Former Yankees top prospect bounces around MLB before landing with nightmare Rays

The New York Yankees have long seemed to possess an abundance of arms in their minor league system, but as highly touted as Baby Bomber hurlers have been, not all have panned out as expected. Case in point is southpaw Ken Waldichuk, who, after being shipped out by the Yankees, has bounced around the league and now landed with the division rival Tampa Bay Rays.

Now 28 years old, Waldichuk was a fifth-round pick by the Yankees back in 2019. After pitching sparingly following the draft, Waldichuk was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which cancelled the 2020 minor league season. By 2021, he was still largely overlooked, ranking 27th on the Yankees' top-30 prospects; however, from there, he'd quickly ascend.

Regarded as New York's sixth-best prospect in 2022, Waldichuk was one of the prized assets that went back to the Oakland Athletics in the Frankie Montas trade. By 2023, he had become a top-100 prospect, ranking 76th overall thanks in no small part to his mid-to-high 90s four-seamer.

Failed Yankees prospect Ken Waldichuk lands with the Rays

Waldichuk's 34.2-inning sample with the A's didn't go so well. He posted a 4.93 ERA, though he showed some encouraging walk and strikeout numbers, with his 6.8% BB rate coming in well above average and his 22.6% K rate being acceptable enough.

In 2023, the St. Marys product got his real opportunity to break through. The Athletics gave him 22 starts (and 35 total appearances), but things got worse The lefty allowed an elevated 1.53 HR/9, struck out just 20.7% of batters while his walk rate ballooned to 11.1%, which all led to a 5.36 ERA.

To add injury to insult, Waldichuk would miss all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery. His road back hasn't been an easy one. Still with the Athletics, Waldichuk toiled in the minors, throwing 51 of his 54 total innings at Triple-A Las Vegas, posting a combined 8.17 ERA. His biggest issue was walks, allowing an eye-popping 7.00 BB/9.

As the baseball world turns, Waldichuk was a DFA casualty when the A's acquired Jeff McNeil from the Mets. The Atlanta Braves plucked him off waivers after the New Year, but his time there was short-lived as the Rays sent cash to acquire him and infielder Brett Wisely just days after Atlanta had claimed Waldichuk.

If you're going to land anywhere as a struggling hurler, there aren't many better places than Tampa, as the Rays have revived more scrapheap arms than nearly any team in the majors. Still, betting on Waldichuk at this point is a long shot, but if he does find his groove, he'll be in a perfect spot to torment the Yankees.