09-05-2025
Yankees' 2024 1st-Round Pick Benn Hess Turns Heads With No-Hit Bid
Right-hander Ben Hess is quickly making a name for himself in the New York Yankees farm system.
The Bronx Bombers first round selection last year's MLB Draft - No. 26 overall - had a game to remember Thursday night for the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades.
Taking the bump against the Wilmington Blue Rocks - the Washington Nationals High-A affiliate - at Frawley Stadium, Hess took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and recorded a career-high-tying nine strikeouts for his second professional win.
Advertisement
The Yankees No. 1 pitching prospect finished the game throwing 6 2/3 innings, while allowing just one hit and one unearned run. He also lowered his BAA (Batting Average Against) to .136 this season. This, against a lineup that included four of the Nationals Top 30 prospects - Seaver King (No. 4), Caleb Lomavita (No. 8), Elijah Green (No. 24) and Brenner Cox (No. 30). Lomavita had the only hit off Hess.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the New York Yankees draft pick Ben Hess during the first round of the MLB Draft at Cowtown Jairaj-Imagn Images
In five starts for Hudson Valley this season, Hess has gone 2-2 with a 3.24 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched.
The 22-year-old played his collegiate ball at the University of Alabama. In 30 career starts for the Crimson Tide, Hess compiled a 12-6 record with a 4.81 ERA and 205 strikeouts across 138-plus innings. The Charleston, Illinois native dealt with injury concerns throughout high school and his first two seasons at Alabama, perhaps contributing to the high-ERA.
Advertisement
Hess' stuff, however, was electric enough for MLB Pipeline to rank him as the No. 44 prospect for last July's draft.
Related: Yankees Sign Former Perfect Game Pitcher Amid Roster Changes
Related: Yankees Make Pitching Announcement Before Pivotal Athletics Series
