2008 Draft, Rd7, #230, Kyle Higashioka

Born: 20/04/1990
Height: 6′1″ Weight: 190 lbs
Position: C
Bats: R Throws: R
Transactions: Selected in 7th round (230th overall) of 2008 draft out of Edison High School.

Video
MLB Scouting Video
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w_id=702173&w=/2008/open/draft/broll/br_higashioka_kyle_400.wmv&mid=200805302799607&pid=gen_video&vid=11071&cid=mlb&v=2&bypass=true

Photo
http://milb.scout.com/PictureGallery.aspx?PlayerId=117194&Title=Kyle%20Higashioka

The Pinstripe Press
http://nyyankeesnews.blogspot.com/2008/06/c-kyle-higashioka-eidson-california-hs.html
With their seventh-round pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, the New York Yankees selected high school backstop Kyle Higashioka. A high energy catcher who has signed a letter of intent with the University of California, Higashioka batted .558 with seven homers and 25 RBIs this season.

Southern California Yankees scout Dave Keith thinks highly of Higashioka’s physical tools and personality. “Kyle can really swing the bat,” Keith told yankees.com. “He has intelligence behind the plate. He’s got the whole package.”

Higashioka caught New York’s first-round selection, RHP Gerrit Cole for the Yankees’ scout team last fall. The outing impressed Keith: “To see him handle Gerrit, and the movement Gerrit has with his slider, the changeup – I never saw a clanked ball.”

A very aggressive hitter with a simple approach and power potential, Higashioka is a dangerous, projectile hitter. Defensively, he has quick feet and a quick release. He plays hard and with passion. At times, his swing can get long.

Although he hasn’t decided where he will start his post-prep career, Higashioka was in the Yankee Stadium clubhouse Wednesday (6/19) as the Bombers made their sales pitch. He was given a temporary lock between Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte.

NYCurve.com
http://www.nycurve.com/2008-draft-picks-john-rye-kyle-higashioka-william-mitchell
Kyle Higashioka, a catcher from Edison High School in Huntington Beach California was selected by the Yankees as the 30th pick and the 230rd overall pick in the draft.
Kyle stands at 6’1, and weighs 180lbs, and has been a catcher his entire baseball career. His best attribute is of course his defensive prowess behind the plate, but he also seems to have potential to become a power hitting catcher. Some say Kyle reminds them of Victor Martinez. The Yankees would love to get a young catcher like that.
Higashioka, and his agent have told the Yankees they will need to sign him for $500,000 for him to pass up his opportunity to play collegiate ball for the Golden Bears of the University of California.

Perfect Game (by Allan Simpson)
SCOUTING REPORT: It may play into Higashioka’s hand that high school catching in California this season is in short supply—with the notable exception of Patriot High’s Kyle Skipworth, almost a cinch first-rounder. Higashioka could be selected in the top 10-15 rounds on the scarcity of catching alone, but his tools may not profile being drafted that early and he may be a signability risk if not selected in the top 3-4 rounds as he is a top student academically and heavily committed to college at California. A high-energy player, his only above-average present tool is his arm, and he generates sub-2.0 pop times more with a quick release than with pure arm strength. Area scouts compared him to former Cal State Fullerton catcher Kurt Suzuki, now with the Oakland A’s, but he lacks Suzuki’s quickness and athleticism behind the plate. Higashioka has an aggressive approach at the plate with modest power potential, but his swing tends to get a little long at times. He struggled to catch up to even average fastballs