For the Yankees’ first round pick, Austin Wells, there are many questions about whether the 21-year-old will be able to stay behind the throw after fighting in self-defense in Arizona.
Damon Oppenheimer, team VP and Amateur Scouting Director, believes the 28th overall election in this year’s short draft can be increased.
“There are so many [room] for growth, “Oppenheimer said at a conference call Friday.” His mentality is very strong and he is a good athlete. And even from talking to people who trained him in college, they knew there was more to be done with him defensively because the training had not been the best training for him as a catcher. There is nothing against those who practice it. We just got people who are much better at it and that will help him get better quickly. “
There is even more pressure to get this choice right this year, because the Yankees are limited to three choices in amateur designs, thanks to the five round format which is shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the two choices they give to register Gerrit Cole.
Wherever Wells ends up on the pitch, the Yankees will look for his lefty bat to fulfill his potential.
“We think he can be an influential person, especially in our stadium,” Oppenheimer said. “He’s a mentally strong kid, so I don’t think the weight of the lines will affect him like anyone else.”
The Yankees also believe that the elbow injury that ruled out Wells as a high school senior was also behind him. They recruited him in the 35th round in 2018 despite an injury, before Wells chose to go to college.
Oppenheimer noted Wells had PRP injections in high school, but he “got through everything.”
“He can throw every day and doesn’t need to do special postgames on his elbows,” Oppenheimer said. “Things like that happen and it’s been a long time [since] that lights up or influences it. “
Oppenheimer said the choice of the second-round team (99th overall), Trevor Hauver from Arizona State, would likely move back to the field after switching to the field in college.
“We really like bats and strength from the left,” said Oppenheimer. “He got the discipline of throwing and the ability to hit the ball very hard.”
And the Yankees believe he will be more valuable as an infielder if he can adapt.
Their final choice is Beck Way kider from Northwest Florida State in the fourth round (total 129).
The Yankees really get a decent view on the Way, because his JUCO team started the season earlier.
“The only thing we want to happen is to see it [pitch] one full season and how he will survive, “said Oppenheimer.
That’s just part of how different the design process is, because instead of going around the country watching high school and college matches, scouts don’t rely on Zoom’s calls.
And usually, the players who are recruited will be signed and then assigned to minor league teams. That won’t happen this year, without a minor league season.
“At the moment, we are trying to meet and decide how we move forward with these people,” Oppenheimer said. “Obviously, they still have to do a physical examination and sign the contract, but the details of where they will be, we are still not sure.”
For teams, the next step starts on Sunday, when they can talk to players who are not recruited, even though they will be limited to signing $ 20,000.
Oppenheimer said the process of pursuing players began months ago “and included making a video together for every player they were interested in signing” to sell players on what they were looking for to become Yankees. “
