The 2026 Major League Baseball draft is upon us. Each organization will be defined somewhat by the selections they make. The New York Yankees will be dependent on this year’s selections. To move forward, we must reflect on the recent first-round picks.
We are all aware of what the Yankees need to prioritize in this year’s draft selections. Starting pitchers are always a solid option, as well as high-leverage relievers. The Yankees could use either or in this draft, or a high-end catcher.
Three First Round Yankees Draft Picks That Provided Club Value to Date
We can all sit here and debate who should be shipped to the Bronx, but no one truly knows except for the scouting department and Yankees management. We do know one thing: past first-round draft picks could provide patterns and shed light on how the selections turned out.
Yankees Most Recent First-Round Pick Who Is Major League, Contributor
This Yankees draft pick is currently on the roster, despite being disliked by many. Anthony Volpe was selected 30th overall in the 2019 first-round draft. The shortstop from Delbarton School was highly anticipated.
Volpe was the guy who was supposed to fill the massive shoes of the Yankees’ former long-term captain, Derek Jeter. His road to the show was much-focused on, and his emergence to the shortstop role in the Bronx was needed.
Volpe climbed through the minor league ranks quickly. He became the everyday shortstop for the club in 2023. He was a homegrown middle infielder with upside and potential to be an all-star offensive and defensive player.
The shortstop won the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year, contributing an above-average defensive show at shortstop. His draft grade was an “A”, given his projection and hype.
To date, that hype hasn’t breathed the same air as it once did. Volpe suffered a few seasons of mistrust and unreliability. His current player profile is a work in progress, according to manager Aaron Boone.
Volpe is still a key part of the 2026 Yankees lineup; he may be a trade piece at some point.
2020 MLB Draft – Austin Wells
Yankees catcher Austin Wells is another MLB staple who’s assisted his club in many ways. Wells was selected amid the world’s adversity, as the world changed completely during a pandemic.
The 2020 draft was a short, five-round draft with lower signing bonuses and undrafted free-agent contracts. That year also prohibited scouts from freely observing players in training facilities. The process was slowed and skewed, making this selection more tasty.
The catcher brewed into the Yankees’ long-term catcher, hitting from the left side and providing both offensive and defensive upside. The left-handed hitter shows strong plate discipline, power ability, and overall offensive strength.
Wells calls a good game and is engaged as the Yankees’ backstop. Right now, he’s the guy behind the dish, the leader facing the rest, and a warrior at the plate. He was number 28 overall in this 2020 draft.
Clarke Schmidt
Drafted in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft was right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt. The right-hander was a gem for the Yankees on the bump, as he filled in the gaps where injury prevailed.
He provided quality innings in relief and in the rotation when needed. Schmidt was able to miss barrels, force outs, and eat a decent amount of innings.
Schmidt is on the roster; however, he’s currently on the 60-day injured list. His return will be highly beneficial to the Yankees’ current pitching situation. The right-hander was drafted 28th overall that year in 2017. His first-round selection paid off for the club, providing longevity and successful player retention.
Main Photo Credits: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
