Slade Heathcott

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Yankees #18 prospect in 2016
  Heathcott's troubled past has been well documented. He's had issues with family and alcohol, and his career on the field has been marred by repeated injury. Non-tendered by the Yankees after the 2014 season, he was free to sign with any club. He chose to stay with the Yankees on the condition that he'd be allowed to use his preferred medical staff to help him recover from injuries. He made his major league debut in May 2015 but quickly strained his right quad and didn't resurface in the majors until September. As the Yankees battled down the stretch for a playoff spot, Heathcott hit a key home run to tie a game against the Rays. The scouting report on Heathcott is the same as ever. He's an above-average defender in center field, has an above-average arm, remains a plus runner and can spray the ball around the park with more than a little bit of power. He's the prototype grinder, too, and plays with an all-out style that has lent itself to his injurious past. The Yankees' crowded outfield makes it hard to see a big league role for Heathcott in 2016, so he'll head back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #2 prospect in 2014
  Littered with run-ins with alcohol, guns and family drama, Heathcott's past is well documented. He's not shy about the mistakes he's made, though, and has worked diligently to become a better man as he's grown up. More directly relevant is his extensive injury history. He's had surgeries on both shoulders, missed time in spring 2013 with patellar tendinitis, and sat out the last 40 games, including Double-A Trenton's postseason run, with the same issue. After the season, he had surgery on his right knee to repair the damage. With a max-effort playing style Heathcott at his best is a speedy slash-hitter who uses the whole field. He does have significant issues with plate discipline, especially when it comes to the recognition of breaking balls. He'd heated up (hitting .306 in July) before the knee problems cropped up in August. He's a plus defender in center field whose arm remains above-average, even after the operations. He's a better-than-average runner but needs to learn to better pick his spots when going for steals. The Yankees' signing of Jacoby Ellsbury means that Heathcott may have to move to right field to be a regular in New York. He'll have to stay healthy first. He could force way to Triple-A to begin 2014.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #2 prospect in 2013
  An alcohol problem and troubled home life helped drive Heathcott down draft boards in 2009, but New York took him 29th overall and signed him for $2.2 million. He sought treatment for his alcohol issues after the 2010 season. He has yet to accrue 300 at-bats in a single season thanks to a pair of left shoulder injuries that have required two surgeries. The second operation, on his labrum, kept him out until June in 2012, but he made his time count in high Class A and in the Arizona Fall League. Heathcott plays with explosive tools and effort. He's a consistent 70 runner with a strong frame who's developing above-average power. He has two more plus tools with his center-field defense and a throwing arm that's returning to close to full strength. Heathcott's future depends most on his bat. He gets too rotational, spins off pitches and doesn't keep his bat in the hitting zone long enough. His resulting choppy swing reduces his contact rate, but when he connects, he drives the ball. His all-out style has helped lead to injuries. He will head to Double-A in 2013 to work on his swing issues.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #10 prospect in 2012
  Heathcott had an alcohol problem and a troubled family life in high school, yet he also was a two-way star who overcame a football-related knee injury to lead Texas High (Texarkana, Texas) to a state 4-A championship as a senior in 2009. The Yankees selected him 29th overall that June and signed him for $2.2 million. He has sought treatment for his alcohol use, but his career has been slowed by two surgeries on his throwing shoulder. Heathcott reminds New York of Brett Gardner, with the potential to hit for more power if he can become more patient and work himself into more hitter's counts. His injuries have cost him development time needed to improve his pitch selection. He's an explosive athlete whose energy level ingratiates him to teammates, managers and scouts. Heathcott's best present tools are his plus-plus speed and his defense, as he plays center field like a free safety. He's still an unrefined basestealer and needs to tame his aggressiveness in several phases of the game. His second shoulder operation, to reattach part of his previously repaired labrum, likely will cost him some of his formerly above-average arm strength. Heathcott has gotten his life in order, and the Yankees consider his makeup a plus. He'll report to high Class A in 2012 and see if his shoulder can hold up to a full season of play.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #9 prospect in 2011
  While some clubs had concerns about Heathcott's health and makeup, the Yankees drafted him 29th overall in 2009 and signed him for $2.2 million. He started 2010 in extended spring training before heading in June to Charleston, where he impressed scouts and managers with his high-energy approach. He physically resembles Brett Gardner and has some similarities to New York's left fielder, but Heathcott should develop more power and has a stronger arm. He generates bat speed and has improved his swing path, but he doesn't have a lot of loft in his stroke. Some in the organization believe he injured his left shoulder trying too hard to adjust his swing to hit for power, and he required postseason surgery on the labrum in his left (throwing) shoulder, which the club considers minor. Like many young hitters, he needs to be more selective at the plate. Heathcott has plus speed and excellent range in center field, where he shows off a plus-plus arm. He was clocked at 94 mph as a high school pitcher. He's an aggressive fielder and runner who has decent instincts that should improve with experience. Thanks to his surgery, Heathcott may get a late start in 2011, but it's not a long-term concern. He should push his way to high Class A Tampa at some point during the year.
