New York Yankees 2024 Draft Review

July 27, 2024 Paul Woodin AL East, General, MLB Draft, Yankees 0

Griffin Herring, Chatham Anglers, June 26, 2024. Photo credit Grace Kinney, @gkinneymedia on Instagram.
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The New York Yankees clearly felt their organization had been depleted of pitching talent and appeared to hold true to their trend from day one by of selecting 8 pitchers in the first 10 rounds and then selecting five pitchers with their final 10 picks on day three. The Yankees look to have changed philosophies this year taking pitchers with control and command issues where in the past they selected players with good control and command. Day three also saw the Yankees make a run on outfielders, selecting four between rounds 12 and 17, rounding things out with a second baseman at their 14th selection. Drafting 19 college players, the Yankees seemed to have wanted to refill the farm system quickly with players that will sign.


DAY 1 PICKS: Rounds 1 and 2

Round 1, Pick No. 26: RHP Ben Hess, Alabama
This past year Hess he posted a 5.80 ERA with 106 strikeouts and 35 walks in 68.1 innings. Hess’s huge frame brings attention to him on the mound with his strong build of 6’5” and 255 pounds. Hess stayed healthy this past season after missing time in each of his first two college seasons including a flexor strain in 2023. He also had a stress fracture in his back in high school, so there is an injury risk here.

Hess’s best offering is a four-seam fastball that sits at 92-96 mph and reaches 99 with run and late life. He also owns a mid-80s slider with depth giving him a second plus offering and an average mid-70s curveball. He used a cutter and a fading mid-80s changeup that showed flashes of becoming a solid offering in the past. Both these pitches need some work. He has the upside of a No. 2 starter but will need to throw more strikes to reach it. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds comps of Lance Lynn and other big pitchers come to mind. As long as Hess can stay healthy, he’ll develop and should advance quickly in the system.

Round 2, Pick No. 53: RHP Bryce Cunningham, Vanderbilt
Cunningham had a very up and down first two years at Vanderbilt, recording a 6.33 ERA as a swingman (10 starts 30 games). He was much more effective as a starter in the Cape Cod League in 2023 (2.38 ERA with 25 K/7 BB in 5 starts 22.2 innings), making the All-Star game and winning a championship with Bourne. The summer Cape Cod version of Cunningham showed up more in 2024 as he has taken a step forward with his stuff and command and secured a rotation spot. In 2024 he posted a 4.36 ERA with 96 strikeouts and 34 walks in 84.2 innings with Vandy.

Cunningham’s mid-90s fastball velocity peaks at 97 mph and he has improved locating it keeping it off barrels with carry up in the zone. Cunningham owned one of the best swing-and-miss changeups in college baseball a hard upper-80s change that plummets at the plate. It compliments his fastball very well. His sweeping mid-80s slider is an effective third offering that could use some work but has above average potential. He exhibits the upside of a No. 2 starter and improving his slider could help him get there.

DAY 2 PICKS: Rounds 3-10

Round 3, Pick No. 89: RHP Thatcher Hurd, LSU
Hurd began his collegiate career at UCLA before transferring to LSU ahead of the 2023 season. In one year with the Bruins and his two seasons with the Tigers, Hurd has posted a combined 4.84 ERA with 188 strikeouts and 74 walks in 141.1 innings.

During his freshman year he pitched well for the Bruins before missing the final two months season with a stress fracture in his back and then transferring to Louisiana State. He battled the strike zone for much of 2023 and lost his rotation spot before rebounding to win the clinching games in the College World Series semifinals and finals.
He was projected as a possible first-round pick for 2024 before persistent control and command issues hurt his chances. His fastball ranges from 93-96 mph and tops out at 98 and his high-spin slider sits at 84-86 mph reaching 91 with plenty of movement providing Hurd with two quality pitches. Hurd also owns a 78-82 mph curveball and upper-80s changeup that are both works in progress.

