Eric Yang

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #344 prospect in 2019 draft
  Yang ably handled UC Santa Barbara's talented pitching staff while hitting .383/.492/.567 to draw attention this spring. He led UCSB to its first conference title since 1986 and was named Big West Conference player of the year. Short but stout, Yang has a catcher's build and the skills and makeup teams want behind the dish. He is average receiver capable of handling velocity and quality breaking stuff. He thew out 10 of 19 basestealers during the regular season with an average arm, and he puts in the effort behind the plate pitchers love. As a hitter Yang controls the strike zone, puts the ball in play and started getting into his legs better to generate more power this spring. Yang lacks any above-average or plus tools, but his abilities to catch and handle the bat have teams interested.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #19 prospect in 2019
  Yang was named Big West Conference player of the year as the backbone of the UC Santa Barbara lineup. He had a good first pro season, hitting in the middle of Billings' batting order, and he was noted for being a good presence in the clubhouse. He worked well with the Mustangs' pitching staff, receiving well with good hands and an average arm that observers saw as plus at times. Yang needs to improve other facets of catching, such as blocking pitches, but he's athletic behind the plate with the aptitude to become a better defender. Yang controls the strike zone and finds ways to get on base, including getting hit by pitches 19 times this year. "He's an on-base junkie," Billings manager Bryan LaHair said. "He's got a knack to get on base . . . he battles every pitch." Yang has below-average power now, but the ball makes a different sound off his bat and he should develop more pop with experience.

• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Yang ably handled UC Santa Barbara's talented pitching staff while hitting .383/.492/.567 to draw attention this spring. He led UCSB to its first conference title since 1986 and was named Big West Conference player of the year. Short but stout, Yang has a catcher's build and the skills and makeup teams want behind the dish. He is average receiver capable of handling velocity and quality breaking stuff. He thew out 10 of 19 basestealers during the regular season with an average arm, and he puts in the effort behind the plate pitchers love. As a hitter Yang controls the strike zone, puts the ball in play and started getting into his legs better to generate more power this spring. Yang lacks any above-average or plus tools, but his abilities to catch and handle the bat have teams interested.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Yang was named Big West Conference player of the year as the backbone of the UC Santa Barbara lineup. He had a good first pro season, hitting in the middle of Billings' batting order, and he was noted for being a good presence in the clubhouse. He worked well with the Mustangs' pitching staff, receiving well with good hands and an average arm that observers saw as plus at times. Yang needs to improve other facets of catching, such as blocking pitches, but he's athletic behind the plate with the aptitude to become a better defender. Yang controls the strike zone and finds ways to get on base, including getting hit by pitches 19 times this year. "He's an on-base junkie," Billings manager Bryan LaHair said. "He's got a knack to get on base . . . he battles every pitch." Yang has below-average power now, but the ball makes a different sound off his bat and he should develop more pop with experience.