In my preseason report, I had my doubts about the Yankees’ system. As I was ranking prospects, I was noticing two disturbing things:
- They lacked top-notch prospects;
- They lacked depth everywhere other than pitchers.
That’s not a good combination, right? Some organizations lack depth but have top prospects that will make you drool. Other organizations may not have that top prospect but have extraordinary depth. The Yankees fell into the latter category for a while. They made several acquisitions lately by overwhelming trade partners with depth.
That depth still exists on the hill, and they added a major piece to that in the draft. While a few pitching prospects have fallen (Hampton, Cunningham), others have risen to take their place.
Position players? I don’t see it, folks. You hope Lombard Jr. maxes out his talent, but then what? Dax Kilby has played in one game all year. Spencer Jones has issues with his swing-and-miss.
You want to be strong up-the-middle. The Yankees have one of those spots covered (pitchers), but catchers, shortstops, and center fielders are hard to find. It makes it harder to complete significant trades when you lack prospects at premium positions. It’s a trickle-down effect, as dealing Lombard Jr. leaves you without an upper-level shortstop prospect.
While we can look down the system and find some talent, this is true of most organizations. High-ceiling prospects in the lower minors aren’t exactly uncommon. The vast majority won’t reach those ceilings, which is what makes evaluation so annoying in baseball. Performance is important, but it doesn’t guarantee success later.
Is there light at the end of the tunnel? The honest answer is, “I don’t know”. The DSL Yankees have been dominant offensively all season. I can’t ignore that. However, trying to figure out if there is a gem amongst that Murderer’s Row is an impossible exercise. When I look at A+ Hudson Valley, I see interesting prospects. A few of them are ranked below. If they “hold up” in Somerset, the system looks brighter, but I don’t think a star is emerging.
The bottom line is that this is the weakest I have seen the system in several years. Weak systems can still bear fruit, however.
With that, here is my Top 30. The number in parentheses represents their preseason ranking.
1. George Lombard Jr., SS (1)
An unfortunate hand injury stalled his progress, but he is on a rehab stint. Lombard got off to a slow start with Triple-A Scranton, but started turning things around at the time of his injury. In 14 June games, he hit .306/.426/.571 with seven doubles and a pair of home runs.
2. Carlos Lagrange, RHP (2)
The move to the bullpen that many expected happened. However, he hurt his shoulder and is out for several weeks. The potential is still there, but his walk rates remain high, and his strikeout rate dipped from 2025 to 2026 (33.4% to 29.5%). Some of that can be attributed to his focus on developing his sinker.
3. Elmer Rodriguez, RHP (3)
The Yankees have given Rodriguez four spot starts, totalling only 17 innings. He has walked more batters than he has struck out, but has posted a strong ground ball rate (50.9%). It was smart by the Yankees to give him some MLB time this year, but refinement is still needed. Missing more bats usually comes with experience, and 17 innings will never be enough to convince me that a pitcher is or isn’t MLB material.
4. Hunter Dietz, LHP (NR)
Interpret this ranking however you wish. Dietz is likely not far away from his MLB debut as he is a polished power arm from a big-name school (Arkansas). Yes, like almost every pitcher in history, he’s dealt with an injury. It didn’t impact his 2026 campaign, however. To answer your other question: Yes, this also reflects how I feel about the system as a whole. I would rather not rank the most recent draftee 4th.
5. Ben Hess, RHP (4)
After a dominant debut campaign, Hess picked up where he left off in his first start in 2026. However, he was injured during his second start, which kept him out for a month. While he has been back since May 14th, the Yankees have handled him with kid gloves, as he wasn’t allowed to throw five innings until his most recent start. I might be aggressive immediately moving Deitz ahead of him, but #4 vs. #5 is hardly something I obsess over.
6. Henry Lalane, LHP (9)
When the season started, concerns that Lalane would never regain his shine were not alleviated. Seemingly out of nowhere, something clicked in mid-to-late May, and he hasn’t looked back. He pitched well enough to earn a promotion to Hudson Valley, where he struck out eight in 4.2 innings in his debut. The injury concerns remain (his 67 innings this season are a personal best), but there’s reason for optimism.
7. Thatcher Hurd, RHP (8)
In his professional debut on May 4th, Hurd made his presence known by tossing four hitless innings. Other than a miserable start on May 26th (2.1 IP, 10 ER), Hurd has impressed. In a sign of maturity, he owns a 1.35 ERA and 36/11 K/BB over 26.2 innings since that outing. The upside with him is enormous, and potential trade partners have likely taken notice.
