The first installment of three editions, here we’ll feature the top handful of yearly picks by the Yankees between 1990 and 1999, and how those selections turned out. It was a decade where the franchise experienced both it’s lowest of lows and highest of highs, and the draft picks were actually a parallel of that — some gems, some not so much.
The New York Yankees first selections in the MLB Amateur Draft from 1990 to 1999 were as follows (overall pick number in parenthesis):
- 1990: Carl Everett, OF (#10)
- 1991: Brien Taylor, P (#1)
- 1992: Derek Jeter, SS (#6)
- 1993: Matt Drews, P (#13)
- 1994: Brian James Buchanan, 1B-OF (#24)
- 1995: Shea Morenz, OF (#27)
- 1996: Eric Milton, P (#20)
- 1997: Tyrell Godwin, OF (#24)
- 1998: Andy Brown, OF (#24)
- 1999: David Walling, P (#27)
1999 New York Yankees Amateur Draft
First Pick (overall): Josh Hamilton / Tampa Bay Rays
General Manager: Brian Cashman
Manager: Joe Torre
Farm Director: Gordon Blakeley
Scouting Director: Linwood Garrett
Here’s the top picks of note in the Yankees’ 1999 amateur draft:
Round 1 – #27 David Walling, P, University of Arkansas
A standout pitcher in NCAA Division I ball who landed a $1,075,000 signing bonus, Walling’s career was ultimately derailed by what his agent and the Yankees front office characterized as ‘personal issues’. The Baseball Reference website reports the Razorback right-hander demonstrated “a compulsion to throw repeatedly to first base whenever a runner was on”, even consulting with a sports psychologist to no avail. Walling advanced to AAA level over 4 seasons in the minors (from 1999-2002), but never reached The Bronx. His career mark included a 24-24 record, with 283 strikeouts over 346.2 innings for a 4.10 ERA.
Round 2 – #78 Tommy Winrow, OF, Bishop Verot HS (Fort Myers, FL)
Winrow played 6 seasons in the Yankees farm system between 1999 and 2004, topping out at AA level with the Trenton Thunder in 2004, never making it to the big club.
Round 3 – #111 Alex Graman, OF, Indiana State University
Graman spent 6 seasons in the Yankees minor league system, and made his pro debut in 2004. A 19.80 ERA after two starts had him back in the minors, and 2005 proved not much better. The Yankees released Graman in July of 2005, where he then signed on with the Cincinnati Reds before being DFA’d in September. From 2006 to 2012, he played professionally in Japan and Korea, officially retiring from pro ball in 2013, but stayed in the game as a scout.
Round 4 – #141 Robert Corrado, P, Oakwood (Dayton, OH)
Corrado did not sign with the Yankees, but accepted an offer from the Texas Rangers after dropping to the 30th round of the 2002 amateur draft.
Round 7 – #231 Andy Phillips, SS, University of Alabama
After spending 5 outstanding seasons in the Yankees minor leagues, Phillips made his MLB debut as a September call-up in 2004.
Pinch-hitting for Alex Rodriguez no less, he homered in his first at-bat, a moonshot over the Green Monster in Fenway.
Career stats include a .250 BA, 14 home runs, 70 RBI over 604 plate appearances. His 5 seasons in the bigs included stints with the Reds, Mets, Pirates and White Sox, as well as two seasons in Japanese professional baseball. A class act throughout his career, currently Phillips is assistant coach of the University of Alabama’s baseball team.
1999 DRAFT & ROSTER NOTES : Players drafted *after* the Yankees top pick in 1999 included John Lackey and Justin Morneau …
Among the top prospects in the Yankees’ organization coming into the 1999 season were: 1B Nick Johnson (#18), P Ryan Bradley (#25), SS Alfonso Soriano (#39), OF Ricky Ledee (#70), OF Jackson Melian (#72), and 3B Drew Henson (#100). (Source: Baseball America).
After the 1999 campaign, the Yankees granted free agency to the following players: Joe Girardi, Mike Stanton, Luis Sojo.
Check here for a full list of the 1999 New York Yankees draft selections.
1998 New York Yankees Amateur Draft
First Pick (overall): Pat Burrell / Philadelphia Philles
General Manager: Brian Cashman
Manager: Joe Torre
Farm Director: Gordon Blakeley
Scouting Director: Linwood Garrett
Off-Season Moves: Fresh off one of the most successful and memorable seasons in the long and glorious history of the franchise, the ’98 off-season was almost an afterthought. There was not exactly an abundance of ‘can’t miss’ talent in the draft pool, and the club was set at a bunch of positions. The focus was on re-signing top free agents. After the World Series concluded on October 21st, the following players were granted free agency: Tim Raines, Bernie Williams, Scott Brosius, and David Cone, among others.
