Former Alabama baseball ace, first round pick shines in professional debut
Former Alabama baseball ace, first round pick shines in professional debut
Among the highest-drafted Alabama Crimson Tide baseball players in recent memory, the long-awaited professional debut of Ben Hess has now officially come.
A member of the New York Yankees organization, Hess' professional debut took place Wednesday afternoon, as the former Alabama ace started on the mound for the Hudson Valley Renegades. The Yankees' High-A affiliate, Hess impressed as well, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts, while also allowing only two hits and one walk.
Hess, who was taken by New York with the No. 26 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft, is currently considered as the Yankees No. 4 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline. The right-hander is also considered as the Yankees top pitching prospect.
At Alabama, Hess appeared in 33 games for the Crimson Tide from 2022-24, 30 of which he started. Pitching a combined 138.1 innings, Hess owned a 12-6 record with a 4.81 ERA and 205:62 K:BB ratio across his three seasons in Tuscaloosa.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
34 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton beginning his rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton began a rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset on Tuesday night, though New York manager Aaron Boone said that it was too early to tell when the slugger might return to the big leagues. Stanton has missed the entire season because of severe tendon injuries to both of his elbows. But he has been ramping up his work at the Yankees' player development complex and Boone was optimistic the rehab assignment will not be long. 'He's playing tonight. Probably play tomorrow. And then we'll see about Thursday, if he plays again or what we want to do through the weekend,' Boone said before the Yankees opened a three-game series against the Royals. 'Just kind of taking these two-day increments,' Boone said. The 35-year-old Stanton only appeared in 114 games last season, but he hit .233 with 27 homers and 72 RBIs. He was at his best in the playoffs, when he hit seven homers over 14 games and was voted the MVP of the AL Championship Series. 'For him, it's just getting his body built up and him being in a position to where he knows he's had enough at-bats and enough reps to be game-ready, to be season-ready,' Boone said. 'And he's had a pretty big ramp-up. He's had a lot of at-bats already, even going into his rehab start tonight. So, just making sure he's had the necessary reps and feels really good.' In other injury news, right-hander Marcus Stroman also is expected to make a rehab appearance for Somerset on Wednesday as he works his way back from left knee inflammation that has sidelined him since a start April 11 against the Giants. Jake Cousins was pulled off his rehab assignment after the right-hander felt something amiss in his right elbow. Cousins, who has been dealing with a strained right forearm, underwent an MRI exam, Boone said, and the plan was to visit with Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad in the hopes of determining exactly what went wrong. The reliever made six appearances for New York in the playoffs last season. 'I mean, considering he was into his rehab and build-up and now to feel something with the elbow, it's concerning,' Boone said. 'But again, I don't want to overreact. We don't have any information.' ___ AP MLB:
Fox Sports
37 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton beginning his rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset
Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton began a rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset on Tuesday night, though New York manager Aaron Boone said that it was too early to tell when the slugger might return to the big leagues. Stanton has missed the entire season because of severe tendon injuries to both of his elbows. But he has been ramping up his work at the Yankees' player development complex and Boone was optimistic the rehab assignment will not be long. 'He's playing tonight. Probably play tomorrow. And then we'll see about Thursday, if he plays again or what we want to do through the weekend,' Boone said before the Yankees opened a three-game series against the Royals. 'Just kind of taking these two-day increments,' Boone said. The 35-year-old Stanton only appeared in 114 games last season, but he hit .233 with 27 homers and 72 RBIs. He was at his best in the playoffs, when he hit seven homers over 14 games and was voted the MVP of the AL Championship Series. 'For him, it's just getting his body built up and him being in a position to where he knows he's had enough at-bats and enough reps to be game-ready, to be season-ready,' Boone said. 'And he's had a pretty big ramp-up. He's had a lot of at-bats already, even going into his rehab start tonight. So, just making sure he's had the necessary reps and feels really good.' In other injury news, right-hander Marcus Stroman also is expected to make a rehab appearance for Somerset on Wednesday as he works his way back from left knee inflammation that has sidelined him since a start April 11 against the Giants. Jake Cousins was pulled off his rehab assignment after the right-hander felt something amiss in his right elbow. Cousins, who has been dealing with a strained right forearm, underwent an MRI exam, Boone said, and the plan was to visit with Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad in the hopes of determining exactly what went wrong. The reliever made six appearances for New York in the playoffs last season. 'I mean, considering he was into his rehab and build-up and now to feel something with the elbow, it's concerning,' Boone said. 'But again, I don't want to overreact. We don't have any information.' ___ AP MLB: recommended
Associated Press
41 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton beginning his rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton began a rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset on Tuesday night, though New York manager Aaron Boone said that it was too early to tell when the slugger might return to the big leagues. Stanton has missed the entire season because of severe tendon injuries to both of his elbows. But he has been ramping up his work at the Yankees' player development complex and Boone was optimistic the rehab assignment will not be long. 'He's playing tonight. Probably play tomorrow. And then we'll see about Thursday, if he plays again or what we want to do through the weekend,' Boone said before the Yankees opened a three-game series against the Royals. 'Just kind of taking these two-day increments,' Boone said. The 35-year-old Stanton only appeared in 114 games last season, but he hit .233 with 27 homers and 72 RBIs. He was at his best in the playoffs, when he hit seven homers over 14 games and was voted the MVP of the AL Championship Series. 'For him, it's just getting his body built up and him being in a position to where he knows he's had enough at-bats and enough reps to be game-ready, to be season-ready,' Boone said. 'And he's had a pretty big ramp-up. He's had a lot of at-bats already, even going into his rehab start tonight. So, just making sure he's had the necessary reps and feels really good.' In other injury news, right-hander Marcus Stroman also is expected to make a rehab appearance for Somerset on Wednesday as he works his way back from left knee inflammation that has sidelined him since a start April 11 against the Giants. Jake Cousins was pulled off his rehab assignment after the right-hander felt something amiss in his right elbow. Cousins, who has been dealing with a strained right forearm, underwent an MRI exam, Boone said, and the plan was to visit with Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad in the hopes of determining exactly what went wrong. The reliever made six appearances for New York in the playoffs last season. 'I mean, considering he was into his rehab and build-up and now to feel something with the elbow, it's concerning,' Boone said. 'But again, I don't want to overreact. We don't have any information.' ___ AP MLB:
