| Player: Ben Hess | |||||||||||
| Org: New York Yankees | Highest Level: Double A | Position(s): RHP | |||||||||
| Height: 6’5″ | Weight: 255 lbs. | Bats: Right | Throws: Right | ||||||||
| Summary: A clean delivery and easy arm action from a low three-quarter slot produce a fastball that sits 92-96 and touches 98 with extension, carry and above-average induced vertical break that allow it to play well beyond the velocity. The curveball is the standout secondary — a plus offering with surprising depth from the low slot that works vertically and pairs naturally with a sweepier slider variant that adds horizontal action. The two breaking ball shapes give him the ability to attack both platoons with movement in multiple directions, and a changeup with fade and arm-side run rounds out a five-pitch mix with genuine starter depth. Command is the variable that has kept the ceiling grounded. Consistently elevated walk rates have been the pattern throughout the development, and the changeup command in particular lags behind the rest of the arsenal — the feel for it hasn’t translated into the trust needed to deploy it consistently against advanced hitters. The sinker and breaking balls already command into multiple quadrants with enough reliability to give the attack a functional shape, but bringing the walk rate down while adding the changeup as a dependable third option are the developmental priorities that separate a back-end outcome from something more. The arsenal depth and physical profile give the rotation path every reason to hold. A back-end starter floor built on a plus curveball, two distinct slider shapes and a fastball that plays above velocity is a legitimate outcome — and the ceiling pushes higher if the command sharpens and the changeup becomes a weapon. | |||||||||||
Shaun Kernahan is the founder and lead writer of Three Quarter Slot, where he blends scouting precision with a storyteller’s eye for the human side of the game. Based in Parker, Colorado, he has covered baseball prospects at every level since 2013, delivering in-depth evaluations, draft analysis, and developmental insight. Over the years, he has built Three Quarter Slot into a trusted home for thoughtful prospect coverage, detailed scouting reports, and a grounded look at how talent evolves
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