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Wins and losses don’t really matter in spring training. For players, it’s a time to prepare the body and mind for the grind of a six-month season with the potential to play for several more weeks if the team makes the playoffs. It’s the perfect moment to leave a good impression to be considered for the future or, perhaps, to break camp with the organization if they are lucky.
These pursuits apply to the New York Yankees, too. Take Ben Hess’ case as an example: He almost certainly won’t make the team, but if he leaves a solid impression, the front office, the manager, and the coaches will consider him for a spot if and when injuries strike, provided he is ready, of course. And on Monday, he looked as ready as he’s ever been.
It’s the Grapefruit League, so let’s not get carried away. Hess is probably not ready to consistently get outs in the majors at the moment, and since he entered the ballgame in the sixth, he was primarily facing the Pirates’ B-squad — far from Murderers’ Row. Hess also struggled when given a third inning after striking out five in two scoreless frames. But the raw stuff was crisp, and he looked like a bulldog out there. And that’s all that matters at this point.
Hess finished his Monday outing with three innings, one run, two hits, two walks, and five punchouts. Perhaps more impressively, he generated 11 swings and misses in just 48 pitches, and both his fastball and curveball looked fantastic.
Hess’ heater averaged 93.6 mph but topped out at 96 mph, and he commanded it well for the most part. It also averaged a solid 17 inches of induced vertical break, generating two whiffs and four called strikes. The curveball averaged 19 inches of horizontal break and looked absolutely filthy, earning him a whopping 58-percent whiff rate with seven empty swings. He showed that he can throw it for called strikes and also bury it to get the kill.
Hess additionally earned whiffs with his changeup and sinker.
The Yankees’ 2024 first-round pick is not exactly a hidden gem. Hess was taken 26th overall for a reason despite shaky results at Alabama. But some feel he might not be mentioned in the same tier as Elmer Rodríguez and Carlos Lagrange. Truth be told, Hess doesn’t have Rodríguez’s command, much less Lagrange’s stuff. However, he remains a highly promising arm with a chance of contributing in 2026 if his development continues smoothly, and there is a good chance it will.
In 2025, Hess aced two important levels: High-A and Double-A, even if he got just seven starts in the latter. He put up a 3.51 ERA for the Hudson Valley Renegades and a 2.70 mark with the Somerset Patriots, accumulating 103.1 innings and 139 strikeouts between the two. Walks were more of a problem in High-A (4.46 BB/9) than Double-A (3.19), but even though they aren’t a death sentence, he would benefit from more consistent command. At 23 years old, Hess still has plenty of time to develop at his own pace, but he shows a feel for pitching and impact stuff that should play in the minor leagues.
Developing his sinker and changeup and honing his command should be priorities for Hess this season in the minor leagues. There’s still no word on where he’ll start his 2026 journey, but he seems ticketed for Double-A or Triple-A. From there, all he needs to do is work hard, consistently repeat his delivery, and trust his stuff. The rest will come in due time.
Finding an opening for Hess might be difficult for the Yankees in 2026 when everybody’s healthy, but we all know that injuries are a big part of the game — and it’s not as though many foresaw Cam Schlittler’s rapid ascent from 2025 spring training NRI to playoff hero. Hess’ time will come eventually, and he needs to make sure he’s ready for the challenge.