Yankees use the 26th overall choice to acquire a towering pitcher with elite fight potential.
The New York Yankees made a calculated selection with their 26th overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, which took place on Sunday night, when they chose pitcher Ben Hess of the University of Alabama. The Yankees, who are renowned for their skill in the draft, have expanded their roster to include another exciting athlete.
Evaluating Hess’s Potential and Potential Improvement Areas Considering the Yankees
The Yankees are keen to develop right-hander Ben Hess, 21, as he has showed great promise. Hess, who stands 6’5′′ and weighs 255 pounds, has a commanding presence on the mound. He pitched 68.1 innings last season and recorded an amazing 106 strikeouts, but he also showed certain areas that needed improvement, like his high 5.80 ERA. During the previous season, he hit 13 home runs and 44 earned runs.
Yankees’ Strategy to Advance Hess
In the past, the Yanks have been successful in developing players with outstanding raw talent who may lack some control. Hess is a fantastic fit for this role because he combines the need for more precise command with a strong arm. Hess can be a valuable addition to the Major League Baseball team if the Yankees can improve his accuracy when pitching. The road ahead for Hess as he embarks on his career in professional baseball is surely difficult, but it is also paved with chances for improvement.
The Yankees’ vice president of domestic amateur scouting, Damon Oppenheimer, said in a release, “Ben checks off a lot of things for us.” “He satisfies our requirements for a possible elite Major League starter. Namely, he is a large, powerful right-hander with a fastball velocities of up to 97 [mph] and the ability to throw two breaking balls. With our player development program, we believe Ben still has more to give.
