Aaron's Top 30 Yankees Prospects

November 3rd. That is the date I started the process of ranking and writing my top 30 prospects list. There was months of deliberating over rankings, and many times players switched spots. There were even write-ups completed for prospects who have since been traded away. In the end, we arrive to spring training with my first top 30 list for the 2026 season.

There were a lot of factors to balance out. Trying to weigh productivity vs. potential, youth vs. experience, and streakiness vs. steadiness were all part of the equation. In the end, I came up with a list I am very happy with. Before we begin, I did want to shoutout some players who didn't make the top 30. While there are only 30 write-ups to go here, I do have a list of 50. Here are some of the names who didn't make the initial 2026 top 30.

Position Players: Queni Pineda, Brando Mayea, Core Jackson, Engelth Urena

Pitchers: Franyer Herrera, Kevin Centeno, Jose M. Rodriguez

One last note - While these are My Personal Top 30 Prospects, these are not the official YankeesFarm top 30, as that will be consensus amongst contributors to come at a later date.

Player Name - Position/Age (as of 4/1/26)/Levels played at in 2025

30. Francisco Vilorio – OF/ 19.5/ DSL

49 G, 127 PA, .279/.387/.366, 100 wRC+, 0 HR, 8 SB, 24.9 K%, 13.8 BB%

2025 Summary: Vilorio had a strange season. While in summation you could say it was better than his first go in DSL, improving his wRC+ from 70 to 100, how he got there was somewhat strange. Known for his big power and exit velocities, Vilorio didn’t hit a single home run. While he successfully cut down on his swinging and made significantly more contact, his slash was boosted by an unsustainable .392 BABIP. While there are real improvements in some of the processes, Vilorio is still yet to show the best of his potential.

2026 Outlook: After two DSL stints, it is time for Vilorio to come to the FCL. With exit velocities north of 110, it is imperative that Vilorio start showing game power. A big rig at 6’4” and blessed with the ability to play good outfield defense, Vilorio finding his power stroke could make for a scary weapon in a future lineup. In addition to the power, Vilorio will need to show that his improvements in both swing decisions and contact are for real and not just him being a bit older than some of the DSL pitchers he was facing.

29. Luis Serna – RHP/ 21.8/ A-

7 IP, 5.14 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 32.3 K%, 23.6 BB%, 42.9 GB%, 12.1 SwStr%

2025 Summary: Luis Serna made a late return this season after recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered towards the end of 2024. While the results were mixed, the sample was so small that there isn’t much we can really take away.

2026 Outlook: Serna was a prospect I really liked before his injury in 2024. Serna has one of the best changeups in the system, one that he can throw in the zone and generate whiffs with its 20 inches of horizontal movement. His sinker sitting at 94 has a chance to be a good pitch to play off the change if he can improve the control of it. While it grades out above average stuff+ wise, the slider still needs improvement to become a third above average offering. The biggest issue for Serna moving forward is his health. At a slender 5’11”, Serna does not have ideal size and has struggled with injuries in his young career. I think there is the stuff to at least be an MLB reliever, but strides will need to be made this year. I expect him to start in Tampa once again but could see a Hudson Valley promotion.

28. Enmanuel Tejeda – 3B/ 20.4/ FCL, A-

FCL: 9 G, 32 PA, .296/.406/.407, 131 wRC+, 0 HR, 2 SB, 21.9 K%, 12.5 BB%

A-: 35 G, 149 PA, .242/.389/.342, 118 wRC+, 3 HR, 12 SB, 13.4 K%, 17.4 BB%

2025 Summary: After tearing his ACL during the 2024 season, Tejeda returned in the back half of 2025. After a brief rehab in FCL to get some at bats, Tejeda returned to A- Tampa where he had a nice 2024 season. Returning to the level, Tejeda did what he does best: Work good counts, generate a lot of contact, and play good defense.

2026 Outlook: Not that I have personal experience, but the common adage is that it usually takes a year removed from ACL recovery to really get back to normal. With that said, look to Tejeda to get more comfortable on the field with more distance between his surgery. While I would assume he starts in Hudson Valley, he could potentially repeat in Tampa.

As a player, Tejeda’s strengths are his swing decisions and contact rates, as he carries well above average whiff and chase rates. Not only has this given Tejeda a high OBP floor, but he also maintains a low K rate. What is most perplexing to me is the impact with his bat. While Tejeda has shown very little pop in his time with the Yankees (sub .100 ISO), he has posted some fairly encouraging contact quality stats, including an 82^nd percentile 110 max EV. The issue is right now Tejeda’s swing isn’t getting the ball off the ground or pulled enough. In the field, Tejeda shows good athleticism and range at the hot corner, and should be able to make it a permanent home. If Tejeda can fix his swing path, there could be a potential starting third baseman here.

27. Mani Cedeno – SS/ 17.7/ DSL

49 G, 213 PA, .183/.371/.305, 88 wRC+, 3 HR, 21 SB, 35.7 K%, 20.2 BB%

2025 Summary: The top signing from the Yankees 2025 IFA class, Cedeno was one of the youngest players in the DSL, playing most of the year at 16. While there were some real growing pains, as seen in some of the stats, there were also positive takeaways. He showed mature plate discipline for his age. Additionally, he showed a real ability to play shortstop.

2026 Outlook: While he didn’t wow, there are real reasons for optimism. Regarding the K%, I believe this is a somewhat easy fix. Cedeno had a very low swing rate but still had a good amount of contact. This likely means Cedeno was taking too many pitches for strikes, putting himself in bad counts. If he simply starts swinging more, I believe that K rate would deflate. He also showed some pop late on, hitting all 3 home runs in the last 11 games. While I don’t expect him to be a big power threat, I do believe we should be patient with this bat, as Cedeno will still only be 17 this season. Expect another DSL campaign for him.

26. Jack Cebert – RHP/ 24.0/ A+

6.1 IP, 2.84 ERA, 4.50 FIP, 44.0 K%, 4.0 BB%, 53.8 GB%, 15.5 SwStr%

2025 Summary: Selected in the 15^th round of the 2025 draft, Cebert was the only drafted pitcher to debut in his draft year, jumping Low-A altogether for High-A. While it was a very small sample, Cebert impressed a lot, showing great stuff, control, and pitchability out of the Hudson Valley bullpen.

2026 Outlook: Cebert will be an interesting case for 2026. Although he pitched out of the bullpen in 2025, there is a clear case for him to be moved to the rotation. There are a couple of things I really like about Cebert. Firstly, Cebert is a ‘tri-force’ fastball pitcher, throwing a four seamer, sinker, and cutter. Having three different fastball variations can be very difficult for hitters (just look at the success of Cam Schlittler and Elmer Rodriguez). Secondly, Cebert has excellent horizontal movement, both armside and gloveside, on all his pitches. Creating good separation from a consistent arm slot will make things very difficult for hitters. If Cebert can add a bit of velocity while continuing to throw strikes as a starter, the Yankees may have unearthed another gem prospect who will fly up this list.

25. Stiven Marinez – SS/ 18.7/ DSL

47 G, 205 PA, .275/.424/.375, 116 wRC+, 1 HR, 22 SB, 22.4 K%, 20.0 BB%

2025 Summary: The 2025 IFA class member, signed with the IFA money acquired from Boston via the Carlos Narvaez trade, had a very solid first season in the organization. Marinez showcased a solid bat with good contact skills, tons of speed on the basepaths, and the traits of a future shortstop on defense.

2026 Outlook: Marinez is one of the top IFA players in the Yankees organization. What stuck out to me when evaluating his season is his approach at the plate. While he was probably overly conservative with his swing rate, I think it can be easier to get players to start swinging more rather than getting them to cut down. When he did swing, he made contact at an almost 70% clip, which is in good shape for a player of his age. While the bat may never have more than average power, it could play up for Marinez given his chance to be an impact shortstop in the field. Watch very closely for what they do with Marinez next year. There could be a case to let him play another year in DSL, but if they make the more aggressive move to bring him stateside, it would tell us a lot about how the organization views him.

24. Kaeden Kent – IF/ 22.7/ A+

25 G, 106 PA, .186/.217/.265, 45 wRC+, 2 HR, 0 SB, 17.9 K%, 2.8 BB%

2025 Summary: Unlike some other members of the 2025 draft class, Kent had a debut to forget. The 3^rd round pick struggled to get anything going at the plate. Most surprisingly, Kent showed some uninspiring plate discipline, being an aggressive swinger and working very few walks. While it was a fairly small sample, Kent did not make the first impression you’d hope for.

2026 Outlook: Kent will surely begin the season with Hudson Valley. Kent reminds me some of Roc Riggio, with a bit more defensive versatility but less pop. Defensively, Kent will likely get plenty of chances to prove he can handle shortstop or even third base, and doing so will help keep his value up as a versatile utility infielder. Offensively, Kent will need to get back to a more patient approach that saw him walk just about as often as he struck out in college. While Kent may not have the best exit velocities, he showcased a really nice pulled fly ball rate. Given his lefty swing, he fits the prototype of a successful hitter in Yankee Stadium. It is easy to give Kent a pass on his small 2025 sample after just finishing up a grueling college campaign, but it is imperative Kent rediscover the skillsets at the plate that he possessed in college.

23. Jackson Lovich – 1B/ 22.4/ A-

6 G, 26 PA, .636/.692/1.000, 351 wRC+, 0 HR, 3 SB, 11.5 K%, 15.4 BB%

2025 Summary: Lovich had perhaps the wildest debut of all 2025 draftees, as the 16^th round pick had an insane 6 games before he missed the rest of the remaining season with an injury. In that time, just about every ball he made contact with was for damage. The taste Lovich left for prospect followers has many waiting for the encore.

2026 Outlook: While it must be stated that 26 plate appearances is a VERY small sample, here is a list of all stats in which Lovich was 90^th percentile or better in Low-A: xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, EV, 50^th% EV, Hard hit %, K%, Pull Air%, SwStr%, Spd. Simply put, Lovich has created some real expectations for the damage his bat can create. If I’m going to nitpick, I would like to see home runs. If he can convert some of his 50% line drive rate into more fly balls, with his current pull air rates, he could be a real power threat. I am very curious how sticky some of his metrics are, as he did post below average whiff and chase rates during his final season at Missouri. A bigger sample size will help give us an idea. Defensively, I am curious to see if he sticks at first or if they try him potentially at third base. Look for Lovich to start the season at Hudson Valley.

