All-American Pitcher Drafted

From Tommy John Surgery to Big 12 Pitcher of the Year

Yehl's road back from Tommy John surgery — a procedure that rebuilds the elbow ligament and typically takes 12 to 18 months of recovery — was long. In 2024, he worked out of WVU's bullpen. He appeared in 24 games with a 2-0 record, two saves, a 3.99 ERA, and 32 strikeouts in just 29.1 innings, per Kansas City Star.

This season, he moved into the starting rotation and dominated. His most impressive showing came on May 8, when he threw a 124-pitch complete game against Kansas. That outing proved he could handle a full starter's workload after the injury. He finished the year earning All-American First Team honors from D1Baseball, the College Baseball Foundation, and Perfect Game.

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Royals Land a Lefty With a Sharp Slider and Real Upside

Scouts praised Yehl's 90-plus mph fastball and a sharp slider that gives hitters trouble. Kansas City took him at pick 91, even though MLB Pipeline had him ranked just 217th on its Top 250 draft prospects list. That gap suggests the Royals see more upside than the national rankings gave him credit for, according to Wichita Eagle.

Yehl was also a finalist for the National Pitcher of the Year award and a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, one of college baseball's top individual honors. His ability to pile up strikeouts — 112 in 92 innings — while keeping runs off the board made him one of the most productive college arms available in this draft class.

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One Report Had It Wrong: Blue Jays Versus Royals Mix-Up

Not every outlet got the story right. Olean Times Herald published a report claiming Yehl was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round. That contradicts the confirmed reports from multiple outlets, which all credit the Kansas City Royals with the pick at No. 91. The Blue Jays did not select Yehl.

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WVU Keeps Sending Players to Professional Baseball

Yehl's selection adds to a growing run of WVU talent reaching the pros. Montesa went just 19 picks earlier, at 72nd overall to St. Louis. The Cardinals took Montesa despite a 5.38 ERA this season, drawn in by his hard-throwing right arm, per WVNS TV. Two players drafted from the same program in the same year shows WVU is becoming a real pipeline for professional scouts.

Yehl joins fellow WVU alums already in the Royals organization. Kansas City landed a proven college starter with a track record of staying healthy under pressure and posting big numbers at the college level. For a team building its pitching depth, adding a left-hander with Yehl's strikeout rate and durability fits the mold.

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