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  Ranked New York Yankees #4 prospect in 2010
  Heathcott was one of the few true five-tool players available in the 2009 draft, but knee and shoulder injuries limited him last spring and makeup concerns scared some clubs off him completely. The Yankees pounced on him and signed him for $2.2 million, the largest bonus they've ever given to a hitter or a high schooler out of the draft. Heathcott has strength and fast-twitch athleticism. He offers big raw power from the left side of the plate and the bat speed to catch up to quality fastballs. He's a plus-plus runner with a strong arm that delived 94-mph fastballs during his prep pitching career, and New York believes he can play center field. Heathcott will need at-bats to translate his tools into consistent performance. His all-out playing style has made him injury-prone, leading to November 2008 surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and a jammed throwing shoulder that limited him to DH for most of his senior season. His home life was unsettled and his immaturity has kept him off the field at times. The Yankees believe in Heathcott's talent and growing maturity, and he could become a superstar if he can stay on the field. He'll spend his first full pro season in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Florida State League #17 prospect in 2012
  Because of continual injuries and a pair of surgeries on his left shoulder, Heathcott never has played more than 76 games in a year. His 2012 season didn't start until mid-June and he made just 19 appearances in the outfield, but he still left quite an impression on FSL managers. "My favorite player in the league is Heathcott," Truby said. "He can flat-out play the game. He has great energy, he plays defense, he runs and he has power. He did it all against us. It's just a matter of staying on the field." Heathcott is loaded with tools, including above-average power and plus-plus speed, and he also showed a strong arm before his surgeries. He's an asset in center field and on the bases, though his all-out style of play may make if difficult for him to stay healthy consistently. He struggles to maintain his swing and keep it short, in part because of all the time he has missed.
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  Ranked Arizona Fall League #6 prospect in 2012
  A 2009 first-round selection, Heathcott displays impressive raw ability but has struggled to stay healthy. After his second shoulder surgery in the spring, the 22-year-old outfielder returned to High Class A Tampa, where he batted .307 with 17 stolen bases over 60 games. He continued to excel in the Fall League, finishing the season second in on-base percentage (.494) and slugging percentage (.612) and fourth in batting (.388). At the plate, Heathcott displays an aggressive approach and smooth lefthanded swing with above-average raw power. His plus speed makes him an extra-base hit machine, although he is still improving his stolen base ability. He can play anywhere in the outfield, showing excellent range and a plus arm, but needs to continue refining his routes, first step and the accuracy of this throws. Heathcott's intensity made him one of the most exciting players to watch this fall, and it showed itself in his laying out for flyballs, frequently taking the extra base and once even bulldozing the catcher. One evaluator considered him the league's top prospect.
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #18 prospect in 2010
  Regardless of how managers and scouts felt about Heathcott's talent, they all agreed on one thing: he plays the game hard. A throwback player who attracted comparisons to Lenny Dykstra and Brett Gardner, he combines strength, speed and fast-twitch athleticism. Heathcott's most impressive tool is his speed, though he currently lacks the instincts to make the most of it on the bases and in center field. He shows some patience and unrealized power potential at the plate, but his swing needs a lot of work. His bat doesn't stay in the hitting zone for long and he struck out 101 times in 298 at-bats. His arm strength is a plus. "I think he learned what kind of player he is this year," Mikulik said. "He needs a lot of polish, but there's a lot to work with there."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #63 prospect in 2013

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Heathcott has endeared himself to the Yankees by overcoming obstacle after obstacle. An alcohol problem and troubled home life helped drive him down draft boards in 2009, but New York took him 29th overall and signed him for $2.2 million. He sought treatment for his alcohol issues after the 2010 season. He has yet to accrue 300 at-bats in a single season thanks to a pair of left shoulder injuries that have required two surgeries. The second operation, on his labrum, kept him out until June in 2012, but he made his limited time count in high Class A. Scouting Report: Heathcott plays with explosive tools and effort. He's a consistent plus-plus runner with a strong frame who's developing above-average power. He has two more plus tools with his center-field defense and a throwing arm that's returning to close to full strength. Heathcott's future depends most on his bat. He gets too rotational, spins off pitches and doesn't keep his bat in the hitting zone long enough. His resulting choppy swing reduces his contact rate. His all-out style has helped lead to injuries. The Future: The Yankees love Heathcott's effort, energy and leadership skills. He will head to Double-A in 2013. If he fixes his swing issues, he still holds five-tool promise.
• August, 2012 Scouting Report
  A 2009 first-round selection, Heathcott displays impressive raw ability but has struggled to stay healthy. After his second shoulder surgery in the spring, the 22-year-old outfielder returned to High Class A Tampa, where he batted .307 with 17 stolen bases over 60 games. He continued to excel in the Fall League, finishing the season second in on-base percentage (.494) and slugging percentage (.612) and fourth in batting (.388). At the plate, Heathcott displays an aggressive approach and smooth lefthanded swing with above-average raw power. His plus speed makes him an extra-base hit machine, although he is still improving his stolen base ability. He can play anywhere in the outfield, showing excellent range and a plus arm, but needs to continue refining his routes, first step and the accuracy of this throws. Heathcott's intensity made him one of the most exciting players to watch this fall, and it showed itself in his laying out for flyballs, frequently taking the extra base and once even bulldozing the catcher. One evaluator considered him the league's top prospect.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Heathcott had alcohol issues and a troubled family life, yet he also was a two-sport prep star who overcame a football-related knee injury to lead Texas High to a state 4-A championship in 2009. The Yankees selected him 29th overall that June and signed him for $2.2 million. He has sought treatment for his alcohol use, but his career has been slowed by two surgeries on his throwing shoulder. Scouting Report: Heathcott reminds New York of Brett Gardner, with the potential to hit for more power if he can become more patient and work himself into more hitter's counts. His injuries have cost him development time needed to improve his pitch selection. He's an explosive athlete whose energy level ingratiates him to teammates, managers and scouts. Heathcott's best present tools are his plus-plus speed and his defense, as he plays center field like a free safety. He's still an unrefined basestealer and needs to tame his aggressiveness in several phases of the game. His second shoulder operation, to reattach part of his previously repaired labrum, likely will cost him some of his formerly above-average arm strength. The Future: As Heathcott has gotten his life in order, the Yankees see his makeup as a plus. He'll report to Tampa in 2012 and see if his shoulder can hold up over a full season.