Yankees 7th round draft pick: Kyle Higashioka

Kyle Higashioka was the Yankees 7th round draft pick in this past draft. He is a 18-year-old catcher, who was drafted out of Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California. He just finished a two week mini-campdown in Tampa, and he is hoping to play a full season of pro ball in 2009. He played 18 games with the GCL Yankees during the 2008 season. He had 46AB's and put up these numbers: .261AVG 5R 12H 1HR 3RBI 2BB 0SB .300OBP .38SLG Higashioka was on many scouts radar and was considered one of the best high school catchers out there. The Yankees also have young backstops in Romine and Montero, so it will be interesting where all of them fall in a few years from now. Kyle wants to start out in Charleston next season. "A bunch of people told me how hard it's going to be once I get into full-season ball," he said. "I'll try to get as strong as I can, and keep working on my hitting and catching, maintaining quickness as well as strength. I want to come to Spring Training in really great shape and impress all the coaches and staff, so hopefully they put me in the full-season level." "I believe wholeheartedly I made the right decision," Higashioka said. "I know Cal would've been great, but my No. 1 goal was to play Major League Baseball, and this was the best way to move toward that. I don't regret my decision at all."