Maxx Yehl
| Maxx Yehl | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maxx Yehl getting ready to pitch. Yehl preparing to deliver a pitch. | |||
| Kansas City Royals | |||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: May 24, 2004 Olean, New York, U.S. | |||
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Maxwell Christopher Yehl (born May 24, 2004) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Kansas City Royals organization. He played college baseball for the West Virginia Mountaineers. Yehl was selected by the Royals in the third round of the 2026 Major League Baseball draft.[1]
Early life and high school career
Yehl was raised in Olean, New York and attended Portville Central High School, where he played varsity baseball from eighth grade through his senior season.[2] As a senior in 2022, he led the Panthers to a Class C sectional title and a state semifinal appearance, earning Big 30 Player of the Year honors for the second time in his high school career.[2] During his final high school season, he recorded a notable immaculate inning against North Collins and threw a shutout in the Section VI final against Gowanda.[2] He committed to West Virginia University (WVU) to play college baseball.
College career
Yehl played three active seasons of college baseball for the Mountaineers, working primarily as a relief pitcher during his first two years. As a true freshman in 2023, he made 17 relief appearances, compiling a 1–0 record with a 3.54 ERA.[3] In 2024, he led West Virginia with 24 appearances out of the bullpen, going 2–0 with two saves and a 3.99 ERA.[3] He missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.[4]
Returning as a redshirt junior in 2026, Yehl transitioned to a starting role and became the ace of the Mountaineers' rotation. On March 15, 2026, he pitched eight scoreless innings and struck out a career-high 12 batters against Baylor, earning National Player of the Week honors.[1] He finished the 2026 season with a 9–3 record, a 2.13 ERA, and 112 strikeouts in 97.0 innings over 18 starts.[1] His performance earned him Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year honors and consensus First-Team All-American status from publications including Perfect Game, while helping lead West Virginia to its first-ever College World Series appearance.[1][4]
Collegiate statistics
| Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | SO | BB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | West Virginia | 1 | 0 | 3.54 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 28.0 | 19 | 15 | ||
| 2024 | West Virginia | 2 | 0 | 3.99 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 29.1 | 32 | 18 | ||
| 2025 | West Virginia | Did not play – Redshirted (injury) | ||||||||||
| 2026 | West Virginia | 9 | 3 | 2.13 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 97.0 | 112 | 26 | ||
| Career | All | 12 | 3 | 2.74 | 59 | 18 | 2 | 154.1 | 163 | 59 | ||
Professional career
On July 11, 2026, the Kansas City Royals selected Yehl in the third round with the 91st overall pick of the 2026 Major League Baseball draft. He became the highest-drafted pitcher in the history of the West Virginia Mountaineers baseball program.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Local Hurler Makes Good". WESB. July 15, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Buchan, Henry (July 13, 2026). "Former Portville pitcher Maxx Yehl selected by Royals in third round of the MLB draft". The Bradford Era. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Maxx Yehl Stats & Scouting Report". Baseball America. July 6, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Anderson, John (July 11, 2026). "'It's all I can ask for,' Portville's Maxx Yehl drafted by Kansas City Royals after magical West Virginia season". The Wellsville Sun. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
Category:2004 births Category:Living people Category:American baseball pitchers Category:West Virginia Mountaineers baseball players Category:Baseball players from New York (state) Category:Kansas City Royals draft picks
Early life and high school career
Yehl attended Portville Central High School in Portville, New York, where he played varsity baseball from eighth grade through his senior season.[1] As a senior in 2022, he led the Panthers to a Class C sectional title and a state semifinal appearance, earning Big 30 Player of the Year honors for the second time in his high school career.[2] He committed to West Virginia University (WVU) to play college baseball.[3]
College career
Yehl played three active seasons of college baseball for the Mountaineers.
As a true freshman in 2023, he made 17 relief appearances, compiling a 1–0 record with a 3.54 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 28.0 innings.[3] He built upon his success in his sophomore season in 2024, leading the team with 24 appearances out of the bullpen while going 2–0 with two saves, a 3.99 ERA, and 32 strikeouts in 29.1 innings pitched.[3]
Yehl missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.[4]
Returning as a redshirt junior in 2026, Yehl transitioned to a starting role and became the ace of the Mountaineers' rotation. On March 15, 2026, he pitched eight scoreless innings and struck out a career-high 12 batters in an 8–0 victory over Baylor, earning Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Week honors.[5] He finished the 2026 season with a 9–3 record, a 2.13 ERA, and 112 strikeouts in 97.0 innings over 18 starts.[6] His performance earned him Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year honors and consensus First-Team All-American status, helping lead West Virginia to its first-ever College World Series appearance.[4][6]
Collegiate statistics
| Year | Team | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | SO | BB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | West Virginia | 1 | 0 | 3.54 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 28.0 | 19 | 15 | ||
| 2024 | West Virginia | 2 | 0 | 3.99 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 29.1 | 32 | 18 | ||
| 2025 | West Virginia | Did not play – Redshirted (injury) | ||||||||||
| 2026 | West Virginia | 9 | 3 | 2.13 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 97.0 | 112 | 26 | ||
| Career | All | 12 | 3 | 2.74 | 59 | 18 | 2 | 154.1 | 163 | 59 | ||
Professional career
On July 11, 2026, the Kansas City Royals selected Yehl in the third round with the 91st overall pick of the 2026 Major League Baseball draft.[7]
References
- ↑ Buchan, Henry (June 13, 2026). "Maxx Yehl's rise from Portville to the College World Series: In his coach's words". Salamanca Press. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ Anderson, John (July 11, 2026). "'It's all I can ask for,' Portville's Maxx Yehl drafted by Kansas City Royals after magical West Virginia season". The Wellsville Sun. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Maxx Yehl - Baseball". WVUSports.com. West Virginia University Athletics. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "WVU P Maxx Yehl Drafted in the Third Round of the 2026 MLB Draft". Sports Illustrated. July 11, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Smith IV, Beard and Yehl are Dick Howser Trophy National Players of the Week". National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. March 17, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "College Baseball Foundation, D1Baseball Name Kelly, Yehl to All-America First Team". WVUSports.com. West Virginia University Athletics. June 25, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- West Virginia Mountaineers bio
Category:2004 births Category:Living people Category:American baseball pitchers Category:West Virginia Mountaineers baseball players Category:Baseball players from New York (state) Category:Kansas City Royals draft picks
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