22. Rory Fox – RHP/ 21.0/ NCAA

Did Not Pitch

2025 Summary: Fox was selected in the 6^th round of the 2025 MLB draft out of Notre Dame. Fox did not pitch for the organization in his draft year. Instead, he was in Tampa working in the pitching lab preparing for his debut in 2026.

2026 Outlook: It is easy to imagine the Fox we saw at Notre Dame will be different than what we see in 2026. While Fox isn't a hulking pitcher, standing ‘only’ 6’3”, Fox is a very athletic pitcher who moves very well on the mound. Additionally, he has a complete repertoire, featuring a four-seamer, slider, curveball, changeup, and cutter. With help from Yankees PD, I hope to see one or two of those pitches break out at real weapons. With his control, he could be a quick mover.

21. Brock Selvidge – LHP/ 23.7/ A-, AA

A-: 5 IP, 3.60 ERA, 4.55 FIP, 20.0 K%, 20.0 BB%, 46.2 GB%, 9.3 SwStr%

AA: 79 IP, 4.92 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 18.9 K%, 11.8 BB%, 48.9 GB%, 9.5 SwStr%

2025 Summary: it was a rough year for Brock Selvidge. After good start to 2024, an arm injury tanked his season before getting shut down. Getting back to pitching mid-season 2025, Selvidge surely looked to be dealing with rust. His command wasn’t sharp and his pitches lacked bite, leading to fall in rankings.

2026 Outlook: This will be a crucial season for Selvidge. Although I am down on him being a starter at the MLB level, there are high caliber traits with his fastball and slider that could make for a good reliever at the least. In order to do so, he will need real improvements to his ability to pitch in the zone and generate whiffs. In one positive, Selvidge continues to do a good job keeping the ball on the ground. Having a fully healthy offseason will be huge for Selvidge, looking to regain some of the velocity he had lost over the last 18 months. Look for Selvidge to return to Somerset and turn the momentum of his career around.

20. Richard Matic – IF/ 18.8/ DSL

46 G, 191 PA, .336/.487/.566, 167 wRC+, 5 HR, 11 SB, 22.5 K%, 20.9 BB%

2025 Summary: Richard Matic was the premier performer of the DSL Yankees. In his second season, Matic showed some major growth. Matic cut down on his swing, made a lot more contact, and found some real game power. Overall, Matic was one of the better performers in all of DSL.

2026 Outlook: Matic should be coming stateside. A lot of the metrics have me very excited for Matic. While making strides at DSL as an 18 year old can be somewhat misleading, the massive strides he made in all three aspects (contact, swing decisions, power), all feel fairly real. We will find out for sure in FCL, but if he keeps it going, he could become a surefire top 5 bat in the Yankees system. The other thing to note about Matic is his position. While he currently plays at third base, there is growing belief he might grow out of the hot corner and into a first baseman, but that is a down the road issue.

19. Jace Avina – OF/ 22.9/ A+, AA

A+: 52 G, 221 PA, .295/.412/.506, 168 wRC+, 8 HR, 3 SB, 24.4 K%, 13.6 BB%

AA: 46 G, 194 PA, .224/.314/.341, 99 wRC+, 3 HR, 2 SB, 25.8 K%, 9.8 BB%

2025 Summary: A year after Avina had a really hot first half and not so good 2^nd, Avina returned to Hudson Valley and raked. Avina used the combination of a healthy amount of contact and hitting the ball in the air to post a big first half, earning him a promotion to Somerset. While there were more struggles at the advanced level, Avina was still able to string together a league average offensive campaign.

2026 Outlook: Avina was a guy I really liked when acquired from the Brewers, so it was good to see him have a bounce back campaign. Avina is a bit of an aggressive swinger, but doesn’t make a ton of contact, with a slightly below average zone contact rate in AA. Even with the free swinging in the zone, Avina can draw a fair amount of walks because of his above average swing decisions, avoiding chasing too much. Despite not having huge exit velocities, Avina excels at pulling the ball and getting it in the air, allowing him to take as much advantage as he can of his below to fringe average power. Given that I don’t think the power will improve much, I’d like to see Avina add more zone contact. Overall, Avina is a bit of a jack of all trades type prospect who projects as a utility player. If he can improve one or two traits to being plus, there could be more potential starter.

18. Mac Heuer – RHP/ 21.8/ NCAA

Did Not Pitch

2025 Summary: Heuer was selected in the 8^th round of the 2025 MLB draft out of Texas Tech. Like most Yankee drafted pitchers, Heuer did not pitch for the organization in his draft year. Instead, he was in Tampa working in the pitching lab preparing for his debut in 2026.

2026 Outlook: Like all drafted pitchers, it is hard to know what Heuer will look like in 2026. At 6’5” 265lbs, he is a hulking figure in a similar frame to Ben Hess. Heuer’s fastball sat mid 90’s but can ramp it up to the 98. Heuer also featured a slider and a changeup in his repertoire, but that could all change come spring. From what we do know, Heuer’s ideal frame and velocity project well. Heuer is the ultimate Yankee pitching prospect. He is clay ripe for the molding. While the control will need to be discovered, he has the pure stuff that can't really be taught. I am buying some early stock on Heuer making a name for himself this spring with this ranking.

