Only Major League Baseball would hold a draft while games are going on. Does anything they do make any sense? They have four days off next week. I don’t need excuses as to why. It makes no sense.
Because of that, I didn’t watch any of it as I watched the Yankees win over the Nationals. Easy enough to follow online, but I think it takes away from the event as a whole.
Anyway, let’s take a look at the Yankees’ picks. Note that I don’t consider myself a “Draft Expert”. I watch more college softball than I do baseball, but I read profiles extensively to form my opinions.
Round 1 – Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas
In what should be seen as a steal, the Yankees selected Arkansas lefty Hunter Dietz, one of the top left-handed pitchers in the draft (he was the third lefty chosen, behind two high schoolers). So, why did they get him at #35? Injuries. In 2024 and 2025, he pitched in only four games (1.2 innings). He started 16 games this season, posting a 3.57 ERA over 85.2 innings with a 131/31 K/BB. Past SEC pitchers the Yankees chose in the first round include Ben Hess (2024, Alabama), Clarke Schmidt (2017, South Carolina), and David Walling (1999, Arkansas). The Yankees have chosen plenty of SEC pitchers beyond the first round.
“So, why a pitcher and not a catcher or a third baseman or blah blah blah”? It’s baseball, not football or basketball. You would love to draft for need, but who knows what you will need by the time they develop? Pick the best player on your board. Dietz slipped down to the Yankees. Jim Callis projected him to go to the Red Sox at #20. Jonathan Mayo had him going 26th to the Braves. Kiley McDaniel (ESPN)? He had him going 15th to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
My grade: A+. The Yankees drafted a pitcher who was projected to go earlier. From a pure talent perspective, he is one of the best pitchers in the draft. That isn’t hyperbole (what is hyperbole is Cole Hamels dropping the Clayton Kershaw name). I know he was comparing their sliders, not their overall profiles. But let’s slow down. I was going to drop the grade to “A,” based on his injury history, but it didn’t impact him in 2026.
Round 2 – Sean Duncan, LHP, British Columbia (HS)
Duncan is a high schooler with a Vanderbilt commit, but it probably won’t be hard to buy him out of that. Why? He needs Tommy John surgery and won’t be making his professional debut until 2028. I read a blurb on one of the sites that the Yankees were considering him at #35 for the cost savings. Perhaps they would have done that if Dietz hadn’t fallen to them. The idea behind that is to sign Duncan for underslot, then throw more money at a later pick in the first ten rounds. That could still happen.
My grade: B-. Duncan was projected to be drafted in the first two rounds, so this is not a reach. If not for the Tommy John surgery, he had first-round talent. I can’t give a better grade to a prospect who isn’t likely to take the hill until 2028, but the Yankees can afford to be patient. Given that he is coming out of high school, he will have plenty of time to develop post-surgery.
Round 3 – Brendan Brock, C/OF, Oklahoma
The versatile Brock was a member of the 2026 College World Series championship squad. That was his only year in Division 1, and he hit well enough (.302/.399/.522 with 13 home runs). He stole 28 bases, a number that will fall if he becomes a full-time catcher.
One of the knocks I see is that he didn’t hit well in conference play. Additionally, he struck out at a 25.5% rate, which can raise some eyebrows. While I am in no mood to calculate the numbers, I do see he was hitting .351 on March 11th, the game before they entered conference play. On May 19th (the final day of conference play), his average was down to .266.
That said, he picked up the pace in the postseason, including a 2-for-3 night in the deciding Game 3 against North Carolina.
My grade: C+. His approach likely needs refining, given that SEC pitching gave him some trouble. Will the Yankees attempt to develop him as a catcher? My guess is yes, though that could strip him of the speed that is a big part of his profile. It’s not often a team has a choice between developing a player as a catcher or a center fielder. A prospect with that kind of athleticism falling to the third round is a likely indicator that organizations aren’t in love with the bat.
Round 4 – Paul Contreras, OF, Cal State Fullerton
Contrares was a Big West standout in 2026, hitting .346/.441/.633 with 14 home runs. That was a massive improvement over his 2025 campaign, when he hit .259/.342/.469 with six home runs.
He was one of four Big West players with an OPS over 1.000, and his 14 home runs ranked him 5th. For those who care about such a thing, he also walked (33) more than he struck out (31).