Listed at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds he has  quick arm action and average control. With these two things he should be a mid rotation starter. Evaluators are varied on his future some think his inability to find the strike zone will land him in the bullpen, where both his fastball and slider could play as plus-plus offerings in shorter stints and others think he has enough to be a mid-rotation starter.

Round 4, Pick No. 119: RHP Gage Ziehl, Miami (FL)
Last season Ziehl posted a 3.87 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 28 walks in 15 starts over 100 innings. In three seasons with the Hurricanes, Ziehl posted a 4.07 ERA, making 61 total appearances (31 starts) striking out 241 hitters and walking just 65 in 227.2 innings. Making all his relief appearances his freshman season in 2022. The 6-foot right hander at his best has three solid pitches and the ability to use his stuff late into games. His fastball averages around 93 mph and gets up to 95 mph as a starter, while he touched 97 mph out of the bullpen as a freshman. He used to rely more on sink with his fastball but now relies on a high spin four-seamers up in the zone where he can move it around well.

His best pitch is a hard cutter-like slider thrown in the mid-80s. He also owns a decent changeup that is particularly effective against left-handed hitters. Ziehl is compact and strong and repeats his delivery well with strong history of throwing strikes. Scouts talk about his makeup and toughness on the mound some think he might be best suited for a setup type role in a bullpen, where his stuff might tick up and others give him every chance to stick in a rotation. It will be very interesting to see what the Yankees do with him.

Round 5, Pick No. 152: RHP Greysen Carter, Vanderbilt
Carter lights up a radar gun operating at 96-99 mph reaching 103 with his fastball. His fastball has a flat approach angle that comes out of a high arm slot with explosive carry when he keeps it up in the zone. He has shown a little feel for his breaking ball, struggling with his low-80s curveball, his mid-80s slider and to locate his mid-80s changeup, but it bottoms out at the plate when it’s working. Command and control have long been a problem for the 6-foot-4 righty, as he walked 31 batters in 39.2 innings this past season with a 6.58 ERA, 38 strikeouts in 39.2 innings.

Strong and athletic at 240 plus pounds, Carter has power stuff but often has to dial it back to try to find the strike zone. He has difficulty maintaining consistent mechanics and regressed this spring after making some encouraging progress with his control in the Cape Cod league. He almost certainly will be a reliever in pro ball after having little success as a starter in college but the Yankees may give him a shot to start his career off as a starter.

Round 6, Pick No. 181: LHP Griffin Herring, LSU
Herring had been used almost exclusively as a reliever for the Tigers over two seasons (one start, 1.2 innings as an opener in 39 career appearances) because he’s been dominant in that role. He was the Tigers’ best bullpen option this spring and too valuable in that role to get a shot in the rotation. But scouts believe he has the ingredients to succeed as a starter in pro ball. Over his 84.2 career innings with the LSU Tigers, Herring has pitched to a 2.66 ERA with 108 strikeouts and just 32 walks in 2 seasons. He also started 3 games with Chatham over the Cape Cod league in 2024 having 10 strikeouts in 10.2 innings giving up just 2 runs.
Herring’s best pitch is a sweeping mid-80s slider with horizontal and vertical action. His fastball operates at 91-92 mph and maxes out at 94 with some arm side run. It could gain some velocity and life once he adds more strength to his 6-foot-2 frame. Herring’s delivery isn’t the smoothest and his arm action is long, but that hasn’t prevented him from significantly improving his strike-throwing in college. His slider and competitive edge could allow him to fill a high-leverage role in a big league bullpen. To make it as a starter, he’ll need to develop better feel for a changeup that he almost never uses. I think he ends up in the bullpen.

