MLB Draft 2018: Yankees pick catcher Josh Breaux in 2nd round

by Felix Pantaleón

The New York Yankees selected 20-year-old catcher Josh Breaux out of McLennan Community College in Texas in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft on Monday, June 4, 2018.

The Yankees selected catcher Josh Breaux with their second-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft on Monday night.

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It was the 61st overall selection.

Breaux, 20, was the 71st best prospect in the draft, according to MLB.com. He’s 6-foot-1 and weighs 220 pounds. The Astros picked him in the 36th round of the 2017 draft.

With their first pick and No. 23 overall, the Yankees took catcher Anthony Seigler, an 18-year-old from Cartersville, Ga.

Seigler was also a switch pitcher in high school, throwing faster than 80 mph with either arm, but is expected to stick behind the plate as a professional.

The Yankees won’t pick again until the third round Tuesday.

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Earlier Monday, the Yankees split a doubleheader with the Tigers in Detroit.

Here’s a piece of MLB.com’s scouting report on Breaux:

Breaux has well above-average raw power to all fields and an aggressive right-handed swing that generates uncommon bat speed. He has a maximum-effort approach at the plate (and on the mound), and while he doesn’t strike out excessively, his lack of patience is a cause of concern. He did show that his pop plays with wood bats and against better pitching when he finished fifth in the Cape Cod League with six homers last summer.

Scouts were skeptical of Breaux’s ability to stay at catcher when they saw him as a freshman, but he has improved defensively and projects as at least an adequate receiver.

And here’s what MLB.com had to say about Seigler:

He’s agile behind the plate, has a quick transfer that helps his arm play as plus at times and shows promise as a receiver and pitch framer. He’s more athletic than most catchers, along the lines of Austin Barnes, and could profile as an everyday second baseman as well.

Seigler makes consistent hard contact from both sides of the plate and employs an all-fields approach. There’s some question as to how much power he’ll have, but he has solid bat speed and should provide at least double-digit home run production once he gets stronger. The Florida recruit has close to average speed, making him quick for a catcher, and shows good instincts in all phases of the game.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.