While I cannot find a position breakdown in 2026, he played only right field in 2025. Before playing for Cal State Fullerton, however, he played some center field.
My grade: B-. I like this pick, especially if he can handle center field. The power potential is there, so it comes down to refining the rest of his offensive game.
Day 2:
Round 5 – Bear Harrison, C, Texas A&M
Bear Harrison looks like a name I would find if I searched for 1920s catchers. I wonder if we would have gotten along with Birdie Cree? Harrison has an interesting offensive profile who needs some work behind the plate. Catchers with good all-around profiles aren’t available in the fifth round. Interesting fact: Harrison doesn’t have speed in his profile, but he grounded into only three double plays (none this year) in his 140-game collegiate career, which began at St. Mary’s before he transferred to Texas A&M.
Bottom Line: If you want a pick that “fills a need,” here you go. Harrison needs work on his receiving skills, but the Yankees seem to be good at helping catchers develop their defensive games.
Round 6 – Andrew Gonzalez, 3B, American HS (Texas)
It’s not easy to find interesting facts on high school players. The Yankees likely feel they can sign him, though it would require buying him out of his Texas Tech commitment. According to Perfect Game, he was the 43rd-ranked high school prospect in Texas (#3 at third base). Interestingly, MLB.com’s draft tracker lists him as a right-handed hitter, but profiles I have found list him as a left-handed bat.
Bottom Line: I can’t comment on this kid’s talent. Given the Perfect Game report, this may be a reach. If he declines to sign with the Yankees, they lose his slot money (this was put into place so teams don’t draft unsignable players with the intent of redistributing their bonuses). Typically, teams don’t risk this, so the Yankees must be confident he will sign.
Round 7 – Michael Harpster, RHP, East Tennessee State
Standing 6’0″, Harpster is a spin master with a low-90s fastball and upper-80s cutter. His size and ability to spin may put him in a similar category to current Yankees prospect Cade Smith. For East Tennessee State this year, his walk and strikeout rates climbed while his home run rate tumbled.
Bottom Line: The Yankees selected him 218th, while Pipeline had him ranked 214th. Harpster is a senior, so his leverage will be low and may end up signing at or below slot.
Round 8 – Luke Pettitte, TWP, Dallas Baptist
Do you remember Chance Adams? Maybe that’s a memory you wish to suppress, but the Yankees selected him out of Dallas Baptist, a school with a solid baseball reputation.
Pettitte’s story is a fun one, as he developed into a legitimate hitter while recovering from Tommy John surgery as a pitcher. I doubt the Yankees want him to do both, but it is intriguing to think about.
Luke’s brother Jared Pettitte pitched in the Marlins organization from 2021 to 2022, but retired quickly due to an arm injury. His claim to fame was participating in a combined no-hitter for the Marlins’ FCL squad. His other brother, Josh Pettitte, was drafted by the Yankees in 2013 but decided to go to college. Like many pitchers who went to Rice at the time, he didn’t even survive a year before injuries ended his dream.
Bottom Line: His family connection didn’t hurt him. His hitting in 2026 (.337/.403/.693 with 16 home runs) outshone his pitching from the 2025 Cape Cod League. It will be interesting to see what direction the Yankees move him in.
Round 9 – David Leslie, RHP, Pitt
As a 4-year graduate student, the 23-year-old feels like a prototypical underslot guy. Leslie pitched in 18 games (ten starts) for Pitt, posting a 6.37 ERA and 75/29 K/BB over 65 innings. In his one appearance against College World Series runner-up North Carolina, he allowed three runs on four hits over 2.1 innings.
Bottom Line: Don’t be surprised if Leslie moves around the organization from the start. Maybe the Yankees see something in his arm to try him as a short reliever, but anything he provides will be a bonus. Every team drafts players like Leslie so they can have extra money to throw at other picks in the first ten rounds.
Round 10 – Bayram Hot, UTIL, Louisville
The Queens, NY product belongs in MLB based on name alone. Anyway, Hot has experience at 2B/SS/3B and is coming off a solid campaign offensively (.330/.448/.528 in 57 games). He spent two years at Marist before moving to Louisville, a move that did its job in increasing his draft stock.
