You can never have enough pitching in baseball, especially in your farm system. Pitchers in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft will go like hot cakes. The New York Yankees may want to add some of these prospects to their draft board.
The Yankees will select 35th overall, due to a penalty. In the first 40 prospects of MLB’s top 200-ranked draft prospects, there are 15 total pitchers. Brian Cashman and his staff need to consider some arms to equip the future of the pitching staff.
Options for the Yankees are important; if they decide to draft a pitcher early on, it needs to be strategic. The club should focus on a collegiate draft pitcher to ensure the development and consistency of numbers are there.
If selecting a high school arm, projection needs to be high, and metrics need to be proven. There are two high school pitchers with great projection and a college pitcher who fits the possibilities of a high-selection from the Bronx Bombers.
Three Draft Pitchers the Yankees Should Add to the Draft Board
Cade Townsend
Right-handed pitcher Cade Townsend should be the first name they consider, outside of Cole Carlon. Carlon is ranked 25th, and since the demand for a big lefty is there, he may be snagged earlier than the 35th selection.
Townsend may be more attainable and may fit the Yankees organization well. The right-hander is a sophomore out of Ole Miss. He’s gained draft interest since 2024, but decided to go to school for development and showcasing. Townsend is now ready after two years of competition in the Southeastern Conference. The prospect pitcher in two seasons of collegiate baseball has 93 innings pitched in 28 games.
He holds a total 4.74 ERA, with a 2026 ERA of 3.81. Townsend only allowed 49 earned runs over that span, striking out 124 batters, and only walking 37. Additionally, Townsend’s career isn’t over quite yet as the Rebels swept the Lincoln Regional and are advancing to the Super Regionals for the ninth time in program history. He commands well, utilizing a five-pitch repertoire, leading with a fastball, and putting it away with a 60-grade curveball.
Townsend sits 94-97 mph on his heater, topping 98 mph with more to offer. His curveball and slider both fight for the put-away spot, both being very effective in movement. He also throws a cutter and a changeup. Command has not been an issue, and locating pitch options has been an ongoing process. Townsend could fit in the first round or two as a pitching option.
Coleman Borthwick
Coleman Borthwick is probably one of the best high school prospect pitchers available and worthy in this draft class. Standing 6’6’, 255 lbs, the right-hander shows very good physical maturity and clear projection.
He’s another strong presence and has the capabilities of one day being a front-end Major League starter. The right-hander pitched in the state semi-finals for South Walton High School in Point Washington, Florida, throwing 99 pitches with five innings pitched, eight hits, one run, two walks, 11 strikeouts, and a 71% strikeout rate.
Topping 98 mph three times in this game, Borthwick averages 93-97 mph, also throwing a slider between 81-85 mph, and an 81-84 mph changeup. The Auburn commit ranks 35th on the top prospect list, making a Yankees selection a strong possibility.
Jensen Hirschkorn
Jensen Hirschkorn is another strong high school arm with very strong projection and a ton of upside. The right-hander is out of Kingsburg, California. He enters the draft with a height of 6’7”, 205 lbs, with an athletic-slim frame.
His loose and rubber-like arm brings effortless velocity and is very consistent with his delivery and release. The prospect’s fastball is his top attribute, scaling a 65 on the 20-80 scale. Hirschkorn can get up to 97 mph, prioritizing command, complemented by a changeup and slider.
The right-hander can pitch to contact and work his counts well. More pitch design and off-speed polishing are needed. The draft prospect is a good fit for the Yankees. He’s ranked 50th on MLB’s rankings.
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