Yost 'going to enjoy' Draft room on Monday
ARLINGTON -- It's impossible to know how many managers will sit in on the proceedings when their front office honchos and scouting gurus work their way through the 2019 MLB Draft, which begins with the first 78 picks on Monday. But Royals skipper Ned Yost said he'll definitely be there because Kansas City has the No. 2 overall pick.
The Royals earned that pick with the second-worst record in baseball at 58-104 last year.
"You think I went through all that [stuff] last year not to enjoy tomorrow? [Heck] yeah, I'm going to enjoy tomorrow," Yost said before the Royals closed out their series against the Rangers on Sunday.
The Orioles have the first selection in this year's draft. Oklahoma State catcher Adley Rutschman, MLB Pipeline's No. 1 prospect, is expected by many draft experts to be the first pick.
Or it could be No. 2 prospect Bobby Witt Jr., a shortstop from Dallas-area high school Colleyville Heritage. He's regarded as a five-tool player and is the son of Bobby Witt, a 16-year journeyman starting pitcher mostly with the Rangers. Witt Sr. recently said Royals scouts were at every one of his games this season.
Another top prospect is Andrew Vaughn, a first baseman from the University of California.
"I'm looking at different scenarios," Yost said. "We're going to get a tremendous player. And I'm kind of glad that Baltimore's picking first. There's three [top players] … all the talk is Rutschman-Witt, Witt-Rutschman. I woke up in the middle of the night -- it's crazy what goes through your mind -- I'm like, 'What if Baltimore takes Vaughn? What do we do then?'"
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Yost said he hasn't been in his team's draft room since he was managing the Brewers in 2005, when Kansas City took Alex Gordon with the No. 2 overall pick. Gordon wound up being one of the Royals' most productive players for the last 13 years.
"I'm probably going to go in and sit and watch the process," Yost said. "We went through all that last year for tomorrow. That's going to be your payback for all the stuff we went through last year ... We're going to get an impactful player -- one of the best players in the country -- that's going to impact our organization for years to come. So, yeah, I'm thinking about it."
The 2019 Draft will take place June 3-5, beginning with the Draft preview show on MLB Network and MLB.com at 6 p.m. ET on Monday. MLB Network will broadcast the first 41 picks (Round 1 and Competitive Balance Round A), while MLB.com will stream all 78 picks on Day 1. MLB.com will also provide live pick-by-pick coverage of Rounds 3-10 on Day 2, beginning with a preview show at 12:30 p.m. ET. Then, Rounds 11-40 can be heard live on MLB.com on Day 3, beginning at noon ET.
Go to MLB.com/Draft to see the Top 200 Prospects list, mock Drafts from MLB Pipeline analysts Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, the complete order of selection and more. And follow @MLBDraft on Twitter to see what Draft hopefuls, clubs and experts are saying.
Injury updates
• Third baseman Hunter Dozier had another day off Sunday to rest after leaving Thursday’s game with right thorax tightness. Dozier took some swings in the batting cage before Sunday’s game to see if he’ll be ready to go for Tuesday’s series opener against the Red Sox in Kansas City. Dozier could be headed to the injured list if things don’t improve.
“We’re going to take some swings today and see where we’re at,” Yost said. “If he feels it all today, it’ll probably lead to larger ramifications. We’ll see.”
• Yost said catcher Martín Maldonado will be OK to play Tuesday. Maldonado was removed from Saturday’s game with right forearm tightness as a precaution.
“He’s just banged it a little bit,” Yost said. “He’s actually not as sore as we expected him to be. He’s fine.”