17. Andrew Landry – RHP/ 24.1/ A-, A+

A-: 68.2 IP, 4.59 ERA, 4.10 FIP, 21.1 K%, 8.6 BB%, 45.1 GB%, 9.3 SwStr%

A+: 43.1 IP, 3.95 ERA, 4.20 FIP, 21.2 K%, 13.6 BB%, 34.2 GB%, 9.7 SwStr%

2025 Summary: Landry got off to a rocky start this season, giving up 9 earned runs in 1.1 innings in his second start of the season. After that, he took off, pitching to a 2.90 ERA and 3.33 FIP with 14.5 K-BB%. Upon promotion to Hudson Valley, control was an issue, but Landry overall helped his stock with his performance this season.

2026 Outlook: Landry is a popular pick to breakout next year, especially after the kind words Sam Briend had for him this summer. In an interview, Briend mentioned Landry and Xavier Rivas as two guys he thinks will breakout, also noting Landry was hitting 98 with his fastball. Using a fastball, sinker, slider, change, and curve, Landry has a big pitch mix that has positive stuff+ traits. The big thing Landry needs to improve on to accomplish that breakout is generate more swing and miss. With below average chase and whiff rates, Landry’s ceiling is capped. The best way to improve this will be for Landry to be around the zone more, whether that is inside of it or in the shadow. In 2025 he struggled with throwing uncompetitive pitches, and that won't play at advanced levels of the minors. Purely from a stuff perspective, Landry could be a future back-end starter in the MLB. Look for Landry to begin the year in Hudson Valley.

16. Kyle Carr – LHP/ 23.10/ A+, AA

A+: 119.1 IP, 1.96 ERA, 3.59 FIP, 21.7 K%, 9.8 BB%, 51.7 GB%, 11.6 SwStr%

AA: 13.2 IP. 8.56 ERA, 5.05 FIP, 22.0 K%, 13.6 BB%, 42.1 GB%, 9.2 SwStr%

2025 Summary: Kyle Carr came very close to completing a 2^nd full season at Hudson Valley before earning a very late promotion to Somerset. While the ERA looks great, Carr’s FIP is more telling of an average pitcher who had some good luck. Still, Carr did have a very interesting run during July and August where he went 0.96 ERA, 2.66 FIP, and an 18% K-BB%. All in all, it was a more even season than his 2024 campaign, allowing him to maintain decent prospect status.

2026 Outlook: Carr has finally broken into the upper minors and will have to show some big improvement. While he did have some success in A+, as mentioned, the underlying doesn’t necessarily support it. His control is still fringy average, and his stuff isn’t overpowering, lacking big velocity. The big development that aided his summer surge was the addition of a cutter. Using this pitch as his primary fastball took pressure off his low velocity 4-seam. Paired with his good slider, it has revived some of the stock I had in Carr.

While I have doubt on Carr’s ability to generate consistent swing and miss, if he can tighten his control and continue to get the ball on the ground, Carr could make for a solid left-handed reliever. Carr will need to translate the success of his summer at Hudson Valley to the more difficult AA level this spring. At this moment, I have some remaining faith he can be a back-end starter in the MLB, but now entering year 3 in the organization, Carr really needs to make a jump.

15. Cade Winquest – RHP/ 25.11/ A+, AA (STL)

A+: 63.2 IP, 4.52 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 23.9 K%, 9.5 BB%, 55.6 GB%, 10.6 SwStr%

AA: 42.1 IP, 3.19 ERA, 3.38 FIP, 23.9 K%, 6.8 BB%, 36.7 GB%, 10.8 SwStr%

2025 Summary: Cade Winquest joins the Yankees via the Rule 5 draft. In his 2025 season with the Cardinals, Winquest showed very solid command with some intriguing stuff. While he wasn’t missing bats at an overly impressive rate, he was able to limit damage to a reasonable amount. With a 3.57 FIP over 106 innings, it was a successful 2025 season for Winquest.

2026 Outlook: Winquest is surely a name to watch for 2026, as he will have to remain on the Yankees Major League roster all season or else will be offered back to the Cardinals for $50,000. While Winquest was a starter for the Cardinals, he is being pegged for a move to the bullpen with the Yankees. So what drew the Yankees to Winquest? For starters, his mid 90’s fastball that can reach 100 projects as an above average pitch and might play up further as a true reliever. Second, Winquest has a trio of interesting breaking pitches, led primarily by his curveball. Whether he keeps is slider and changeup as a reliever remains to be seen but expect Yankees pitching lab to get to work making them stronger to pair with the fastball and curve.

Lastly, Winquest gets great extension down the mound, making his stuff play up. I will be honest; I have no idea how this will work out. The Yankees reportedly loved Winquest in the 2022 draft, wanting to take him in the 8^th round before he was snatched up by the Cardinals a handful of picks earlier. However, making the jump from AA to MLB is a sizeable one, especially for a guy who you don’t have the ability to option. I am curious how this project works, because on paper there is a lot to like about Winquest.

14. Herny Lalane – LHP/ 21.10/ FCL, A-

FCL: 3 IP, 6.00 ERA, 7.57 FIP, 18.2 K%, 9.1 BB%, 71.4 GB%, 23.5 SwStr%

A-: 16.1 IP, 1.65 ERA, 5.02 FIP, 27.4 K%, 16.7 BB%, 33.3 GB%, 10.6 SwStr%

2025 Summary: Lalane had yet another season tarnished by injury. After 2022 and 2023 campaigns that put him on the map, his 2024 and 2025 seasons have been limited to 29.2 IP due to lingering shoulder injuries. When he returned, the stuff was still looking diminished from what we saw in ’23.

