Drafted in the 8th round (239th overall) by the Los Angeles Angels in 2014 (signed for $150,000).
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Organization Prospect Rankings
The Angels have raved about Yacinich's potential since making the 2014 all-Big Ten Conference shortstop an eighth-round pick. The only problem is that the Iowa product hasn't been able to stay on the field consistently. Yacinich was limited to six games in his first pro summer after a broken foot sidelined him, and then he played in 82 games in his first full season due to a shoulder problem. Standing out for his leadership skills and baseball instincts, Yacinich ranks as one of the organization's best defensive infielders. A solid-average defender with at least an above-average arm, he stands out for his smooth actions and how well his hands and feet work. At the plate he grinds out good at-bats and uses the opposite field well, but needs to learn to pull the ball better. He doesn't have a lot of power, so he'll need to use his smarts to do all the little things well. Yacinich has average speed with the instincts to steal a base or two. He'll move up to the high Class A California League in 2016, with the hope that he can stay healthy all season.
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