With their first-round selection in the 2018 MLB Draft, the New York Yankees selected Anthony Seigler, perhaps the most versatile player in the pool of young prospects.
What makes this kid so unique is his ability to play any position on the field, literally. In addition to posting a 1.09 ERA on the mound in his senior year, he also batting .421 with 13 home runs as a catcher.
He isn’t just limited to the battery though. As if he wasn’t already special enough, Seigler is also capable of playing the field. Thus far, he has been played at second, third, and even in the outfield.
Not satisfied?
Not only is he the quintessential utility player, but he can also play these positions with the glove on either hand.
That’s right, Seigler is ambidextrous, meaning he can throw with either his left or his right hand. He wore a six finger mitt in high school when he pitched since he was able to switch arms when throwing to get the same hand matchup with the batter. He has been clocked throwing around 90 miles per hour with his right arm, while his velocity with his left arm dips slightly to the mid-80s. To no one’s surprise, he is a switch hitter too.
shano_808: Yankees new 1st round pick #23 ANTHONY SEIGLER a switch-hitting Catcher & switch-pitching Pitcher! YES Network MLB Baseball: New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers https://t.co/gLbNbRnWiN pic.twitter.com/nrA0PKFMbt
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) June 5, 2018
When asked about his potential, USA Baseball U-18 director Matt Blood said, “He can literally do everything. He’s a freak in that way.”
While he may lack tools that are MLB ready at the moment, he is a balanced player that can do anything a manager asks him to, which is why the Yankees took the promising catcher.
Featured Image Via Wikimedia Commons