2026 Outlook: The most imperative thing for Lalane is that he has a fully healthy off-season. While elbow injuries are disruptive because of the amount of time missed, shoulder injuries can typically be more detrimental to pitchers long term outlook. When he was on the mound, Lalane’s fastball/sinker was averaging sub 92 mph, while his changeup was low 80’s and slider high 70’s. While the changeup and sinker still had some good characteristics, he will need to rediscover some velocity as well as start finding the zone more. Lalane would not be the first pitcher whose career was derailed by injuries, Daniel Espino of the Guardians is the recent example I always stick to, but we will hold out hope he can rebound. Expect Lalane to begin this crucial season in Tampa.

13. Allen Facundo – LHP/ 23.6/ FCL, A-

FCL: 5.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.51 FIP, 47.6 K%, 14.3 BB%, 25.0 GB%, 12.5 SwStr%

A-: 33.2 IP, 2.14 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 26.5 K%, 10.6 BB%, 59.0 GB%, 10.8 SwStr%

2025 Summary: Facundo made a late summer return after recovering from a 2024 elbow injury stole the 2^nd half of that season. While some of the underlying metrics were a bit worse than what he did in Tampa in 2024, there were still good signs given his recent return from the big injury. Most positive was Facundo seeing an increase in his velocity, with his fastball averaging a over 1 mph more than it had previously. Even more impressive, he even hit 100 on the radar gun.

2026 Outlook: Now that Facundo is healthy, it is time for him to get moving. As mentioned, some of the underlying data was worse in 2025, most notably his whiff rate taking a dip. Watch for this in 2026, as his slider and sinker are both above average from a stuff perspective, so this may have been a rust thing. The two areas Facundo needs to improve on are his zone rate and his pitch mix. While his slider still looked great and can work well in the shadow of the zone, his sinker and four seamer need to be in the zone more to get him in advantageous counts to get chase swings on his slider. Secondly, Facundo is primarily just fastball/sinker/slider. He has a seldom used changeup that could be very useful for him if he can get it to even average. Because of his current mix, Facundo at the moment is a relief prospect, though one I think could be a real weapon because of that slider. If he can make the improvements suggested while maintaining the velocity, the ceiling for Facundo can improve.

12. Cade Smith – RHP/ 23.11/ FCL, A-, A+

FCL: 4.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.30 FIP, 23.5 K%, 11.8 BB%, 44.4 GB%, 15.4 SwStr%

A-: 2.2 IP, 3.38 ERA, 1.30 FIP, 27.3 K%, 0.0 BB%, 62.5 GB%, 9.3 SwStr%

A+: 32.2 IP, 2.76 ERA, 3.52 FIP, 26.3 K%, 12.0 BB%, 40.7 GB%, 13.7 SwStr%

2025 Summary: Smith was another pitcher who missed a large chunk of the season while recovering form an offseason injury. After a few rehab starts, Smith spent the majority of his limited season in Hudson Valley. While there was some real rust with his control, Smith still showcased some of his good stuff, helping Hudson Valley make a late playoff push.

2026 Outlook: Smith is another pitcher with some nice stuff but a lack of elite velocity and below average control. Smith’s main weapons are his curveball and slider, with both generating a lot of swing and miss. The issue for Smith is his fastball, which only sits low 90’s and doesn’t get in the zone enough. With those two breaking balls, Smith could be a really nice relief pitcher, but fastball improving is key. Smith has also thrown a change, sinker, and sweeper, but at a much smaller rate. Improving one of these pitches to get a 4 pitch mix would help his stock some, especially if he can trade in his 4-seamer for one of the fastball variants. Look for Smith to begin the year in Hudson Valley, with a push for Somerset by summer if things go well.

11. Pico Kohn – LHP/ 23.5/ NCAA

Did Not Pitch

2025 Summary: Pico Kohn was the top pitching selection by the Yankees in the 2025 draft, selected in the 4^th round. After a really strong senior campaign for Mississippi State, Kohn was sent to the Tampa Complex to begin preparations for the 2026 season.

2026 Outlook: Kohn is a very intriguing lefty pitcher, with a very wide release point, Kohn presents a difficult angle for hitters. While his four seamer doesn’t have great velocity, his slider is a potential plus weapon. With average control and real swing and miss stuff, Kohn has a fairly safe floor as a lefty weapon out of the bullpen but could still be a nice 4 or even 3 starter. The key in his development will be the polishing of his other offerings. Like the others mentioned before, a lot can change once we see him on a mound for the Yankees. I’d expect Kohn to begin with Hudson Valley.

