Yankees add 2019 first-round pick to infield mix with latest waiver claim

In your latest unfortunate reminder that 2019 was actually kind of a long time ago, the New York Yankees have claimed the 21st overall pick from that year's draft off waivers on Wednesday morning.

Once a hot commodity with the Atlanta Braves, Braden Shewmake is now looking for a fresh start. Given the Yankees' infield depth chart, he'll certainly have as good a chance as any of finding one in Tampa this March.

Shewmake was initially selected directly between George Kirby of Seattle (great pick!) and Greg Jones of the Tampa Bay Rays (the jury is out). Nine picks later, the Yankees, thinking shortstop themselves, chose Anthony Volpe.

Now, they'll be able to directly compare the high school option they chose to one of that summer's top collegiate bats out of Texas A&M.

Yankees claim 2019 Braves first-round pick Braden Shewmake off waivers

Shewmake, who hasn't consistently connected since his first year in affiliated ball (.318 with 11 stolen bags with the Rome Braves), and was likely significantly affected by the COVID shutdown, will have plenty of opportunities as a camp body with the Yankees this spring.

Despite middling numbers, he eventually made his MLB debut with Atlanta, rising to the bigs on May 5, 2023 after being protected from the previous year's Rule 5 Draft. He only received four total MLB at-bats that season after he was edged out by Orlando Arcia for the Opening Day shortstop gig in Dansby Swanson's wake.

Shewmake was eventually flipped to the Chicago White Sox in one of last offseason's most bizarre trades; he was one of five players shipped to the South Side in exchange for lefty reliever Aaron Bummer. The package also included Jared Shuster, another previously acclaimed draft pick, as well as Nicky Lopez and fading star Michael Soroka (who had a nice year as a swingman and got paid by the Nationals).

Shewmake, DFA'd by the White Sox on Jan. 1, became Royals property for a few weeks before he was ultimately cut loose in Kansas City as well. Now, the Yankees will take their chance at uncovering what many thought the Aggie could become five long years ago.