Before the end of November, Brosius, Cone and Williams were re-signed. In February of ’99, GM Cashman pulled off a stunning trade that sent David Wells, Graeme Lloyd and Homer Bush to the Toronto Blue Jays for Roger Clemens.
The Yankees’ 1998 amateur draft looked like this:
Round 1 – #24 Andy Brown, OF, Richmond HS (Richmond, IN)
Brown was signed for a bonus amount of $1,050,000. and spent the next 8 seasons in the minors, never getting past AA ball. After leaving the Yankees farm system, he did two stints with independent league teams in 2005, and then retired from pro ball.
Round 1 – #43 Mark Prior, P, University of San Diego
A highly regarded college pitcher, the Yankees could not sign Prior to a contract in the ’98 draft. He again entered the draft in 2001, where the Chicago Cub inked him to a then-record $10.5 million dollar contract. He made he 2003 All-Star team, and for a time was one of the top hurlers in the game but his career was marked by numerous injuries as well. He pitched for the Cubs, Padres, Rangers, Red Sox and Reds, had had one brief stint with the Yankees in 2011 where he as assigned to start the season in AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre, but again was sidelined by injury. The Yankees granted Prior free agency in November 2011. He retired in December 2013.
Round 2 – #67 Randy Keisler, P, Louisiana State University
You might say Randy’s potential career in pinstripes was both destined and snake-bit at the same time. He was first drafted by the Indians in the 40th round of the 1995 draft2, then again in the 57th round of the 1996 draft, then in the 40th round of 1997 draft by the Mets, all of which he refused to sign with. He debuted in the bigs on September 10, 2000 with a victory against the Red Sox, but injuries would derail his career in pinstripes, cumulating with getting bit by a rattlesnake in his backyard while rehabbing from a shoulder injury in 2002. He was released in 2003, and spent the next 4 years with the Padres, Reds, A’s and Cardinals before hanging them up.
Round 3 – #97 Drew Henson, 3B, Michigan
Henson was another one of those tease/football/other sport athletes that pop up from time to time in pinstripe draft picks, but he actually did put 2 seasons in the minors. In ’98, there was no social media yet, and not everyone you knew even had email back then, so accurate news was elusive at the time (not that anything has changed 20 years later, huh?) — but Yankee fans were somewhat buzzing about Henson. Starting out with the Gulf Coast Yankees (Rookie League) and A-ball Tampa Yankees, Henson worked his way up to AA (Norwich Navigators) before being traded in a package to land pitcher Denny Neagle from the Cincinnati Reds. He was traded back to the Yankees in 2001, but continued struggles in AAA by 2003 led the Yankees to trade for Aaron Boone in July of that year. And we know what happened in the postseason.
Henson then make himself available for 2003 NFL draft and was acquired by the Dallas Cowboys. With modest success in the NFL, playing for the Cowboys, Vikings and Lions, he was cut by Detroit when they used their #1 pick in the 2009 NFL draft to select Matthew Stafford.
Round 4 – #127 Ivan Reyes, Utility IF, Liceo Hispano Americano HS (Bayamon, Puerto Rico)
After 4 seasons (1999-2002) in the Yankees minor league system, Reyes bounced around between A and AA assignments with the Cincinnati Reds and Anaheim Angels organizations, as well as a string of Independent league teams before retiring from professional baseball in 2009.
Round 6 – #157 Brett Jodie, P, University of South Carolina
A standout in college ball, Jodie had the unfortunate MLB debut of allowing 7 hits, 6 earned runs and 3 home runs over 2 innings for a 27.00 ERA at Yankee Stadium in a 10-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 20, 2001.
Round 34 – #1026 Brandon Claussen, P, Howard College (Big Spring, Texas)
The Rapid City, South Dakota native made his New York baseball debut in fine style, recording a win over the cross-town rival Mets with a 6.1 inning gem (saved by Mariano Rivera no less) while Mets starter Tom Glavine took the loss.
1998 DRAFT & ROSTER NOTES : Players drafted after the Yankees top pick in 1998 included Barry Zito (#83, Rangers), Matt Holliday (#210, Rockies) and Mark Teixeria (#277, Red Sox) .
Check here for a full list of the 1998 New York Yankees draft selections.
Among the top prospects in the Yankees’ organization coming into the 1998 season were: OF Ricky Ledee (#46), 3B Mike Lowell (#71), and OF Jackson Melian (#98). (Source: Baseball America).
