The Yankees see big-time starting pitching potential in Ben Hess and Bryce Cunningham, prompting them to make them their top selections in this year’s MLB Draft.

Scouts and evaluators with input on MLB Pipeline’s rankings agree, as the right-handers have swiftly entered the organization’s top 10 prospects. Hess is ranked as the Yanks’ No. 8 prospect, with Cunningham right behind at No. 9.

“I think that I’m a competitor,” Hess said recently. “I’m going to go out there and I’m going to compete every time out, whether I’ve got my A-plus stuff or my F stuff. I think that’s really something that I bring to the table and that will help me see success moving through pro ball.”

Here’s a look at the Yankees top prospects:

1. Jasson Domínguez, OF (MLB rank: No. 17)
2. Spencer Jones, OF
3. George Lombard Jr., INF
4. Roderick Arias, SS/2B
5. Will Warren, RHP

Complete Top 30 list »

Biggest jump/fall

Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:

Jump: Cade Smith, RHP (Preseason: 25 | Midseason: 12)

The 22-year-old Smith pitched to a sharp 6-6 record and 3.47 ERA in 19 games (17 starts) for Single-A Tampa, striking out 111 batters in 85 2/3 innings, to earn a promotion to High-A Hudson Valley this month. Smith made his Hudson Valley debut on Aug. 11 at Brooklyn, permitting just a two-run homer in 4 2/3 innings.

A sixth-round Draft pick in 2023 from Mississippi State, Smith features an 83-85 mph slider that grades as plus with two-plane depth when it’s on. His four-seam fastball sits at 92-94 mph and tops out at 97 mph, with quality riding life when he commands it up in the zone. He also tosses a decent 78-82 mph curveball and a mid-80s changeup with mild fade.

Fall: Kyle Carr, LHP (Preseason: 12 | Midseason: 26)

The Yankees’ third-round pick last year from Palomar (Calif.) Junior College, where he was rated as the top junior college prospect in his Draft class, Carr has struggled this season at Hudson Valley. In 20 starts, the 22-year-old has gone 1-6 with a 5.13 ERA.

New to the list

Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:

No. 8: Ben Hess, RHP (1st-round Draft pick)
No. 9: Bryce Cunningham (2nd-round Draft pick)
No. 22: Thatcher Hurd, RHP (3rd-round Draft pick)
No. 24: Gage Ziehl, RHP (4th-round Draft pick)
No. 27: Griffin Herring, LHP (6th-round Draft pick)

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Best tools

Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Hit: 55 -- Jorbit Vivas
Power: 60 -- Jasson Domínguez
Run: 70 -- Brando Mayea
Arm: 70 -- Roderick Arias (Francisco Vilorio)
Defense: 60 -- George Lombard Jr. (Mayea)
Fastball: 70 -- Carlos Lagrange
Curveball: 60 -- Ben Hess
Slider: 65 -- Will Warren
Changeup: 60 -- Bryce Cunningham
Control: 55 -- Gage Ziehl (Henry Lalane)