Alabama pitcher Ben Hess has signed with the New York Yankees after being the American League team’s first-round selection in the MLB First-Year Player Draft on July 14.
The Yankees brought Hess on board for a signing bonus of $2,747,500, Baseball America and MLB Pipeline reported on Wednesday.
The Yankees selected the 6-foot-5 right-hander with the 26th pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Hess is the earliest selection from Alabama in MLB’s summer draft since outfielder Joe Vitiello went No. 7 to the Kansas City Royals in 1991.
“When he’s been really good,” said Danny Oppenheimer, New York’s vice president of domestic amateur scouting, on Thursday, “it’s been three pitches that are just dynamite – fastball up to 98, a now plus-curveball, a now slider and a changeup that’s developed at times to where it’s above average. When we can target guys that have two now breaking balls to go along with velocity, it gives us a chance, we think, to get ourselves power starters.”
In 2024, Hess posted a 5-5 record with a 5.80 earned-run average in 15 starts. In 68.1 innings, Hess struck out 106 and yielded 60 hits and 35 walks.
Hess earned third-team All-American recognition as selected by D1Baseball and Baseball America in 2024.
The Charleston, Illinios, native owns the highest career strikeout rate in Alabama history at 13.3 per nine innings (with 205 strikeouts in 138.1 innings.)
In three seasons with the Crimson Tide, Hess went 12-6 with a 4.81 ERA in 33 games, with 30 starts. In 138.1 innings, he yielded 111 hits and 62 walks.
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Hess was the last of the five players picked from Alabama earlier this month to sign:
· The Miami Marlins signed infielder Gage Miller, the 92nd pick, for $800,800.
· The San Francisco Giants signed pitcher Greg Farone, the 208th pick, for $204,150.
· The St. Louis Cardinals signed outfielder Ian Petrutz, the 351st pick, for $250,000.
· The Chicago White Sox signed pitcher Pierce George, the 379th pick, for $197,500.
In addition, the Cincinnati Reds signed former Alabama pitcher Luke Holman for $997,500 after drafting him at No. 71 from LSU.
Hess’ slot carried a signing-bonus value of $3,332,900.
Each selection in the first 10 rounds of the draft carries an assigned monetary value, with the total for a club’s picks equaling what it can spend in those rounds without incurring a penalty from Major League Baseball.
Miller signed for his slot value. Farone signed for $68,050 less than his slot value, and Holman signed for $112,500 less than his slot value.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at@AMarkG1.