1997 Yankees Amateur Draft
First Pick (overall): Matt Anderson / Detroit Tigers
General Manager: Bob Watson
Assistant General Manager: Brian Cashman
Manager: Joe Torre
Scouting Director: Linwood Garrett
Off-Season Moves: On November 7, 1997, the Yankees sent pitcher Kenny Rogers and cash to the Oakland A’s for a PTBNL which turned out to be none other than 1998 World Series MVP Scott Brosius. Four days later third baseman Charile Hayes was traded to the Giants for Alberto Castillo and Chris Singleton. The Bombers lost pitchers Ben Ford and Brian Boehringer in the 1997 expansion draft to the D’Backs and Devil Rays, respectively. In January of ’98, Darryl Strawberry and Tim Raines were signed as free agents.
Round 1 – #24 Tyrell Godwin, OF, East Bladen (Elizabethtown, NC)
Did not sign with the Yankees. Eventually signed with the Blue Jays in the 2001 draft, played 3 games at the MLB level with the Nationals in 2005 before retiring in 2007.
Round 1 – #40 Ryan Bradley, P, Arizona State University
MLB career consisted of a 2-1, 5.68 ERA mark with the ’98 Yankees over 5 appearances, including one start. He was originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 14th round of the 1994 amateur draft but did not sign.
Round 2 – #84 Jason Henry, P, University of Illinois-Chicago
Played for 1997 Oneonta Yankees (NY-Penn League), but injuries sidelined him until 2000 when he played in the Western and Atlantic Leagues (Independent) Leagues before retiring.
Round 3 – #109 Mike Knowles, P, Palatka (Plataka, FL)
Knowles bounced around the Yankees farm system over 7 seasons from 1997-2003, never making it the big club. After a stint with the Cardinals A-Ball Peoria Chiefs in 2003, he retired.
Round 4 – #139 Dion Washington, OF, College of Southern Ohio
Washington spent 3 seasons in the Yankees farm system from 1997-2001, never advancing to AA level.
Round 5 – #169 Randy Choate, P, Florida State University
Choate enjoyed a 15 year MLB career starting in 2000-2003 with the Yankees, 2004-15 with the D’Backs, Rays, Marlins, Dodgers and Cardinals. On December 16, 2003, the Yankees traded Choate to the Montreal Expos along with first baseman Nick Johnson and outfielder Juan Rivera for pitcher Javier Vázquez.
Round 9 – #289 Randy Flores, P, USC
(8 year MLB career from 2002-2010 with the Rangers, Rockies, Cardinals, and Twins. In 2001, the Yankees sent Flores to the Texas Rangers to complete the trade that brought Randy Velarde to The Bronx. He earned a ring with the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals.)
1997 DRAFT & ROSTER NOTES : Players drafted after the Yankees top pick in 1997 included Chase Utley (#76, Dodgers) and Tim Hudson (#185, A’s).
Check here for a full list of the 1997 New York Yankees draft selections.
Among the top prospects in the Yankees’ organization coming into the 1997 season were: OF Ruben Rivera (#9), OF Jackson Melian (#40), P Rafael Medina (#64) and P Katsuhiro Made (#85). (Source: Baseball America).
1996 Yankees Amateur Draft
First Pick (overall): Kris Benson / Pittsburgh Pirates
General Manager: Bob Watson
Assistant General Manager: Brian Cashman
Manager: Joe Torre
Farm Director: Mitch Lukevics
Scouting Director: Linwood Garrett
Off-Season Moves: On November 4th, the Yankees signed Clay Bellinger to a free agent contact, and granted free agency a day later to Joe Girardi and John Wetteland. Girardi was re-signed on December 3rd, and Mike Stanton. David Wells and Luis Sojo were signed as free agents over the winter.
Round 1 – #20 Eric Milton, P, University of Maryland
Milton, with a signing bonus was $775,000, spent one season in the minors and was then included in the trade to the Minnesota Twins that brought Chuck Knoblach to The Bronx. Milton pitched a no-hitter on September 11, 1999 against the Anaheim Angels.
Round 2 – #59 Jason Coble, P, Lincoln County (Fayetteville, TN)
Coble spent 2 seasons in Rookie and A ball respectively for the Yankees over 1996-97.
Round 3 – #89 Nick Johnson, 1B, McClatchy High School (Sacramento, CA)
Nick ‘The Stick’ Johnson had two stints with the Bombers (2001-2003, and 2010). In December of 2003 he was traded to the Montreal Expos along with Randy Choate and Juan Rivera for pitcher Javiar Vazquez. A smart, patient hitter, Johnson was hampered by injuries a good part of his 10-year career and retired after the 2013 season. He played with the Nationals, Marlins and Orioles, as well.
Round 4 – #119 Vidal Candelfaria, C
Round 5 – #149 Zach Day, P, La Salle (Cincinnati, OH)
Day was traded to the Cleveland Indians on June 29, 2000 along with Ricky Ledee and Jake Westbrook for outfielder David Justice.