8. Spencer Jones, OF (7)
I feel as if we have seen all the sides of Jones in his 30-game MLB audition. He hit a couple of impressive home runs, walked at a decent rate (11%), but struck out at an extreme rate (41.5%). Both the strikeout rate and the swinging strike percentage (21%) are numbers he won’t survive with, making him an extreme risk. The sample size is small, and he’ll get more chances to prove he is viable as an MLB player.
9. Dax Kilby, IF/OF (5)
Availability matters. That is true of minor leaguers as well as major leaguers. Kilby has played in only one game this season, so it’s impossible to know where he’s at.
10. Kaeden Kent, IF (15)
Kent’s first taste of professional ball didn’t go well. In 2026, everything was going right until he landed on the injured list. While his 108 wRC+ isn’t head-turning, some of his metrics are encouraging. He has struck out at a low 16.1% rate, and his swinging strike percentage is an impressive 9%. The Yankees have given him extensive time at second base and shortstop, though some believe his future could be at third base or as a super-utility type.
11. Wilson Rodriguez, OF (NR)
One of my biggest preseason stumbles was leaving Rodriguez off my list. Rodriguez has patience, speed, and makes contact. Additionally, the Yankees are giving him reps in center field, which will increase his value if he is viable. The concern for me is whether he will become a “tweener” – a player with a good enough bat to play center field but becomes average-ish if he can only handle the corners. I may be overcompensating for my mistake by placing him 11th.
12. Ben Grable, RHP (NR)
Pitching prospects are volatile. Relief prospects are almost impossible to get a read on. Grable, an 11th-round pick in 2025 out of Indiana, has surged in his professional debut, earning a spot on the Futures Game roster after the departures of Lombard and Lagrange. Statistically, nothing during his 2025 campaign for the Hoosiers stands out, but that is why scouts look at more than numbers. Grable has a unique fastball in his repertoire, and it isn’t because he throws it 100+. Rather, he throws a mid-90s heater with an extreme vertical break, giving the pitch a “rising” effect. What makes it unique, apparently, is that no MLB pitcher with a similar level of break throws their fastball harder than he does. Minor leaguers haven’t figured it out, given his 40.2% K rate (34.4% for Somerset). He is a long shot to make his MLB debut in 2026, given that the Yankees are more likely to trade for reinforcements. However, my theory on relievers has always been to move them as quickly as possible. David Robertson was drafted in 2006, made his professional debut in 2007, and was in the Bronx in 2008. Grable being a member of the 2027 bullpen is a real possibility.
13. Wilberson De Pena, OF (NR)
How do you rate this kid? First of all, a shoutout to Fangraphs. Their prospect rankings rarely follow the herd, leading to crazy outcomes. That said, they did rank De Pena 15th on their preseason list. Given that he leads the FCL in all Triple Crown categories in 2026, he would likely jump if they did a midseason refresh (they typically do not). It’s easy enough to move him into the Top 15 while staying cautiously optimistic. Everything Fangraphs said about him has come to fruition and then some. While they noted his power surge, no mention was made of the potential for the rest of his offensive game to surge with it. His batting average is up 141 points, and his 149 wRC+ represents the first time he’s been above 100. Acquired for Oswald Peraza, it’s likely his value has surged well beyond that if the Yankees wish to use him as a deal sweetener over the next few weeks.
14. Stiven Marinez, SS (13)
If you struggle with DSL prospects, good. That’s normal behavior. Abnormal behavior is seeing insane triple slashes in the rookie leagues and thinking you have a can’t-miss MLB star on your hands. Marinez gets high marks from me because the data is encouraging. His SwStr% is under 10%, and his contact percentage has increased from 68.2% in 2025 to 75.3% in 2026. The left-handed bat has also increased his Pull% while dropping his GB% by more than ten points. It all points to a kid who is figuring things out offensively. Marinez will be 19 in August, which could give one pause over how “real” his metrics are. That is a legitimate concern, but I am feeling bullish today.
15. Cade Smith, RHP (11)
Double-A is no joke. In his first taste of Double-A life, Smith owns a 4.99 ERA (6.12 FIP) and an unsightly 22.4% HR/FB. That last number should give you hope, however. “Wait a minute! He is giving up all those home runs, and you are saying to be hopeful?” Yes. Not only is 22.4% insane, but it is also impossible to sustain. The level of bad luck a pitcher needs to have over one in every five flyballs leaving the ballpark is off the charts. In MLB, that would be more than double a “normal” rate in many seasons. There’s enough in his profile to feel concerned, but let’s see how things go when that HR rate normalizes.
