Breaking down Yankees’ final 2020 MLB Draft picks: Trevor Hauver, Beck Way
The Yankees completed their abbreviated 2020 MLB Draft on Thursday night by selecting second baseman/outfielder Trevor Hauver and right-handed pitcher Beck Way.
In the third round of the draft, which was reduced from 40 rounds to five because of the global coronavirus pandemic, the Yankees took Hauver with the No. 99 pick. The Arizona State product was announced as a second basemen, but he was a shortstop in high school and switched to the outfield for a stocked Sun Devils squad.
The 21-year-old had a tremendous start to his junior season before it was cut short, slashing .339/.494/.695 through 17 games. He also posted a 1.007 OPS in 57 games as a sophomore in 2019.
Baseball America noted his improved pitch selection in his final college season.
“Walking more than he struck out during the abbreviated 2020 college season while still hitting for both average and power.”
In the fourth round, the Yankees took Way with the No. 129 pick out of Northwest Florida State junior college. The 20-year-old was committed to transfer to LSU, but the Yankees hope to convince him to go pro.
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“Scouts, especially the Yankees, think he can start,” MLB Pipeline prospects guru Jonathan Mayo said on MLB Network. “Yes, he was great (in the Cape Cod League). He moved into the rotation this spring and he showed off that his stuff plays over the course of a start. I think he’s going to have a chance to have three very good pitches.
“There’s some projection, I think, still to come. He’s a guy who really moved up a big because of the spring, as short as it was, because he showed that he could pitch extended innings. The stuff didn’t suffer at all. Expect him to go out with the Yankees as a starter once he does.”
The Yankees also selected catcher Austin Wells out of the University of Arizona in the first round with the No. 28 pick. They didn’t have picks in the second round and fifth round on because they signed free agent Gerrit Cole to a nine-year deal worth $324 million.