pick. Strong debuts by the likes of Donny Sands and Isiah Gilliam buoy a position-player class longer on athleticism than polish.
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: The Yankees had strong belief in the hands and contact ability of 3B Donny Sands(8), and he rewarded them with a .309/.405/.364 debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. » BEST POWER HITTER: OF Jhalan Jackson (7) set a Florida Southern record with 20 homers in the spring and hit five more in his debut, as did OF Trey Amburgey (13). Both have big power that is not limited to pull side. OF Isaiah Gilliam (20) is the increasingly-rare switch-hitter with power from both sides. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Jeff Hendrix (4) consistently turns in 4.0-4.1 second times to first base from the left side, and his speed plays defensively in center field as well. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: SS Kyle Holder (1) was the best defensive player in the draft class. He has body control, short-area quickness, a plus arm and easy actions, making him a potentially 70 defender.
Doesn't sound too bad


