The University of Alabama is primarily known for its renowned football program, having produced 432 Crimson Tide players who were drafted by NFL teams. However, the 205-year-old university has also made a significant impact on Major League Baseball. Alabama has contributed 312 players to MLB, including 155 through the annual amateur draft, which has been held since 1965.
Only five Alabama players have ever been selected in the first round of the draft, with the most recent being this year. Right-handed pitcher Ben Hess made history as the second-highest draft pick in Alabama’s history when the New York Yankees selected him 26th overall in the first round at the age of 21.
Now, a new trade proposal suggests that the Yankees, seeking to strengthen their infield after losing Gleyber Torres to the Detroit Tigers in free agency, might part ways with West.
Trade Pitch Ships Top Draft Pick to Tampa Bay
According to a trade proposal by Sporting News reporter Jackson Roberts, the New York Yankees could trade West and eight-year minor leaguer Jorbit Vivas, an infielder, to the Tampa Bay Rays.
In return, the Yankees would receive second baseman Brandon Lowe, a versatile 30-year-old who has battled injuries throughout his seven-year career with the Rays, where he has also played first base and both corner outfield positions.
Lowe still has two years left on his six-year, $24 million contract with the Rays, but his market value could reach $80 million over four years, according to SpoTrac. However, the Yankees would only owe Lowe $10.5 million in 2025. His deal includes a club option for 2026, giving the Yankees the flexibility to either part ways with him after one season or keep him for 2026 at a cost of $11.5 million.
This trade would make financial sense for both teams: the Rays, who had MLB’s third-lowest payroll in 2024, could clear Lowe’s $10.5 million salary, while the Yankees would gain an affordable replacement for Gleyber Torres.
A Healthy Lowe: Economical Torres Replacement
Jackson Roberts notes that while Brandon Lowe has struggled with injuries over the past three seasons, he has consistently performed when healthy, posting an .808 OPS and a 126 OPS+ since 2020, including a 39-homer season during his 2021 All-Star campaign. Roberts also describes Hess as an ideal candidate for the Rays’ pitching development, with Vivas fitting Tampa Bay’s preference for positional versatility due to his excellent hitting ability.
Hess was the top high school prospect in Illinois in 2021, according to an MLB.com scouting report. Although he initially declined offers from MLB teams to pitch for Alabama, injuries hindered his first two years with the Crimson Tide. However, in his final season, the 6’5″, 255-pound right-hander stayed healthy and saw his fastball consistently range from 92 to 96 mph, peaking at 99 mph.
The scouting report also highlighted Hess’s injury history, including a back stress fracture in high school and a flexor strain in 2023. It suggests that while he has the potential to be a No. 2 starter, improving his control will be key to reaching that level. Rebuilding his control to match his sophomore-year strikeout-to-walk ratio of 6-1 would likely be a primary focus for the Rays’ pitching development program if they were to acquire him in this trade.
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