The Yankees make Trey Sweeney their first pick in the 2021 Draft: Here is what you need to know

The New York Yankees have selected several middle infielder in the early rounds of recent drafts. Anthony Volpe, Josh Smith, and Trevor Hauver come to mind. Additionally, they have another fantastic shortstop prospect in Oswald Peraza. However, that didn’t stop them from adding another shortstop to their collection of top young values on Sunday night in the 2021 MLB draft.

With their first round pick, which was the 20^th selection overall, the Yankees picked Eastern Illinois shortstop Trey Sweeney. He isn’t a particularly good fielder and isn’t very fast, but the Yankees love his offensive profile and think he can hit for both average and power in the major leagues one day.

The draft will continue today and the Yankees have more picks, but they seem content with what they have on Sweeney. He is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound masher who may one day outgrow the shortstop position, but should have enough bat to move somewhere else, likely third base.

“Let’s get to work; let’s do this,” Sweeney said on MLB Network. “I’m excited.”

The Yankees love his offensive profile

The lefty-swinging Sweeney is coming off a very good redshirt sophomore season, in which he earned first-team All-American honors by Baseball America, Perfect Game and ABCA. Per MLB, he became the first player in Eastern Illinois history to do so at the NCAA Division I level.

He has already tried the Yankees’ pinstripes and had nothing but good vibes after doing it. “It feels awesome. It feels great to put this iconic logo on my chest and my hat. I’m thankful and blessed.”

Sweeney’s swing is a little unusual, but it has allowed him to hit for average in the past and now he is adding power to his already impressive hitting profile. He was the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year this past season.

He hit .382/.522/.712 with 52 runs, 65 hits, 10 doubles, 14 home runs and 58 RBIs in 48 games this year, with an impressive 46/24 BB/K ratio.

“We are really excited to have selected Trey Sweeney,” said Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees’ vice president of domestic amateur scouting. “He has excellent raw power and contact ability, and he can hit to all fields with strong plate discipline.