Yankees' Draft

Baseball's amateur draft is underway. A long list of projected luminaries will garner exaggerated attention. Hype is in the air. Who will be the next big thing? Time will tell.

Tom Verducci, gives excited Yankee fans a sobering history lesson in The Yankee Years: "For the next decade after bringing Andy Pettitte to the big leagues in 1995, the Yankees did not use even one homegrown pitcher of any consequence with the exception of Ramiro Mendoza, and although he had value as a middle reliever, Mendoza was not a starter or a closer,the premium slots for a pitcher."

A decade of failure led to a change in direction, in 2006 the Bombers' brass prioritized the signing and development of young pitchers. 2006 produced a windfall of talent: Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy brought life to the farm. Early success prompted management to rush them to the show. Erratic results and a slew of injuries followed. When the dust settled, Joba provides hope every fifth day, Hughes sits in the pen and Kennedy remains on Rehab Mountain. 2007 brought Brackman and surgically repaired talent under the tent. 2008 was a complete disaster as the system whiffed on new blood. Patience waned. Ownership whipped out the checkbook. Draft selections were sacrificed for big tickets. Once again, the direction changed.

The 2009 Yankees' draft starts with the #29 pick of the first round. Center fielder Slade Heathcott is the selection. Peter Abraham provides the scoop: "Heathcott is a five-tool player with above-average speed, arm strength and defensive skills. He has not pitched this season because of surgery to repair a torn knee ligament in November but did have a 95-mph fastball as a junior...character issues were outweighed by Heathcott's many physical skills."

Someone said, "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Relax Yankee fans, tune out the hysterical hype, the MLB draft is nothing to get excited over.

Photo/Minor League Dugout