Elite High School Bats for the Yankees' Draft Board
My Yankees Draft Starting Six: High School Edition
It’s officially MLB Draft Season! For those of us who are big followers of the Yankees’ farm system, this year is an especially important year, after a disaster of an international free agent (IFA) class (or I should say a lack thereof) left the Yankees system starved for new talent.
The international failure combined with the flurry of 2025 deadline deals, as well as the
offseason trade for Ryan Weathers has the system barren of position players. Though it is never a good idea to draft based on need, I do anticipate this to be a heavier draft for position players.
So, how will the Yankees choose to add on? Well, that question is a difficult one to answer since the Yankees are notoriously hard to read when it comes to the draft. Over the past ten years, the Yankees have selected a high schooler with five out of their ten first picks, with all of them having been position players.
Since 2019, the Yankees have not selected a prepster that was not a shortstop. Particularly significant with their most recent crop of prep picks (Lombard ‘23 & Kilby ‘25), is that they prioritize a strong hit tool with power projection. If the Yankees decide to go the route of a prep hitter, these are some names I foresee being considered:
Honorable Mentions:
C Will Brick—Christian Brothers (TN)
After a stellar 18U Baseball World Cup, Brick reclassified from the 2027 class.
He’s a hard hitting catcher with excellent defensive ability, but approach and in-zone contact issues have caused him to slide in many rankings. I anticipate him being a later round overslot pick if he doesn’t make it to Mississippi State in the fall.
2B/3B Landon Thome—Nazareth Academy (IL)If I wasn’t convinced that Thome is destined to go earlier in the first round, he would’ve received a more detailed write-up. Born into baseball royalty, Landon is as advanced a hitter as you can find for an 18 year old. He reminds me of the Tigers’ Kevin McGonigle, but with more defensive questions. I’d love Thome for the Yankees, but, on top of him being unlikely to be available, he doesn’t have the positional versatility or athleticism they tend to covet—remember they passed on McGonigle for Lombard.
My Top Six Prep Players to Know for the MLB Draft:
6) SS Will Yow—St. Anne’s-Belfield (VA)
Will Yow probably isn’t a name you’ve found near the top of any lists. He’s found himself in the shadow of fellow Mid-Atlantic speedster shortstop Luke Williams due to Williams’ more explosive toolset, but in my opinion Yow’s superior hit tool makes him more worthy of a look at 35th overall.
Yow receives poor reviews on his present power, but he’s got some
bat speed and his wiry 6’1” frame gives me optimism that there’s future strength to grow into. He’s looked stronger this spring, both mechanically and physically with more poise in the batter’s box than in the past.
Yow is an aggressive hitter, but his feel for the barrel allows him to limit whiffs and strikeouts. It isn’t an elite hit tool, but it’s a good one, and with game breaking speed, Yow has proven to be a tough out. I really cannot emphasize enough just how fast Yow actually is, it is arguably the best in the entire class—receiving 80 grades from most scouts. At shortstop, his speed gives himdeep range, but his arm is presently too average to take full advantage. He’ll need to keep increasing his arm strength as well as continue getting reps there to build on his feel for the position. If he cannot put it together at the six, his elite speed will definitely translate to centerfield. In limited showcase experience, Yow has shown out, but his lack of sample size will give teams pause when evaluating him for an early pick.
While selecting Yow might appear to be somewhat of a reach, it isn’t to me.
In fact, I’m perplexed as to why he isn’t being considered higher. Yow’s skillset translates: ability to make contact, excellent speed and power projection. Some evaluators who are bullish on Yow’s offensive ceiling liken him to Trea Turner; obviously that just isn’t fair, but from a prospect perspective he does remind me of the Dodger’s 2024 first rounder Kellon Lindsey (who also Drew Turner comps). Like Lindsey, there’s still a chance Yow soars up draft boards within the next month, but barring that he should be available when the Yankees first pick (and possibly for underslot at that!)
5) SS Rocco Maniscalco—Oxford (AL)
At the beginning of the season, Rocco Maniscalco had a legitimate shot to be a top 5 pick.
A class of 2027 reclass, if he’s drafted, Rocco will be one of the youngest players ever selected in MLB Draft history, at just 2 months past his 17th birthday. Because of his youth and baseball lineage, Maniscalco drew some Eli WIllits comparisons, but
unlike Willits, Maniscalco’s spring has crashed his draft stock, making him more of a late first rounder.
