YANKEES SELECT TWO PLAYERS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE 2018 MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT

By Staff Report
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: June 5, 2018

The New York Yankees tonight selected two catchers over the first two rounds of the 2018 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. With their first-round selection (23^rd overall), the club drafted Cartersville H.S. (Georgia) catcher Anthony Seigler. In the second round, the Yankees chose catcher Josh Breaux out of McLennan Community College in Waco, Tex., with the 61^st overall pick.

Seigler, a 6-foot, 200-pound catcher, recently concluded his high school career at Cartersville, where he hit .421 (45-for-107) with 26 extra-base hits, 13 home runs and 16SB as a senior to earn 2018 First Team All-American and Southeast All-Region First Team honors. He also helped lead Cartersville to the Georgia 4A State Championship, where they finished runner-up.

The 18-year-old was the second catcher selected in this year’s draft. Behind the plate this season, he threw out 12-of-21 potential base stealers. Last summer, he was the starting catcher on the USA Baseball national team, winning the 18-and-under World Cup.

The switch-hitter is also an ambidextrous pitcher and posted a 1.09 ERA in 25.2IP this season, striking out 29 batters.

“The thing that attracts you to Seigler is that he has the tools to catch, and he’s a switch-hitter, which makes him a unique commodity. He’s showing power from both sides of the plate, has really great instincts for baseball, a plus-arm and runs well for a catcher. On top of that, he’s proven to be versatile, with his ability to play other positions,” said Yankees Vice President, Domestic Amateur Scouting, Damon Oppenheimer. “Seigler’s got top of the line makeup. We’re very happy about him.”

A native of Cartersville, Ga., Seigler was rated by Baseball America as the No. 41 overall prospect in this year’s draft. He is the third catcher to be chosen by the Yankees in the first round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft since its inception in 1965, joining David Parrish in 2000 (28^th overall, University of Michigan) and Thurman Munson in 1968 (fourth overall, Kent State University).

During his junior year in 2017, he led his team to the state semifinals, batting .283 with 27R and 19RBI. On the mound, Seigler went 9-3 with a 2.12 ERA in 62.2IP. He was named 2017 Underclass First-Team and was chosen by Perfect Game for the East roster of the 2017 All-American Classic.

Breaux, 20, played in 56 games during his sophomore year, batting .404/.532/.831 (72-for-178) with 61R, 14 doubles, 4 triples, 18HR, 69RBI and 48BB, while striking out only 32 times. He was a First-Team All-Conference selection and was named to the NJCAA Region V All-Region squad. In 2017, Breaux helped lead McLennan to the Junior College World Series, and last summer, he hit 6HR in the Cape Cod League.

“Josh Breaux is another guy with a really good makeup. He’s still young as a junior college guy, but his arm is huge and he has raw power. His ability to hit has really matured this year. With Breaux, we think we have an impact tools guy who’s a catcher. You’re talking about a big, strong player who shows up and people understand right away why you took him,” said Oppenheimer.

In high school, Breaux hit .402 with 7HR and 38RBI. The Houston 5A Hitter of the Year was a First-Team All-District selection and a Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound right-handed hitter was selected by Houston in the 36^th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft, but did not sign after choosing to return to college. Breaux was tabbed by MLBPipeline.com as the No. 71 prospect entering the 2018 draft.