Yankees Select Two Players on the First Day of the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft

On Sunday, the New York Yankees selected two players over the first two rounds of the 2024 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. With their first-round selection (26^th overall), the club drafted RHP Ben Hess out of the University of Alabama. In the second round, the Yankees chose RHP Bryce Cunningham out of Vanderbilt University with the 53^rd overall pick.

Hess, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound right-handed pitcher, went 5-5 with a 5.80 ERA (68.1IP, 60H, 47R/44ER, 35BB, 106K, 13HR) in 15 starts this past season for Alabama as a junior. His team-leading 106K were the fifth-most in a single season in school history and marked the eighth-most in the SEC in 2024. Over three seasons with the Crimson Tide (2022-24), Hess went 12-6 with a 4.81 ERA (138.1IP, 111H, 84R/74ER, 62BB, 205K, 26HR) in 33 career games (30 starts). He also compiled a 13.34 K/9.0IP ratio over his three seasons at Alabama, the highest mark in school history.

“Ben checks off a lot of things for us,” said Damon Oppenheimer, 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 selection of Hess marks just the third time the Yankees have selected a collegiate pitcher in the first round of the draft since 2009, joining Clarke Schmidt (2017, University of South Carolina) and James Kaprielian (2015, UCLA). Additionally, the Yankees have selected a college player with nine of their last 14 first-round picks since 2013.

Hess becomes only the fifth player from the University of Alabama to be drafted in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft, joining Joe Vitiello (seventh overall in 1991 by the Kansas City Royals), Jeremy Brown (35^th overall in 2002 by the Oakland Athletics), Taylor Tankersley (27^th overall in 2004 by the Florida Marlins) and Tommy Hunter (54^th overall in 2007 by the Texas Rangers).

The Charleston, Ill., native was ranked as the No. 38 overall prospect by Baseball America and No. 44 by MLB Pipeline.

Cunningham, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-handed pitcher, made 16 starts for Vanderbilt last season as a junior, going 7-4 with a 4.36 ERA (84.2IP, 69H, 49R/41ER, 34BB, 96K, 14HR). Additionally, his 7.33 H/9.0IP ratio ranked eighth among SEC pitchers, while his 1.22 WHIP was the 11^th-lowest mark. Over three seasons with the Commodores (2022-24), he went 11-8 with two saves a 4.95 ERA (160.0IP, 135H, 102R/88ER, 71BB, 168K, 28HR) in 46 games (26 starts).

“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.”

A two-time All-Star in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Bourne Braves (2022-23), he most recently posted a 2.38 ERA (22.2IP, 6ER) and 25K in the summer of 2023.

The Headland, Ala., native was ranked as the No. 39 overall prospect by Baseball America and the No. 63 by MLB Pipeline.

The 2024 First-Year Player Draft resumes on Monday, with rounds three through 10 beginning at 2:00 p.m. and continues Tuesday with rounds 11 through 20, starting at 2:00 p.m. ET.

RHP BEN HESS
Selection: First Round (26th overall)
School: University of Alabama
Hometown: Charleston, Ill.
DOB: 9/3/2002
Age: 21
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6'5" Weight: 255 lbs.

RHP BRYCE CUNNINGHAM
Selection: Second Round (53rd overall)
School: Vanderbilt University
Hometown: Headland, Ala.
DOB: 12/20/2002
Age: 21
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6'5" Weight: 230 lbs.