MLB World Reacts To New York Yankees Drafting Hunter Dietz

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 13: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on before the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 13, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

On Saturday afternoon, the New York Yankees will continue their series with the Washington Nationals.

They are coming off a 5-3 win on Friday night.

MLB World Reacts To Yankees Drafting Dietz

GettyBrian Cashman, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the New York Yankees, looks on before game two of the American League Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 05, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.

Also on Saturday, the Yankees selected Hunter Dietz with the 35th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.

@NYYPlayerDev wrote: “Round 1 | Pick 35: The New York Yankees select LHP Hunter Dietz out of The University of Arkansas.”

NYYPlayerDev

@NYYPlayerDev · Follow

Round 1 | Pick 35: The New York Yankees select LHP Hunter Dietz out of The University of Arkansas. #MLBDraft

4:12 pm · 11 Jul 2026

274 Reply Copy link Read 23 replies

Here’s what people were saying about Dietz:

@NYY_Prospects: “Dietz, standing 6’6” 235 at age 21, pitched just 1.2 innings in his first two collegiate seasons due to injury. In 16 starts in 2026, he pitched to a 3.57 ERA with 131 strikeouts in 85.2 innings. Extremely impressive in the SEC. Scouting report from Pipeline:”

@BobbyMilone29: “Dietz could be the lefty version of Schlittler Could have 70 grade cutter, throws 6 different shape pitches and touched 99 this spring I’ll take it”

Gary Phillips: “Not gonna pretend to know anything about Hunter Dietz, but MLB-dot-com’s scouting report says the #Yankees’ top pick has a fastball that sits 94-96 mph and reaches 98, plus a curve, slider, cutter and changeup. He had a stress fracture in his elbow that required surgery in the fall 2023, and he broke out with 131 K in 85.2 innings this season.”

Getty(L-R) Brian Cashman, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the New York Yankees, and Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees speak before game two of the American League Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 05, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.

@YankeeSource: “Nice pick by the Yankees to land Hunter Dietz LHP. There are some mechanical issues but he’s a quick mover if he stays healthy. It’s a Payton Tolle type pick with risk, and you have to take that shot.”

@cai_rogers7: “The New York Yankees select LHP Hunter Dietz with the 35th overall pick out of the University of Arkansas Dietz is a Tall, hard-throwing southpaw who has had some injury issues in college, appearing in just 4 games (0 starts) across his first 2 seasons before his breakout season this past year In 2026, he started 16 games, posting a 1.191 WHIP and 131 K’s over 85.2 IP (Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist)”

MLB Draft: “With the 35th pick in the 2026 Draft, the @Yankees select @RazorbackBSB left-handed pitcher Hunter Dietz, No. 17 on the Top 250 Draft prospects list.”