Round 7, Pick No. 211: RHP Wyatt Parliament, Virginia Tech
The New York native began his collegiate career at Rutgers University before transferring to Virginia Tech for his junior campaign. As a Hokie he struggled over 15 appearances, with a 7.63 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 43.2 innings. He did post a strong 12.9 K/9 on the season, striking out 59 batters while walking just 13. Over his college career Parliament he had a 5.49 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 9.9 K/9 rate in 105 innings. His stuff is way better than his track record would lead you to believe. With a fastball that ranges from 92-94 mph it plays above its velocity thanks to solid ride, a low release point and a flat angle producing elite whiff and chase rates. He also owns an above-average, low 80s slider and two fringy pitches in a changeup and curveball that could use some work. He has average control and command and has a good chance to stick in the rotation.

Round 8, Pick No. 241: 1B Tyler Wilson, Grand Canyon University
Wilson, the first position player selected by the Yankees, broke out during a terrific senior season at Grand Canyon University.
He took home the WAC Player of the Year honors after recording a career-high 18 doubles, 17 homers, and 65 RBI while hitting .331 with a .441 on-base percentage and 1.132 OPS in 58 games. Wilson played mostly left field for GCU last year (55 games) but was listed in the draft as a first baseman after playing in only 18 games there last year for Grand Canyon and playing it regularly in the MLB Draft league.

Round 9, Pick No. 271: LHP Tanner Bauman, Auburn
Bauman a 6-foot-5 left-handed swingman throws from a low three-quarters arm. He struck out 47 batters while walking 16 across 20 appearances (6 starts) this past year with Auburn. Bauman owned a 4.57 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 10.2 K/9 over 41.1 innings in 2024. He isn’t a flame thrower, with his fastball sitting around 89-91 mph, but he possesses a high-spin sweeper and a changeup which he didn’t use too often in his career. He has the potential to be a back end rotation piece or long reliever. No doubt the sweeper intrigued the Yankees the most.

Round 10, Pick No. 301: OF Joe Delossantos, William & Mary
Listed at 5-10, 220 pounds, the right hand hitting outfielder from The College of William & Mary had a fantastic 2024, hitting .330/.431/.584 with 14 home runs and 14 doubles in his senior season. Wilson also brings good speed, stealing 24 bases out of 27 attempts. The 23-year-old shows promise as a power bat having exit velocity numbers that were among the best in Division I baseball.

DAY 3 PICKS: Rounds 11-20

Round 11, Pick No. 331: RHP Mack Estrada, Northwest Florida State
The JuCo starter pitched 79.1 innings for the Raiders with a 4.20 ERA, 94 strikeouts and 42 walks while allowing just one home run, enroute to being named 2024 Panhandle Pitcher of the Year. The big 6’4” righty features a fastball that touches 96, a changeup in the mid-80s, and a slider in the low-80s that has significant sweep. The slider no doubt caught the eye of Yankees evaluators. Estrada is commitment to play for FSU next year but maybe the Yankees can persuade him to sign with extra bonus pool money.

Round 12, Pick No. 361: OF Brendan Jones, Kansas State
The left hand hitting Jones hit .303 with 9 home runs and 13 doubles in 2024. Jones is known more for his defense making highlight catches often and his speed, becoming the first player in team history to be named an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award Finalist recording a .994 fielding percentage while also stealing 40 bags in 42 attempts in 2024. Jones has some experience in summer wood-bat leagues playing in them from 2021-2023 hitting a combined .303 with 39 extra bases in 100 games.

Round 13, Pick No. 391: OF Dillon Lewis, Queens University of Charlotte
Lewis burst onto the scene in 2024, slashing .371/.444/.729 with 22 homers and 14 doubles in 55 games, earning First Team honors in the Atlantic Sun Conference after struggling in 2023 hitting just .233. During the 2023 Southern Collegiate Baseball League, Lewis hit.387/.478/.733 with 13 extra-base hits in 24 games. Lewis owns good speed on the basepaths, stealing 20 bags in 2024. Lewis swing is strong and he has shown above average power at times.

Round 14, Pick No. 421: 2B Austin Green, Texas Tech
Transferring from JuCo Weatherford College prior to the start of the 2023 season, Green slashed .304/.425/.544 with 20 homers and 27 doubles in two seasons for the Red Raiders. At the plate the switch hitting Green grinds out at bats and works long plate appearances with solid bat to ball skills. Scouts praise his versatility despite a lack of any “plus tools.” Green played strictly second base in 2023 and mostly the outfield in 2024. “Utility player” could be in the cards for Green.

