During a challenging period for the Yankees' pitching, their 2024 draft picks Ben Hess and Bryce Cunningham showcased talent in their High-A debuts for the Hudson Valley Renegades. Hess, making his professional debut, excelled with a five-inning performance, not allowing any runs and striking out nine batters. Despite past ERA concerns from college, his fastball's exceptional velocity and strikeout capability highlighted the Yankees' faith in him, potentially altering the pitching landscape in the organization.
Hess made his first start of the season in Brooklyn on Wednesday, April 9th, when he squared off with the Mets' High-A affiliate, the Cyclones. He didn't appear at any level in 2024 after being drafted in the first round out of Alabama... This was Hess' professional debut. It went about as well as he could have possibly hoped.
Hess fanned two in a 1-2-3 first inning, including outfielder Eli Serrano III, who's hitting .381 with two home runs in his first 28 plate appearances this season. He allowed one single in the second inning, and struck out two more batters in both the third and fourth.
Hess wasn't projected to be drafted in the first round last season and the 5.80 ERA he recorded in his last year at Alabama was uninspiring to say the least, but Wednesday's outing showed why the Yankees were comfortable taking a chance on him.
His fastball can reach the upper 90s with good extension and nearly 20 inches of IVB, making it an elite strikeout weapon and a base on which to build a starter's arsenal.
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