Yankees' Strategic Pitcher Pick
Yankees Draft Hunter Dietz 35th Overall, Continuing Tax-Driven Late First-Round Strategy
Key Points
Moments after the Yankees selected Dietz at No. 35, the Mets drafted his Razorbacks teammate Carson Wiggins, underscoring how crowded the first round was this year.
The Yankees have not had a pick earlier than No. 20 since Clarke Schmidt at No. 16 in 2017, reflecting a long-running pattern of trading down to stay under the competitive-balance tax.
Dietz’s 2025 Cape Cod League showing included 11 2/3 innings with an 8.49 ERA and a 2.23 WHIP as he regained form after injuries.
Dietz previously underwent elbow surgery in fall 2023 to repair a left-elbow fracture and then endured a roughly 13-month setback in 2024 that limited playing time.
The New York Yankees selected left-handed pitcher Hunter Dietz with the No. 35 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, according to NY Post and North Jersey. The 6-foot-6 Arkansas junior sits mid-90s with a fastball that can touch 98 mph — a significant find despite the Yankees drafting deep into the first round for yet another year.
The pick came at No. 35 instead of No. 25 because the Yankees were docked 10 slots as a penalty for exceeding the competitive balance tax — baseball's luxury-tax threshold — the previous season, NY Post reported. It marks the latest chapter in a years-long pattern: the Yankees have not held a pick earlier than No. 20 since taking Clarke Schmidt at No. 16 back in 2017.
A 10-Slot Penalty Pushes Yankees Down the Board
Baseball's competitive balance tax works like a payroll fine. Teams that spend beyond the threshold lose draft-pick value — in the Yankees' case, their original No. 25 slot slid all the way to No. 35, NY Post reported. An earlier pick, tied to pitcher Kilby, was also affected by prior penalties. The Yankees have now routinely traded draft position to keep their big-league payroll flexible.
Just moments after New York grabbed Dietz, the rival Mets snagged his Arkansas teammate Carson Wiggins, according to North Jersey. That back-to-back Razorbacks run underscored how loaded with college arms the top of this draft class was.
Dietz's Stuff Is Electric, But Injuries Tell a Complicated Story
Dietz brings a four-pitch mix headlined by a fastball that sits mid-90s and can reach 98 mph, per North Jersey. His slider grades as a plus pitch. He also throws a sharp cutter and a developing curveball. The changeup rarely shows up. MLB Pipeline ranked him as high as No. 17 among all draft prospects, though some lists placed him closer to No. 34.
The risk is real. Dietz had elbow surgery in the fall of 2023 to fix a left-elbow fracture. That kept him off the mound for roughly 13 months and wiped out most of his 2024 season. His 2025 Cape Cod League stint — just 11 2/3 innings — showed rust, with an 8.49 ERA and a 2.23 WHIP, according to Yahoo Sports. The Yankees are betting on his ceiling over his recent numbers.
Late-Round Upside: Why the Yankees Still Liked Dietz at 35
When a pitcher with Dietz's raw stuff falls to No. 35, teams take notice. His size — 6-foot-6 — gives him a downhill angle that makes his fastball play up. The slider alone could be a swing-and-miss weapon at the pro level. Despite the injury history, his late surge at Arkansas helped cement a first-round grade, North Jersey reported.
Scouts see a mid-rotation ceiling if he stays healthy. The Yankees needed pitching depth in their system, and Dietz fits that need at a slot-appropriate cost. He joins a draft class where other notable picks included the Marlins taking Jacob Lombard at No. 14 overall, per Yahoo Sports. For New York, the priority now is keeping Dietz's left elbow intact and building his innings count slowly.
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