Yankees draft shortstop prospect Culver 32nd

BALTIMORE - Derek Jeter has to retire eventually. So the Yankees added Cito Culver to their mix of possible replacements - albeit as a significant long shot - by taking the strong-armed high school shortstop last night with the final pick of the first round of MLB's first-year player draft.

"We were able to draft a very athletic kid who can play a good shortstop," vice president of amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer said. "He has a plus arm, is a solid runner and is an excellent hitter. He's a player we are happy to have. It was an easy decision for us."

On his high school bio page, according to a release by the Yankees, Culver lists his favorite baseball team as the Yankees and listed Jeter as one of his favorite baseball players.

Taking Culver with the 32nd overall pick was the start of the process of restocking a farm system that took a few hits last offseason with the acquisitions of Javier Vazquez and Curtis Granderson. The Yankees' next pick will take place Tuesday in the second round; they have the 82nd selection overall.

The 6-2, 175-pound Culver, from West Irondequoit High School in Rochester, is a switch hitter who was projected to go between the fourth and sixth rounds by Baseball America. He's committed to play at the University of Maryland.

Culver rated out as an average hitter, but what got scouts' attention was his arm, one that reportedly could hit 94 mph on the radar gun.

However, according to Baseball America, which had Culver rated No. 168 overall, he "has no interest in pitching."

Culver, who also played basketball in high school, showed exceptional range, but in terms of consistency, his fielding ability has been questioned.

The Yankees' farm system, which has steadily gotten deeper in recent years with general manager Brian Cashman loath to deal away top prospects, lost pitching prospects Arodys Vizcaino and Mike Dunn in the Vazquez deal and Austin Jackson and Ian Kennedy in the three-team deal that landed Granderson in New York.