Yankees predicted to acquire hard-throwing 21-year-old with 'gaudy' stats

The New York Yankees could use an influx of young talent within the next few years.

Most of the expensive players on the Yankees' roster (Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, to name a few) are in their mid-thirties. The recent wave of youth has plenty of promising position players, like Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells, but the pitching side is lagging behind.

Last season, the Yankees used their first-round pick on right-handed pitcher Ben Hess, who has performed well in his first full season in the minors. This year, they won't pick until 39th overall, but one evaluator sees them adding another hard-throwing righty.

On Wednesday, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel predicted that the Yankees would draft J.B. Middleton, a 21-year-old starter from the University of Southern Mississippi, with their first selection.

"Middleton has a lot of interest from a late-first-round to an early-second-round pick as a power arm with starter feel and gaudy numbers this spring," McDaniel wrote. 

"He's similar as a prospect to two top picks in last year's draft, college righties Ben Hess and Bryce Cunningham."

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Middleton went 10-1 for the Golden Eagles this season, putting up a 2.31 ERA in 16 starts/105 innings. He struck out 122 batters, only walked 25, allowed a .174 batting average, and finished with a 0.85 WHIP.

Last season, the Yankees went against the grain by taking Hess, who had big strikeout numbers in college, but allowed a lot of runs. Middleton, who throws roughly 95 miles per hour on average, has the raw stuff and the amateur success.

The draft takes place on Jul. 13 in Atlanta.

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