Yankees' 2026 first-round draft pick got Clayton Kershaw comparison on MLB broadcast

The New York Yankees are going back to their SEC connection to beef up their farm system. They've made another first-round selection by taking a pitcher from the college ranks in the 2026 MLB Draft.

Hunter Dietz, a left-handed pitcher out of Arkansas, was New York's No. 35 overall selection on Saturday. This mirrors their pick from two years ago when they took Alabama right-hander Ben Hess 26th overall.

The two have one major similarity: a ton of swing and miss. At the time of his selection, Hess struck out 106 batters over 68 1/3 innings in his final season with the Crimson Tide. Dietz has been just as good with 131 punchouts across 85 2/3 innings this past year.

Want to get even more excited? The graphic on the MLB Network broadcast read "slider reiminiscent of Clayton Kershaw's", based on Cole Hamels' scouting notes. The two direct comparisons were to Jordan Montgomery and James Paxton — former Yankees who don't exactly inspire the most confidence — but it's also believed Dietz could move quickly through the minor league ranks.

Overall, it's a good selection with the high ceiling coupled with the fact that he was regarded as the best player available.

Yankees' selection of Hunter Dietz and what it means for the near future

Dietz was among the best strikeout pitchers in the loaded SEC conference, which saw Oklahoma take home the College World Series trophy. The lefty sports an upper 90s fastball, a top-graded slider and cutter, and a changeup. Very promising stuff.

But there's a major issue. Dietz pitched only four games across 2024 and 2025 due to multiple elbow surgeries. He suffered a fracture of his left ulna in 2023 and then suffered a setback that kept him out for almost two full years.

That said, the manner in which he rebounded in 2026 was remarkable. He finished with a 3.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 13.8 K/9 in his 16 starts. The upper-80s cuter and mid-80s slider proved to be massive changes of pace in his sparkling arsenal.

Dietz profiles as a top-of-the-rotation arm and it's believed he could rise fast throughout the minor leagues. Expect him to join the Yankees' top ranks right off the bat and give the Yankees more trade flexibility with their other prospect pitchers at this year's trade deadline.

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