Round 15, Pick No. 451: OF Marshall Toole, Wofford
Toole earned Southern Conference All-Freshman Team in 2022 after slashing .267/.451/.322 with 16 stolen bases in 46 games in 2022. He developed more power by his junior year, slashing .375/.461/.617 with 9 home runs, 15 doubles, and 10 triples in 62 games en route to being named to the All-Southern Conference First Team in 2024. Scouts like his swing decisions in the zone. He is more of a contact-over-slugger at this point in his career because of his approach at the plate. He reminds me of Brett Gardner.

Round 16, Pick No. 481: LHP Xavier Rivas, Ole Miss
The left hander earned the attention of scouts after dazzling in his sophomore season at the University of Indianapolis, notching a 2.24 ERA, 0.983 WHIP, and 128 strikeouts in 80.1 innings. He then put up good numbers in the Northwoods League in 2022. However, he struggled to the tune of a 6.35 ERA, 1.544 WHIP, walking 40 and striking out 89 in 14 starts after transferring to Ole Miss in 2023. Rivas ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery, costing him all of 2024, though he was recently cleared to begin a throwing program. He owns a low 90s fastball, a good slider in the low-80s with hard and late bite, and a changeup that is average at best.

Round 17, Pick No. 511: OF JoJo Jackson, Georgia State
The switch-hitter slashed .310/.394/.655 with 15 home runs and 13 doubles in 50 games before turning heads in the MLB Draft League, hitting .352/.435/.592 with 2 home runs across 20 games with Frederick. Jackson makes regular hard contact that projects to be average power. Right now it’s mostly doubles over home run type hard contact.

Round 18, Pick No. 541: RHP Gus Hughes, High Point University
Hughes finished 2024 with a 3.77 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 102.2 innings (16 starts), earning Big South All-Conference First Team honors. The home runs and hits by pitch were the biggest issues with Hughes as he surrendered 22 homers and hit 16 batters. Hughes owns a fastball that runs between 90-92 mph, touching the mid-90s with riding life, a mid-80s slider with consistent swing-and-miss and a good curveball.

Round 19, Pick No. 571: RHP Brandon Decker, Oakland University
Decker had a 4.39 ERA along with 71 strikeouts in 69.2 innings in 2023 en route to being named the league’s Relief Pitcher of the Year before earning Pitcher of the Year honors in 2024, leading the Horizon League with 105 strikeouts and 102.2 innings. His low 90s fastball is intriguing because it has flat vertical approach angle despite his lower arm slot and his mid-80s slider. He has good potential to be in a big league reliever.

Round 20, Pick No. 601: RHP Cole Royer, Pierce County HS
Royer is a ultraprojectable 6-foot-6 right-hander with a quick arm. He is still raw and works exclusively out of the stretch owning a low 90s fastball that touches 95 mph, a mid 70s high-spin breaking ball that is already averaging around 2900 rpms that could give him a second plus offering once he adds strength and refinement and the workings of a cutter. Royer could have upper-90s velocity once he completes his physical and prospect development. He may be a reliever in the future, but the Georgia Tech recruit is intriguing. I don’t think he will sign with the Yankees and will head to college to improve his draft stock.

Paul Woodin

Paul Woodin is a huge sports fan who leads the New York Yankees minor league farm system coverage for the Prospects1500 team. Growing up playing and watching baseball while collecting baseball cards, Paul developed a love for the game. Born and raised in Connecticut between Yankees and Red Sox territory, Paul become a Yankees fan because of Don Mattingly and Derek Jeter. An avid sports card, memorabilia and autograph collector, he participates in redraft, dynasty and prospect-only fantasy baseball formats during each season. Feel free to reach out on Twitter @PaulWoodin1.

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