Yankees prospect Ben Grable has emerged as a unique talent in baseball due to his distinctive fastball, a blend of high velocity and exceptional induced vertical break that sets him apart from his peers.
Grable, an 11th-round pick from Indiana University in the 2023 draft, has rapidly advanced through the Yankees' minor league system, earning a late addition to the 2026 All-Star Futures Game. While the Yankees are known for developing effective relievers and finding late-round draft gems, Grable's specific pitching arsenal is singular. He averages 96.1 mph with his four-seam fastball, complemented by approximately 20.5 to 21 inches of induced vertical break. This combination means his fastball appears to rise as it approaches the plate, making it difficult for hitters to square up.
Currently, only three qualified major leaguers—Alex Vesia, Tobias Myers, and Dylan Lee—possess four-seamers averaging 20 inches of vertical break, and none of them approach Grable's fastball velocity. The closest comparison in terms of a high-velocity, high-vertical-break fastball is Jeremiah Estrada of the San Diego Padres, whose fastball has averaged 95.8 mph with 19.8 inches of vertical break. Estrada has achieved significant success with this pitch, posting a 3.26 ERA and 225 strikeouts in 154 2/3 innings over the past three seasons.
Grable himself acknowledged the distinctiveness of his pitch, noting that he didn't fully grasp its effectiveness until he reached the professional ranks. "When I got to Indiana, they sort of taught us the metrics and all that," Grable said. "I didn’t really know how good it was until I got into New York."
His performance in the minor leagues has been statistically dominant. In 31 innings across 28 relief appearances for High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset, Grable has a 2.61 ERA. His peripheral numbers are even more impressive, ranking fourth among affiliated minor leaguers with at least 30 innings pitched in WHIP (0.77), 16th in strikeout percentage (40.2 percent), and eighth in opponents’ batting average (.127), while maintaining a low walk rate of 2.90 per nine innings.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024, Grable returned to pitch for Indiana University, where he transitioned from starting to relieving and saw his fastball velocity increase. He credits mechanical adjustments and a focus on pitching exclusively from the stretch for his velocity spike. "He’s a different pitcher than he was at college," said Somerset manager James Cooper, who also served as an AL third base coach at the Futures Game. "He said he ‘cleaned up my mechanics,’ now pitches exclusively from the stretch, worked on a fastball the Yankees believed ‘can be a whole lot better’ and watched his velocity spike."
Grable has also developed a slider, adapting a grip he saw from Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns. This secondary pitch has become a potent complement to his fastball, enabling him to dominate opponents. "He’s been able to dominate the game with those two pitches," Cooper added.
His standout performance has led to opportunities in high-profile games, including a brief appearance in the Futures Game where he retired a batter on his first pitch. "It’s pretty fun to pitch in a big league stadium," Grable remarked.