Though his offense has become a question, his defense remains one of the best in the entire prep class, and it should provide a high enough floor for teams willing to take a chance on developing Maniscalco’s bat.
So how has it gone wrong?
This spring Maniscalco struggled with a volatile approach and lack of contact—but perhaps these are the signs of a really young kid pressing to raise his draft stock. Scouts have picked Rocco apart, with concerns about his mechanics, but I’m not concerned because it is impossible to expect a 16-17 year old to not be a work in progress.
Maniscalco has flashed an advanced feel for the pitch recognition and though his timing issues plagued him this season, I remain convicted in his ability to get back to that. There’s power projection with plus bat speed and a larger frame that he is still filling out. As a switch hitter, the consensus agrees that Maniscalco is much stronger from the left side. As we’ve seen with
Jasson Dominguez, mastering both sides is not an easy or short process. It might take time before he is able to figure it out as a righty.
If the Yankees were to take Maniscalco in the first round, it would be reminiscent of the George Lombard Jr. pick in 2023. When he was taken, many felt that if GLJ had attended
Vanderbilt he would’ve been a top 5 pick in the future. There was a huge development ceiling to tap into, and I feel very similar about Maniscalco.
I believe there is a solid chance that Maniscalco decides to go to college if he’s not taken in the early rounds—and, to be honest, he might be better off betting on himself. I am simply making the point that it would be more than worth it to pay him before he becomes unobtainable. It’s a risk, but Maniscalco is a ball of clay with about as high a ceiling as you can find in this class.
4) SS Archer Horn—St. Ignatius (CA)
A product of Northern California, Archer Horn has ticked up this spring showing
better athleticism and strength than previously. A well rounded hitter, Horn leans more power over hit at the moment. He is a two sport athlete, having been St. Ignatius’ starting point guard in the past. That athleticism translates at shortstop where he is a fluid mover and he has even shown more speed this spring. Horn also pitched in high school, and while he is most likely going to be a position player exclusively as a pro, he has a live arm. Horn has all the traits of a very good defensive shortstop, but falls short on some of the finer details of the position.
If he can’t figure it out, he definitely has the arm to fit at third base or even the outfield. Offensively, there’s an exciting amount of power, both presently and projection-wise. The power does come with some swing and miss issues, but Horn could see a benefit from being able to focus exclusively on being a position player.
Watching Horn swing the bat is a treat; with explosive hands and a heavy
barrel Horn generates some of the loudest contact in the prep class. He has worked really hard to steady his hands and get more effective usage of his legs. He has also done a better job getting the ball in the air this spring. In my opinion, there is a larger ceiling than some people realize, albeit at the expense of his lower floor.
For a player comparison, Horn reminds me of Cincinnati Reds prospect Tyson Lewis.
While the strikeout issues might scare the Yankees away from Horn, a possible
increase in confidence in developing a hit tool could remove that deterrent. Horn is a first round talent, but I’d venture to guess the rawness of his profile will result in him being more of an overslot guy in a later round.
3) SS James Clark—St. John Bosco (CA)
Any conversation about Clark starts with his intelligence. Formerly committed to
Princeton, Clark’s off the charts baseball IQ and instincts allow his other tools to play up.
A high-motor athlete who gets out of the box quickly, Clark has well above average
speed when he gets going. He has the defensive chops and arm accuracy to stick at shortstop, but currently lacks the arm strength to make the deeper throws. His defining trait is his hit tool which is one of the most advanced in the prep class. He is a patient hitter who doesn’t chase and makes tons of contact in-zone. He has an excellent feel for the barrel and even has above average bat speed to tie it together. As he continues to mature physically, it’s probable that he can grow into more power.
From a mechanics standpoint, he’s tinkered with his swing this spring, dropping his hand
setup while standing taller in the box, and still getting into his quick lower half. Though his stock has been impacted by some uneven performance this spring, I’m not deterred. The combinationof tools and polish is strong enough to make him one of the higher floor prep hitters in the class.
For Clark, it’s easy to dream on him developing into a future leadoff hitter with 20-20 potential. Selecting Clark would be right in line with the Yankees’ recent draft tendencies. He fits the hit over power archetype the Yankees have coveted from prep hitters (Dax Kilby), along with above average athleticism and the sort of intangibles that the Yankees demand from their players. As it stands, Clark should make it until the backend of the first round, though I could see some early landing spots for Clark being the Tigers and Mariners at 22nd & 24th overall as well as the Rays at 33rd overall. Still, I am optimistic he can make it down to 35.
