MLB Draft 2021: Yankees select Tyler Hardman 153rd overall

Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports With their fifth round selection in the 2021 MLB Draft, the New York Yankees selected Tyler Hardman, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound first baseman from the University of Oklahoma. MLB.com had him ranked as the 194th-best prospect on their top-250 draft list, while Baseball America had him at No. 226.

The right-handed hitting Hardman is the reigning Big-12 batting champion after hitting .397/.481/.661 during the regular season. Scouts saw an advanced approach this season that made him one of the most skilled hitters in the Big-12. During the shutdown for the pandemic, Hardman lost 20 pounds and showed up for 2021 in much better shape than scouts had previously observed.…