Ben Hess of the University of Alabama and Carter Johnson of Oxford High School each saw their names come off the board during Sunday night’s MLB Draft, as Hess was selected by the Yankees with the 26th overall pick and Johnson was picked by the Marlins with the 56th overall pick.
Hess, a towering junior pitcher, battled injuries throughout his time in Tuscaloosa, but was able to make 30 starts over three college seasons. Considered a top-45 prospect in the draft, Hess boasts a fastball that borders on 100 miles per hour and a curveball that generates a swing-and-miss rate of nearly 60%.
“Ben checks off a lot of things for us,” Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees’ vice president of domestic amateur scouting, told MLB.com. “He fits what we are looking for in a potential top-of-the-line Major League starter. Specifically, he’s a big, power right-hander who can throw two breaking balls and can reach up to 97 [mph]. We think there is even more to come from Ben with our player development program.”
Hess becomes only the fifth Crimson Tide player to be picked in the draft’s first round, joining outfielder Joe Vitiello (1991), catcher Jeremy Brown (2002), and pitchers Taylor Tankersley (2004) and Tommy Hunter (2007). UA has now had at least one player selected in every MLB Draft since 1979.
Johnson, a recent high school graduate, is a big-bodied shortstop who has drawn comparisons to 2023 AL Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson, another Alabama native. One of the top-ranked prep players in the country, Johnson made an appearance with the U.S. U18 team this summer.
“He has the combination of humility but is also very confident in himself as a player. And he just loves the game. He is different in that regard,” Oxford High School coach Travis Janssen told AL.com. “He loves to play and loves to practice. A lot of guys have talent and some abilities but maybe don’t have the passion to see it through.”
“Carter really, really loves to play.”
Johnson, who is currently committed to the University of Alabama, will have to decide whether or not he wants to forgo college. If he signs with the Marlins, Johnson is estimated to receive an initial contract of $1.6 million.
Charles Vaughan is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News.
