The next New York Yankees prospect that we will be taking a look at is a big left-handed starting pitcher who was the Yankees fifth round draft pick in 2019. That pitcher would be the talented, Ken Waldichuk. Waldichuk played his college ball at St. Mary’s, and did enough to impress the Yankees for them to select them in the fifth round last year. Waldichuk stands 6’4 and weighs about 220 pounds, so he has a great frame for a starting pitcher. Waldichuk is one of those under the radar prospects in the Yankees system. He was selected in the first five rounds of the draft last year, but not a lot of people have him high on the rankings yet. Waldichuk has a solid mix of pitches, and he really impressed me in his first stint in rookie ball.
Impressive Professional Debut
After getting drafted by the Yankees last season, Waldichuk started in ten games for the Pulaski Yankees. In those ten games, Waldichuk threw 29.1 innings. His numbers were pretty sensational across the board. In those 29.1 innings, Waldichuk pitched to a 3.68 ERA, and he struck out 49 batters compared to just 7 walks. A 7-1 strikeout to walk ratio is eye popping for someone coming right out of the draft. Another number that really stood out was his WHIP which was an incredible 0.89. Simply put, Waldichuk dominated in rookie ball last year. Waldichuk features a fastball that can touch 95, and he pairs that with an above average slider and a developing change up. I know it’s very early in his professional development, but I’m very impressed with what I see in Ken Waldichuk.
The Yankees Plan for Waldichuk
Left-handed starting pitchers are extremely valuable in baseball. I think the Yankees might have found a diamond in the rough in their fifth round selection last year. I really like the mix of pitches that Waldichuk features, and I’m a huge fan of his ability to stay ahead in the count. He’s not the type of guy who is going to dance around the edges, he’s going to go right after guys. I think Waldichuk is the kind of prospect that the Yankees love. I think the Yankees will fully plan on developing Waldichuk the same way that they developed Jordan Montgomery. Waldichuk is the type of prospect who could rise up through the system quickly, and surprise a lot of folks outside the Yankees organization. Definitely someone to keep your eyes on Yankee fans.