Yanks sign 26 Draft picks, but not Mariano's son

By Bryan Hoch, Jake Kring-Schreifels and Jamal Collier

July 19, 2014

NEW YORK -- The Yankees reached agreements with each of their top 15 choices from the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, including their top selection, left-hander Jacob Lindgren, and signed 26 of their 39 Draft choices overall.

The team did not reach an agreement with right-hander Mariano Rivera Jr., a 29th-round Draft pick and the son of the former Yankees closer. Rivera, who was 2-6 with a 5.40 ERA in 13 games as a sophomore at Iona College, is expected to go back to school for his junior season.

"He just wanted to continue where he's at currently," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told Newsday. "It's not something that he wants to pursue just yet. I think Mariano and the family feel like some more seasoning in the college ranks will benefit him more."

The Yankees also announced the signings of 10 post-Draft free agents: catcher KJ Alexander (Dallas Baptist University); left-hander Jonny Drozd (Texas Tech University); catcher Jake Hernandez (University of Southern California); right-hander Travis Hissong (Wright State University); outfielder Adam Kirsch (Texas Tech University); right-hander Deshorn Lake (University of Mount Olive); right-hander Matt Marsh (Liberty University); right-hander Michael Noteware (Lewis-Clark State College) and infielder Tyler Palmer (Thomas University).

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. Jake Kring-Schreifels and Jamal Collier are associate reporters for MLB.com.