2) 3B/C Cole Prosek—Magnolia Heights (MS)
A majority of publications have Prosek ranked the highest out of any of the prep
players listed here, and for good reason. Though currently he leans more hit over power with an advanced feel for making contact, I am most excited by Prosek’s power potential. Prosek mauls the baseball, with excellent bat speed and an extremely active lower half. From a swing standpoint, Prosek has an impressive usage of his full body, and has possibly the best
mechanics amongst this group.
In the field, Prosek is a bit more of a question; he isn’t exactly slow, but he’s not
nearly athletic enough to play anywhere up the middle. He seems to have found a home at third base, but has intriguingly caught this spring. Prosek has an excellent arm that plays well behind the dish, and if the Yankees were to select him, I expect it is because they like his upside as a catcher. He’s very new to the position so his development there will likely be an arduous process, but the reward is more than worth it. Prosek would be the first time the Yankees selected a prep catcher in the first round since they took Anthony Seigler in 2018.
They might be the best team for Prosek to develop as a catcher, with the Yankees’ Director of Catching Tanner Swanson being arguably one of the best in the business at churning out MLB-caliber catchers. The last time the Yankees took a first round catcher was Austin Wells; those of us who followed that draft will remember that Wells was considered such a work in progress defensively that many evaluators noted that a move to first base or the outfield would likely be in the cards.
Since then, Wells has transformed into one of the better defensive catchers in the league.
If there is anyone that could develop Prosek properly, it’ll be Swanson.
Given his prowess, I’m not super confident he can make it to 35th overall. Beyond defensive
questions, the reason Prosek is most likely to slide down the board is his age. He just recently turned 19, which could be a red flag in some teams’ draft models. Either way,
I’m not deterred and if the Yankees are confident enough in their ability to develop him as a catcher, I see a match made in heaven.
1) OF Blake Bowen—JSerra Catholic (CA)
JSerra Catholic’s Blake Bowen is a former football player, and at 6' 3" and 225 lbs, he not only looks the part, but he also plays with that same violence. He is a type of player built in the same ilk as Konnor Griffin, and no that is not hyperbole. While Bowen isn’t quite the prospect Griffin was, nor does he have the same level of upside, the frame and tools are
reminiscent.
Bowen’s draft stock has skyrocketed this spring, thanks in large part to his hit tool—which, while still his biggest area of concern, has encouraged scouts this year. Other than the aforementioned hit tool, Bowen possesses above average or better traits across the board.
Mechanically, there is some pre-swing hand movement that might cause some
contact inconsistencies in the future, but that’s more of a nitpick on my part. He puts some really beautiful swings on the baseball and his top-of-the-class bat speed allows him to generate some really monstrous exit velocities for a teenager. The development he’s shown as a senior makes him one of my favorite prep hitters in the class.
You can dream on the caliber of player Bowen could be if his development stays on this track; it is also why I am not convinced we’ll see him at 35th overall. There is a large group
of teams that will get to pick twice before the Yankees, many of whom are likely willing to take a chance on a prep hitter with this kind of upside. Defensively, Bowen has more of the profile of a corner, yet he has the speed and ball hawking skills to stick in center. Even though Bowen lacks the advanced hitting ability that the Yankees have seemingly grown fond of, there has been talk of the Yankees’ front office feeling more comfortable with developing a hit tool than in years past. If selected, Bowen would be the first outfielder selected by the Yankees since Spencer Jones in 2022 and the first prep one since Blake Rutherford in 2016.
Conclusion:
This class has an exciting crop of high school talent to choose from. With the looming CBA, this could be the Yankees’ final opportunity to tap into this pool of players. There were
truly so many other players I wish I could highlight for you. Last year, Dax Kilby was a last minute addition on my draft write up, so I am crossing my fingers that I can replicate
that success. Either way, we’ll never truly know until the commissioner announces the pick, and that is the excitement factor of the MLB draft.
I want to show my sincerest appreciation to YankeesFarm for featuring me as a guest writer
and giving me a platform to put out this draft deep dive. I also want to thank MLBPipeline, Baseball America, and Perfect Game USA, among many others whose work scouting the 2026 draft class made this article possible. I am planning on writing a college edition, so stay tuned for more draft content coming soon! Most importantly, I want to thank you for reading. Your time is the one thing in this world that can't be replaced, and I'm grateful you chose to spend some of it with me.
Every Prospect. Every Level. Every Day.
Between this article and the college prospects article, they are very informative. Been following some of these prospects this spring along with some others. See what happens this weekend.