(In the photo, Maxx Yehl with his mother, Kristin Hardes Whiteman and his father, Chris Yehl)
By JOHN ANDERSON
Maxx Yehl’s phone started ringing in the second round of the Major League Baseball draft on Saturday as he sat with a small group of family members on Rushford Lake waiting to see if his name would be called.
Was it ever.
Early in the third round, the Kansas City Royals selected the Portville native and All-American left-handed pitcher from West Virginia with the 91st pick of the draft. Yehl was on the phone during the thirty minute break between round two and three.
As he sat on a couch with his dad, Chris Yehl, mom, Kristin Hardes Whiteman, older sister Michaela and his older brother, Mitchell, a text came in from a Kansas City Royals scout that they were taking him with the next pick.
Maxx looked up and smiled a relaxed smile for the first time since the draft kicked off on NBC. His name was announced and the cheers erupted.
“It hasn’t really kicked in yet, but I’m definitely happy. I’m going to a good organization. I can’t wait to develop and keep getting better,” Maxx Yehl said. He signed his first Major League Baseball with Kansas City Royals on it and then looked around at his family enjoying the moment.
“That’s all I care about. Having the people who care for me the most around and celebrate with them, it’s all I can ask for,” Maxx said.
Just a few months ago, some experts said Yehl would go as low as the sixth round and high as the third round. However, his dominating pitching in the Big 12 conference and helping to lead West Virginia to the College World Series increased his stock.
The watch part for the draft was special in more ways than one. The family all gathered under a large enclosed tent that was built by Maxx and his brother, Mitchell and their uncle, Kevin Dzielski.
Yehl won a Section 6 championship at Portville, pitched that summer for the Olean Oilers (now in the Perfect Game league) and went 12-3 with a 2.74 ERA, striking out 163 batters in 154.1 innings during his career.
But it was this season that turned the tide. Yehl took a year off after surgery and worked hard toward the 2026 season.
This past spring, Yehl was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and All-American, as he went 9-3 with a 2.13 ERA, striking out 112 batters in 97 innings pitched.
Then came time for the draft. If he was not drafted Saturday or Sunday, he could return to West Virginia for one more season. However, he was invited to the Major League Baseball combine in Arizona and after speaking with almost every team, the optimism was there.
Chris Yehl, who is an administrator in the state prison system, said this day does not happen without support from Portville and so many in the Southern Tier and Western New York.
“There were a lot of emotions today … but I’m so proud Maxx’s hard work is being appreciated. I keep coming back to the support he has with family, friends and this amazing community he lives in,” Chris Yehl said. “There is just a deep appreciation for anyone has has spent time coaching, mentoring him and driving him to practice and games since he was a young child. That also includes the umpires, officials, volunteers with different leagues — volunteer coaches — you can’t have the opportunity without them. Days like this it all comes together. It really took everyone to be invested in Maxx to get us to today.”
While Maxx stands 6-for-6 and 235 pounds, his father is the same size. But that didn’t stop him from crying.
“I cried before the draft started. When I saw him here this morning just walking around, I realized the day was here. Then in the moment he was drafted it was pride,” Chris Yehl said. “I’m so proud of him. He never quit. I never had to tell him twice to get in the car for practice. He never made excuses. He always knew someplace, someone was working harder than him.”
His mom Kristin is in her 28th year teaching at Portville Central School and currently teaches kindergarten. She had a first-hand chance to see Maxx grow as a student, athlete and person.
When Maxx’s name was called, Kristin said, “It was relief!”
As Maxx is doing interviews on ESPN or with the local media, Kristin smiles as she hears him talk with respect for his coaches at Portville and the entire staff at West Virginia.
“He has grown up immensely. He was born and raised in Portville, but he grew up in West Virginia,” she said. “He is so poised. He knows his craft, understands his craft and he’s proud of what he has done. But he a knows he hasn’t done it on his own. Portville has backed him 100 percent, the entire school and town is proud of him.”
And as a teacher, Kristin also know a little something about homework, “One thing is for sure, Maxx put in a lot extra work.”
Maxx then called family who could not make it, texted with friends and teammates from West Virginia. It’s now time to report to Kansas City’s extended spring training in Arizona and see where his first assignment will be.
But first, he had some unfinished business Saturday night. He got in the car with his girlfriend, Olivia Wilson and was on his way to Mickey’s in Olean. It was time to start thanking his friends from Portville and Olean and share the moment with more people who have made a difference.
Swipe to see a slideshow of photos by Samuel Robinson:
You can still sign up for Maxx Yehl’s camp on Monday in Olean:
