Former All-Star Nick Swisher reacts as Yankees nabs RHP Ben Hess at no. 26 in MLB Draft 2024
Ben Hess, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Alabama, became the first draft pick of the New York Yankees and the 26th overall in the first round on Sunday. Ranked 44th by MLB Pipeline, Hess is now set to turn pro in baseball under the experienced management of the Bronx Bombers.
Nick Swisher, the Yankees’ special advisor, welcomed Hess to the New York club with a congratulatory message on Instagram.
“Congrats my man!! Welcome!!!,” Swisher wrote on his story.
According to MLB.com, Hess has a 4.81 college career ERA in 33 games (12-6), 30 of which he started. He’s also the first pitcher since Clarke Schmidt in 2017 to be drafted as the Yankees’ top pick.
Despite his frequent injuries, including a right flexor strain that limited him to seven games last year, the Yankees showed their confidence in young Hess by calling his name early in the first day.
Bryce Cunningham, another RHP from Vanderbilt University, was the 53rd overall pick and the only other candidate joining Hess in the Yankees’ first-round drafting.
Yankees scouting head has lots of hope for Ben Hess
Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees' vice president of domestic amateur scouting, expressed high hopes for their newly selected candidate, Ben Hess.
“Ben checks off a lot of things for us,” Oppenheimer said, per MLB.com. “He fits what we are looking for in a potential top-of-the-line Major League starter."
"Specifically, he’s a big, power right-hander that can throw two breaking balls and can reach up to 97 [mph]. We think there is even more to come from Ben with our player development program.”
Tennessee coach Tony Vitiello also his insights on young prospect’s future with the Yankees.
“We saw him early in the year, and the stuff was dynamite at times,” Vitiello said (via MLB.com). “I think what they’re looking for here is a big, physical starting pitcher, and a guy that’s not afraid to compete.”
Draft Day 2 commences on Monday, with eight more rounds to go, starting at 2 p.m. ET live on MLB.com.