Saturday, October 25

The Yankees have shifted into offseason mode, with front-office meetings underway and roster decisions ahead.

As Brian Cashman said during his end-of-season press conference, the organization plans to “measure some opportunities for young players who are knocking on the door from down below.”

From his seat as the club’s longtime general manager, Cashman sees a farm system that has quietly restocked, with several prospects seemingly poised to take the next step. As the Yankees reload for another run, here are four names worth knowing for 2026 -- each representing a different kind of promise.

Cam Schlittler, RHP

You could argue that Schlittler turned in the performance of his life in Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Red Sox. Motivated by online barbs from opposing fans, Schlittler took the assignment personally, striking out 12 over eight scoreless innings to end Boston’s season. 

That’s a memory Schlittler will carry forever, but his story is just beginning. The 6-foot-6 fireballer seemed to belong almost immediately, earning his promotion to the Majors in July and pitching to a 4-3 record and a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts down the stretch. 

“The big thing is always being confident,” Schlittler said. “That’s been important to me the last two years. Just being able to see the results and getting confidence from guys in this room as well -- it makes it easier to go out there and just do my job.”

Drafted in the seventh round out of Northeastern in 2022, Schlittler began ’25 with 10 games (nine starts) for Double-A Somerset, then made five starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Yankees manager Aaron Boone has already called Schlittler “a future staple of our rotation.”

As the Yankees celebrated their Wild Card victory over Boston, Gerrit Cole gushed about Schlittler: “This guy has come up and delivered right away. He’s got it. I don’t know exactly what it is; it’s hard to define it. But he’s got it.”

Spencer Jones, OF

When Jones connects, baseballs tend to disappear. The 6-foot-7 outfielder has long been known for his prodigious power, and in 2025, he finally started to tap into it consistently.

The Yankees' No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline and No. 99 in baseball, Jones ranked second among all Minor Leaguers with 35 homers this season, including 19 in 67 games at Triple-A. Overall, Jones posted a .274/.362/.571 slash line -- including a torrid July when he was named the International League’s Player of the Month, batting a league-best .419 with 11 homers.

Jones still strikes out plenty (179 times in 438 at-bats), and some scouts now project him more as a corner outfielder than a true center fielder. But he’s added strength without sacrificing speed, and his combination of tools remains rare. Though a crowded outfield blocked his path to the Majors in 2025, the organization insists his time is coming.

“He’s put himself in the conversation,” Cashman said. “I think how it plays out depends on how our winter plays out. He’ll certainly come to Spring Training, and he’s earned a look in the competition. … He’s put himself in the position to be considered a potential everyday Major Leaguer in 2026.”

Carlos Lagrange, RHP

Asked this spring how he’d describe himself to fans who haven’t seen him pitch, Lagrange smiled. "I wouldn’t want to describe myself," he said through an interpreter. "I would like for them to watch me pitch and have their own opinion."

Fair enough, and that opportunity could be coming soon in the Bronx for the organization's No. 2 prospect (No. 74 overall).

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. 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. 

Splitting his season between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset, Lagrange struck out 168 batters in 120 innings, going 11-8 with a 3.53 ERA in 24 games (23 starts). Scouts rave about the raw stuff and physicality, comparing his frame to a young Dellin Betances.

Can Lagrange repeat his delivery and harness the strike zone enough to start? Or does he develop into a power reliever who shortens games? Either way, Lagrange has vaulted himself into the Yankees’ near-term plans.

Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, RHP

When fans saw Carlos Narváez hitting cleanup for the Red Sox this past season, many wondered how the Yankees could have let him get away. Rodriguez-Cruz, the return in that December trade, intends to provide an answer soon.

The 22-year-old was named Baseball America’s Yankees Minor League Player of the Year after dominating across multiple levels in 2025, striking out 176 batters in 150 innings, with an 11-8 record and a 2.58 ERA in 27 games (26 starts). He's the Yankees' No. 3 prospect and No. 97 in baseball.

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. Though MLB Pipeline lists his ETA as 2027, Rodriguez-Cruz’s trajectory might outpace that projection.

An aggressive strike-thrower with a live arm, Rodriguez-Cruz has already displayed polish to go with his promise. After surpassing his stated goal of getting past the 100-inning mark, it’s not far-fetched to imagine the Yankees giving him a good look this coming spring.

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