Yankees Rookies to Watch: Who Will Make a Difference in 2026?
- Joseph Esposito
- Dec 29, 2025
- 5 min read
The Yankees’ offseason is still moving at a snail’s pace, and with no notable upgrades made yet, it’s fair to ask what internal options could help fill potential roster holes. If the Yankees ultimately fail to address certain positions externally, there are a few rookies already in the system who could make a real impact on the 2026 roster.
Below are three names worth watching closely.
Spencer Jones
Spencer Jones is easily one of the most polarizing Yankees prospects in recent memory.
After a difficult 2024 season at Double A, where rising strikeout totals and inconsistent in-game power caused many to sour on him, Jones completely flipped the narrative in 2025.
He opened the year back at Double A and mashed 16 home runs in just 49 games, earning a quick promotion to Triple A. Jones did not miss a beat at the next level, launching 13 home runs in his first 80 at bats. However, his momentum was briefly halted on July 25th when he was scratched from the lineup with back spasms. While he returned within days, August proved to be a struggle, as he posted a .556 OPS. To his credit, Jones rebounded strongly in September with an .825 OPS, ending the year on a positive note.
All told, it was a massive bounce-back campaign. Jones rose to No. 4 in the Yankees’ organizational rankings and cracked the Top 100 prospects in baseball.
Can Jones Impact the 2026 Yankees?
With the team currently in a holding pattern regarding free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger, the Yankees may be forced to look internally if Bellinger signs elsewhere. In that scenario, Spring Training could feature an open competition between Jasson Domínguez and Jones for the starting left field role against right handed pitching.
Defensively, Jones clearly has the edge. His outfield defense is already above average, and while the speed gap is minimal, Domínguez stole 23 bases in 2025 compared to Jones’ 29 across Double A and Triple A. The real question lies with Jones’ bat.
From a plate discipline standpoint, Jones’ closest MLB comparison based on Z Contact % and CSW % is Matt Wallner. Wallner produced a 114 wRC+ with 22 home runs in just 104 games in 2025, thriving as a low contact, high slug hitter. Jones profiles similarly, but his numbers came at Triple A, and improving those contact metrics will be critical for success against MLB pitching. Here are the key metrics comparison below:
Wallner | Jones | |
Z-Contact % | 75.3 | 72.0 |
CSW % | 28.7 | 32.3 |
That said, Jones’ ceiling remains extremely high. With already strong defense and base running, even league average offense would make him a consistent 2.5 to 3.5 WAR player. For a player capable of handling center field, that level of production is immensely valuable.
Elmer Rodriguez (formerly Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz)
Elmer Rodriguez was acquired from the Red Sox last offseason in exchange for Carlos Narváez, a deal that was widely criticized early in 2025. Narváez got off to a hot start in Boston, while Rodriguez began the year in High A. As the season progressed, the narrative flipped completely.
Rodriguez dominated High A, posting a 2.26 ERA with 99 strikeouts across 83.2 innings in just 14 starts. That performance earned him a promotion to Double A, where he continued to impress with a 2.64 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 61.1 innings over 11 starts. After the Double A season ended, the Yankees gave Rodriguez another challenge by promoting him to Triple A for the playoffs, where he struggled in a single start, allowing four runs in five innings. Even so, his overall 2025 campaign was a major success.
Rodriguez’s fastball sits between 93 and 96 miles per hour and touched 98 in 2025, featuring arm side run and carry. His slider took a noticeable step forward, settling into the mid 80s with improved depth and becoming his best secondary pitch. He also mixes in an upper 70s curveball and an upper 80s splitter or changeup, both roughly average offerings that round out his arsenal.
Where Does Rodriguez Fit in 2026?
The Yankees’ rotation enters 2026 with significant uncertainty. Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt are all expected to begin the season on the injured list, and as of now, the team has made no meaningful outside additions.
Jack Curry has all but ruled out Tatsuya Imai. The trade market has shown little traction beyond mid rotation arms, and the Yankees have not been strongly linked to any other free agent starters. If that holds, Ryan Yarbrough is currently penciled in as the No. 5 starter.
That opens the door for internal competition, and Rodriguez could easily force the issue in Spring Training. If no external upgrades arrive, he has a legitimate path to winning that fifth rotation spot.
Long term, Rodriguez’s value is clearly as a starter. While his stuff is not elite, it is solid across the board, and his ability to log quality innings gives him far more value in the rotation than in a bullpen role.
Carlos Lagrange
Carlos Lagrange possesses the kind of raw stuff that makes teams dream big.
He began the 2025 season in High A, posting a 4.10 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 41.2 innings. Seeing the upside, the Yankees promoted him to Double A, where he took a step forward with a 3.22 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 78.1 innings. The primary concern, however, was control. Lagrange issued 50 walks at Double A, a rate that cannot be ignored.
His fastball is the calling card, sitting 97 to 99 miles per hour and touching as high as 103 miles per hour, earning a true 70 grade evaluation. His sweeping slider, which sits between 82 and 85 miles per hour, showed improvement in strike throwing in 2025 and projects as a high upside secondary pitch. He also features a cutter and changeup, though both still need development to become consistent weapons.
Starter or Bullpen Weapon?
While the rotation path exists, Lagrange may have a more immediate route to impacting the 2026 Yankees through the bullpen.
The Yankees’ bullpen struggled in 2025 and looks even thinner after losing Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. As things stand, arms like Cade Winquest, Paul Blackburn, Jake Bird, and Brent Headrick are projected to fill key roles, which is hardly a sure thing.
The question becomes whether the Yankees would be willing to use Lagrange in a bullpen role in 2026 rather than continuing to develop him as a starter. Doing so could fast track his impact, pairing a potential high octane arm with David Bednar at the back end of the bullpen. The risk, of course, is delaying his development as a future starter with a deeper pitch mix.
If Lagrange shines this spring, the temptation to deploy him in relief could be hard to resist.
Final Thoughts
If the Yankees fail to make meaningful upgrades this offseason, internal options will matter more than ever. Spencer Jones, Elmer Rodriguez, and Carlos Lagrange each offer a different pathway to contributing in 2026, and all three have realistic chances to force their way into the picture.
What do you think? Can any of these rookies make an impact on the 2026 Yankees?
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