NC State pitcher Andrew Brackman was selected No. 30 overall in the first round of the 2007 MLB Draft by New York, and analysts are saying he is a tremendous pick for the Yankees.
"In my mind, this is a tremendous pick for the Yankees," ESPN analyst Peter Gammons said on ESPN2 following the selection.
"A healthy Brackman I still think could have come all the way down to the Yankees because of his two-sport ability," said Baseball America Executive Editor Jim Callis. "Maybe the Yankees and maybe the Red Sox would have gone in on this one."
"When I saw him on the Cape last summer, [Brackman] was tremendous," said Scouts Inc.'s Keith Law. "He was deiscribed by one veteran scout next to me as Chris Young with better stuff.
"For the Yankees to grab a guy like this with the 30th pick is a tremendous pick. It's just a tremendous pick and a good use of their resources as well."
Brackman suffered an elbow injury that caused him to slip in the draft. As late as February he was projected by most as a top-five pick, but the recent injury caused concern among MLB teams.
Brackman finished his junior season with a 6-4 record and a 3.81 ERA.