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TJ Sikkema was selected by the Yankees with his 38th pick and sixth choice in the first round of the competition. Sikkema is a lefty from the University of Missouri, weighing 21 feet. After playing with Anthony Volpe in the first round with a preparatory stop in the first round, the Yankees turned to university pitching.
MLB Pipeline ranked Sikkema 57th overall, while Baseball America lowered it to 80. FanGraphs placed Sikkema 78th on their big board. As with Volpe, the Yankees seem to have a little sought to get their man.
Scouts praise the versatility, repertoire and makeup of Sikkema. Check out an excerpt from MLB Pipeline's report on him:
He is a southpaw with three effective throws and a successful experience in a variety of roles, not to mention the competitiveness and confidence that are off the chart. Sikkema generally runs between 89 and 91 mph with a run and runs on his fast ball from a lower angle of three quarters of the arm, although he can lift his slot and go back to 93 -95 mph when needed.
The Yankees received the selection that they used for Sikkema among the Sonny Gray Reds. The rules that dictate the competitive equilibrium relationship choices are somewhat esoteric and you can read a little bit about it here. Although current choices can not be traded, competitive balances can be used freely as trading assets.
With two selections, the Yankees have a short stop and a relatively flexible and adaptable left-handed to show for their efforts. They also appear to have targeted prospects that rank well in terms of character, although it may be a coincidence that their first two selections turned out to be quality makeup leads. We will see soon enough which direction they will choose with their next choice, the 67th overall choice.
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