The Yankees have signed 18 of their 20 selections from the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, including their first-round selection (26th overall) RHP Ben Hess.
Hess, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound right-handed pitcher, went 5-5 with a 5.80 ERA (68.1IP, 60H, 47R/44ER, 35BB, 106K, 13HR) in 15 starts this past season for the University of Alabama as a junior. His team-leading 106K were the fifth-most in a single season in school history and marked the eighth-most in the SEC in 2024. Over three seasons with the Crimson Tide (2022-24), Hess went 12-6 with a 4.81 ERA (138.1IP, 111H, 84R/74ER, 62BB, 205K, 26HR) in 33 career games (30 starts). He also compiled a 13.34 K/9.0IP ratio over his three seasons at Alabama, the highest mark in school history.
Hess was only the fifth player from the University of Alabama to be drafted in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft, joining Joe Vitiello (seventh overall in 1991 by the Kansas City Royals), Jeremy Brown (35th overall in 2002 by the Oakland Athletics), Taylor Tankersley (27th overall in 2004 by the Florida Marlins) and Tommy Hunter (54th overall in 2007 by the Texas Rangers).
The Charleston, Ill., native was ranked as the No. 38 overall prospect by Baseball America and No. 44 by MLB Pipeline.
