MLB Draft 2021: Grading the Yankees’ late day-two picks
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Through 10 rounds, it appears as though the Yankees have an organizational mantra as to how they’ve approached the early portion of the draft: “You can never have too much pitching.” After choosing a shortstop, two pitchers, a second baseman, and then a first baseman, the Yankees made four more consecutive pitching selections before adding another shortstop. With 6 of their first 10 picks used on pitchers, the Yankees seem to have embraced the lottery ticket nature of prospect development, perhaps in their own attempt at building a “stable” down the line.
NATCHITOCHES â The work Levi David put in was rewarded.
As such, David became the 53rd Major League Baseball First-Year Player draftee in Northwestern State history after being selected by the New York Mets in the ninth round of the 2021 draft Monday afternoon. I had talked to the Mets and talked to the (Texas) Rangers, and they told me a general plan of what today would look like, David said. It never quite turns out like you think it would. I knew I d probably go in the five to 10 (round) range. Around the fifth round, I sat down and started watching it and waited for phone calls. With every pick, there was a little extra excitement or nervousness. I was really excited to go where I went. I m truly blessed for it.
How Colton Cowser Became the Surprise Top-Five Pick of the MLB Draft texasmonthly.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from texasmonthly.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Pittsburgh Pirates draft Louisville catcher Henry Davis with No. 1 pick; Jack Leiter goes to Texas Rangers at No. 2
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Pirates select Henry Davis with No. 1 overall pick (0:24)
The Pirates select Louisville catcher Henry Davis with the first overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft. (0:24)
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The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Louisville catcher Henry Davis with the first pick in baseball s amateur draft on Sunday night.
In a draft without a clear-cut top prospect, it remained unclear who the Pirates would go with until the selection was announced.
Regarded as the best college hitter in the draft, Davis exploded at the plate this year, hitting .370/.482/.663 with 15 home runs and more walks than strikeouts (31 to 24) over 50 games. Known as a defense-first catcher coming out of high school, Davis hit .280 with three home runs as a freshman in 2019 and was hitting well before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Davis, Leiter, Jobe lead top 10 picks at MLB draft
July 12, 2021 GMT
No. 1 PITTSBURGH PIRATES
HENRY DAVIS, C, LOUISVILLE (6-foot-2, 210 pounds, 21 years old)
Davis has big power and an even bigger arm, throwing out 46% of would-be basestealers to become a finalist for the Buster Posey Award as college baseball’s best defensive catcher. He was also one of the most feared hitters in college baseball, batting .370 and leading the Cardinals with 15 homers. His .482 on-base percentage was best in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
No. 2 TEXAS RANGERS
JACK LEITER, RHP, VANDERBILT (6-1, 205, 21)
The son of former big league All-Star Al Leiter is a right-hander with a mid-90s fastball and two overpowering breaking pitches, a repertoire that could play near the top of a big league rotation. He was 11-4 with a 2.13 ERA with the Commodores, including a no-hitter against South Carolina. He struck out 179 in 110 innings. This was the first pick made under Rangers first-year general manag