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Post by inger on Jul 15, 2024 7:33:07 GMT -5
Yay! A whole bunch of people we know nothing about have jumped into the pool. Most are going to fail miserably because that’s what most prospects do. But most likely that a few are bright and shiny stars…
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Post by rizzuto on Jul 15, 2024 7:54:19 GMT -5
Unless there is a Paul Skenes available, the MLB draft is the crapshoot of all crapshoots.
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Post by 1955nyyfan on Jul 15, 2024 8:14:18 GMT -5
For what it's worth, Fangrpahs agrees that Hess (righty, 6-5, 255) is a likely reach; they had him at #58 on their pre-draft board, with this report:
"Three-year starter at 'Bama but limited to just 30 career starts due to injuries. Posted a 5.80 ERA as a junior because of elevated walk rates. Walks were under control as a soph but not in his other two seasons. Softer-bodied guy but fairly athletic, especially for his size. Up to 98 in 2024, average 94 across the entire season, was up (94-96) for SEC tournament game versus LSU and then down (92-94) for his final two starts. Plus extension, arm is usually in perfect position at foot strike, rise/run fastball shape. Monster mid-70s curveball that generated a miss rate north of 50% in 2024. Distinct mid-80s slider. Lacks feel for breaking ball release and scatters location, especially as far as the slider is concerned. Hess is a durable looking starter prospect who might throw more strikes with improved conditioning." However, Fangraphs likes Bryce Cunningham (righty, 6-5, 230) better, having him ranked higher than Hess, at #47, so...not a reach. Maybe. The report there:" Cunningham split time between starting and relieving as an underclassman before rooting into Vandy's weekend rotation as a junior. He nearly doubled his career high in innings pitched, but still held 93-95 mph fastball velocity all season. Cunningham's career ERA is a shade under 5.00, but his stuff is good, he has an athletic delivery, and pro teams might be able to tweak the things he isn't great at. He has a strapping 6-foot-5 frame, and he's an athletic mover who strides somewhat open as he pedals home. He throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a 1:00 spin axis, and he might benefit from supination on release to create more carry on his fastball. A short, blunt, below-average mid-80s slider was his most used secondary in 2024, but a high-spin, mid-80s changeup is Cunningham's best pitch. His strike-throwing was a little less consistent late in the year but that's to be expected considering Cuningham's workload. He needs breaking ball augmentation but has realistic no. 4 starter upside if a team can help with that." Well, "realistic #4 starter upside" doesn't sound very exciting, but all the pitchers who have higher projectable upside (at this point) have already been taken. One of the analysts on the draft show said he liked both picks. He said while both were inconsistent and underperformed in college they both had periods where they were unhittable. I don't follow the MLB draft that closely but I get the impression the Yankees often take guys with high ceilings but low floors in early rounds. Maybe partially the reason we have not consistently developed a lot of home grown talent, swingng for fences but striking out alot. Just a theory on my part but as I said, don't follow this suff that closely.
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Post by desousa on Jul 15, 2024 12:00:56 GMT -5
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Post by Max on Jul 15, 2024 12:55:28 GMT -5
Yankees pick Alabama right hander Ben Hess. A guy on ESPN was comparing him to Chase Hampton. They Passed over power hitting 3B Tommy White. The Yankees traded a lot of pitching depth, and who knows, they might trade even more this season.
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Post by fwclipper51 on Jul 15, 2024 14:53:05 GMT -5
Yankees draft Alabama righty Hess with No. 26 pick New York also selects Vanderbilt righty with second pick of Day 1 1:39 AM EDT Bryan Hoch
BALTIMORE -- The Yankees have a long history of seeking big-bodied workhorses capable of heading the front of their rotation, which is what some scouts dream of in Ben Hess.
Hess, a 21-year-old right-hander from the University of Alabama, was selected by the Yankees in the first round of Sunday’s MLB Draft with the 26th overall pick. The Yanks also selected right-hander Bryce Cunningham out of Vanderbilt University with the 53rd overall pick.
A junior from Charleston, Ill., Hess possesses the upside of a No. 2 starter, owning the best K/9.0 inning ratio in Crimson Tide history (13.34, with 205 strikeouts in 138 1/3 innings).
“Ben checks off a lot of things for us,” said Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees’ vice president of domestic amateur scouting. “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.”
The No. 26 pick carries a slot value of $3,332,900. The Yankees’ bonus pool is $8,134,500.
Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Draft’s No. 44 prospect, Hess dealt with injury concerns in high school and during his first two collegiate seasons, including a right flexor strain that limited him to seven games in 2023. That prompted some to question if he would fall to the second round.
The Yankees liked what they saw from Hess as a junior, though, coming off a healthy season in which he was 5-5 with a 5.80 ERA, striking out 106 against 35 walks in 68 1/3 innings. His strikeout total ranked eighth in the SEC.
“We saw him early in the year, and the stuff was dynamite at times,” Tennessee coach Tony Vitiello said on MLB Network. “I think what they’re looking for here is a big, physical starting pitcher, and a guy that’s not afraid to compete.”
Hess isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. Vitiello referred to a May 5 game when Hess was dealing with a nasty case of food poisoning but took the ball anyway, tossing four innings of one-run ball in an Alabama victory over Mississippi State.
"It's easy when things go exactly the way you want. That's what a lot of people think success looks like, but that's not success," Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn told the Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News after that game.
"Sustained success is going through the muddy, dirty, hard stuff and coming out the other end because you just keep showing up and working, and that's exactly what Ben has done."
Over his college career, Hess posted a 12-6 record and 4.81 ERA in 33 games (30 starts). He’s the 1st pitcher that the Yankees have taken with their top pick since Clarke Schmidt in 2017.
Hess is just the 5th Alabama player to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft, joining Joe Vitiello (1991), Jeremy Brown (2002), Taylor Tankersley (2004) and Tommy Hunter (2007).
Drawing comparisons to Lance Lynn in terms of body type and approach, Hess’ best offering is a 4-seam fastball that sits at 92-96 mph and reaches 99 mph with run and carry up in the strike zone.
His mid-80s slider with 2-plane depth gives him a 2nd plus offering, and he can turn it into a harder, shorter cutter. He can also employ a mid-70s curveball to offer a different look, but scouts indicate he has lost faith in a fading mid-80s changeup.
This is the2nd consecutive year that the Yankees owned the No. 26 overall selection; last year, they selected Florida high school Infielder George Lombard, Jr., who is currently playing at Single-A Tampa and is ranked as their No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Draft 2024: Yankees select Bryce Cunningham No. 53 Jul 14, 2024 · 1:19 Draft 2024: Yankees select Bryce Cunningham No. 53, Yanks add another right-hander in 2nd round
Cunningham, 21, was 7-4 with a 4.36 ERA in 16 starts as a junior, his 1st year as a full-time starter. In 84 2/3 innings, he held opponents to 69 hits and 49 runs (41 earned), with 34 walks and 96 strikeouts. The slot value of the No. 53 pick is $1,721,200.
“Very exciting,” Cunningham told the Dothan (Ala.) Eagle on Sunday. “I am excited to be a part of a historical organization.”
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound hurler enjoyed success in the Cape Cod League, where he made 2 All-Star teams and won 2 championships with Bourne. Scouts believe that Cunningham has the upside of a No. 2 or No. 3 starter.
“We love Bryce because he’s another pick that could have top-end starter potential and has already been tested in the SEC,” said Oppenheimer. “He’s a quality pitcher and a powerful right-hander with a big fastball that can reach up to 99 [mph], a good changeup, and a slider that continues to improve. Bryce has continued to get better, and credit to him on what he has done on his own, his performance in the Cape Cod Baseball League, and the support he received at Vanderbilt.”
The MLB Draft continues on Monday with selections in Rounds 3-10.
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Post by fwclipper51 on Jul 15, 2024 15:00:27 GMT -5
2024 MLB Draft from MLB.com
Pick 16 (152nd overall), Yankees: Greysen Carter, RHP, Vanderbilt (No. 226) New York continues to load up on pitching with its 5th straight arm at the top of the Draft. 103. That’s the number many will know on Carter. It’s what he’s capable of touching in terms of fastball velo, and he’ll typically sit 96-99 mph with explosive life up in the zone. His curveball, slider and changeup all need work, as does his control, but the Yanks will hope to work around the plus-plus heater.
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Post by 1955nyyfan on Jul 15, 2024 15:01:23 GMT -5
The Yankee's first five picks have been pitchers with some similar traits. All went to big time college programs, all see to have good size and throw hard, all put up what can probably be described as mediocre numbers in college ball. It's obvious they want to replenish arms and want big bodies who throw hard. They obviously feel that these guys can produce better results after being coached up. I guess it may also mean they are happy with depth they have at position players.
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Post by desousa on Jul 15, 2024 15:11:51 GMT -5
The Yankee's first five picks have been pitchers with some similar traits. All went to big time college programs, all see to have good size and throw hard, all put up what can probably be described as mediocre numbers in college ball. It's obvious they want to replenish arms and want big bodies who throw hard. They obviously feel that these guys can produce better results after being coached up. I guess it may also mean they are happy with depth they have at position players. Now it's 6 pitchers. Two from Vandy and two from LSU.
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Post by desousa on Jul 15, 2024 15:21:44 GMT -5
In round 7, the Yanks pick Wyatt Parliament of Virginia Tech, their seventh RP in row. All but one of them is at least 6-foot-two.
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Post by azbob643 on Jul 15, 2024 15:28:59 GMT -5
In round 7, the Yanks pick Wyatt Parliament of Virginia Tech, their seventh RP in row. All but one of them is at least 6-foot-two. Bring The Funk... www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjKFCYzqq-A
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Post by qimqam on Jul 15, 2024 15:35:33 GMT -5
In round 7, the Yanks pick Wyatt Parliament of Virginia Tech, their seventh RP in row. All but one of them is at least 6-foot-two. I like this approach but ... how about at least 1 LHP
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Post by desousa on Jul 15, 2024 15:47:59 GMT -5
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Post by azbob643 on Jul 15, 2024 15:56:27 GMT -5
Interesting. A "local" college for me. Good baseball program. Ex-Yankee Andy Stankiewicz took the program from D-II to D-I as their coach before taking the USC job in '22.
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Post by desousa on Jul 15, 2024 16:01:57 GMT -5
In round 7, the Yanks pick Wyatt Parliament of Virginia Tech, their seventh RP in row. All but one of them is at least 6-foot-two. I like this approach but ... how about at least 1 LHP I was wrong. # 6 pick, Griffin Herring out of LSU is a LP.
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