10. Xavier Rivas – LHP/ 23.8/ FCL, A-, A+

FCL: 15.2 IP, 1.15 ERA, 2.67 FIP, 36.1 K%, 12.7 BB%, 53.6 GB%, 24.2 SwStr%

A-: 40.1 IP, 5.80 ERA, 4.98 FIP, 25.1 K%, 14.4 BB%, 39.6 GB%, 13.8 SwStr%

A+: 29.1 IP, 1.23 ERA, 2.57 FIP, 38.9 ERA, 12.4 BB%, 48.1 GB%, 13.4 SwStr%

2025 Summary: Rivas, the 16^th round pick in the 2024 draft, is one of the biggest risers in the system. After making a May debut coming back from Tommy John that cost him his final year at Ole Miss, Rivas dominated in FCL. While there were some struggles in Tampa, the stuff itself was looking very good, good enough to earn him a promotion to Hudson Valley. It is at this final level where Rivas took off, shutting down his opponents. This included 3 of his 5 starts featuring 10+ strikeouts.

2026 Outlook: Rivas went from a late flier to a budding top pitching prospect. Rivas’s bread and butter is his splitter. Sitting in the low 80’s, this pitch generated elite level of chase, making it a true plus weapon. His slider is not too shabby either, grading out above average with the chance to become plus with a bit more refinement. The big area to watch is his fastball velocity and control. Currently his velocity is low 90’s and neither his four-seamer or sinker are thrown in the zone enough. While his splitter and slider may be good enough to lead the way, he will only get the best out of them if he is able to throw his fastballs effectively and get into advantageous counts. While repeating Hudson Valley may be the likeliest outcome, I would not rule out an aggressive Somerset assignment.

9. Thatcher Hurd – RHP/ 23.3/ DNP (TJ)

Did Not Pitch

2025 Summary: The Yankees 2024 3^rd round pick never got the chance to get started, as it was announced before spring training that Hurd underwent Tommy John surgery. While this was a huge blow, Hurd spent the year rehabbing in Tampa and should be ready to make his debut in the spring.

2026 Outlook: Like many of the pitching prospects I have written about today, Hurd’s big issue is his control. His inability to find the zone saw him lose his starter role at LSU, instead settling into a bullpen role. While control may be an issue, Hurd very well may have the best collective stuff of all Yankees pitching prospects. While his fastball doesn’t have the same velocity as Carlos Lagrange, it sits mid to upper 90’s and has great ride through the zone. That, combined with his sinker, slider, curveball, and cutter all graded well above average at the college level, generating a ton of chase and whiff.

While some of the metrics will likely decline going from the college baseball to pro ball, I still believe Hurd should rank highly with his stuff. The big question will be how does he look coming back from TJ? While the surgery has become so effective most pitchers are able to re-find their pre0 injury form, or even come back better, it is not a 100% hit rate. On the flip side, it is exciting to think about what Hurd may have been cooking up with Yankees pitching development in the lab while he works his way back to full health. If his control can be even fringe, Hurd could be a late inning weapon. If it develops beyond that, I think Hurd has potential to be a 2 or 3 starter in a rotation, if not more.

8. Chase Hampton – RHP/ 24.7/ DNP (TJ)

Did Not Pitch

2025 Summary: Hampton has had a similar two years to Gerrit Cole. After missing the 1^st half of 2024 with a flexor strain in his right elbow, Hampton returned in the 2^nd half, but looked a shell of himself, and was eventually shut down before he could fully get started. Then, right before spring training, it was announced that Hampton would be undergoing Tommy John surgery, ending his season before it could even get started.

2026 Outlook: This is a big season for Hampton, who’s prospect pedigree is still hanging onto the memory of his 2023 season which saw him display solid command with great swing and miss stuff. Having missed most of 2 seasons now, the big question is what will his stuff look like? It is best not to expect too much too soon, but if Hampton can return to the mound and exhibit good stuff while he shakes off the rust, it will help keep him high on this list, reminding evaluators of the guy who was a top 100 prospect pre-injury.

7. Bryce Cunningham – RHP/ 23.3/ A+

54.1 IP, 2.82 ERA, 3.54 FIP, 25.0 K%, 8.6 BB%, 42.1 GB%, 13.4 SwStr%

2025 Summary: Cunningham had a tale of two halves. The 2024 2^nd round pick got off to a hot start at Hudson Valley, looking like a budding top 100 prospect. However, a shoulder injury shut him down for 2 weeks. After returning for one start, Cunningham was once again sidelined, but this time for most of the summer. Cunningham did make a return towards the end of the season and was sent to Arizona Fall League to get more innings, but the stuff was clearly diminished, making his season end on a damp note.

2026 Outlook: Cunningham offers a lot upside, with a fastball that can reach upper 90’s, an improving slider, and wicked plus changeup. 3 average to plus pitches combined with good control had Cunningham rolling with a 3.08 FIP and 20.6 K-BB% pre-injury. If his stuff is right and control is back, there is no reason Cunningham can’t get back on track and potentially become a top 100 prospect. However, the shoulder injury can’t be overlooked, as these injuries can be much more damning to pitchers than tommy john. We do not know the severity of the injury other than the Yankees felt comfortable sending to him the AFL after the season. I expect Cunningham to start the year in AA, but wouldn’t be shocked if he repeated Hudson Valley for a month to begin the year.

