The New York Yankees selected Alabama right-handed pitcher Ben Hess with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.
Hess was the No. 41 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. The 21-year-old posted a 5.80 ERA in 68.1 innings at Alabama during the 2024 season. He added 106 strikeouts and 35 walks with a 1.39 WHIP.
Hess offers some upside considering his mid-90s fastball that has touched 99 mph, but he's dealt with some injuries and command issues during his time in Tuscaloosa.
Here's a look at the scouting report on the Yankees' first-round pick in 2024:
Ben Hess MLB Draft scouting report
According to his MLB Pipeline scouting report, these were the grades given on his pitches on a 20-80 scale:
- Fastball: 60
- Curveball: 50
- Slider: 60
- Changeup: 50
- Control: 50
- Overall: 50
Here's what MLB Pipeline had to say about Hess in their scouting report:
"Hess' best offering is a four-seam fastball that sits at 92-96 mph and reaches 99 with run and carry up in the strike zone. His mid-80s slider with two-plane depth gives him a second plus offering and he can turn it into a shorter, harder cutter. He also can employ an average mid-70s curveball to give batters a different look but has lost faith in a fading mid-80s changeup that showed flashes of becoming a solid offering in the past.
Built along the lines of Lance Lynn at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Hess posted a 49/8 K/BB ratio in 36 1/3 innings as a sophomore before his walk rate nearly tripled this year. His strong frame and clean delivery should lend themselves to durability, but he repeatedly has had health issues that included a stress fracture in his back in high school and a flexor strain in 2023. He has the upside of a No. 2 starter but will need to throw more strikes to reach it."
Some are speculating that the Yankees are saving pool money with the No. 26 pick to go over the slot money at No. 53 overall.
Hess certainly seems like a prospect with a wide range of outcomes but also with some high upside if he can develop his command.
