The 2020 MLB Draft is scheduled for June 10th and the New York Yankees have the 28th pick this year. Last year, the Yankees selected Anthony Volpe from Delbarton High School with the 30th pick and signed him for $2.7 million.
With the signing of Gerrit Cole, the Yankees surrendered their second and fifth-round picks when they signed Gerrit Cole and other free agents. With that being said, the club is expected to select a hitter in the first round and pitchers in the later rounds. They did a similar thing last year when they selected Volpe (SS) with their first pick and LHP TJ Sikkema after that.
Here’s a look at the New York Yankees possible first-round pick in this year’s MLB Draft:
Daniel Cabrera, OF, LSU
Since the Yankees are limited after signing Cole and losing some picks, they’re going to want to make their first-rounder count. Outfielder Daniel Cabrera is the kind of player that the Yankees like, showing tremendous power from the left side. In Cabrera’s sophomore season at LSU, he was batting .284 with 12 home runs and 50 runs batted in. He finished the year tied for the team lead in home runs and was third for RBIs. Before the college seasons were shut down due to COVID-19, Cabrera was off to a hot start batting .345 with 20 hits through 17 games played.
Being ranked the 38th-best prospect according to MLB.com, scouts have noted that Cabrera’s ability to hit to all fields also comes with tremendous speed. He’s also able to play all outfield positions, and the Yankees like having versatile players.
Cabrera is regarded as one of the best hitters in this year’s draft. His swing isn’t flashy as it’s smooth and quick, but his production is big. Since his swing doesn’t have any tremendous flaws, he’s expected to be an above-average hitter when he enters professional baseball.
Carlos Collazo from Baseball America had this to say about Cabrera:
There aren’t many moving parts in Cabrera’s swing. It’s simple and easy and, like his prep days, he’s still capable of hitting the ball to all fields, which has helped him stay consistent. While his raw power is more above-average than plus, and mostly to the pull side, he’s the sort of hitter scouts believe will tap into everything he has during games.
Dan Zielinki from Baseball Prospect Journal had this opinion on Cabrera:
He has a simple swing and an advanced approach at the plate that allows him to be an impact bat. He has solid power from the left side of the plate. He profiles as a corner outfielder.