In the 2024 MLB Draft, the New York Yankees heavily favored college pitchers, selecting 13 out of their 20 picks from this category, including their first seven selections. Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer explained that this focus on pitchers was a result of how the draft unfolded this year.
The Yankees’ pitching-centric approach began with their first-round pick, Ben Hess from the University of Alabama, followed by Vanderbilt’s Bryce Cunningham at 53rd overall. Oppenheimer noted that throughout the draft, they saw opportunities to acquire power arms and continued to pursue that strategy.
“Obviously, we’ve used some pitching talent as currency to get other players, so that is always in the back of your mind and it’s just the way things fell this year,’’ he said. “Just throughout the whole draft, it seemed like we had a chance at some power arms,’’ Oppenheimer said. “So, we just kept plugging away with those.’’
However, he also admitted that the Yankees could have chosen position players early on, the draft simply didn’t unfold that way this year.
“It really could have been a couple of position players at the beginning, it just didn’t fall that way.’’
Initially, the Yankees held the 16th pick, but it was pushed back 10 spots due to luxury tax penalties. Despite MLB Pipeline ranking Ben Hess 44th among the top 100 prospects, the Yankees’ front office clearly saw untapped potential that their minor league coaching staff could cultivate.
Out of their 20 selections, 19 were college players, with only one high school player, outfielder Cole Royer, chosen in the 20th round. Oppenheimer acknowledged that the team’s recent trades for players like Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo, which cost them several young pitchers, influenced their draft strategy.
Yankees scouting head rebuts Ben Hess criticism
The New York Yankees surprised many on the opening day of the 2024 MLB Draft by selecting right-handed pitcher Ben Hess as their first-round pick, 26th overall. This selection was unexpected, as Hess was projected to be chosen later in the draft.
At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, Hess boasts an impressive arsenal, featuring a mid-90s fastball that can touch 99 mph, complemented by a slider, curveball, and changeup. His strikeout prowess was evident when he set the Alabama single-season record for K/9 (14.0) in 2024. However, his final season ERA of 5.80 was a step back from his 3.22 ERA in seven starts in 2023.
Edward Sutelan of Sporting News gave the selection a C grade, noting the surprise of Hess’s first-round selection. Sutelan acknowledged Hess’s upside with his velocity and slider but also highlighted concerns about his injury history and control issues. He suggested that while Hess’s large frame and powerful repertoire offer more potential than typical college arms, they also come with increased risk.
Fan reaction was mixed, with many questioning the choice given the availability of highly-rated position players. Social media buzzed with discontent over the selection.
Despite the skepticism, the 21-year-old Hess has the potential to silence his critics and become a standout pitcher for the Yankees. His ability to stay healthy throughout the 2024 season, following injury-plagued early college years, is encouraging. Furthermore, the Yankees’ strong track record of pitcher development under pitching coach Matt Blake could prove beneficial for Hess’s future in the Bronx.
Regarding their first-round pick, Hess, Oppenheimer revealed that the Yankees had been scouting him for a considerable time. He praised Hess’s three-pitch arsenal, which includes a fastball reaching 98 mph, a plus curveball, a slider, and an improving changeup.
“We’ve been scouting Ben for quite some time. When he’s been really good, it’s been three pitches that are just dynamite – fastball up to 98 (mph), a now-plus curveball, a now-slider, and a changeup that’s developed at times to where it’s above average.’’
Despite Hess’ impressive strikeout numbers (106 in 68.1 innings), his junior season saw an increase in control issues and a high 5.80 ERA. Oppenheimer confirmed that Hess’s recent medical evaluation was positive, despite a history that includes a flexor strain in 2023.
Oppenheimer expressed confidence in the Yankees’ pitching development staff and their advanced equipment in Tampa, suggesting they could enhance these pitchers’ abilities and accelerate their path to the majors. He emphasized that these types of prospects are favored by the player development team.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Well, they can’t develop hitting prospects, and they do enough to make all sorts of guys pitching prospects. Too bad they’d rather draft due to their developmental team, instead of drafting the right guys and changing out the developmental team.👎☹️🤬
Draft picks are a crapshoot. In 1991, the Yankees had the #1 overall pick & chose a kid, Brien Taylor, who virtually everyone felt would be an excellent MLB pitcher. Unfortunately, he sustained an off-the-field injury (in a fight) that rob him of his imposing fastball, and he never was the same pitcher again & never made it to the majors.
I disagree somewhat with AlanFromQueens about the Yankees’ mixed record of developing hitters. Their biggest problem is that they’re AWFUL about giving young players the time typically required to adjust to MLB-quality pitching.
For example, Cabrera was making great strides as a hitter early this year, once he got Regular ABs, but then they demoted him back to a utility role when DJ came back from the IL, and DJ has (sadly) been pretty bad. Cabrera showed promise of developing further, but the Yankees (as usual) failed to give the kid everyday ABs to reach whatever his ceiling is.
Rob Refsnyder is a glaring example of the same sort of problem. I saw him play numerous times in AA (Trenton), and there was ZERO doubt in my mind about his bat being of MLB quality, and he’s turned out to be a really nice multi-position player for the RED SOX (damn it!), instead of the Yankees, who only gave him 232 ABs over 3 SEASONS to develop as a major league hitter.
Brainless Brian Cashman & Boone have screwed up multiple prospects — such as Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza, and Everson Pereira — by promoting them and then not giving them the time required for them to adjust to MLB-quality pitching.
In Everson Pereira’s case, Cashman’s Mishandling on his development verged on being Criminal. Pereira was thrown into the HIDEOUS MLB roster that Cashman created in 2023 after JUST 35 Games at the AAA level, when he was only 22. ONLY A MORON LIKE CASHMAN would throw a kid into the majors BEFORE he had even mastered AAA pitching! So, Pereira, who was a Damn Good Prospect, unsurprisingly hit only .151 in the majors because he NEVER should have been promoted that early in his development. Great job, Cashman, You MORON!
Volpe was only given time to develop at the MLB level out of Desperation on Cashman’s part because the Yankees didn’t have anyone else to play at SS, other than another rookie in Oswald Peraza. CASHMAN’S MALFEASANCE is the only reason Volpe was given regular ABs in 2023, and his .215 average in 2023 showed that he really wasn’t ready to be a productive hitter at the MLB level because VOLPE ONLY HAD 22 GAMES at AAA (!) when he was made the regular SS because of Cashman’s INCOMPETENCE in constructing MLB rosters.
Cashman’s record as a GM is HIDEOUS. He’s GROSLY INCOMPETENT, but Hal foolishly allows him to stay on as GM & screw up royally on trades & destroy the futures of innumerable prospects.
In Cashman’s defense, some people say it’s hard to win championships. Correct, except . . .
The Dodgers have similar, but LESSER Financial Resources Than the Yankees, yet since 2013, the Dodgers have WON:
* 10 (Ten!) Division Titles
* 3 NL Pennants, and
* 1 World Series Championship.
And here’s how The Boy Disingenuous, Brian Cashman, has fared in that same time, WITH MORE RESOURCES:
* 2 Division Titles (which is 2 LESS than the Red Sox’s 4 titles)
* ZERO AL Pennants, and
* ZERO World Series Championship.
So, since the Yankees have similar, if not far better financial resources than the Dodgers, why have the Dodgers been FAR MORE SUCCESSFUL the past 10 years?
ANSWER: the Dodgers aren’t shackled with a MORON named Brian Cashman as their GM.