Bottom Line: He may have a profile similar to Owen Cobb and Connor McGinnis. Cobb was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2024, while McGinnis was their 10th-round pick out of Houston in 2025. Both have filled utility roles within the Yankees’ organization. Does that mean MLB is out of reach? Of course not. The Yankees drafted Oliver Dunn in the 11th round in 2019, and he has made MLB appearances the last three years. It’s a way to make a living.
Starting with the 11th round, players are no longer subject to the slot system employed in the first ten rounds. Back in the day, franchises would try to lure hyped high school kids who had no intention of going pro with massive offers. It worked on a few. That is no longer possible, as players picked in the 11th – 20th rounds have bonuses capped at $150,000. Teams are allowed to go over that, but it counts against their bonus pool for the first ten rounds. For example, if the Yankees sign one of the players below for $200,000, the extra $50,000 is counted against their bonus pool.
Round 11 – Anthony Potestio, UTIL, UC – San Diego
A 3-year starter for the Tritons, Potestio is another contender to move around the field and levels as needed. He’s a left-handed hitter whose numbers declined in 2026 (from .323/.450/.476 to .298/.431/.436). I found this profile on him, which labels him as a contact-first hitter with versatility. He also had experience in the 2025 Cape Cod League, where scouts flock to evaluate talent. It is possible the Yankees discovered him there and saw something they liked.
Bottom Line: Not a pick that will excite anyone, but you will probably see a lot of him over the next several years. I am reminded of how long Max Burt hung around (2018 – 2025). Burt is now in the Tigers organization.
Round 12 – Austin Berggren, RHP, Miami (OH)
While many collegiate athletes tend to go from mid-major schools to high-major schools, Berggren went in the opposite direction. He started his collegiate journey with Nebraska in 2023, played in the California Collegiate League and Prospect League in 2024, then resurfaced in Division I with Miami (OH) in 2025. After a horrible 2025 campaign (10.58 ERA in 32.1 innings with a 37/21 K/BB), he bounced back in 2026, compiling a 3.63 ERA over 44.1 innings with a 61/13 K/BB. Berggren is a reliever, as he only started four of his 48 collegiate games.
Bottom Line: The Yankees’ top relief prospect (Ben Grable) was drafted in the 11th round in 2025. Is there a comparison? Probably not, but we can dream.
Round 13 – Lee Garris, OF, Maury HS (Virginia)
Garris is committed to James Madison. ESPN ranked him the 235th-best prospect in the draft, and the Yankees nabbed him at pick #398. This could be an indicator that he isn’t seen as a slam dunk to sign. If he were considered an “easy” sign, he may have gone in the first ten rounds.
That said, ESPN purposely left any high school prospects the industry feels are nearly impossible to sign off its Top 250 list.
Bottom Line: For what it is worth, the Yankees selected Dax Kilby with their first pick in 2025. He was the only high school talent they drafted. They might be confident that Garris will sign and may use some unused money from the first ten rounds to entice him.
Round 14 – Diego Castellanos, OF, St. Mary’s (CA)
“And there’s a drive…” No, he isn’t related to Nick!
Anyway, Castellanos’ .382 batting average and 61 runs led all West Coast Conference players. The left-handed bat hit six home runs, but doubled 21 times, good for third among WCC hitters.
He was a part of the squad that defeated top-seeded UCLA twice in the regional round of the College World Series (Cal Poly ended up winning the region, however).
Bottom Line: Castellanos entered the transfer portal at the season’s conclusion and may earn himself a good amount of money to play elsewhere in 2027. He’s already visited Tennessee. This pick should intrigue you, thanks to his ability to play center field and his developing bat. Will he sign? That’s the $1,000,000 question.
Round 15 – William Cutshall, IF, Seneca HS (South Carolina)
Born in Panama, Cutshall did not appear on the ESPN Top 250. Is that an indicator that he is one of the prospects on their “impossible to sign” list? I don’t know, but I have a feeling he will not be easy to sign. He is committed to playing for Ole Miss, and the profiles I read indicate to me that his talent is that of a player who should have been selected earlier.
By the way, the draft tracker lists him as a “shortstop,” but from what I read, he has played everywhere on the diamond, including pitcher and catcher.
Bottom Line: It isn’t unusual for teams to pick talented high schoolers who are unlikely to sign. Don’t take my word for it, however, when it comes to Cutshall.
