When talking about the possibility of playing professional baseball, a common saying amongst baseball players is “I’d sign for a plane ticket and a bag of peanuts.” While Jackson Lovich got a bit more than peanuts, the shortstop out of the University of Missouri received slot value after being drafted in the 16th round of the 2025 MLB Draft by the Yankees.
Most late-round picks out of college don’t garner much attention from scouts and publications. However, in his first pro season, Lovich has certainly turned some heads, as he looks like the latest example of a late-round success story for New York.
Lovich: Latest Example of Yankees Finding Value in Late Rounds
Jackson Lovich is Dominating the FSL
After getting a small taste of professional baseball immediately after being drafted, Lovich has come into this season and proven he did not need much time to adjust. Coming out of college, Lovich is a tad older than the average A-Ball player, and that experience has made him a nightmare for opposing pitchers. Through 57 games for the Tampa Tarpons, the shortstop is hitting .283 with a .894 OPS, 14 home runs, and 50 RBIs.
Not only does he lead the league in long-balls, but he is also the FSL leader in wRC+ (134) and ISO (.252), while ranking second in wOBA (.406) among eligible hitters with at least 200 at-bats. Lovich flashed some pop during his sophomore and junior seasons at Missouri, but he has certainly found something extra in his swing to tap into that power more consistently.
According to TJStats, Lovich is in the 93rd percentile in max exit velocity (113.6), 93rd percentile in barrel percentage (12.3%), and 82nd in hard-hit percentage (45.9%) among all hitters in A-Ball with at least 200 at-bats. Aside from his hitting, the 6’3″ Lovich has also flashed his speed, compiling 17 stolen bases in 22 attempts, which is the 15th most in the Florida State League.
Now, if there is one knock on Lovich and his season up to this point, it’s his high whiff rate. At 27.8%, the Yankees farmhand has the 13th-highest strikeout rate among FSL hitters with 200+ at-bats. Compared to all hitters in A-Ball with 200+ at-bats, Lovich is also in the 12th percentile in whiff rate (37.1%). The strikeout numbers are certainly a concern, but it’s important to remember that Lovich is playing far better than the average 16th-round pick.
Jackson Lovich is the Latest Example of Scouting Success
For those wondering why Lovich is still in A-Ball despite his numbers, it shouldn’t be long until he gets a shot at the next minor league level. In fact, with the 2026 MLB Draft just two weeks away, Lovich is a prime candidate to get promoted once the next crop of Yankees draftees gets assigned to the minors. When the promotion does come, Lovich will have the opportunity to prove that his success and power can translate to a level where he is of the average age of the other players.
Regardless of how high he can ascend as a prospect, Lovich has become the latest example of the Yankees’ impressive scouting and player development. The obvious examples of this are current AL Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler, whom the Yankees drafted in the 8th round, and likely All-Star Ben Rice, who was selected in the 12th round. There are plenty more players, though, who were drafted in even later rounds than Schlittler and Rice, who have proven to be phenomenal picks given their slot value.
In 2024, the Yankees took Dillon Lewis in the 13th round, and since trading him, he has become the 9th-ranked prospect in the Marlins organization. A year prior, New York selected Coby Morales in the 18th-round, and this season, he’s hitting .277 with 14 home runs in Double-A. Additionally, in 2023, the Yankees signed Garrett Martin as a UDFA, and he has since worked his way up to Triple-A this season, hitting 24 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A.
If Lovich can continue to flash the power tool, then he, too, could continue to ascend through the system, despite being tied for having the second-lowest signing bonus among the Yankees ’25 draft class.
Main Photo: Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
