The Yankees have reached an agreement to sign first-rounder Ian Clarkin for the No. 33 slot's full assigned value of $1,650,100, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The Yankees were awarded the No. 33 selection in the draft as compensation when closer Rafael Soriano signed with the Nationals as a free agent this offseason. Clarkin, a prep lefty out of San Diego, is advised by John Boggs & Associates. He will fly to Tampa today to take a physical for the Yankees.
Clarkin ranked 17th on Baseball America's list of Top 500 draft prospects. He was ranked 18th on Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com's Top 100 and ranked 43rd according to ESPN's Keith Law. BA wrote that Clarkin's fastball sits 90-92 mph but can touch 94, adding that he "flashes a plus downer curveball with sharp bite" and has an inconsistent changeup that could be an average pitch.
Clarkin is the second of the Yankees' three first-round picks to sign and the 15th first-rounder overall to come to terms. New York has already inked Notre Dame third baseman Eric Jagielo (No. 26 overall) for just over $1.8MM. Their third first-round selection, Fresno State outfielder Aaron Judge, has been offered full slot value as well but hasn't yet accepted the offer, according to Heyman.
Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer had high praise for Clarkin when speaking to Heyman: "He's a lefthanded pitcher with plus velocity and has a plus curveball. On top of that, he's a tireless worker. We think we got something special with him.''
