The Failure Of The Yankees First Round Draft Picks

Brenden MonroeCorrespondent IJune 12, 2009

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Ian Kennedy #31 of the New York Yankees poses during Photo Day on February 19, 2009 at Legends Field in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Slade Heathcott became the latest Yankees first round pick when he was selected 29th overall in the MLB draft.

Let’s hope he doesn’t turn into almost all of the other Yankees first round picks.

Here is the past decade of first rounders the Yankees have selected: (the links are from ESPN.com and the comments are mine)

2009	Slade Heathcott	OF	-
2008	Gerrit Cole	RHP	-Chose to go to UCLA instead of sign
2007	Andrew Brackman	RHP	-Can’t throw a strike in A ball
2006	Ian Kennedy	RHP	-Just had surgery to fix an aneurysm, but never showed much promise on the major league level
2005	Carl Henry	SS	-Left the minor leagues to go play basketball at Memphis. He was once quoted as saying “I spent my off-seasons from baseball working on my basketball skills”
2004	Philip Hughes	RHP	-Could be the future ace, he is the one guy who isn’t a failure on this list
2003	Eric Duncan	3B	Has a good glove, but is currently hitting .225 at AAA Scranton
2001	John-Ford Griffin	OF	Got a couple of stints in the majors with the Blue Jays, now in the Dodgers minor league system
2000	David Parrish	C	Son of former Major Leaguer Lance Parrish, David never did anything for the Yanks
1999	David Walling	RHP	Walling got the Knoblauch/Ankiel syndrome and just couldn’t be an effective pitcher anymore

As you can see, the only good fist round pick in the past decade has been Phil Hughes, who has shown flashes of what he can become with some solid, high- strikeout performances. He still has time, and so does Andrew Brackman, who had arm problems. If Brackman can throw strikes, the 6-10 pitcher will see the Majors sooner rather than later.

Let’s hope Slade Heathcott doesn’t turn into the the lastest edition to this unenviable list.