16. Jack Cebert, RHP (NR)
Number of times I mentioned him in my preseason preview: 0. How stupid I feel about that, on a scale of 1 to 10: 10.
It’s not like Cebert was a secret. After being drafted in the 15th round in 2025 out of Texas Tech, the Yankees gave him a taste of A+ ball, and he struck out 11 of the 25 batters he faced (44%). In 2026, Cebert made Sally League hitters look ridiculous in a small early-season sample, forcing the Yankees to move him to Somerset. While he has struggled (5.76 ERA/4.99 FIP), he continues to show there is something to work with. His 25.7% K is in line with his 25.8% rate for Hudson Valley this season. While I am a proponent of “You can’t just delete numbers to support your narrative,” I still believe it is worth noting that he allowed 15 runs over nine innings in back-to-back starts on May 29th and June 5th. Beyond those unsightly games, he’s mixed in plenty of good with some mediocre.
17. Chien-Fan Lai, RHP (NR)
You may be shocked to hear that Lai is the Yankees’ first Asian signing since Hoy Park in 2014. Like Park, Lai received a big signing bonus. While the teenager has yet to make his professional debut, the hype over his stuff is enough for me to rank him mid-pack. Most international teenagers grow into high-velocity outcomes. For Park, the velocity is already there, with room to grow further. I look at it like this: An American teenager coming out of high school with Lai’s raw ability would likely be a first-round pick. Whether the raw ability becomes actual results is the next step.
18. Bryce Cunningham, RHP (6)
Cunningham’s professional career got off to a big start in 2025, before an injury forced him to miss two months. Upon his return, the Yankees limited his usage (smart) and sent him to the Arizona Fall League, where he posted a 10.38 ERA over 13 innings. The numbers are hardly important for a player getting his work in, of course. His ranking falls due to warning signs in his profile, including a 29.6% GB, 22.7% K, and 13.3% BB. While his last five starts have yielded a strong ERA (2.42), his strikeout rate is a painfully low 17.4%. I was bullish on him in the preseason, but the red flags are concerning. Could he stil be fighting back from his injury? Sure. That is why I keep him ranked.
19. Kyle Carr, LHP (10)
In his preseason write-up, I mentioned that Carr experienced a dip in his stuff. The start of his 2026 campaign made me fear that he was about to fall off a cliff. However, like with Lalane, something clicked, and he started dominating Double-A hitters. It earned him a promotion to Scranton, where he threw well in his first game but not so well in his second. The underlying numbers are encouraging, as his K% has spiked from 21.7% in 2025 to 27.8% in 2026. Additionally, he has seen an increase in his already solid GB rate (from 50.7% to 55.7%). Carr’s ceiling, however, causes me to drop him eight places. That said, he is closing in on his MLB debut, and while that is unlikely with the 2026 Yankees, it could happen elsewhere if he is included in a deadline trade package.
20. Juan Torres, IF (19)
Torres has found a way to improve on his .359/.406/.516 (131 wRC+) debut campaign by hitting .402/.462/.685 (162 wRC+). He is the only qualified player with an average above .400 in Minor League Baseball. While he isn’t a walk machine, he has more than doubled his rate while reducing his strikeout rate from 11.8% to 9%. As you likely figured out, his BABIP is high (.414), but even a normalized BABIP would yield impressive results. After concentrating on playing second base in 2025, the Yankees have given him time at shortstop and third base in 2026. Torres turns 19 in November and will likely begin his 2027 season in the FCL.
21. Rory Fox, RHP (24)
Predictably, Fox struggled at the beginning of his debut campaign. He owned an 8.20 ERA in his first four starts, though he showed signs of the dominance to come. Over 18.2 innings, he struck out 24 batters. While he still has his ups and downs, his recent stretch is encouraging. Over his last five starts, he is 4-0 with a 2.97 ERA (3.71 FIP), 27.9% K and an impressive 4.9% BB. Fox was a 6th-round pick in 2025 and perhaps another example of the Yankees elevating a good arm into a potential MLB arm. That’s not easy, and the Yankees do it consistently enough to be notable.
22. Chase Hampton, RHP (12)
I want to remain bullish on Hampton, but is it possible he has lost something coming off a long-term injury? He owns a 6.38 ERA (5.32 FIP) in 11 starts, covering only 36.2 innings. One variable I can’t ignore is that the Yankees have rightfully handled him carefully. It takes time for a pitcher’s command to return, and Hampton may just be going through those growing pains. The clock is ticking.
