New York Yankees 2024 MLB Draft Review

Draft Theme: Physical Pitchers With Extension 

The Yankees had one of the most compelling draft classes after the second day, and it was notable that so many of the pitchers the team selected had above-average height and above-average extension down the mound. Seven of the eight college pitchers the team drafted in the first 10 rounds are 6-foot-2 or taller and six of the eight have more than six feet of average extension on their fastballs. It was also the first time the Yankees spent their first pick on a pitcher since Clarke Schmidt in 2017. 

Most Interesting Day 2 Pick: RHP Thatcher Hurd, 3rd round

Hurd was a high-profile pitching prospect out of high school, but made it to campus at UCLA where he had a standout 2022 freshman season with a 1.06 ERA over 34 innings with 48 strikeouts. Hurd then entered the transfer portal and moved to LSU, where he showed flashes of brilliance, but also struggled with consistency, command and ultimately lost his 2024 starter job and was moved to the bullpen. In 2024 Hurd posted a 6.55 ERA over 44 innings, including nine starts and nine relief appearances, with a 16.2% strikeout rate and 11.2% walk rate. Hurd looks the part with a great pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds and a relatively clean and easy delivery. He averages 94-95 mph with his fastball and has pushed the pitch up to 97-98 and has a pair of high-spin breaking balls. The slider is his best offering, a mid-80s sweeping breaking ball that features impressive movement and power and has real plus potential. The curveball is about five mph slower at around 80 and features tons of depth and 12-to-6 shape and could give him a second above-average breaking ball with spin rates that push 3,000 rpm. Because of his pure stuff and athleticism many scouts think Hurd will be a better pro pitcher than college pitcher, but he’ll need to refine his command and figure out how to avoid the pileup innings that plagued him in Baton Rouge.

Most Interesting Day 3 Pick: 2B Austin Green, 14th round

Green is a 6-foot, 195-pound infielder and outfielder who spent his first two seasons with Weatherford (Texas) JC before moving to Texas Tech, where he’s been a versatile defender and taken competitive at-bats for two seasons. There’s no plus tools on his scouting card, but he does a lot of things well. He can play second base and both corner outfield positions and potentially pitch in at the hot corner or center in a more limited capacity with average or playable defense at most spots and average arm strength. Offensively, it’s a similar deal. He doesn’t stand out as an above-average hitter with big power, but he’s a switch hitter who competes in the box and walks more than he strikes out, and makes pitchers work for an out with solid bat-to-ball skills. It’s difficult to project much on Green, so he’s a bit of a “what you see is what you get” prospect, though his baseball skill could make him better than the sum of his parts and an intriguing day two senior sign.