Yankees select catcher Anthony Seigler in first round of 2018 MLB Draft

Pete Caldera | NorthJersey

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DETROIT — Switch-hitting catcher Anthony Seigler was chosen by the Yankees with their first pick – the 23rd overall selection – in Monday's MLB First Year Player draft.

The versatile Seigler, a high school senior from Cartersville, Ga., is also a switch-throwing pitcher.

Siegler turns 19 later this month. He is committed to the University of Florida.

The Yankees last chose a high school player in the first round in 2016, when they selected outfielder Blake Rutherford, who was traded last year to the White Sox in the deal that brought Todd Frazier, David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle to the Yanks.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Seigler batted .421 (45-for-107) this year for Cartersville High School, with 13 homers and 16 stolen bases. He also threw out 12 of 21 would-be base stealers behind the plate.

The last time the Yankees took a catcher in the first round was in 2000, selecting David Parrish out of the University of Michigan. Parrish did not play in the majors.

Here are three things to know about Seigler:

Rare company

Other than Parrish, the only other catcher chosen by the Yankees since the draft's inception in 1965 was Thurman Munson, fourth overall out of Kent State in 1968.

After selecting Seigler, the Yankees also spent their next pick on a catcher, selecting Josh Breaux from McLennan Community College (Waco, Tex.) as the 61st overall choice in the second round.

Both ways

As an ambidextrous pitcher reminiscent of Pat Venditte, a former Yankee pick who made it to the majors, Seigler registered a 1.09 ERA in 25.2 innings this season with 29 strikeouts.

Titles

Seigler's high school team finished runner-up in the Georgia 4A state championships this year.

Last summer, he was the starting catcher on the USA Baseball national team that won the 18-and-under World Cup.

Quote

"He has the tools to catch and he's a switch-hitter, which makes him a unique commodity,'' said Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees VP of Domestic Amateur Scouting. "He's showing power from both sides of the plate...a plus-arm and runs well for a catcher.

"On top of that, he's proven to be versatile with his ability to play other positions. Seigler's got top of the line makeup. We're very happy about him.''

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