6. Spencer Jones – OF/ 24.10/ AA, AAA

AA: 49 G, 208 PA, .274/.389/.594 185 wRC+. 16 HR, 10 SB, 33.7 K%, 15.4 BB%

AAA: 67 G, 298 PA, .274/.342/.555, 130 wRC+, 19 HR, 19 SB, 36.6 K%, 8.7 BB%

2025 Summary: In need of a big year after a disappointing 2024 campaign, Jones had one of the hottest stretches I have seen in the minor leagues. After a decent April, Jones missed most of May due to an injury. Between his return from the first injury on 5/29, till his last game before his 2^nd injury on 7/29, Jones had a wRC+ of 225 with a 28.0 K%. 11.6 BB%, and 20 home runs. Upon his return from the back spasms’ injury, Jones really struggled, mustering a mere 74 wRC+ with a 41.7 K%.

2026 Outlook: While there are still some big questions around Jones, one of the big positives to me was Jones figuring out how to get the ball in the air, cutting his ground ball rate by nearly 10% from 2024. While he doesn’t pull the ball in the air at an above average rate, his power is so prestigious that he can easily hit the ball out to any part of the park. At this point, we know the power will always be great and the contact will always be poor, but the big point for Jones in 2026 will be his swing decisions.

People like to compare Jones to Gallo, but Gallo walked a lot. While during his hot streak Jones didn’t chase at a poor rate, he was still expanding a bit too frequently. Even more, in AAA, Jones started swinging way too much, exacerbating his contact issues. If Jones can limit how much he swings, especially out of the zone, there may still be hope for him to be productive enough to get the most out of his power. With decent defense in center and good speed, Jones has the tools to at least be usable while he works out his issues. Expect to see him in pinstripes at some point in 2026.

5. Ben Hess – RHP/ 23.6/ A+, AA

A+: 66.2 IP, 3.51 ERA, 2.58 FIP, 33.9 K%, 11.9 BB%, 43.8 GB%, 13.7 SwStr%

AA: 36.2 IP, 2.70 ERA, 2.34 FIP, 31.3 K%, 9.0 BB%, 36.9 GB%, 13.3 SwStr%

2025 Summary: The Yankees 2024 1^st round pick had a slow start, showing good strikeout stuff, but walking a lot of batters with a 13.8 BB%. He also wasn’t going deep into starts, with only 2 of his first 8 starts going beyond 5 innings. After missing a month with injury, Hess returned with much better control. Overall, it was a strong season for Hess, who exhibited many exciting traits.

2026 Outlook: Hess is one of the most exciting arms in the system. A big hulking pitcher at 6’5” and 255 lbs, Hess has found success with his mid 90’s fastball with great stuff+ traits. His best breaking pitch, his curveball, has shown the ability to not just find the bottom of the zone, but generate swing and miss. With an improving slider and changeup, Hess has potentially 4 pitches he can throw for strikes and miss bats. Hess has the look of a 3 or 4 starter. Beginning the year at AA and potentially seeing AAA, Hess can look to improve his stock further in the year ahead.

4. Carlos Lagrange – RHP/ 22.10/ A+, AA

A+: 41.2 IP, 4.10 ERA, 2.58 FIP, 38.1 K%, 7.1 BB%, 36.4 GB%, 16.8 SwStr%

AA: 78.1 IP, 3.22 ERA, 3.44 FIP, 31.0 K%, 14.9 BB%, 31.6 GB%, 15.2 SwStr%

2025 Summary: After an injury plagued 2024, Lagrange was a surprising inclusion on the Hudson Valley opening roster, but turned out to be the best pitcher on that staff. While his ERA was a little high, there was some clear bad luck from some defensive miscues. Most important was his absurd strikeout rate and very solid walk rate. Upon promotion, Lagrange dealt with inconsistencies from start to start, best exhibited by 7 starts with 4+ walks. However, several times he shoved, highlighting why he is a top 100 prospect.

2026 Outlook: Lagrange has ridden his 100+ mph fastball and disgusting sweeper to this point, but it’s not his only weapon. The major improvement of his changeup has given him a real weapon to left-handed bats. With this pitch, Lagrange has a pitch mix that has improved his chance of remaining a starting pitcher. The major roadblock for Lagrange is still his control. His 61% strikes thrown and 14.9% BB rate will need to improve this upcoming year.

If Lagrange can make a big improvement to his control, he has legitimate ace upside. However, there is more relief risk with him compared to the other top arms in the system due to his control and inconsistent mechanics. With that said, I personally would love to see him in the Yankees bullpen this summer, as it may legitimately be a better addition than most trades the team could make.

3. Elmer Rodriguez – RHP/ 22.7/ A+, AA, AAA

A+: 83.2 IP, 2.26 ERA, 2.58 FIP, 29.0 K%, 10.9 BB%, 51.3 GB%, 14.8 SwStr%

AA: 61.1 IP, 2.64 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 30.3 K%, 8.2 BB%, 59.5 GB%, 12.5 SwStr%

AAA: 5 IP, 7.20 ERA, 2.90 FIP, 13.6 K%, 0.0 BB%, 50.0 GB%, 12.0 SwStr%

2025 Summary: It was a fantastic season for Rodriguez, who was acquired during the winter in a trade with Boston. After having control issues during his time with the Red Sox, Rodriguez showed significantly improved control, which was a catalyst for his big season. With a deep pitch mix and knack for generating soft contact, Rodriguez soared through High-A and AA, making a 1 start cameo in AAA. Rodriguez finished as one of 6 pitchers in the minor leagues to record 150 innings, as well as being the minor league baseball leader in strikeouts. He ended the season as a top 100 prospect.

