2010 Yankees first round draft pick: Cito Culver HS SS

[bmxstreetrider86]

reports and discussion here

He is the rare Northeast prep product with a legitimate chance to play shortstop in the major leagues. Culver's best tool is his arm, which rates as a 65 on the 20-80 scouting scale. Some scouts report seeing him up to 94 mph off the mound, but he has no interest in pitching. The game comes easily to Culver, whose actions, instincts and range are all plus at times

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Culver is a solid-average runner and a switch-hitter with a loose, whippy swing from both sides of the plate.

[yankstaketitle]

who?!

[flymick24]

this pick makes my balls hurt

[TheStraw]

I live outside of Rochester and I've never even seen the guy's name in the sports page here.

[MassNYYfan]

Uhhhhhhhhhh........

[Hughes2.50]

Like the Sawx Fuentes last year, this kid is a slot pick who will sign for slot and we'll see him early in the gulf coast league.

[DRobertsonNYY]

at ................ting on this kid when you guys all just started following draft coverage tonight

[yankee82093]

HS shortstops are quite risky....

[flymick24]

at ................ting on this kid when you guys all just started following draft coverage tonight

i'm sure you love this pick

[Jax Teller]

Pretty bold assumption from DRobertson there. Yeah, draft coverage was only followed tonight. It's not like the draft thread was started last year or anything.

[Rocketman]

Great. The Yankees once again take a guy who is low ceiling. Great.

[DRobertsonNYY]

http://baseballbeginnings.com/2010/0...-culver-video/

The first thing you would notice about Culver is that his athletic actions jump off the field. Listed at 6-1, 167 he’s got a modest build on which the strength is still filling in. The quickness jumps out, both in his hands and his footwork. It also plays in his running speed and he has a fast first step.
The next tool would be his arm. On the mound, he was 90-91, which really isn’t bad for a guy with that kind of frame. What you didn’t see with Culver was a lot of physical projection for height, which would make his future as a right-handed pitcher pretty nominal. On one play, a kid fouled a pitch back behind the screen. Culver came off the mound, full speed, and caught up to his catcher deep in foul territory. It was a throwaway play to some scouts, but it showed me reflexes, his first step and his acceleration. The guy is an athlete.
He was very new to hitting with wood when I saw him and he didn’t have the strength. But all this guy would have to do is learn how to slap the ball and put it on the ground and he can run you .300 and have the arm and range for 2B, SS and 3B. So the guy could become a very good bench player or a very good everyday player if the offense comes along. What you cannot discount is the easy and loose athletic actions. You can’t buy those and they don’t sell them at the gym.

He's 6'1.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

reports and discussion here

It's funny that MLB Network had him at 5'11 -- actually makes me feel better that they had no idea on this kid.

[Greenwave81]

1.32 New York Yankees - Cito Culver, SS, West Irondequoit HS (NY)

Mlbbonusbaby-xl_tiny by Andy Seiler on Jun 7, 2010 9:59 PM EDT Comment 0 comments

The Yankees selected Cito Culver. Here's his profile:



Cito Culver Position: RHP/OF School: West Irondequoit HS State: NY Height: 6’2’’ Weight: 175

Bats: B Throws: R Birth Date: 8/26/92 Seiler Rating: 2C1 Commitment: Maryland
Cito Culver is a young two-way prospect from Rochester, New York. Culver generates draft interest at three different positions, making him one of the more intriguing draft prospects in the 2010 prep class. At the plate, he’s a switch-hitter with solid strength, and he projects to be an above-average hitter for average in the future, probably sitting somewhere in the .275-.285 range if things work out well. He needs to work on his balance at the plate, but as a cold-weather hitter, he’s less refined than a lot of prospects, but he also has more room to improve than others, too. I don’t project him for anything more than below-average power, possibly reaching 10 home runs in his peak. On defense, there’s a split over whether he’ll be an outfielder or a shortstop. However, he might have to move off shortstop or center field, as he’s already a fringe-average runner. He has a solid-average arm for shortstop, and an above-average arm for center field, so it all comes down to the range factor. I’d probably keep him at shortstop until he outgrows it. Culver also has even more mound potential, though he’s probably a reliever on that side of things. He throws an 87-91 mph fastball from a true three-quarters arm slot that gets good arm-side run, and he’s gained a couple of ticks on it this spring. His changeup is his best offspeed pitch, though it projects as solid-average at best, and his curveball rates as a future average pitch. He has a higher ceiling as a hitter, though some might disagree with that assertion. Culver fits best in the fourth to sixth round range, and he was only a late signee with Maryland, making him an attractive signable prep bat or arm.

Found this....

But really, hard to believe this guy wouldn't have been available later. I'm perplexed...

