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Yankees Draft Watch: 3 possible first-round pitching prospects

By Nick Prasad |
Oklahoma Sate's Justin Campbell (27) pitches during a bedlam college baseball game in the Big 12 tournament between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 26, 2021.Lx14443
Oklahoma Sate's Justin Campbell (27) pitches during a bedlam college baseball game in the Big 12 tournament between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 26, 2021.Lx14443
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The New York Yankees are days away from the 2022 Major League Baseball amateur draft, and selection speculation around the league is heating up. This year, the Yankees come a bit late to the buffet table, scheduled to make their initial selection 25th overall.

The top 25 draft prospects ranked by MLB Pipeline features a total of 17 position players and 8 pitchers, all with first-round capabilities. The Yankees’ top 30 prospect list consists of 14 pitchers and 16 position players.

If the team decides to shoot for a big-game arm first overall, there are a few solid options on the list.

Yankees: 3 Pitchers to consider in first round of 2022 MLB Draft

3.  RHP Gabriel Hughes, Gonzaga

This right-hander out of Gonzaga is one to be excited about. Gabriel Hughes has emerged as a staple in the Gonzaga rotation and could be one of the highest pitching draft picks out of this school. He stands at 6-4 and 220 pounds off the mound as a former two-way player. With consistent velocity ranging 94-96 MPH with a 97 MPH max fastball, Hughes is projected to eventually reach the triple digits. He works with two main off-speed pitches, with his out pitch being an effective slider ranging between 89-90 MPH, and a good changeup, often located low with late drop.

Hughes shows off his athleticism with an ideal body type and strong arm. He’s repetitive in his delivery, with a high leg kick and consistent finish. In three college seasons, Hughes racked up a total record of 12-8 with 3.05 ERA, striking out 218 batters while walking only 73, and only giving up 9 home runs. With a stint in the Northwoods League and West Coast League, his numbers totaled at a 13-9 record with a 3.58 ERA, 245 strikeouts, 91 walks, and 1.239 WHIP in 201 innings. This kid would be a solid arm in the Yankees organization.

May 26, 2021; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma St. pitcher Justin Campbell (27) delivers a pitch to Oklahoma during the Big 12 Conference Baseball Tournament at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2021; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma St. pitcher Justin Campbell (27) delivers a pitch to Oklahoma during the Big 12 Conference Baseball Tournament at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

2. RHP Justin Campbell, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State monster right-hander Justin Campbell towers over you off the mound as a 6-7, 219-pound sophomore, ranking 36th in MLB’s Top 200 prospects. Justin has a unique delivery and unorthodox mechanics, making visuals and recognition difficult for hitters. He has a long-stretched reach to the plate with a shorter arm extension, followed by a repeated delivery and consistent windup from the left side of the rubber.

He commands his fastball well, and is able to hit spots. His fastball ranges 92-94 MPH on average, maxing at 97 MPH with tail. He throws a changeup and a curveball, which are both extremely effective in forcing weak ground balls and disallowing hard contact.

According to his career college statistics, he’s a strikeout machine, seating 265 hitters and only walking 58 in a total of three seasons, topped off with a 17-6 record.

Additionally … this guy can hit. He totaled 116 plate appearances in three seasons, with 17 RBI, 17 runs, 30 hits, and a .313 average to his name. Campbell was drafted out of high school in the 18th round of the 2019 MLB draft. This arm is polished to assist a system such as the Yankees’; Campbell can be a possible first- or second-rounder.

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s pitcher Brock Porter throws against Forest Hills Northern Friday, June 17, 2022, during the MHSAA D1 semifinal at McLane Stadium in East Lansing. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s won 9-0. Porter threw a no-hitter.Dsc 9200
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s pitcher Brock Porter throws against Forest Hills Northern Friday, June 17, 2022, during the MHSAA D1 semifinal at McLane Stadium in East Lansing. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s won 9-0. Porter threw a no-hitter.Dsc 9200 /

1. RHP Brock Porter, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s/Clemson Commit

Brock Porter is a 2021 All-American and 2022 graduate, ranked 11th out of Pipeline’s Top 200 MLB Draft prospects and committed to Clemson. He’s graded a 10 by Perfect Game, and may be one of the higher young draft picks this year from the mound. Even on the young side, a kid with such velocity and makeup would climb the Yankees’ farm system in fast-paced fashion.

The 19-year-old lights up the gun like a Christmas tree, with a 100 MPH max fastball, and averages a consistent 94-97 MPH. Complementing the fastball, he serves a side of slider up to 87 MPH as an out pitch, as well as a good changeup and effective 12-6 quick-drop curveball.

Next week, the New York Yankees will encounter a diverse list of pitching options, with a variety of age, competition faced, repertoire, and maturity. These three pitchers, based on these attributes, will best fit the Yankees’ selections in the first round or among their top three picks.

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