Anthony Seigler on his Draft Day in 2018. Photo Courtesy of Frank Franklin II, AP
Anthony Seigler was one of the most discussed players eligible for selection leading up to the 2018 MLB Draft. While he was not an elite, top-10 pick consideration, he was intriguing for a variety of reasons. Most scouting reports projected Seigler’s selection in the 1st round, noting his athleticism at a premium position. There was also the novelty of Seigler’s ability to switch-pitch (yes, you read that correctly), and though he was not likely to pitch at the professional level, his capabilities on the mound were yet another indicator of coachability and athleticism. The Yankees pulled the trigger on drafting Seigler 23rd overall in the 1st round, and he immediately was ranked among the top 10 prospects in a system teeming with talent by most publications.
Fast-forward to today, and much has changed. Seigler has spent much of his pro career on the trainer’s table due to a variety of injuries. Most recently, his 2019 season ended due to a broken kneecap, an injury he sustained when a foul tip caught him in the knee. More importantly though, when Seigler has been “healthy,” he just hasn’t hit.
For a guy who was expected to have some pop at the plate, Seigler has just 1 HR and 6 doubles to show for his efforts. That would be one thing if he showed plate discipline and an ability to make contact, but that really hasn’t happened yet either. While Seigler walks at well above-average rates in relation to his strikeout rate, he just hasn’t made enough contact to make meaningful offensive contributions.
On the flip side, Seigler continues to get raves from Yankee minor league staff for his ability to call a game behind the plate. He also still has athleticism behind the plate, and a solid arm that has carried over from his days as a pitcher. These factors alone still make Seigler a worthwhile prospect to follow. It is also essential to note that Seigler has hardly played any baseball since signing due to injuries, accumulating just 215 plate appearances and 54 games. Seigler needs more game time to make the progression that many people expected when he was drafted.
However, it is stunning to see Seigler’s fall in the prospect rankings. Many prospect rankings released since last season have soured on Seigler’s prospect status. The SSTN Top 15 was no different. Just 2 of our writers ranked Seigler among their Top 15 Yankee Prospects, and only one of them ranked Seigler inside of the Top 10. As part of our series on our Top 15 Yankee Prospect rankings, you will read more about why these writers retain a positive view of Seigler in relation to the Yankees’ other prospects.
2020 was shaping up to be a make-or-break season for Anthony Seigler. He needs at-bats at the plate and innings behind it to start making strides. He is also looking to prove that he can avoid the injury bug for the first time in his career. Sadly, it appears that the global pandemic will cost Anthony Seigler sorely needed development time with Yankee staff at the Tampa complex and in competitive minor league games. Time will tel if Seigler can re-gain some of his prospect shine and rise again in our rankings.
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Scheduling Note: We will continue our SSTN Top 15 Prospects series this Wednesday at 10 AM, where our writers will talk about the guys who we couldn’t quite squeeze onto our personal Top 15 lists. Enjoy!
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