Two rookies closing in on 2026 Yankees roster push, but Jones on bubble
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Follow UsNEW YORK — The New York Yankees are entering an offseason that could redefine their roster depth for years. With injuries reshaping the pitching staff and a crowded outfield picture, a few promising rookies have moved closer to breaking through.
Right-handers Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz have positioned themselves as potential impact arms for 2026, while outfielder Spencer Jones continues to battle the odds in a packed lineup.
Yankees rotation opens new opportunity
The Yankees’ pitching outlook for 2026 remains uncertain. Gerrit Cole is expected to miss the start of the season after Tommy John surgery, while Carlos Rodón will likely be sidelined following elbow surgery. Those absences create at least one open rotation spot when spring training begins.
Even with Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, and Will Warren likely securing starting roles, the Yankees may lean on their young talent earlier than expected. General manager Brian Cashman made it clear during his postseason media session that the club intends to evaluate internal options.
Cashman said the organization plans to “measure some opportunities for young players who are knocking on the door from down below.” Two of those players, Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, are now firmly in that conversation.
Lagrange lighting up radar guns
Carlos Lagrange, ranked the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline, has quickly become one of the most exciting arms in the system. The 6-foot-7 right-hander regularly touches triple digits with his fastball and pairs that power with late movement.
“Few pitchers in the system turn heads like Lagrange, a 6-foot-7 right-hander who pushes his fastball up to 102 mph with carry and armside run,” MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch reported. “He opened eyes when he touched triple digits on the stadium radar during the Yankees’ Spring Breakout game, and the buzz hasn’t stopped since.”
Lagrange began the 2025 season with High-A Hudson Valley, where he posted a 4.10 ERA through eight starts. A midseason promotion to Double-A Somerset followed, and he delivered a 3.22 ERA across 16 outings with 104 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings.
Signed as an international free agent in February 2022, Lagrange’s combination of velocity, size, and swing-and-miss potential has drawn attention throughout the organization. The Yankees see him as a possible rotation addition next year if he continues to refine his command.
Rodriguez-Cruz emerging as polished strike-thrower
If Lagrange represents raw power, Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz brings advanced polish. Acquired from the Boston Red Sox last winter for catcher Carlos Narváez, the 22-year-old right-hander has quickly validated that trade.
Rodriguez-Cruz, now ranked the Yankees’ No. 3 prospect, delivered one of the most consistent minor league seasons in the system. He recorded a 2.58 ERA and struck out 176 batters in 150 innings across three levels — Hudson Valley, Somerset, and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“Only the Mets’ Jonah Tong (179) recorded more strikeouts in the Minors than Rodriguez-Cruz, who finished the season at Triple-A, where he pitched once,” Hoch wrote. “Though MLB Pipeline lists his ETA as 2027, Rodriguez-Cruz’s trajectory might outpace that projection.”
Known for his control and stamina, Rodriguez-Cruz has already demonstrated the kind of command the Yankees value in young pitchers.
“An aggressive strike-thrower with a live arm, Rodriguez-Cruz has already displayed polish to go with his promise,” Hoch added.
His success gives the Yankees another option for early-season starts if health issues linger within the rotation. The organization believes he can handle big-league competition sooner than expected.
Yankees turning inward for solutions
With the top of the rotation in flux, the Yankees have turned their attention to their farm system. Cashman’s comments reflect a shift toward homegrown depth rather than heavy offseason spending.
Both Lagrange and Rodriguez-Cruz exemplify that approach — power, control, and cost-effective talent developed internally. If either pitcher carries his 2025 momentum into spring training, the Yankees could fill rotation gaps without relying on external signings.
The combination of Lagrange’s velocity and Rodriguez-Cruz’s precision gives the club flexibility. As injuries tested their pitching depth in 2025, the Yankees now have internal answers ready to step in when needed.
Spencer Jones finds himself in traffic
While the Yankees’ young arms are moving closer to the majors, Spencer Jones faces a steeper climb. The 6-foot-7 outfielder put together one of the most productive seasons in the minors but remains blocked by an outfield full of established players.
Jones, the Yankees’ No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, hit .274 with a .362 on-base percentage and a .571 slugging mark in 116 games. He blasted 35 home runs, drove in 80 runs, and added 29 stolen bases. His power and athleticism made him one of the most talked-about prospects in the organization.
At Triple-A, Jones was nearly unstoppable during July, batting .419 with 11 home runs, earning International League Player of the Month honors. Despite that surge, his strikeout rate — 179 strikeouts in 438 at-bats — remains a concern.
The Yankees ended the 2025 season with Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, Jasson Domínguez, and Giancarlo Stanton all capable of handling outfield roles. Even if Bellinger and Grisham move on in free agency, Domínguez’s emergence limits Jones’s immediate opportunities.
Cashman leaves door open for Jones
General manager Brian Cashman confirmed that Jones will be part of the team’s spring training competition but stopped short of guaranteeing a spot.
“He’s put himself in the conversation,” Cashman said. “He’ll certainly come to Spring Training, and he’s earned without a doubt the look and the competition. It all depends on how many opportunities exist based on the decisions that come our way this winter.”
Jones’s size, left-handed power, and athleticism keep him relevant to the Yankees’ future, but his defensive role may determine how quickly he reaches the Bronx. Some scouts now view him as a corner outfielder rather than a full-time center fielder, a shift that narrows his path given the team’s roster makeup.
Yankees weighing youth and experience
The Yankees’ 2026 roster decisions will test the balance between proven veterans and ready prospects. The pitching depth chart could rely heavily on emerging talent like Lagrange and Rodriguez-Cruz, while position players such as Jones fight to prove they belong.
New York’s injury setbacks have created both challenges and chances. Lagrange’s power arm and Rodriguez-Cruz’s refined command have put them on the cusp of major league debuts. For Jones, another strong spring might not be enough without roster movement above him.
The Yankees have emphasized development, discipline, and patience with their next generation. If that strategy continues, 2026 could mark the beginning of a new wave of homegrown impact players in pinstripes.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
IMO it seems the Yankees are into giving Dominguez every opportunity, even though he regressed as the season whore on. Jones has all the tools, yes his strikeout rate is up there, but so is Judge and Stanton’s. If they are so into development, discipline and patience, They have blown it with some of the younger talent. Play him or trade him!
Dominguez didn’t regress, the numbers game got him.
To me, Spencer Jones is Plan B for that 3rd OF starting spot, behind re-signing Bellinger. With Rodón only scheduled to miss maybe the first 5-6 times through the rotation, depending on how Lagrange & ERC pitch the first half of Spring Training, I can see each being given a chance as both will already be on the 40 come Spring Training.