NewsYanks' first pick takes BP at Stadium
Heathcott caps his amazing week that began with Draft
By Jared Diamond / MLB.com
06/16/09 7:42 PM ET
NEW YORK -- Slade Heathcott has had a week straight out of a fairy tale. |
On June 9, Heathcott was selected in the first round (29th overall) by the Yankees in the First-Year Player Draft. A couple days later, he led his Texas High School squad to the state championship.
And to wrap up what has been a stretch he will likely never forget, Heathcott was in uniform on the Yankee Stadium field Tuesday afternoon taking batting practice with players who one day could be his teammates and getting his first look at what could be his future home.
"I honestly believe I'm one of the luckiest kids in America right now," said Heathcott, an 18-year-old outfielder from Texarkana, Texas.
Heathcott, who had never been to New York before, arrived with area scout Mark Batchko around 1:30 p.m. ET and will be in town until Thursday, when his high school team will be honored for winning the state title.
Heathcott took several rounds of BP with the final group and demonstrated some of the power the Yankees hope he will one day bring to the table, driving several balls hard, including a few over the fence.
Afterward, Heathcott set up shop at a locker in the Yankee clubhouse next to future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera and giddily began calling everyone in his cell phone address book, just to tell them where he was and what he had just did.
"I guess at first," Heathcott said when asked if he was nervous taking batting practice with the Yankees. "After that I got kind of settled in, and it got kind of fun."
During his first session with the New York media outside the Yankees dugout, he likened himself to former Rangers' outfielder Rusty Greer, who hit .305 with 119 home runs over a nine-year Major League career with Texas.
Heathcott said he made the comparison because Greer was a left-handed outfielder with the reputation of hustling an diving -- the way he hopes to play one day.
"Not trying to sound conceited or anything, but I think I can get a lot better," Heathcott said. "And I think a lot of people would agree with me on that point.
The next step for Heathcott is signing and getting onto the field. Heathcott said he is fully recovered from left knee surgery he underwent in November and is ready to begin playing immediately when and if he signs.
Heathcott seemed excited about the possibility of beginning his professional career right away instead of college. However, he will attend Louisiana State University if he and the Yankees are unable to come to terms.
"I can either go to the best baseball school in America or go to the best baseball franchise in history," Heathcott said. "Hopefully something gets worked out soon, so I can get playing. I'm ready to get going either way it goes."
Jared Diamond is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
