We are now just a few days out from the start of the 2026 MLB Draft. Both here at Pinstripe Alley and around the media, you’ll fine plenty of analysis and mock drafts projecting who the Yankees and the rest of the teams will be selecting, and how those players could pan out in the future.
This is not that. Instead, we’re going to be taking a look at the history of the 35th, 63rd, and 99th overall picks, the Yankees’ first three available slots in 2026 (due to some tax and free-agent signing penalties), and looking back at who have managed to make something from those slots over the years. Those three picks aren’t going to have the hype or pedigree that come with an early selection, but it’s definitely still possible to get some talent from those picks. Let’s see what history can tell us.
Pick 35
The best player to ever come out of the 35th pick wasn’t selected by the Yankees, but does have a history in the Bronx: Johnny Damon. The Royals took him 35th overall in 1992, and he went on to an 18-year MLB career. The most notable of which, of course, came with the Yankees and Red Sox, helping each franchise to a World Series title.
Another “Hall of Very Good-er” was taken at this spot, with four-time All-Star pitcher Mark Langston going there in 1981. Super center fielder Aaron Rowand also went there, as seven 35th picks overall have had career rWARs over five. One of those is the most notable recent 35th pick: Brent Rooker. The A’s DH and outfielder is already done for 2026 following knee surgery, but has been a very productive hitter in recent years, swatting 99 homers between 2023-25.
The Yankees only ever selection at 35 came back in 1969. They selected New Jersey high school pitcher Peter Helt, but didn’t come to an agreement to sign him. At least according to this Facebook post, he went on to play college baseball at Michigan (where he was a captain), but didn’t get drafted after that and never played minor-league ball.
Pick 63
The team’s next pick will come at 63rd overall. That spot has produced a no-doubt Hall of Famer, as the Orioles took slugger Eddie Murray there back in 1973. The O’s inked him to a deal and “Steady Eddie” went on to hit 504 home runs, over 300 of which came with Baltimore.
If the early career hype can keep going, it’s certainly possible another star could come out of No. 63. That’s where the Brewers took their flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski in 2022 out of a little known JuCo, Crowder College. There’s obviously still a long way to go in his career, but “The Miz” definitely has Hall of Fame potential at his peak.
Darren Oliver, Jason Kipnis, Zane Smith, and former Yankee Elliott Maddox all had 15+ rWAR career after going 63rd. (However, Maddox didn’t sign that year and ended up getting re-drafted two years later.)
The Yankees have had this exact pick twice, both in the 2000s. They took Jason Arnold in 2001 and J.B. Cox in 2005, but neither ended up reaching the major leagues.
Pick 99
The team’s last top 100 pick will come at 99th overall. There are no elected Baseball Hall of Famers from this spot, but there’s someone who arguably should be, as the Tigers picked Lou Whitaker there in 1975. Whitaker had a productive 19-year career in Detroit, winning the 1984 World Series, and eventually getting his No. 1 retired by the team. It took his longtime double-play partner Alan Trammell a long time to get to Cooperstown, but Whitaker has never gotten remotely close. He only garnered 2.9 percent when he appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2000, but further reexamination of his career with more modern metrics make him look much more favorable, as he was a stud both at the plate and in the field.
There are not a ton of success stories in recent years from the 99th overall pick. Reliever/opener pioneer Ryne Stanek is probably the most recognizable name to come out of this slot in the last 20 years.
Over the years, the Yankees have had the 99th pick on three occasions. They took outfielder Steve Madden there in 1980, but didn’t come to terms with him. In 2004, they selected pitcher Christian Garcia. He never made the majors with the Yankees, eventually getting released in 2010. Garcia did end up having a brief MLB career with the Nationals. Most recently, the team picked Trevor Hauver 99th in the COVID-shortened 2020 draft. The Yankees later used him as part of the Joey Gallo trade with the Rangers. Hauver is still in Texas’ organization, but hasn’t made the big league level as of yet.
As said before, the 99th pick hasn’t produced any Baseball Hall of Famers, but there’s a reason I specified “Baseball.” In 1979, football legend Dan Marino was taken by the Royals out of Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh. He probably made the right choice in attending Pitt and later going to the Dolphins in the NFL.
For a bonus, here’s a quick rundown of some famous picks from the Yankees’ other spots this year (focusing on anyone who actually signed), if not only to offer a reminder that gems and contributors can be found anywhere:
- 127th: Starter Marty Pattin (1965), reliever Mike Timlin (1987), infielder Dee Strange-Gordon (2008)
- 160th: Reliever Hunter Gaddis (2019)
- 189th: Infielder Casey Blake (1996)
- 218th: Utilityman Mark McLemore (1982) and outfielder Will Venable (2005)
- 248th: Infielder Ben Oglivie (1968) and reliever Scott Eyre (1991)
- 278th: Relievers Scott Williamson (1997) and Tony Watson (2007)
- 338th: Infielder Dan Uggla (2001) and catcher John Jaso (2003)
- 428th: Outfielder Kenny Lofton (1988)
- 458th: Outfielders Mike Cameron (1991) and Jermaine Dye (1993)
So, there’s the history of the Yankees’ first few picks in this year’s draft. Hopefully, they can take some players who can rewrite the history of those numbers in the coming years.
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