23. Core Jackson, SS (NR)
Can we allow for people to mature after doing something hateful? I don’t want to dwell on what Jackson did forever, but drawing a swastika on a Jewish kid’s door is something you need to prove you have learned from. I can’t say whether he has or hasn’t, which makes it a lingering concern he’ll someday need to answer to if he makes it to MLB. On the field, Jackson has impressed beyond my initial expectations. Known for his slick glove, his bat has produced a .250/.358/.456 (112 wRC+) line. He has 11 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and an impressive BB (11.8%) rate. On the negative side, while he carries a solid 20.9% K, his SwStr% is 13.5%. If you think that is odd, you wouldn’t be wrong. Swinging and missing a lot should equate to a high K%. It’s possible, perhaps probable, that Jackson changes his approach to make contact with two strikes. Teams likely avoided him in the 2025 draft due to his off-field issues, so I am not sure what his value would be in trade talks.
24. Allen Facundo, LHP (23)
Facundo misses bats. Plain and simple. The Yankees promoted him from Tampa (where he struck out 42.4% of hitters) to Hudson Valley (30.5%) weeks ago. While that is a noticeable dip, the original number is so extreme that the big dip keeps him in an elite-level category. He remains 23rd because the walk rate is still high, and it’s probable a move to a bullpen is coming. Facundo throwing his hard fastball in 1-2 inning bursts could elevate his professional career in a hurry, but there is still nothing wrong with keeping him in the rotation.
25. Jace Avina, OF (27)
Avina has dominated Double-A pitching this season, posting a 135 wRC+ and 17 home runs in 70 games. Despite hitting well in an advanced league, his K% and SwStr% remain high while his 71.2% contact is low. This suggests a seemingly obvious truth: He doesn’t make enough contact to be a higher-rated prospect, but when contact is achieved, it is loud. It’s not easy to elevate a hitter’s profile in these categories, but even a slight improvement would do a lot for his prospect profile.
26. Richard Matic, 1B/3B (28)
Matic started the season with a crazy on-base streak, but has struggled lately. Known for his violent swing, Matic has seemingly made some adjustments, given that his pull percentage has fallen from 51.6% in 2025 to 37.2% in 2026. He’s also reduced his ground ball and strikeout rates while dropping his SwStr% below 10%. In other words, if you are discouraged by his slump, don’t be. Every player at every level goes through them. The bigger concern, however, is his future position. If he can’t handle third base, the offensive bar rises significantly as a first baseman.
27. Yovanny Cruz, RHP (NR)
The Yankees signed the hard-throwing Cruz to a minor league contract this winter, the type of deal that typically leads nowhere. After all, there are plenty of “good arms” that never become anything more than that. However, Cruz has impressed, mostly due to a reduction in his walk rate. After posting a 17.3% rate for the Red Sox’ Double-A affiliate in 2025, he has cut that to 9.5% for Triple-A Scranton in 2026. Additionally, he hasn’t walked a batter in 4.1 MLB innings.
Cruz has added a split-finger fastball to his arsenal, and the Yankees insist that is why he is in the minors. If he can keep the walk rate in check and develop the splitter into a plus pitch, he has big potential at the back of a bullpen. As is, he can be a high strikeout difference-maker with occasional bouts of wildness. While that profile fit Dellin Betances even at his peak, it’s still a dangerous line to teeter on.
28. Pico Kohn, LHP (18)
Kohn’s fall is due to one reason alone: He hurt himself during his first professional start (5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K) and is currently on the 60-day injured list. If he can prove he is healthy, he can easily jump right back to where he was, given that he has polish and can get to New York relatively quickly.
29. Xavier Rivas, LHP (20)
Rivas is an interesting pitcher to follow. He misses a lot of bats (35.5% K; 15.4% SwStr) but allows a ton of home runs due to a less-than-ideal ground ball rate (27.2%, down over 17% from 2025). Combine that with a not-so-great walk rate, and you end up with uneven results. This is only his second season in the system, and if the Yankees can add some velocity to his fastball, he has starter potential. The more likely outcome is that of a pitcher who uses his advanced split-finger fastball as a relief weapon.
30. Tony Rossi, RHP (NR)
The biggest issue with Rossi is his age; he is already 27. Rossi spent a lot of time in college, which likely helped the Yankees sign him as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get to the positives: 37.3% K, 3.9% BB, and 50% GB rates for Somerset. Additionally, he hasn’t allowed a home run in 75.1 career innings, a trend that certainly did not start in college. While there is luck involved there, who can argue with a pitcher who misses bats, limits free passes, and keeps the ball in the ballpark? His lack of velocity will likely keep him from 8th/9th inning roles, but it is easy to see him carving out a long MLB career given what he has. Many relievers who had long careers started late. I like to use Doug Jones as an example, but there are plenty of others.
