1. Gary Sanchez, C, B+
Sanchez has excellent power potential, but like former Yankee farm hand Jesus Montero, there are questions regarding whether or not Sanchez will be able to stay behind the plate. He is repeating low-A ball this year and performing excellently at the plate, even stealing a few bases this year. It will be interesting to see how his plate discipline plays against higher level competition.

2. Mason Williams, OF, B+
Williams was a 4th round selection in 2010 and since then has exceeded expectations. He is looking like an impact five tool centerfielder of the variety the Yankees have not seen in their farm system since they traded Austin Jackson.

3. Tyler Austin, OF, B+
Austin can really rake, showing the ability to consistently hit for average and power from the right side. A former catcher/third baseman, Austin is mostly playing right field these days, while also spending some time at first base. He has really broken out at the plate this year and has a potential impact bat.

4. Ty Hensley, RHP, B
Hensley is a very intriguing power arm out of the Oklahoma high school ranks in 2012. He could be a number two starter depending on how his changeup and command develop, but his fastball/curveball combination is excellent at this point.

5. Dante Bichette Jr., 3B, B-
Bichette has very good raw power potential, with a decent approach and better contact skills than expected. His defense is serviceable at best at third, but he looks like he can stay there. Without much speed, it will have to be his power that helps him rise through the system.

6. Manny Banuelos, LHP, B-
Banuelos has had an injury riddled past and this season he has been on the DL twice, the most recent stint starting in mid May with an elbow injury. Elbow injuries are not as severe these days as shoulder injuries, but he has been out of commission for precautionary reasons. Banuelos is still very young and has number 2 starter potential, but he is much more likely to end up as a mid rotation guy, especially with his awful control last
season.

7. Jose Campos, RHP, B-
Campos was a very intriguing breakout prospect last year for the Mariners before being dealt to the Yankees in the Jesus Montero deal. He has an elbow injury at present and has not pitched since late April. Whether he will require Tommy John surgery is unknown, but Campos has potentially electric stuff and command and thus a very high ceiling.
 
8. Ravel Santana, OF, C+
Santana is very raw, but presents a highly intriguing power/speed combination, with the ability to hit for a decent average.

9. Brett Marshall, RHP, C+
Ground ball/sinker ball type pitcher will not strike out many, but he knows how to get guys out. He looks to be a solid mid rotation starter going forward.

10. Angelo Gumbs, 2B, C+
Gumbs is very fast and is a solid defender at second. He does not have great discipline at this point, but he has the ability to steal bases and also hit some homers. If he can become more refined at the plate, there is a shot he could also hit for a good average, but he is definitely still raw in that area.

11. Nik Turley, LHP, C+

12. Daniel Lopez, OF, C+

13. Ramon Flores, OF, C+

14. Miguel Andujar, 3B, C+

15. Abraham Almonte, OF, C+

16. Cody Johnson, DH, C+

17. Melky Mesa, CF, C+ 

18. Ramon Flores, OF, C+

19. Rafael De Paula, RHP, C+

20. Matt Duran, 3B-1B, C+

21. Austin Aune, OF, C+

22. Peter O’Brien, C, C+

23. Robert Refsnyder, OF, C+

Overall Draft Grade: B-

          The Yankees got some high upside talent with Hensley and Aune at the top and followed the pair up with mainly collegiate picks. O'Brien is good value at #94 and is an intriguing power bat with the tools to stay behind the plate. Robert Refsnyder out of Arizona can really swing the bat and Corey Black and Nick Goody are interesting power arms. This class should definitely be signable thanks to the college seniors near the end of the first ten rounds, and while there aren't any outstanding players in this class, the Yankees found a decent balance between picks with high potential and some "safer" selections.