[bmxstreetrider86]

sorry bout that apparently culver was drafted as a pitcher

[DWells4prez]

i'm sure you love this pick

There's no reason to hate it. None of you are scouts, all you have at your disposal is all second-third hand reports. Just because we didn't draft a BIG NAME, it doesn't mean jack ................. Heathcott was 70 on BA's list last year for all you that think their list is the be-all-end-all.

I'll let it play out, then make judgements from them. Crying about it won't get you anywhere.

[Enoch]

Who knows if the kid is legit or not. I certainly do not. I definitely trust the Yankees scouting, but here is the rub:

1) The Yankees were in the position to draft several top talents
2) Instead they chose to go off the board to take a high school shortstop

It isn't the player. He could be legit. It is WHERE they took him. If he is projected as a 4-6th round pick, do you really need to take him in the first round? Someone, hopefully, was on this kid, otherwise, this was non-sensical.

Also, I hate slot picks.

That is all.

[DWells4prez]

Great. The Yankees once again take a guy who is low ceiling. Great.

Who was their last 1st rounder with a low-ceiling? Please inform me.

[SLURPEE]

I'm calling it first; SLURPEE June 7 2010 said Cito Culver will be a HOF.

[Yankees1962]

I don't understand what the Yankees are doing here. I really don't have a good feeling right now.

[Jax Teller]

Who was their last 1st rounder with a low-ceiling? Please inform me.

Jeremy Bleich.

[DWells4prez]

I don't understand what the Yankees are doing here. I really don't have a good feeling right now.

Drafting the best player on their board? Just like the Cubs drafted Haden Simpson, he was the best player on their board.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

Who knows if the kid is legit or not. I certainly do not. I definitely trust the Yankees scouting, but here is the rub:

1) The Yankees were in the position to draft several top talents
2) Instead they chose to go off the board to take a high school shortstop

It isn't the player. He could be legit. It is WHERE they took him. If he is projected as a 4-6th round pick, do you really need to take him in the first round? Someone, hopefully, was on this kid, otherwise, this was non-sensical.

Also, I hate slot picks.

That is all.

You are making an assumption that he would really be a 4th to 6th round pick. I have no idea who this guy is, but the Yankees do have more info at their disposal than the guys who make those projections

[DWells4prez]

Jeremy Bleich.

Yea too bad he was supplemental. Keep trying. Only one that comes to mind is Ian Kennedy and that pick was followed up by Joba.

[bmxstreetrider86]

Aaron fitt likes culver

I love Culver: 65 arm, smooth SS actions, loose swing, switch-hitter. But he's still rather raw. That's definitely a surprise.

[Enoch]

You are making an assumption that he would really be a 4th to 6th round pick. I have no idea who this guy is, but the Yankees do have more info at their disposal than the guys who make those projections

Read the whole post please.

[JfromJersey]

You hear Cashman say how important developing home grown Yankees is, and then they pick someone like this, and you just have to scratch your head.
Either we have much better scouts than any other team, or someone's been smoking crack.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

Read the whole post please.

I did. You are not pleased with where they took him, right? I am guessing they had their reasons.

I am not feeling good about this either, but I also recognize they know a lot more about these guys than I do.

[DWells4prez]

You hear Cashman say how important developing home grown Yankees is, and then they pick someone like this, and you just have to scratch your head.
Either we have much better scouts than any other team, or someone's been smoking crack.

Why do we have to have much better scouts? That makes no sense.

Once again, for all you people that don't follow the draft or just read the big names, all these analysts projections mean NOTHING. Look at all their mock's today and see how terribly wrong almost every single one of them was..

Just because they say he's projected in that range doesn't mean all 32 teams have him ranked in that range.

Have faith, good day.

[yankee82093]

Why do we have to have much better scouts? That makes no sense.

Once again, for all you people that don't follow the draft or just read the big names, all these analysts projections mean NOTHING. Look at all their mock's today and see how terribly wrong almost every single one of them was..

Just because they say he's projected in that range doesn't mean all 32 teams have him ranked in that range.

Have faith, good day.

They may not be accurate or reliable, but they are certainly not worthless. As long as they are insiders with sources we (fans) don't have access to, they have at least some value.

[Dexter Morgan]

You hear Cashman say how important developing home grown Yankees is, and then they pick someone like this, and you just have to scratch your head.
Either we have much better scouts than any other team, or someone's been smoking crack.

We haven't exactly been pumping out position players of late

[Enoch]

I did. You are not pleased with where they took him, right? I am guessing they had their reasons.

I am not feeling good about this either, but I also recognize they know a lot more about these guys than I do.

I guess the part where I essentially stated your criticism of my post, i.e. "Someone was hopefully on this kid, otherwise, this pick was nonsensical."