Round 16 – Garrett Ahern, RHP, Grand Canyon
Ahern stands 6’5″ according to the draft tracker but 6’6″ according to Grand Canyon’s official site. Either way, he fits the Yankees’ profile of drafting big pitchers. They hope that entering the Yankees Pitching Factory, they can add velocity to their tall frames.
A starter for the Antelopes’ program, he compiled a 5.05 ERA over 46.1 innings with a 47/20 K/BB in 2026. He did miss some time during the season, though the Grand Canyon website doesn’t list why.
Bottom Line: This feels like an upside pick. The Yankees will try to “level up” his stuff, perhaps potentially converting him into a reliever. They often make these kinds of picks. In 2021, they drafted current Scranton reliever Danny Watson in the 15th round. He stands 6’7″ and had some prospect buzz a few years back. Others include Jack Neely (6’8″; 11th round; sent to the Cubs for Mark Leiter Jr.) and Bailey Dees (6’8″; 18th round; released by the Yankees early this season).
Round 17 – Jason Krieger, RHP, Maine
See Ahern, Garrett. Krieger is another tall pitcher from a non-traditional baseball school. He pitched extremely well in the 2026 Cape Cod League, posting a 0.59 ERA over 15.1 innings with a 16/1 K/BB. For Maine, he posted a 4.57 ERA over 88.2 innings with a 55/34 K/BB. He led all AEC pitchers in innings.
Bottom Line: Everything I said about Ahern likely applies to Krieger. You should be intrigued by both simply because the Yankees have shown the ability to develop these kinds of arms.
Round 18 – Blake Cyr, OF, Florida
Cyr split his four collegiate seasons with Miami (freshman, sophomore) and Florida (junior, senior). As a freshman in 2019, he put up a solid .305/.427/.620 campaign that included 17 home runs. He played 44 games at second base, but spent the majority of the rest of his collegiate career in left field.
While his sophomore and junior campaigns couldn’t live up to his promising freshman year, he was a reliable contributor as a senior, hitting .316/.398/.591 with 14 home runs.
Bottom Line: Cyr has zero leverage, as going back to school is not an option. He seems to have some bat potential (especially against LHP), but his lack of defensive versatility limits his value. For an 18th-round pick, there’s nothing wrong with selecting an outfielder from a major college program.
Round 19 – Tyce Armstrong, 1B, Baylor
Armstrong transferred from Texas-Arlington to Baylor for the 2026 campaign, and it paid off for him. He hit .338/.453/.757 with 24 home runs, doubling his previous best campaign. He finished fifth amongst Big 12 hitters in home runs and fourth in slugging percentage.
In a fun side note, Armstrong launched three grand slams on Opening Day this year, becoming the second player (there’s another?) in NCAA history to accomplish that feat.
Bottom Line: When I see a hard-hitting first baseman entering the system, I instantly think of Chris Gittens, a 12th-round pick in 2014 who hit a home run for the 2021 Yankees (he hit 86 career minor league homers, including 23 in 2019 for Double-A Trenton). He’s a first baseman only, so Armstrong’s bat will need to carry him.
Round 20 – Dean Toigo, OF, Arizona State
It’s quite a rise for Toigo, who was playing in NAIA as recently as 2024.
In his only season for Arizona State, Toigo did his best Tyce Armstrong impersonation. He hit .321/.422/.650 with 20 home runs after hitting 18 home runs for UNLV in 2025. He was named Mountain West Conference Player of the Year after his 2025 campaign.
He stands at 6’4″ and bats left-handed, and you won’t find a Yankees fan who brushes off a left-handed hitting power bat.
Bottom Line: Another power bat to add to the system. These players are useful, regardless if they make it to MLB or not.
Overall Grade: A
If you read my reports, I don’t sugarcoat the Yankees’ shortcomings. This “A” isn’t out of hope. It’s because the Yankees didn’t try to be cute with the 35th pick. A major talent fell into their lap, and they jumped on it. The other three picks? I don’t know – I read the profiles, and pick out what I like and don’t like. I don’t think there is anything wrong with picking a high school kid who needs elbow surgery, because it doesn’t hurt his ETA too much. The third and fourth picks were used on an athletic catcher/outfielder and a power bat. Some may see those picks as safe and boring, but sometimes that is the correct approach.
Day 2 didn’t change my overall grade.