David Hess
| IP | 210 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 6.257 |
| WHIP | 1.533 |
| BB/9 | 3.429 |
| SO/9 | 6.9 |
- Full name David James Hess
- Born 07/10/1993 in Pembroke Pines, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Tennessee Tech
- Debut 05/12/2018
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Drafted in the 5th round (151st overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2014 (signed for $280,000).
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After pitching out of the bullpen his first two season, Hess has had a strong year while pitching in a hitter's haven. He has a quick arm and hides the ball well, with his 89-93 mph fastball jumping out of his hand, touching 96 at its best with armside run. His slider shows above-average potential but tends to get long with more lateral tilt than horizontal depth. His changeup gives him a viable three-pitch mix. The 6-foot-1, 198-pounder has an athletic build with some strength to his lower half. His size and high-effort delivery have scouts projecting him to end up in the bullpen long-term, though he has thrown strikes consistently (3.2 walks per nine in career with a 2.9 strikeout-walk ratio).
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Hess' second full season at Double-A Bowie was a marked improvement from his first, as he went 11-9, 3.73 and a 1.22 WHIP in 2017 after posting a 5.37 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP at the same level in 2016. Hess is a four-pitch pitcher whose fastball sits 92-94 mph and reaches 96 mph, though there's more life to it when the velocity is lower. His slider profiles as above-average, and he also features a changeup and curveball from a smooth delivery with a high leg kick. Despite a high-effort delivery, Hess is able to maintain his fastball velocity deep into outings, and shows the pitchability to get through a lineup multiple times when he has all of his pitches. Some scouts believe Hess could thrive as a reliever, with his fastball and slider playing up in short spurts, though the Orioles still view him as a starter. The makings are there for a No. 5 starting pitcher or a front-end reliever if he's able to translate his 2017 results to Triple-A Norfolk and beyond. -
The Orioles selected Hess in the fifth round in 2014 and signed him for a slightly under-slot $280,000. At Tennessee Tech, he pitched two years out of the bullpen and his last season as a starter. After a slow start in 2015, Hess was dynamic down the stretch at high Class A Frederick and pitched two huge playoff games for Eastern League champion Double-A Bowie. Hess features a fastball that sits between 91-94 mph with good angle, and he can really pound the bottom of the zone. His slider rates as his best secondary pitch followed by his curve and changeup. The command of his secondaries really improved during the second half, with a 1.61 ERA in his last 15 starts plus two EL playoff wins. Scouts credit Hess for his intensity and the clear game plan he takes to the mound. He should be a fixture in the Double-A rotation in 2016, and if his fastball command comes on, he could be a No. 4 starter option. -
Hess impressed the Orioles with a 33-inning pro debut at short-season Aberdeen and low Class A Delmarva in 2014. He walked eight, fanned 36 and had a 1.11 WHIP. Hess signed for a slightly underslot $280,000. At Tennessee Tech, he pitched out of the bullpen in his first two seasons but worked as a starter as a junior, sitting 89-93 mph with his fastball and touching 96. The Orioles saw a similar velocity in 2014. He also throws a slider and changeup which rate right now as solid-average. Hess showed some polish on the mound, and while he could eventually wind up in a bullpen role, the Orioles will develop him as a starter. One front office executive said Hess reminds him of righthander Bud Norris, with a similar body and delivery. He's a strike-thrower with solid makeup. Hess, who pitched a scoreless inning with one strikeout in the New York-Penn League all-star game, could begin 2015 in the Delmarva rotation.
Draft Prospects
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After pitching out of the bullpen his first two season, Hess has had a strong year while pitching in a hitter's haven. He has a quick arm and hides the ball well, with his 89-93 mph fastball jumping out of his hand, touching 96 at its best with armside run. His slider shows above-average potential but tends to get long with more lateral tilt than horizontal depth. His changeup gives him a viable three-pitch mix. The 6-foot-1, 198-pounder has an athletic build with some strength to his lower half. His size and high-effort delivery have scouts projecting him to end up in the bullpen long-term, though he has thrown strikes consistently (3.2 walks per nine in career with a 2.9 strikeout-walk ratio).
