NY YANKEES SELECT TY HENSLEY WITH THE 30TH PICK IN THE DRAFT

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The Yankees went back to high school on Monday, selecting righthander Ty Hensley with their first-round pick in the amateur draft.

Hensley, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound pitcher out of Santa Fe (Okla.) High School, was picked 30th overall.

“We’re excited to get a guy with such a high ceiling,” said Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees’ vice president of amateur scouting. “He has the ideal body for a high school pitcher, as well as power stuff, and has the ability to be a high-end starter. He’s demonstrated a quality makeup and has shown himself to be a hard worker, which makes him a quality pick for us.”

The selection of Hensley marks the fifth straight year the Yankees have taken a high school player with their first selection, though he is the first pitcher they have taken in the first round since they selected Gerrit Cole with the No. 28 pick in 2008. Cole did not sign and chose to attend UCLA before being drafted first overall by the Pirates last year.

Hensley, 18, went 10-0 with a 1.52 ERA in 11 games as a senior in 2012, striking out 111 in 55.1 innings pitched en route to being named the 2012 Gatorade Oklahoma “Baseball Player of the Year.”

Hensley was ranked by Baseball America as the 11th-best pitcher — and 23rd-best overall player — in this year’s draft. Hensley has committed to Ole Miss, but has said he’s open to signing in the right situation.

During a brief profile on MLB Network, Hensley threw out a couple of big-time names in trying to describe himself.

“I model my game after Roger Clemens with my mechanics, but I try to be like Roy Halladay by being efficient,” he said.
According to a scouting report on MLB.com, Hensley is described as “strong and durable” with a fastball “that’s a tick above average” at 91-92 mph, though he can throw as hard as 94 mph.

Hensley “has a hard curve with good downer rotation when he throws it right,” though his changeup is “below-average” and he doesn’t use it often.

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