Round 17 – #509 Matt Ginter, P, Clark (Winchester, KY)
Ginter had a 7 year MLB career spent with the White Sox, Tigers, Mets and Indians. He retired in 2008.
Round 30 – #899 Marcus Thames, OF, East Central Community College
Thames enjoyed a 10 year MLB career with the Yanks, Rangers, Tigers, and Dodgers. He homered off Randy Johnson in his first big league at-bat — to dead center in Yankee Stadium. Stayed in the Yankees organization after retiring and is currently the hitting coach of the Yankees.
Round 30 – #1624 Matt Wise, P, Cal State Fullerton
8 year MLB career with Angels, Brewers and Mets from 2000-2008.
Round 88 – #1716 Scott Seabol, 3B, West Virginia University
The Yankees version of Moonlight Graham, Seabol appeared in one game for the 2001 Yankees, going 0-1 in one plate appearance. He appeared in 30 games for the 2005 St. Louis Cardinals before retiring at the end of the season.
1996 DRAFT & ROSTER NOTES : Players drafted after the Yankees top pick in 1996 included Jimmy Rollins (#46, Phillies) and Travis Hafner (#923, Rangers).
Check here for a full list of the 1996 New York Yankees draft selections.
Among the top prospects in the Yankees’ organization coming into the 1996 season were: OF Ruben Rivera (#3), SS Derek Jeter (#6), P Matt Drews (#12). (Source: Baseball America).
1995 Yankees Amateur Draft
First Pick (overall): Darin Erstad / California Angels
General Manager: Gene Michael
Assistant General Manager: Brian Cashman
Manager: Buck Showalter
Farm Director: Mitch Lukevics
Scouting Director: Bill Livesey
Round 1 – #27 Shea Morenz, OF, University of Texas
Morenz inked a $650,000 signing bonus and spent two seasons in A-Ball within the Yankees system before bouncing around Independent leagues for two more. Retiring in 1999, Morenz was a top high school football quarterback and set records for the Texas Longhorns in the Southwest Conference.
Round 2 -#57 Richard Brown, OF, Nova (Davie, FL)
Brown spent 7 seasons between 1996-2002 in the Yankees farm system, reaching AAA-level with the Columbus Clippers in 2000, but never getting a call up to the bigs.
Round 2 -#59 Brian Joseph Buchanan, P, Oviedo High School (Oviedo, FL)
Buchanan spent 7 seasons in the minors, most in the Yankees organization, then bouncing around Independent leagues until retiring in 2010, reaching AAA level only in 2006 with the Louisville Bats of the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Round 3 – #86 Luke Wilcox, OF, Western Michigan University
Wilcox spent 7 season in the minors, mostly in the Yankees organization, reaching AAA-level but never making it to the show. He was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 22nd round off the 1992 amateur draft but did not sign.
Round 4 – #114 Eric Boardman, P, Carritos College
Boardman played only one season (1995) for the A- Oneonta Yankees of the New York-Penn League, appearing in 11 games, with a 4-3, 3.82 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 33 innings.
Round 45 – #1259 Casey Blake, 3B, Wichita State University
Blake didn’t sign with the Yankees but went on to a 13 year MLB career Twins, Indians and Dodgers mainly.
1995 DRAFT & ROSTER NOTES : Players drafted after the Yankees top pick in 1995 included Carlos Beltran (#49, Royals), Joe Nathan (#159, Giants) and A.J. Burnett (#217, Mets).
Check here for a full list of the 1995 New York Yankees draft selections.
Among the top prospects in the Yankees’ organization coming into the 1995 season were: OF Ruben Rivera (#2), SS Derek Jeter (#4), P Andy Pettitte (#49), 3B Russ Davis (#78), and P Matt Dress (#79). (Source: Baseball America).
1994 Yankees Amateur Draft
First Pick (overall): Paul Wilson / New York Mets
General Manager: Gene Michael
Assistant General Manager: Brian Cashman
Manager: Buck Showalter
Farm Director: Mitch Lukevics
Scouting Director: Bill Livesey
Round 1 – #24 Brian James Buchanan, 1B-OF, University of Virginia
Buchanan, who signed for $500,000, was included in the trade to the Minnesota Twins for 2B Chuck Knoblauch in 1998. His professional career included stints with the Twins, Padres, Mets and one season with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan (2007). On a personal note. his father-in-law is NBA Hall of Famer John Havlicek.
Round 2 – #58 Rodriguez Smith, OF, Lafayette High School (Lexington, KY)
Smith spent 6 seasons in the minors, mostly within the Yankees system between 1994 and 2000. In 770 games, he hit .246 with 31 home runs and 223 RBI.
