2024 draft: Yankees pick six more arms, including a flame-throwing reliever

In a strategic maneuver, the New York Yankees concentrated solely on pitching talent in the initial rounds of the 2024 MLB Draft. The team picked seven consecutive pitchers, all from elite college programs in the SEC or ACC conferences.

These prospects share more than just their collegiate backgrounds. Each pitcher has honed their skills in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League, a summer showcase for top amateur talent. Additionally, the Yankees emphasized size on the mound, with the draftees standing between 6 feet and an imposing 6-foot-5.

The New York Yankees have strategically pivoted in the 2024 MLB Draft, selecting a string of collegiate pitchers to rejuvenate their farm system. This move comes after trading away several top pitching prospects in recent years, depleting their organizational depth.

The Yankees’ focus on experienced arms from premier college programs signals a push for MLB-ready talent. This strategy may also provide flexibility for further trades as the July 30 deadline approaches, allowing the team to leverage their bolstered pitching stock to acquire impact players.

Among the draftees, fifth-round pick Greysen Carter from Vanderbilt University stands out with his blistering fastball. The right-hander’s heater typically ranges from 96 to 99 mph, with a peak velocity of 103 mph recorded this past season.

While Carter’s raw power is evident, scouts note that refining his command and developing secondary pitches will be crucial for his professional success. The Yankees’ player development staff will likely prioritize these areas as they work to harness Carter’s exceptional velocity.

Colorado-born Greysen Carter, selected by the Yankees in the fifth round, brings a mix of potential and challenges. Despite his powerful arm, his collegiate career at Vanderbilt was marked by control issues. Over three seasons, Carter posted a 5.62 ERA with 67 strikeouts and 69 walks in 73 2/3 innings.

His final season saw a 6.58 ERA with 31 walks in 39 2/3 innings, primarily in relief roles. At 6-foot-4 and 237 pounds, the 21-year-old’s future likely lies in the bullpen.

MLB.com ranked Carter as the No. 226 draft prospect for 2024, highlighting his exceptional velocity but noting the need for improved command and secondary pitches to succeed at the professional level. Here’s their full scouting report on the hard-throwing righty:

Greysen Carter, a Colorado native, caught attention with his mid-90s fastball as a high school prospect but went undrafted in 2021 due to a lack of polish and his commitment to Vanderbilt. After walking 10 batters in just 5 1/3 innings as a freshman, Carter was briefly cut from the Commodores’ roster. He returned as a swingman last spring, showcasing immense potential but struggling with control. This season, he recorded a 6.58 ERA and issued 31 walks in 39 2/3 innings.

Carter stands out for his exceptional velocity, routinely throwing 96-99 mph and topping out at 103 mph. His fastball, delivered from a high arm slot, is explosive when elevated in the zone. However, his command remains a concern. He has difficulty spinning and locating his breaking pitches, with a low-80s curveball that is marginally more reliable than his mid-80s slider. His mid-80s changeup shows potential but is inconsistent, occasionally displaying effective drop at the plate.

Physically strong and athletic at 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, Carter has the raw power but often has to dial back his velocity to find the strike zone. Inconsistent mechanics have hindered his development, and despite promising improvements in control during fall ball, he regressed in the spring. Given his struggles as a starter, scouts project Carter as a reliever in professional baseball. The Yankees’ development staff will aim to refine his control and harness his formidable potential.

Yankees pick more pitchers

The New York Yankees are reinforcing their pitching-focused draft strategy by selecting five additional collegiate pitchers on the second day of the 2024 MLB Draft. After choosing two high-potential pitchers in the first two rounds on Sunday, the Yankees maintained their mound-centric approach on Monday.

In the third round, the Bronx Bombers picked right-hander Thatcher Hurd from LSU. They followed up by selecting Miami’s Gage Ziehl in the fourth round. Vanderbilt’s Greysen Carter was their choice in the fifth round, while LSU’s lefty Griffin Herring and Virginia Tech’s right-hander Wyatt Parliament were their picks in the sixth and seventh rounds, respectively.

The New York Yankees continued their pitching-focused strategy in the 2024 MLB Draft, adding five more arms to their growing collection of mound talent. These selections join first-round pick Ben Hess, a right-hander from Alabama, and second-round choice Bryce Cunningham, a righty from Vanderbilt.

The Yankees’ first position player didn’t come until the eighth round, when they selected Tyler Wilson, a first baseman from Grand Canyon University. This pitcher-heavy approach seems to be a deliberate effort to replenish the organization’s pitching depth, which has been depleted in recent years due to trades aimed at strengthening the major league roster.

Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees’ Vice President of Domestic Amateur Scouting, provided insights on the team’s Day 1 picks, emphasizing the potential impact of Hess and Cunningham on the franchise’s future.

