Korean star Robert Refsnyder, outfielder who was selected in the fifth round in the MLB Draft by the Yankees, is looking forward to starting his career in the Bombers organization

Robert Refsnyder was walking through a mall in Tucson, Ariz., with his girlfriend when the phone rang and a voice emerged:

“How would you like to be a Yankee?” a scout asked the University of Arizona outfielder. The answer was obvious.

Selected by the Yankees in the fifth round of this month’s MLB First-Year Player Draft, Refsnyder is eagerly anticipating his first visit to New York City, but the junior will have to wait until the Wildcats leave Nebraska, currently gunning for a national championship at the College World Series.

“I’m really looking forward to getting started, but we’ve got some unfinished business here,” said Refsnyder, who has helped Arizona win its first two games, batting 3-for-10 with two RBIs. “I’m really excited. To be drafted by the Yankees, there’s such a culture and tradition. This is what you dream about when you’re a little kid.”

Born in South Korea, but adopted when he was three months old and raised in southern California, Refsnyder, who wears No. 2 because of Derek Jeter, has batted .339 in three seasons at Arizona, peaking at .352 this year, with a team-high six home runs and 63 RBIs, along with 12 stolen bases.  A right-handed hitter, Refsnyder leads the team with 29 extra-base hits and is batting .411 with runners in scoring position, while recording 31 walks and 24 strikeouts.

“He’s always been a good hitter, a guy who’s got good plate discipline and can hit all over field,” said Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees vice president of amateur scouting. “The combination of the simpleness of his swing, along with his approach and the plate coverage he brings, should translate into him being a quality hitter at the next level. All the indicators say that’s what should happen.”

Arizona coach Andy Lopez has been more impressed every season.  “I love our club, but the one guy that really has an aptitude to hit is Refsnyder,” said Lopez, one of only three coaches to lead three different schools to the College World Series. “His leadership skills are marvelous. He’s a great young man. I’ll miss a lot of these juniors, but I’ll miss him especially.”

Refsnyder will begin his professional career this summer playing for the Staten Island Yankees in Short-Season A-ball and will then head to extended spring training. There, Refsnyder, who is an outfielder for Arizona, will begin work as a second baseman, what the Yankees drafted him as, because the team is unsure if his power will translate to the next level.

Snyder played 10 games at second base during his freshman season and Lopez assured Oppenheimer that Refsynder would make a smooth transition back to the infield.  “That gives us a little flexibility, gives him another opportunity and another way to get to the big leagues,” Oppenheimer said. “I think he’s a good defender out there in the corner, but anytime you got a guy on the infield who’s offensive it just gives him that much more value.”

Refsnyder might lack some infield experience and may lack some power, but he doesn’t lack confidence.  “I’ve only been playing baseball year-round for three years,” said Refsnyder, who played basketball and football in high school and was recruited by a few Pac-12 schools as a quarterback. “I’m pretty versatile and I’m pretty comfortable in the infield. … I’m not worried about power at all. The stadium I play at is 360 [feet] down the lines. Honestly, I’m just excited to get in the system and show the coaches what I’m capable of.”

via Robert Refsnyder, Arizona outfielder who was selected in the fifth round in the MLB Draft by the Yankees, is looking forward to starting his career in the Bombers organization – NYPOST.com.