Round 3 – #87 Garrett Butler, OF, Northwestern High School (Miami, FL)
Between 1994 and 2000, Butler played exclusively in the minors, and with the Yankees’ rookie and A-level squads until 1999.
Round 4 – #115 Steve Shoemaker, P, University of Alabama
Originally drafted (but didn’t sign) in the 38th round of the 1991 amateur draft by the Pittsburg Pirates, Shoemaker spent 6 season in the minors, the first two within Yankees A-level ball (Oneonta). He reached AAA level a few times, lastly with the Colorado Rockies’ Pacific Coast League affiliate in 1999, but never made it to the bigs.
Round 5 – #143 Ray Ricken, P, University of Michigan
Ricken played 7 seasons in professional baseball, five of which he spent in the Yankees organization, between 1994-1998. In 1999 he signed with the San Diego Padres and was assigned to their AA club. Never getting called up, Rickens spent the next two seasons with a handful of Independent League teams before hanging them up after the 2002 season.
Those were the days in New York basketball!
Round 18 – #507 Charlie Ward, SS, University of Florida
Charlie Ward was a Heisman Trophy winner, college football national champion, first round NBA draft pick and selected by the New York Yankees in the amateur draft! Hard to beat that resume. Ward (who played baseball in high school) chose basketball and starred with the New York Knicks for 9 seasons, but Yankee fans can wonder what might have been.
Round 20 – #563 Ben Ford, P, Indian Hills Community College
The Yankees lost Ford to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1997 expansion draft. He was traded back to The Bronx in 1999 for Darren Homes and cash. Ford started 2 games for the 2000 Yankees, allowing 11 earned over 14 innings to a 9.00 ERA, and was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Glenallen Hill on July 21 of that year. Ford served up career home run #661 to Barry Bonds on April 13, 2004 as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Round 24 – #675 Jason Grilli, P, Baker High School (Baldwinsville, NY)
An All-Star in 2013 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Grilli never donned the pinstripes at any level, as he did not sign with the club. He held out until the 1997 amateur draft where the San Francisco Giants selected him with the 4th overall pick.
1993 DRAFT & ROSTER NOTES : Players drafted after the Yankees top pick in 1994 included Aaron Boone (#73, Reds) and Javiar Vasquez (#140, Expos).
Check here for a full list of the 1994 New York Yankees draft selections.
Among the top prospects in the Yankees’ organization coming into the 1994 season were: SS Derek Jeter (#16), P Brien Taylor (#18), 3B Russ Davis (#26), OF Ruben Rivera (#76) and P Sterling Hitchcock (#84). (Source: Baseball America).
1993 Yankees Amateur Draft
First Pick (overall): Alex Rodriguez, SS / Seattle Mariners
General Manager: Gene Michael
Assistant General Manager: Brian Cashman
Manager: Buck Showalter
Farm Director: Mitch Lukevics
Scouting Director: Bill Livesey
Round 1 | #13 | Matt Drews, P, Sarasota High School (Sarasota, FL)
Pegged as the premier high school pitcher in the 1993 draft, the Yankees dropped a $620,000 signing bonus on Drew, who wouldn’t end up pitching until the following season in A-level Oneonta. His numbers were outstanding in the early going, and was ranked the #3 prospect in the organization at one point (just behind Derek Jeter). In 1996, he was traded (along with outfielder Ruben Sierra) to the Detroit Tigers for Cecil Fielder. Control problems led to his performance beginnng to suffer, but he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1997 expansion draft where he continued to struggle. After 7 seasons in the minors, Drews never made it to the show.
Round 4 – #113 Sloan Smith, OF, Northwestern University
Smith spent 5 seasons in the Yankees’ minor league system, topping out at AA ball with the Norwich Navigators of the Eastern League. The Norwich, Connecticut club served as the Yankees AA affiliate between 1985 and 2002.
Round 5 – #141 Mike Jerzembeck, RHP, University of North Carolina
The Queens, New York native made it the the bigs with the World Champion 1998 Yankees, but had a rough go of it, allowing 9 ER over 6.1 innings with a WHIP north of 2. Jerzembeck was in attendance at The Stadium for the recent 20th anniversary celebration of the ’98 season.
Round 6 – #169 Kurt Bierek, 1B-3B-OF, University of Southern California
Before signing with the Yankees, Bierek turned down offers from the Cubs (26th round, 1991 draft) and the Atlanta Braves (47th round, 1992 draft). He spent 10 full seasons in the minors, mostly within the Yankees system, and a majority of it at the AAA level overall. In 1999, Bierek slammed 23 home runs and 95 RBI with the Columbus Clippers. He retired after the 2002 season, never making it to the bigs.