1st Round (30): Ty Hensley, RHP, Edmond Santa Fe HS (OK), 6'4", 220
Hensley doesn't have ace potential, but he's still got good value here and is an intriguing starting pitching prospect. His fastball sits in the 91-92 range, but he can crank it a little higher when he needs to. He's shown a hard, downer curveball that has flashed the potential to be above-average as well. His change-up and command need work, but he has an ideal pitchers frame and can throw strikes consistently, a combination that bodes well for him in the future.

2nd Round (89): Austin Aune, OF, Argyle HS (TX), 6'2", 185, L/R
Aune is a raw, toolsy athlete who was a two-sport star in high school. A shortstop at that level, the Yankees announced him as an outfielder and he could handle centerfield at the next level thanks to his plus speed and strong arm. His game isn't refined in many aspects, especially at the plate, but he's shown flashes of all five tools and is an interesting follow. 

2nd Round (94): Peter O'Brien, C, Miami University (SR), 6'4", 225, R/R
O'Brien is a power bat behind the plate with surprising athleticism for a guy his size. He's got a plus arm and has improved his catching in his only year at Miami after transferring from Bethune-Cookman. He's a good value here as some projected him Top 50, but his senior status means he'll have to move quickly through the Yankees system to cement his position as a solid catching prospect.

3rd Round (124): Nathan Mikolas, OF, Bradford HS (WI), 6'0", 200, L/L
Mikolas is widely regarded as one of the better hitters in the Midwest and most of his value is tied up in his bat, which shows above-average power potential. He's not much of an athlete and won't be anything more than an average outfielder at the next level.

4th Round (157): Corey Black, RHP, Faulkner University (JR), 5'11", 175
Coming from an NAIA school, Black is a relative unknown. He put up absurd numbers in 2012, however, and reports have his fastball touching the high-90s. He's certainly a bit of a mystery, but Black has the stuff and has proven that he can get outs.

5th Round (187): Robert Refsnyder, OF, University of Arizona (JR), 6'0", 195
Part of a stellar junior class at Arizona that is absolutely tearing it up in the regionals, Refsnyder put up very good numbers this year for the U of A and profiles as a left fielder at the next level. He has hit .354 with 29 XBH to date this year and the Yankees are buying the potential at the plate with Refsnyder.

6th Round (217): Nick Goody, RHP, Louisiana State University (JR), 5'11", 195

7th Round (247): Tyler Garrison, RHP, Fresno State University (SR), 5'11", 180

8th Round (277): Taylor Dugas, OF, University of Alabama (SR), 5'8", 170, L/L

9th Round (307): Derek Varnadore, RHP, Auburn University (SR), 6'3", 215

10th Round (347): Matthew Snyder, 1B, Ole Miss (SR), 6'5", 200, L/R

Notable Later Round Selections:
Round 25: Ty Moore, OF, Mater Dei HS (CA)
Moore is a very good hitter, who we projected to go much earlier. He probably fell due to signability and will most likely head to UCLA.
Round 30: Raph Rhymes, OF, Louisiana State University
Rhymes had an outstanding season this year hitting at LSU and even though he is not the greatest prospect, he really knows how to put the barrel on the ball.

          The Yankees have certainly not been afraid to take risks and over pay for players in the draft in recent years, so it will be interesting to see what kind of choices they make this year. They have taken a high school player with their top choice each of the last four years, but with 11 picks in the top 10 rounds and only $4.192 million to spend without being penalized, it will certainly be tough to continue their trend of taking more high schoolers than college guys in the top ten rounds. Last year, 6 of their first 7 picks were prep products and in 2010, 7 out of their first 10 picks were high school guys. Last year, the Yankees spent around $5 million on eight picks through the first ten rounds and did not sign 2 of their picks. One way to negotiate the stricter budget would be to go back to their strategy from 2009, when they drafted two high schoolers at the top, but then used their next 8 selections on college players. Therefore, they can stay within strategy by going for upside talent at the top, as we did in our mock draft by taking Tanner Rahier, and then go with more signable college guys later on.

Mock Draft Selection: Tanner Rahier, SS, Palm Desert HS (CA)