Yankees’ two rookie arms, one baby bat win MiLB weekly awards

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Yankees prospects—two rookie arms, one young bat— shine in MiLB weekly awards.

The Yankees‘ organizational depth flexed its muscle this past week as three promising prospects captured Minor League Player of the Week distinctions across multiple leagues, showcasing the impressive pipeline of talent developing within the club’s farm system.

Outfielder Jace Avina alongside pitchers Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and Griffin Herring each earned recognition for their exceptional performances, providing Bronx faithful with an exciting preview of potential future contributors. All three 21-year-old prospects are performing well beyond their experience level at their respective assignments, each demonstrating the skillsets that have earned them spots on the organization’s prospect radar.

Jace Avina ignites Hudson Valley offense

Jace Avina, selected by the Yankees in the 14th round of the 2021 MLB Draft, secured South Atlantic League Player of the Week honors following a scorching stretch with the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades.

Across six contests, Avina compiled a remarkable .545/.643/.773 slash line. He recorded four multi-hit performances, including consecutive three-hit games to conclude the week, while driving in seven runs, scoring four times, and launching one home run. The young outfielder also displayed exceptional discipline at the plate, drawing six walks against only four strikeouts.

Avina’s hot start to 2025 has elevated his season statistics to .313/.458/.406 through 20 games. Though his power numbers remain a work in progress—with just one homer thus far—his approach, contact ability, and consistent production have established him as a standout performer in the Renegades’ lineup.

Rodriguez-Cruz strikes out 12 in dominant outing

On the mound, right-hander Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz delivered a virtually untouchable performance in his lone start last week, earning South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week recognition.

Representing Hudson Valley, Rodriguez-Cruz delivered 6.1 scoreless frames of one-hit baseball, issuing just a single walk while fanning a personal-best 12 batters. His strikeout total ranks as the second-highest single-game mark in franchise history.

Obtained from Boston in December 2024 in exchange for catcher Carlos Narvaez and international bonus pool space, Rodriguez-Cruz has rapidly ascended to become the Yankees’ seventh-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline. His command, composure, and swing-and-miss capability have garnered attention throughout the organization’s coaching ranks.

Through the opening month of 2025, Rodriguez-Cruz has compiled a 2-1 record with a 2.42 ERA across four starts. He’s accumulated 30 strikeouts against just five walks in 22.1 innings. The slender right-hander features a mid-90s fastball complemented by an improved slider, creating a formidable combination that has overwhelmed South Atlantic League competition.

Herring dominates in Florida State League

Completing the organizational sweep, southpaw Griffin Herring claimed Pitcher of the Week honors in the Florida State League while representing the Class A Tampa Tarpons.

Herring, whom the Yankees selected in the sixth round from LSU during the 2023 MLB Draft, delivered a pitching clinic against the Dunedin Blue Jays. He worked seven shutout innings, surrendering merely two hits and three walks while recording six strikeouts.

This performance extended a brilliant beginning to the season for the left-hander, who currently boasts a perfect 3-0 record with a microscopic 0.39 ERA through his first four starts. Having allowed just one earned run across 23 innings, Herring has excelled particularly at limiting solid contact, leveraging an advanced changeup and sophisticated pitch sequencing uncommon for such a young arm.

Currently positioned as the Yankees’ 25th-ranked prospect, Herring is building a compelling case for rapid advancement through the system if his dominance continues.

Yankees farm system gaining momentum

The Yankees’ player development department has prioritized pitching depth and balanced offensive approaches in recent draft classes, and performances like these suggest their strategy is yielding positive results.

Avina’s enhanced plate discipline and all-fields hitting approach position him as a viable candidate for promotion to Double-A later this season. The Rodriguez-Cruz acquisition increasingly resembles a potential bargain. Meanwhile, Herring’s polish and maturity have established him among the standout performers from the 2023 draft class.

General manager Brian Cashman has consistently emphasized the importance of internal talent supporting the major league roster, particularly as the organization navigates significant contracts and injury situations at the highest level.

As of May 2025, the Yankees’ prospect pipeline ranks in the middle tier among MLB systems, but continued exceptional performances could propel several of their promising arms and bats into national top-100 consideration.

The pinstriped road ahead

Should Avina maintain his current production rate, a midseason promotion to Somerset appears increasingly likely, where more sophisticated pitching awaits. Rodriguez-Cruz similarly appears destined for Double-A challenges, especially if his double-digit strikeout performances continue. 

Meanwhile, Herring may soon outgrow the Florida State League if his mastery of opposing lineups persists.

With the Yankees’ major league squad contending atop the AL East standings, the organization’s developing talent at lower levels provides valuable depth and perhaps offers a glimpse of reinforcements potentially arriving in the coming seasons.

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