Round 7 – #197 Jim Musselwhite, RH, University of Georgia
The Pompano Beach, Florida native was first drafted by the Yankees in the 27th round of the 1990 amateur draft, but did not sign. He spent 4 seasons in the minors, all in the Yankees system, but never getting beyond AA ball. Musselwhite finished with a minor league mark of 26-24, with a 3.51 ERA and 356 strikeouts over 427 innings pitched. He retired after the 1996 season.
Round 8 – #225 Rob Trimble, C-P, Texas A&M University
With the uncommon position designation as ‘catcher – relief pitcher’, Trimble’s professional career consisted of 3 seasons in the Yankees’ minor league system, at Rookie and A ball level, between 1993 and 1995.
1994 DRAFT & ROSTER NOTES : Players drafted after the Yankees top pick in 1993 included Jason Varitek (#21, Twins) and Scott Rolen (#46, Phillies).
Check here for a full list of the 1993 New York Yankees draft selections.
Among the top prospects in the Yankees’ organization coming into the 1993 season were: P Brien Taylor (#2), SS Derek Jeter (#44), OF Gerald Williams (#52), 3B Russ Davis (#60) and P Sterling Hitchcock (#90). (Source: Baseball America)
1992 Yankees Amateur Draft
First Pick (overall): Phil Nevin, 3B / Houston Astros
General Manager: Gene Michael
Assistant General Manager: Brian Cashman
Manager: Buck Showalter
Farm Director: Mitch Lukevics
Scouting Director: Bill Livesey
The Yankees third base coach (at this writing) will forever be a part of the trivia question: Who where the 5 players picked before Derek Jeter in the 1992 MLB amateur draft? The other four where pitchers Paul Shuey (2, Cleveland Indians) and B.J. Wallace (3, Montreal Expos), and outfielders Jeffery Hammonds (4, Baltimore Orioles) and Chad Mottola (5, Cincinnati Reds). You can image the relief that came over GM Stick Micheal as Mottola’s name was announced in the 5th slot. The rest as they say is history, as the 1992 draft planted the seeds on the next New York Yankee dynasty and then some.
Round 1 – #6 Derek Jeter, SS, Kalamazoo Central High School (Kalamazoo, MI)
Where do you start? After inking a $700,000 signing bonus, ‘El Capitan’ rose quickly through the Yankees farm system, made the big club out of Spring Training in 1996 and never looked back.
Round 4 – #102 Mike Buddie, P, Wake Forest University
Buddie appeared in 26 games for the Yankees over the 1998 and 1999 seasons, pitching to a 4-1 record with ERAs of 5.62 and 4.50 respectively, and a WHIP around 1.5. He was released by the Yankees in June of 2000, then signed with the Brewers as a free agent, staying with them until retiring after the 2002 campaign. One claim to fame was Buddie reportedly serving as the coach for Kevin Costner’s role as a pitcher in the film “For the Love of the Game” in 1999. He is currently the Athletic Director at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
Round 5 – #130 Don Leshnock, C, University of North Carolina
The Youngstown, Ohio native spent 5 seasons in the minors, 4 within the Yankees farm system, topping out at A Ball level with the Greensboro Bats of the South Atlantic League. Career marks include a 14-15 record with a respectable ERA of 3.40 and 148 strikeouts over 193 innings. Leshnock comes from solid baseball stock, as his father ‘had a cup of coffee’ in the big leagues — check out this great piece from Chad Moody at SABR.
Round 6 – #158 Ray Suplee, OF, University of Georgia
Suplee was first drafted by the Royals in the 4th round of the 1989 amateur draft but did not sign. He spent 4 seasons in the Yankees farm system, all at the A ball level (Oneonta, Greensboro and Tampa), before moving on A ball squads in the Orioles and Rays organizations in 1996 and 1997 respectively. Over the 6 seasons, Suplee batted .260 with 26 home runs, 221 RBI in 468 games, but never got a call-up to the show.
Round 7 – # 186 Carlton Fleming, 2B Georgia Institute of Technology
A native of Queens, NY, Fleming spent 5 seasons in the minors, and 4 within the Yankees system. He reached AAA with the Columbus Clippers in 1995, but didn’t make it to The Bronx. He sported a solid .287 career minor league batting average, but went 1,625 at-bats without hitting a home run.
Round 8 – #214 Matt Luke, OF, University of California
Luke appeared in one game for the 1996 Yankees, where he pinch ran for Ruben Sierra and scored on a Bernie Williams single to center. With his turn to bat in the 7th inning, manager Joe Torre called on Joe Girardi to pinch hit. A day later Luke was optioned back to the minors and never saw another day of action at the MLB level. He was ultimately waived by the Yankees in September of 1997. After retiring in 1999, Luke is currently in the real estate business in California.
1992 DRAFT & ROSTER NOTES : Players drafted after the Yankees top pick in 1992 included Johnny Damon (#36, Royals), Jason Giambi (#58, A’s), and Raul Ibanez (#1007, Mariners).
Check here for a full list of the 1992 New York Yankees draft selections.
Among the top prospects in the Yankees’ organization coming into the 1992 season were: P Brien Taylor (#1), OF Carl Everett (#32) and RHP Russ Springer (#83). (Source: Baseball America)
1991 Yankees Amateur Draft
First Pick (overall): Brien Taylor, RHP / New York Yankees
General Manager: Gene Michael
Manager: Stump Merrill
Farm Director: Mitch Lukevics
Assistant Farm Director: Brian Cashman
Scouting Director: Bill Livesey
By virtue of stinking up the league the previous season, the Bronx Bombers had the first pick in the 1991 draft and it turned out to be one of the disastrous in club history.
Round 1 – #1 Brien Taylor, RHP, East Carteret High School (Beaufort,NC)
Man, this one still hurts. To see a talent like Taylor’s never have the chance to nurture was heartbreaking. With a signing bonus of $1,550,000, and touted as possibly the best high school pitching prospect ever, Taylor would have came up along with the Core Four and who knows what would have happened. In 2012, Taylor was arrested in North Carolina for cocaine trafficking. He was released from prison in 2015. Don’t miss this excellent piece by Andrew Marchand of ESPN: Brien Taylor Unmade: An Oral History.
Round 3 – #76 Tim Flannelly, 3B, University of Michigan
The Yankees second pick in the ’91 draft spent 4 seasons in the organization’s system, reaching AA ball once, with the 1993 Albany-Colonie Yankees of the Eastern League before retiring in 1994. In 1,312 plate appearances over 311 games, Flannelly hit .280 with a .749 OPS. Among his teammates at Albany-Colonie in 1993 were Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Randy Velarde.
Round 3 – #89 Mark Hubbard, RHP-OF, University of South Florida
The Clearwater, Florida native spent 7 season in the Yankees farm system, with time split between the pitching mound and first base. He reached AA ball a few times with the Norwich Navigators before retiring in 1997. His pitching mark was 24-17 overall with a 3.70 ERA and 240 strikeouts/111 walks in 341 innings. His batting totals included a .233 BA and .649 OPS over 338 games,
Round 4 -#101 Marc Gipner, C, Dunedin High School (Dunedin, FL)
Gipner spent 4 season in the Yankees farm system, never getting above low A ball likely to poor offensive numbers. He hit .178 with no home runs and 149 strikeouts in 667 ABs over 206 games. He retired in 1995.
Round 5 – #126 Lyle Mouton, OF, Louisiana State University
Mouton played in the Yankees system between ’91 and 1994, where he reached AAA-level with the Columbus Clippers. The Yankees sent Mouton to the Chicago White Sox to complete a deal that landed Jack McDowell in pinstripes. He made his pro debut with the White Sox later that year. He also played for the Orioles, Brewers and Marlins before retiring in 2003. His resume also includes half of the 1998 season spent with the Yakuit Swallows in Japan.
Round 6 – #152 Eric Knowles, SS, St. Brendan (Miami, FL)
The Fort Wayne, IN native split his 8 seasons in the minor leagues between the Yankees and the Mets. He reached AA ball in 1995 with the Norwich Navigators before signing with the AA Binghamton Mets of the Eastern League in 1997. He return to the Bombers (Tampa Yankees, High A) for one season in 1998, his last in professional ball. His final campaign was one Knowles’ most productive, hitting .278 with a .691 OPS over 406 plate appearances.
1992 DRAFT & ROSTER NOTES : Players drafted after the Yankees top pick in 1991 included Manny Ramirez (#13, Indians) and Nomar Garciaparra (#131, Brewers).
Check here for a full list of the 1991 New York Yankees draft selections.
Among the top prospects in the Yankees’ organization coming into the 1991 season were: OF Bernie Williams (#11), OF Hensley Meulens (#30) and OF Carl Everett (#88). (Source: Baseball America)
1990 Yankees Amateur Draft
First Pick (overall): Chipper Jones / Atlanta Braves
General Manager(s): Harding “Pete” Peterson, Gene Michael
Manager(s): Bucky Dent (18-31), Stump Merrill (49-64)
Farm Director: Mitch Lukevics
Scouting Director: Brian Sabean
The 1989 Yankees, skippered by Dallas Green, then Bucky Dent, finished in 5th place with a 74-87 record. In the prior off-season the club signed and traded for a bunch of veterans who did little to improve the overall funk the organization was in on the field. Not some of the best moves in club history, as they traded Al Leiter and Ricky Henderson, and the Mel Hall era officially began. Slugger Dave Winfield was lost for the season with a back injury, and the pitching staff was no prize. It was a tough year to root for the pinstripes, but there was hope in the 1990 draft.
