Yankees Announce Unhealthy Information on No. 6 Prospect Throughout Orioles Collection

The New York Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 on Thursday, behind a six-inning, eight strikeout effort from Gerrit Cole who recorded his seventh win since coming back from Tommy John surgical procedure.

The win accomplished a three-game sweep of Baltimore, and was the fourth victory in a row for the Yankees who now return dwelling to face the Blue Jays. However earlier than the collection sweep of the Orioles was full, the Yankees introduced some unhealthy information on one in every of their most necessary pitching prospects.

The Yankees, who positioned No. 6 prospect Ben Hess on the 7-day injured record simply two days in the past, on Thursday introduced that Hess was shifted to the 60-day IL, successfully ending the 23-year-old’s season.

New York Yankees Prospect Ben Hess’ Harm Timeline

Hess first landed on Somerset’s seven-day injured record on April 18, a transfer that got here with out an official prognosis.

Reporting on the time pointed to an arm problem, and his ultimate begin earlier than the shutdown backed that up, with 5 walks, two hit batters and a wild pitch throughout simply 2 2/3 innings, based on CBS Sports activities. However in April, Hess missed time with forearm and elbow irritation.

Hess returned to Somerset’s rotation on Could 14 after lacking practically 4 weeks. His command issues didn’t totally disappear.

Hess struggled once more in his ultimate outings earlier than the second shutdown, then sat out his subsequent scheduled flip earlier than Somerset positioned him again on the seven-day injured record. The Patriots introduced the transfer alongside three different roster transactions.

Reporter Greg Johnson famous the sample, writing that Hess “hasn’t pitched since” his 90-pitch outing earlier that month and was “now again on the IL.”

On August 20, the membership escalated the transfer to the 60-day record, a designation that each one however ensures Hess gained’t pitch once more in 2026. New York has nonetheless not disclosed a particular prognosis for the August setback.

New York Yankees’ Draft Historical past and Ben Hess’ Future

New York took Hess twenty sixth total out of Alabama within the 2024 MLB Draft, signing him for a below-slot $2.75 million bonus. He was the primary pitcher the Yankees chosen with their prime decide since Clarke Schmidt in 2017.

Then-scouting director Damon Oppenheimer known as him a match for “a possible top-of-the-line Main League starter,” pointing to a fastball touching 97 mph and a pair of breaking balls, as quoted by an MLB.com Bryan Hoch in his draft-day report.

Hess constructed on that promise in 2025, posting a 3.22 ERA and 139 strikeouts throughout 103 1/3 innings between Excessive-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset, numbers that pushed him into the Yankees’ top-five prospect tier, based on Pinstripe Alley’s season preview protection.

MLB Pipeline now ranks the right-handed Hess because the group’s No. 6 prospect, and the fourth-ranked pitcher.

His 2026 Double-A line now completed at 3-4 with a 4.45 ERA, 65 strikeouts and a 1.45 WHIP throughout 16 begins, pushing his profession minor league totals to 10-8 with a 3.66 ERA and 204 strikeouts over 160 innings.

The Yankees have carried a 2027 main league timetable for Hess courting again to spring coaching, banking on his measurement and energy arsenal to finally bolster their rotation.

New York’s huge league employees stays stocked with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón, shopping for the group time. However a wholesome, full 2027 marketing campaign now appears important if Hess goes to maintain tempo with the event monitor the Yankees mapped out after they made him their prime decide.

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