New York Yankees selects Alabama RHP Ben Hess in 2024 MLB Draft

SEC players have been everywhere at the 2024 MLB Draft, further cementing how well the conference performed during the college baseball season. Alabama finally got its name up there, with RHP Ben Hess being taken in the ? round with the No. 26 overall pick by the New York Yankees.

Hess made 15 appearances for Alabama this past year, recording a 5.80 ERA over 68.1 innings pitched. The strikeout numbers are something you have to like, fanning 106 opposing batters. However, the walk numbers were a little high with 35. If there is anything Hess would need to work on moving forward, it’s finding the zone and avoiding the free pass.

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Injuries have been a part of the pitcher’s story during college. Hess made a combined seven outings during his freshman and sophomore seasons before getting back to full strength in 2024. Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn used Hess over the weekend, deploying him on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays at different points.

There is a history of producing MLB talent at Alabama over the years. Hess is just the latest and the beginning of a new era for the Crimson Tide with Vaughn taking over the program. An option to return to Tuscaloosa is certainly open for Hess, maybe having the chance to prove himself a little more.

But the Yankees certainly sees enough in him to attempt to get his professional career started sooner rather than later.

What MLB scouts are saying about Ben Hess

A scouting report on Hess was delivered by MLB.com ahead of the draft, ranking him as the No. 44 overall prospect in the cycle. Thought to have first-round potential at one point, Hess was not able to show consistent command on his pitches and dropped him outside the top 30 pitches.

The potential is still there in MLB.com’s eyes, though. Hess still has a great fastball and three other pitches to get batters out with, making his ceiling quite yet. But some work has to be done before getting there — whether it’s another season at Alabama or in the Minor Leagues.

“Hess’ best offering is a four-seam fastball that sits at 92-96 mph and reaches 99 with run and carry up in the strike zone,” the scouting report said. “His mid-80s slider with two-plane depth gives him a second plus offering and he can turn it into a shorter, harder cutter. He also can employ an average mid-70s curveball to give batters a different look but has lost faith in a fading mid-80s changeup that showed flashes of becoming a solid offering in the past.”