Round 1 – #10 Carl Everett, OF, Hillsborough HS (Tampa,FL)
The Yankees signed Everett with a $250,000 bonus but the talented outfielder would never don the pinstripes. During MLB’s expansion draft in 1992, Everett was selected by the Florida Marlins. He played for 9 teams over his 13 year professional career, and his most memorable moment (at least by Yankee fans) came on September 2, 2001 when his pinch-hit single to centerfield in the bottom of the 9th at Fenway Park broke up Mike Messina’s bid for a perfect game.
Round 2 – #45 Robert Eenhoorn, SS, Davidson College
The Netherlands-born Eenhoorn spent 4 seasons in the show, with the 1994-95 Yankees, Toronto and the then-California Angels in 1997.
Round 3 – #83 Tate Seefried, 1B, El Segundo HS (El Segundo, CA)
Seefried spent 9 season in pro ball, all in the minors and 3 at the AAA level. He was in the Yankees’ system between 1990 and 1996, then had stints with the New York Mets, Chicago White Sox and Montreal Expos. He retired after the 1998 season, finishing with minor league career numbers that included 134 home runs and 565 RBI in 3,859 plate appearances.
Round 4 – #109 Kirt Ojala, P, University of Michigan
Ojala spent 3 seasons (1997-98-99) with the Florida Marlins. Served up Barry Bonds’ 400th career home run. Upon retirement, embarked on a career in commercial real estate/property management in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Round 5 – #135 Rick Lantrip, 3B-OF, Fresno State University
Currently Lantrip is head baseball coach at Golden West College.
Round 6 – #161 Sam Militello, RHP, University of Tampa
After rising through the Yankees minor league system, Militello was called up to the show in August of 1992, and made his first start at The Stadium against the first place Red Sox. The Yankees were 1.5 games behind, and Militello threw 7 innings of 1-hit ball, striking out 5 and notching his a win in his first MLB start. He had a nice run of starts following that outing, and looked like a promising addition to the Yankees youth movement of the time. Arm injuries derailed his progress, and he was forced to retire from pro ball in 1996. Militello is presently an associate head coach at the University of Tampa. Check out Pinstripe Alley for a great piece: Yankees’ great expectations: Hughes, Chamberlain and Sam Militello
Round 16 – #421 Ricky Ledee, OF, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Two things jump out in this writer’s mind when you hear his name — his almost-drop of a routine fly ball to left during David Cone’s perfect game, and his gritty performance in the 1998 World Series. In 2000, the two-time World Series champion was traded from New York to the Cleveland Indians as part of the three-player package (with Jake Westbrook and Zach Day) to land David Justice. He would later play for the Rangers, Phillies, Giants, Dodgers and Mets before retiring in 2007.
Round 22 – #577 Andy Pettitte, P, Deer Park (Deer Park, TX)
It took 5 seasons in the minors before Pettitte would break into the bigs, but what a ride it’s been since. All but three of his 18 seasons in at the MLB level where spent in pinstripes, where he became a 3-time All-Stars, owner of 5 World Series rings, was the 2001 ALCS MVP, and his #46 retired by the Yankees, and has a plaque in Monument Park. Once a Yankee, always a Yankee, Pettitte hasn’t strayed far from the organization, a regular in Spring Training, and credited with helping CC Sabathia add the cutter to his pitching repertoire.
Round 28 – #733 Shane Spencer, OF, Granite Hills HS (El Cajon, CA)
Spencer was famous for two things in his career — a September to remember when he was called up in 1998, crushing 10 home runs including 3 grand slams, in 67 at-bats. And also for crossing the picket line during the 1994 MLB player’s strike, a result of which excluded Spencer from appearing in any MLB-licensed products including video games. He owns 3 World Series rings with the Yankees, and after being granted free agency in December of 2002 played with the Indians, Rangers, Mets and Hanshin Tigers (Japan) before hanging them up in 2007.
1991 DRAFT & ROSTER NOTES : Players drafted after the Yankees top pick in 1990 included Mike Mussina (#20, Orioles), and Brett Boone (#131, Mariners).
Check here for a full list of the 1990 New York Yankees draft selections.
Among the top prospects in the Yankees’ organization coming into the 1990 season were: OF Bernie Williams (#77), P Russ Springer (#96). (Source: Baseball America)
Sources include: Baseball Reference, The Baseball Cube, The Baseball Savant, Baseball America, and Wikipedia.