Here are scouting reports on some of the Yankees’ Day 2 picks that were ranked among MLB.com’s top 250 draft prospects:

Thatcher Hurd, MLB prospect rank 114

Thatcher Hurd began his high school career as a catcher but transitioned to pitching, making him a top prospect for the 2021 Draft. Opting to attend UCLA instead, Hurd showcased his talent until a stress fracture in his back sidelined him for the last two months of his freshman season. He then transferred to Louisiana State University. Despite control issues in 2023, he secured victories in crucial College World Series games against Wake Forest and Florida. Initially projected as a possible first-round pick for 2024, his control and command problems affected his draft standing.

Hurd features a strong fastball/slider combination, even during struggles. His fastball clocks in at 93-96 mph, peaking at 98 mph, with significant movement. His high-spin slider ranges from 84-86 mph and can reach 91 mph, exhibiting substantial horizontal and vertical break.

To counter left-handers, Hurd employs a 78-82 mph curveball rather than an overly firm upper-80s changeup, though both secondary pitches need improvement. His athleticism and quick arm suggest he has the potential for average control, which could secure him a spot in the front half of a major league rotation. However, some scouts believe his persistent control issues may relegate him to the bullpen, where his fastball and slider could thrive in shorter appearances.

Gage Ziehl, MLB prospects rank 89

After starting his Miami career as a freshman reliever, Gage Ziehl transitioned to the Friday night starter role as a sophomore in 2023. Following a rough season start, he shifted to Saturday starts but emerged as one of the Hurricanes’ most reliable pitchers, posting a 3.26 ERA over his last 13 games. Now reinstated as the No. 1 starter this year, Ziehl overcame early struggles on Opening Day to solidify his position in the rotation, earning consideration as a top-three-round draft pick.

The 6-foot right-hander features a trio of solid pitches and can maintain his effectiveness deep into games. His fastball averages around 93 mph, reaching up to 95 mph as a starter, and he hit 97 mph as a freshman reliever. Ziehl has transitioned from relying on a sinking fastball to utilizing higher spin four-seamers up in the zone, effectively moving the pitch around. His standout offering is a mid-80s cutter-like slider, complemented by a changeup that is particularly effective against left-handed batters.

Despite his relatively modest height, Ziehl is compact and strong at 223 pounds. He consistently repeats his delivery and has a proven track record of throwing strikes. Scouts praise his mental makeup and toughness, noting his desire to pitch in critical situations and lead the staff. While some scouts project him as a setup reliever, where his stuff could play up, others believe he has the potential to remain a starter in a major league rotation.

Greysen Carter, MLB prospects rank 228

Carter showcased his fastball in the mid-90s during his high school days in Colorado, but his raw talent and commitment to Vanderbilt left him undrafted in 2021. After walking 10 batters in just 5 1/3 innings as a freshman, the Commodores briefly cut him. He returned to the team as a swingman last spring. Despite having the best stuff on the pitching staff, he struggled with control, finishing the season with a 6.58 ERA and 31 walks over 39 2/3 innings.

Carter possesses exceptional velocity, operating between 96-99 mph and even hitting 103 mph, thanks to a flat approach angle from his high arm slot. However, he has struggled with his breaking pitches, with a low-80s curveball that is only marginally more reliable than his mid-80s slider. His mid-80s changeup also lacks consistency but can be effective when executed properly.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 241 pounds, Carter is strong and athletic. However, his tendency to dial back his velocity in search of command has hindered his development. He has faced challenges maintaining consistent mechanics and saw a decline in performance this spring after showing promise with his control in the fall. Given his difficulties as a starter, he is expected to transition to a relief role in professional baseball.

Griffin Herring, MLB prospects rank 157

As a freshman, Griffin Herring played a crucial role in Louisiana State’s 2023 national championship run, logging 4 2/3 innings in relief to secure a win in the College World Series semifinals. This spring, he has emerged as the Tigers’ top bullpen option as a draft-eligible sophomore, proving too valuable to be considered for a starting position. Scouts see the potential for him to thrive as a starter in professional baseball.

Herring’s standout pitch is a sweeping mid-80s slider, known for its horizontal and vertical movement, making it effective against both left- and right-handed hitters. His fastball typically ranges from 91-92 mph, peaking at 94 mph with some armside run, though it lacks the velocity to overpower batters. Given his 6-foot-2 frame, there is potential for added strength that could increase his speed.

While Herring’s delivery is somewhat unrefined and his arm action lengthy, he has made notable strides in his strike-throwing ability during his second college season. For him to succeed as a starter, he must improve his control of a changeup that he rarely utilizes. However, his effective slider and competitive nature could position him for a high-leverage role in a major league bullpen.

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