The Yankees signed first round pick Cito Culver, according to the team. Marc Carig of the Star Ledger reports (via Twitter) that the deal is worth $954K. Culver, a high school shortstop, placed 168th among the draft-eligible prospects that Baseball America ranked, so his selection in the first round was a surprise. But Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer told fans at MLB.com that the Yankees couldn't pass Culver up.
"He has great tools, makeup and performs," Oppenheimer said. "He's a great shortstop and can hit."
The Yankees aren't the only ones who consider Culver a skilled defender. Baseball America says the shortstop has "all the tools to play shortstop in pro ball, including a 65 arm on the 20-80 scale." Culver is the eighth first rounder to agree to a deal. Click here for the complete, updated list of which first and supplemental rounders have signed.
Culver lists Derek Jeter as one of his favorite players and the Yankees as his favorite team on his high school bio page. Culver and C.J. Henry are the two high school shortstops the Yankees have drafted in the first round since they selected Jeter in 1992.
