The Yankees have vastly improved their minor league system the past few years. They have changed their approach on developing prospects which has led to one of the best farms the Yankees have had in years. One area they have struggled in past years is pitching. Finding pitching prospects that pan out is extremely difficult. Luckily, they have found a pitcher that could be the next big star.

Young Stud

Ken Waldichuk was drafted in the 5th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of St. Mary’s College. The 6’4” lefty hurler quickly made his way up the rankings of Yankees prospects after performing well in A+ last season, starting the year with an scoreless streak of 30 ⅔ innings. He made his way to AAA this season after dominating in AA, pitching to a 2.28 FIP in AA, and a 3.96 FIP in AAA. Waldichuk continued his success in the MLB Futures Game where he earned the save for the American League team. Let’s break down his success and what the future holds for the 24 year old prospect.

Repertoire

Waldichuk relies on an upper 90s four seam fastball that has been lethal in the minors. He also has a really good slider which has improved during his time in the organization. His curveball is solid and could get even better with more work. Waldichuk strikes out hitters at an incredibly high rate, with a K% above 41% in AA and 31% in AAA. His ability to get swinging strikes from both his fastball and slider gives him a good chance to have real and sustainable success in the big league.

Comparison

Seattle Mariners pitcher Robbie Ray is someone who I see a lot of in Ken Waldichuk. They have similar mechanics and both throw a lot of four seam fastballs and sliders. Waldichuk has a few more ticks of velocity on Ray, which could make him an even better version of Ray.

Future

The Yankees have a lot of things to improve on at the moment. They need starting pitching, they need an outfielder, and they need a reliever. It is uncertain which prospects in their system are untouchable, so it is very possible that we see Ken Waldichuk in another team's uniform after the trade deadline. However if this does not happen, he could be in for a big 2023. With Taillon becoming a free agent and it seeming unlikely that he re-signs, the Yankees might be in need of another rotation member. If he performs well in spring training and plays his cards right, Ken Waldichuk could be a key part of the pitching staff going into 2023.

Final thoughts

While his future may be uncertain, it is certain that lefty pitching prospects who throw in the upper 90s do not come around often, and that Ken Waldichuk could be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.