“Where are the catchers?”
Good question without a good answer. The Yankees signed several catchers during the international signing period after losing commitments with bigger targets. While some early returns are encouraging, it’s way too soon to consider ranking them. Their top catching prospect entering the season (Engelth Urena) hasn’t shown enough growth for me to keep him ranked. This is the weakest the Yankees’ catching pipeline has been in years. Clear paths exist for 2026 draftees Brendan Brock (if the Yankees develop him as a catcher) and Bear Harrison for organizational impact.
“What happened to Mani Cedeno? He was 14th on your preseason list!”
I had him near the bottom of my original list, but the more I looked at his profile, the more I couldn’t justify keeping him on it. There may be a marginal improvement, but even that is debatable. He’s still young enough to turn things around, but he needs work.
“Only one player from the 2026 draft made the list? I thought you graded the draft an “A”?
Correct. The one player I ranked was one of the biggest steals in the draft, and their second-round pick is a high schooler with plenty of talent who needs Tommy John surgery. Both picks resonated positively with me. However, a pitcher who is unlikely to debut until 2028 is not someone I will rank. As for everyone else, performance will earn them a spot on my list. As simple as that. I wouldn’t have ranked Ben Grable at this time last year.
“Any other international prospects you considered?”
Yes. I am impressed by Leni Done, and it’s hard to ignore the insane debut campaign Yostin Pena is having. Isaias Castillo has also raised my interest. How do I differentiate teenagers like Done and Pena from a polished relief pitcher like Rossi? Impossible. It’s my preference at this moment in time. Additionally, I ranked five international teenagers. While I don’t have quotas, international teenagers are volatile. Safe prospects deserve their spots as well. Beyond Lai, whom I ranked based on the raw ability he already possesses, none of the international pitchers have earned a slot.
“How about Tyler Hardman? Garrett Martin?”
Both were considered but ultimately fell off my list. I feel that both players are much more likely to wear an MLB uniform someday than many of the prospects on my list. Teams looking for cheap power will look towards Hardman. As for Martin, he can play all three outfield positions and has shown some speed and pop. In some cases, I choose upside. In other cases, I choose safety. Hardman is 99.9% likely to hit more MLB home runs than Matic. But we also have to consider more than that.
“So, Roderick Arias‘ surge isn’t convincing enough?”
The profile still has red flags. Even though he has sustained his success for a while, it’s not enough for a Top 30 ranking. If he maintains this for the rest of the season, the discussion begins.
“Can any of the healthy pitchers impact the 2026 Yankees?”
They have to be careful with Rodriguez’s in-season options (there is a limit), but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him make more starts this year. The obvious candidate (Lagrange) is highly unlikely to make an impact, but Cruz may. Eric Reyzelman was giving me hope with his performance in Somerset this year, but the Triple-A hurdle continues to be a tough one. His last two outings have been encouraging, at least. I would not count on Grable, but you never know what the organization is thinking.
“You mentioned Jackson Castillo as a sleeper type in the preseason. Any others?”
I will start with Castillo. He hasn’t done quite enough to earn a ranking, but if he can clean up his center field play, he’ll probably earn MLB playing time down the road. Jackson Lovich has hit for power in Tampa and could have a 25/30 campaign. However, his swing-and-miss gives me pause and he’s unlikely to stick at shortstop. I ranked Enmanuel Tejeda on my preseason list, but he has struggled somewhat in Hudson Valley. There was always concern that advanced pitching could take away his biggest asset (contact).
On the pitching side, Hayden Merda has been a strikeout machine for Somerset and was considered for #30. Tampa has two big-arm relievers (Greysen Carter, Jordarlin Mendoza) who have no idea where the ball is going. Carter showed signs of improvement earlier this season. Mendoza hits the upper-90s with his sinker (forget if he had a 100 MPH reading this year, but it wouldn’t be surprising). These types of pitchers can”click” seemingly out of nowhere (though there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes), which is why you invest in them. I dropped Sean Paul Linan off my top 30, but his change-up is tantalizing, and he may need to switch to a relief role.
Speaking of starters, Franyer Herrera is only 21 and pitching well in Hudson Valley. One thing I noted in his reports this year is that he has never had a bad minor league campaign. Mac Heuer has an impressive arm and the size the Yankees gravitate towards. However, after an impressive 21-inning start to his campaign, he landed on the full-season injured list.
All this said, this is not a system that makes me “regret” leaving anyone off the Top 30. It was hard enough getting to 30.