Translation - If another team was looking to take him, it makes sense. If not, then this was an overdraft which is a poor decision on the Yankees part.

[JfromJersey]

We haven't exactly been pumping out position players of late

True..but this guy wasn't on anyone's radar. They couldn't get a better positional prospect than Culver? I want to hear what Cashman has to say about this guy tomorrow.

[TheHugeUnit2]

I'm 21 years old and I almost cried when they announced it, I would of if I wasn't numb.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

I guess the part where I essentially stated your criticism of my post, i.e. "Someone was hopefully on this kid, otherwise, this pick was nonsensical."

Translation - If another team was looking to take him, it makes sense. If not, then this was an overdraft which is a poor decision on the Yankees part.

Which, of course, we'd never know. Of course we have to assume the Yankees thought there was a decent chance he wouldn't be there in round 2, and that they think he is a better bet than the big names that were on the board.

Interesting that two years in a row they've gone with a prep position player who wasn't touted as a first-rounder by the draft gurus. I hope this kid turns into something.

[DWells4prez]

True..but this guy wasn't on anyone's radar. They couldn't get a better positional prospect than Culver? I want to hear what Cashman has to say about this guy tomorrow.

Where do you get that he wasn't on anyone's radar? Please tell me you know where all other 31 teams had him ranked on their boards. Please tell me.

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

From what I read, this is a project pick. This dude is athlethic as hell and also raw. I could see him developing into a very good prospect. Power is always a very hard thing to project.

That being said they probably could have got him with their next pick.

[Yanks21]

Culver looks like a high quality kid. As a fan of the Yankees, I really hope he makes it...

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/...gh-in-baseball

[Hughes2.50]

How many kids are good enough to play the premium position of shortstop? You have to believe the Yankees are pretty confident in his ability to continue to play the position due to his athleticism. If they are right, and he ends up playing shortstop in two three years in higher A ball, he could be another Hector Gomez. That would be fine with me. Like I said before, the Yankees will probably have him sign early on.

[ICEBERG18]

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/...=.jsp&c_id=nyy

[indianyanksfan]

i think with better talent available this was a very odd move and a bit of an explanation would be nice.

[Rocketbooster]

I just prefer drafting baseball players instead of athletes (he sounds like a candidate for track and field) -that BA scouting report is scary. Now I love Cash and Oppenheimer has done a good job, but their division rivals had great nights and this is a REACH.

[Dexter Morgan]

How many kids are good enough to play the premium position of shortstop? You have to believe the Yankees are pretty confident in his ability to continue to play the position due to his athleticism. If they are right, and he ends up playing shortstop in two three years in higher A ball, he could be another Hector Gomez. That would be fine with me. Like I said before, the Yankees will probably have him sign early on.

Like... Carmen Angelini and Garrett Lassiter

The Yankees track record with SS of late is pretty poor.

[DWells4prez]

I love how everyone all of a sudden is a scout and a gypsy as they know already just how this kids career is going to turn out and what he will ultimately be, plus they could tell he would of been available at 81. UNBELIEVABLE

[bmxstreetrider86]

Like... Carmen Angelini and Garrett Lassiter

the list of busts will always be longer than the list of hit

[DWells4prez]

Like... Carmen Angelini and Garrett Lassiter

Lassiter never played a game at SS for the Yankees, pretty much proving they didn't believe he would ever be a SS. Angelini didn't work out, EVERY TEAM has them.

Oh wait, what round were those guys drafted in again? Oh yea, GOOD EXAMPLES.

[JfromJersey]

Where do you get that he wasn't on anyone's radar? Please tell me you know where all other 31 teams had him ranked on their boards. Please tell me.

How the hell would I know? I just know what everyone else here knows. The guy was rated where in the top 100? Was he even in the top 100?

[Hughes2.50]

Culver looks like a high quality kid. As a fan of the Yankees, I really hope he makes it...

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/...gh-in-baseball

Great article, thanks for posting it. Sounds like a great kid, and it sounds like he is an incredible athlete who will sign with his favorite team. Maybe Jeter can pass the Rizzuto, Jeter, torch!

[Buzah!]

I tried to warn people it wouldn't be a BA draft. I'm sure we'll find out why they had him rated above Lipka in the next day or so. We certainly do need shortstops.

[IrishYankee]

rappa, I think to say its amazing this caused shock is absolute homerism.
I reserve judgement on this, but the track record in recent years with surprise position players is scary, and for once I think most of the over reaction is understandable. I was speechless.

Having said all that, I'm willing to bet they thought someone (Minnesota maybe based on one article) would have taken him soon, and if we can pop a prospect out from under their noses, then maybe we are doing something right.

But looking at who they let slide by, they better be right. There is no excuse here, it was a brave choice given what was on the table, and they'll be correctly villified if its a failure.