Yankees select SS Cito Culver in 1st round with #32 pick

YANKEES 1ST ROUND DRAFT PICK:

Yankees: #32 SS Cito Culver







From RiverAveBlues' Mike Axisa:

"If there’s one thing we know about scouting director Damon Oppenehimer, it’s that he loves up-the-middle high school athletes, and that certainly describes Culver. Standing 6-foot-2 and checking in at 175 lbs., Culver has premium athletic ability that will allow him to stay at short long-term and also opens up the possibility of a move to centerfield. His foot speed is good, and his defensive abilities are all very good except for his arm, which is a true cannon.

At the plate, the switch-hitting Culver generates good bat speed with an easy swing, though his power is mostly into the gaps and he’s a little bit better from the left side. He has lots of room for growth and has a chance to develop into a top of the line defender at a premium position with an average or better bat down the road. There are some reports of a troubled home life regarding his parents but not Cito himself. He’s committed to Maryland but is considered signable if taken high enough, which he certainly was."

From ESPN's Keith Law:

“The Yankees see Culver as a shortstop with a chance to hit for average and some power, and he has a plus arm, but there are mixed opinions on whether or not he’s going to stay at short. On the flip side, the Yankees had Culver on their Area Code Games team last summer and probably knew him as a player and as a person better than any other team could have.”

So it seems as though he's going to be a good prospect despite the bashing that the fans are giving the Yanks. I'm not a big fan of the pick, especially since there were greater prospects available such as Asher Wojciechowski and Nick Castellanos. The Yankees obviously know this kid well and picked him as Jeter's successor. Only time will tell.