The Yankees AAA affiliates, the Scanton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders possess some hot talent for the pinstripes organization. Most recently, outfielder Elijah Dunham has been the guy to watch. Dunham is ranked 17th of the Yankees top 30 prospects.
He was selected in the 40th round of the 2019 draft and opted out, where the 2020 COVID-19 five-round draft did not work in his favor. He went on to be a free agent and was later signed by the Yankees to a minor league deal.
Rewinding to Dunham’s pre-draft days, he spent his college career in the Big Ten Conference with Indiana University. Aside from his 48 RBIs, 88 hits, and .429 on base percentage, his collegiate numbers weren’t all that intriguing. Dunham’s big break came with a stint in the New England Collegiate League where he drove in 27 runs on 29 hits, six homeruns, and stole eight bags while putting up a .360 batting average and .408 on-base percentage. This increased the free agent stock value and showed his worth beyond the 40th draft round. Dunham has been on a rise throughout his Yankees career and just might be there in terms of readiness.
Yankees: player makeup, statistics and projection for 2023
Dunham is stands 5’11” at 213lbs with a stocky-athletic build and a strong frame. Dunham uses his entire body from the ground up to his hips and stays inside of the ball followed by phenomenal bat speed. His physical approach is synched with his mental approach and this is evident in his at-bats. His physical capabilities are masked by patience and is unleashed in the appropriate scenarios at the plate.
Dunham aims for hard contact always, with ability to use the entire field to his liking. His left handed profile is important to any lineup, especially with his ability to square up lefties and righties. Dunham has all around skill; his legs add value to his spot in the lineup. He is aggressive on the bases with intentions of stretching base hits into extras, as well as intentions to work the catchers. In 2022, Dunham snagged 37 bags in 44 attempts all while driving in 63 runs on 103 hits, 17 home runs, scoring 67 times with a solid .349 on base percentage.
In a short 40-at bat Venezuelan Winter League stint, Dunham put up 12 hits, seven RBIs, two stolen bags, and a .300 batting average. His feet play the role in the outfield with great range and good routes to the ball. Dunham shows his plate aggression comparable to Harrison Bader, and a comparable, more aggressive swing and approach to former Yankee Mark Teixeira. Dunham is expected to have a minimum of 30 stolen bags this season, 76 RBIs, 21-24 homeruns, and 73 RBIs. Elijah Dunham could be a key piece to promote shortly in the struggling Bronx.
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