BBB 2017 Top Prospect Countdown #27: Kyle Higashioka
Kyle
Higashioka is a 26-year-old right-handed catcher from Huntington Beach
California. The Yankees drafted Higashioka way back in 2008, in the seventh
round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft. Higashioka was highly touted
for his superior defensive game behind the plate. His size, 6"1" 205 pounds,
combined with his defensive ability convinced the Yankees to select him in the
seventh round, where they viewed him as a high value prospect. The Yankees were
one of few teams who thought he had offensive potential that could develop over
time.
Higashioka
is the very definition of a late bloomer. Surprisingly, in his first
professional action in 2009 Higashioka impressed at the plate putting up a .253
batting average, well above expectations for him at the time. Over the next couple of seasons Higashioka’s
offensive numbers plateaued, but he continued to develop as a pro. Physically,
his body began to fill out and behind the plate his defense was spectacular, as
he built a rapport with his pitching staff.
In both 2010 and 2011 Higashioka was invited as a “non-roster invite” to
spring training, in which he gained valuable experience going head to head with
other members of the Yankees roster and working with the Yankees coaching staff.
Then an unfortunate timeline of events occurred. After just a handful of games
in AA in 2013, Higashioka's season ended on a snap pickoff throw to first base. The awkward throw would result in Tommy John surgery that would cause
Higashioka to miss the entire 2013 and part of the 2014 season. Just as he was
ready to return in 2014, he suffered a broken thumb that forced him into two
more months on the shelf.
In 2015, he returned to the field and batted a solid
.250 with 37 RBI’s, mostly with the Single-A Tampa Yankees before being
promoted to the Triple-A Scranton Yankees at the end of the year. Last season served as a
breakout year for Higashioka. Splitting time between the AA Trenton Thunder and
AAA Scranton Yankees, Higashioka put up career highs of .276 average, 81 RBIs,
and 21 home runs.
Interestingly enough, Higashioka has always had the tools to
be a solid hitter. Scouts in his draft profile mentioned his compact stroke,
above average pitch recognition, and patience at the plate. The interesting
part was that it didn’t really seem to translate statistically. So while
Higashioka’s offensive surge may be a surprise to many, the Yankees always saw
this potential. Higashioka’s greatest offensive strength may be his ability to
hit to all fields. This includes his power chart, which makes it very clear
that Higashioka can utilize the short porch in right field, even as a right-handed hitter.
Projection
Many
saw the insane rise of Gary Sanchez and assumed that is what made Brian McCann
expendable. In reality, what really made McCann expendable was the rise of
Sanchez paired with the rise of Higashioka, as well as the presence of Austin Romine on the roster.
As I’ve mentioned many times,
Higashioka is a highly regarded defensive catcher who is excellent at calling a
game and guiding his pitching staff. Gary Sanchez is the future of the Yankees,
but don’t be surprised if there is eventually chatter to have him move
positions, if Higashioka continues his offense tear. Sanchez is a good
defensive catcher, but Higashioka has the potential to be a great one.
This season will be a huge year for Higashioka. He took a major step in his offensive
development in 2016 and it is now imperative that he sustains or improves on these
numbers. He is someone to keep an eye on during spring training, because a hot
start could mean he lands on the 25-man roster early in 2017, being that he was added to the 40-man roster this season.
I have no doubt
he will make his debut at some point in 2017 for the Yankees, but his offensive
development will be the key to whether he is merely a late inning defensive
replacement or someone who is vying for at-bats behind the plate, or out of the
DH position. Higashioka actually became a free agent in 2016 and resigned with
the Yankees almost immediately stating he “couldn’t see himself anywhere else," while the Yankees protected him from this year’s Rule 5 Draft. So, although
Higashioka has had a near decade long journey in the minor leagues, the team
still clearly sees him as a part of the future.
Article
by: Jesse Bartley
Follow @YOitsYourBoyJFollow @BronxBomberBlog
Comments
Post a Comment