​Choosing 35th overall, the Yankees selected college left-hander Hunter Dietz with their first-round pick in Saturday’s MLB amateur draft. Dietz, 21, hails from the University of Arkansas and was ranked the draft’s No. 17 prospect by MLB Pipeline. According to MLB Network, the 6-foot-6, 235-pound left-handed pitcher from Trinity, Florida (in the Tampa Bay area) features a fastball that typically sits in the 94-96 mph range and can reach 98 mph, complemented by a slider and a cutter in his repertoire. Dietz also carries an injury history, including a left elbow stress fracture in 2023.
One of Dietz’s draws is his unusual pitching angle. Standing at 6-foot-6, his high three-quarter delivery presents a unique look that can challenge hitters, a trait highlighted by MLB.com.
Meanwhile, with the 14th overall pick, the Miami Marlins selected high school shortstop Jacob Lombard, the younger brother of Yankees’ top prospect George Lombard Jr. Lombard’s selection continues a family connection in New York’s system.
Earlier this week, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman noted that Lombard Jr. “might be a choice at some point” for a call-up to the big league club later this season, though he is currently rehabbing from finger sprains on his throwing hand. “He’d been pushing himself before the injury, definitely was thriving and conquering the final level when he got hurt,” Cashman said, adding that Lombard could begin playing in rehab games next week.
On the offensive side, Lombard “was coming a long way and closing the gap, despite his age,” Cashman said, describing him as major league ready as a defender. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com. The Yankees selected left-handed pitcher Hunter Dietz as their 2026 first-round pick for better SEO.