2026 Outlook: Rodriguez ended the season on the cusp of the major leagues, and has positioned himself to be one of, if not the first arm called up to the Yankees in 2026. Rodriguez has a lot to like. The biggest thing is his deep pitch mix, featuring a four seam fastball, sinker, cutter, curveball, slider, and splitter. More impressive than having 6 pitches is having 6 average or better pitches, with his sinker and sweeper being best among them.

The other thing to love about Rodriguez is his ability to generate soft contact. Not only did he get more ground balls than fly balls, but he allowed only 3 home runs all season. His combination of swing and miss, contact quality, and control have him a safe bet to be an MLB starter at the worst, with potential ceiling as a 3 or even a 2. Rodriguez will likely make his MLB debut sometime in 2026, and I am excited.

2. Dax Kilby – SS/ 19.4/ A-

18 G, 81 PA, .353/.457/.441, 159 wRC+, 0 HR, 16 SB, 13.6 K%, 16.0 BB%

2025 Summary: Dax Kilby only had a cup of coffee with Tampa after being selected in the 1^st round of the 2025 draft in July, but he made a huge impression. In his brief stint, Kilby showcased excellent swing decisions and contact ability, walking more than he struck out. Kilby also highlighted his plus speed on the basepaths. Lastly, while he didn’t hit a home run, Kilby did exhibit traits that make evaluators believe there is room for at least average power, as he posted good exit velocities for an 18-year-old.

2026 Outlook: Baseball America ranked Dax Kilby as the best 2025 draft performer this summer, and it is easy to see why. Just on the stat sheet, Kilby hit for a very nice average with the as mentioned more walks than strikeouts. When looking at the underlying data, it gets even more impressive. Among his exit velocities, Kilby posted a 91.9 and 108.9 average and max exit velocity, which were in the 91^st and 70^th percentiles at the level, respectively. Going to his swing decisions, Kilby, like many bats in this system, is fairly selective with his swings, only swinging 34% of the time. While this is something to watch for as he starts facing pitchers with better command, Kilby’s 99^th percentile chase rate of 11% is the most impressive thing. He simply does not chase. And what about when he does swing? Kilby posted a 15% whiff rate and 4.46 swinging strike rate, both elite levels. His zone contact rate of nearly 90% ranks highly as well.

The big area for Kilby to grow is his power. While he does have good exit velocities, his swing isn’t built to take advantage of it, as he only had an 8.8% pulled fly ball rate. While I don’t want to see Kilby completely redo his swing, there are some tweaks to be made to allow him to get the ball off the ground a bit more without sacrificing contact. Lastly, the biggest question on Kilby is his defense. Even though he is shortstop, there are concerns with both his arm and movement to be able to handle the position. While 2^nd base is of course an option, with his natural speed, centerfield may also be a spot for him. I have a feeling the Yankees will be bold with Kilby at place him at Hudson Valley. If he can repeat even 90% of this performance, expect to see Kilby high on top 100 boards.

1. George Lombard Jr. – SS/ 20.9/ A+, AA

A+: 24 G, 111 PA, .329/.495/.488, 194 wRC+, 1 HR, 11 SB, 19.8 K%, 20.7 BB%

AA: 108 G, 469 PA, .215/.337/.358, 111 wRC+, 8 HR, 24 SB, 26.4 K%, 13.6 BB%

2025 Summary: Lombard, the top prospect in the system entering the year, remains there after a good but challenging season. After repeating A+ to begin the year, Lombard earned a quick but aggressive promotion to AA after dominating in Hudson Valley in April. Still 19 at the time, Lombard struggled upon his promotion to the upper minors. It wasn’t until the 2^nd half that Lombard Jr. showed some signs of growth. From 7/18 onwards, Lombard slashed .228/.344/.418 with a 128 wRC+, 6 home runs, a 29.5 K%, and 13.4 BB%. While I would argue Lombard Jr. didn’t meet the lofty expectations evaluators were hoping to see when he was pushed into the top 30 of prospect lists, it was still a positive season for the young shortstop.

2026 Outlook: Lombard had a complex season with a  lot to unpack, but I want to start with a positive trend. One of the bigger question marks heading into the season was his game power. After struggling to show any through the first half, Lombard Jr. did post a .190 ISO from 7/18 onwards. While he isn’t going to be a big home run threat, Lombard Jr. should be able to get around 15-20 home runs at the next level. Another big plus for Lombard Jr. is his swing decisions, as he rarely chases outside the zone, keeping his OBP always up due to his walk rate. On the other side of that coin, Lombard’s conservative swing rate is looking like an issue, as he may be too passive at the plate. Taking too many strikes put him into too many pitchers counts. On top of this, Lombard Jr. is still struggling to make consistent contact in the zone. That combined with the low swing rate led to a huge spike in his K rate.

While there was some positive trends with his zone contact towards the end of the season, there is still room for improvement there. Defensively, Lombard Jr. is a clear standout, with good range, arm, and internal clock. The way I’d describe Lombard Jr. is polished, as his defense and ability to work walks will set him up as a higher floor player at the next level. However, if Lombard Jr. wants to become a difference maker type player for the Yankees, the contact rates and game power need to continue to trend up. One reason to be optimistic this can be achieved is Lombard Jr.’s growth between High-A at the end of 2024 to the start of the 2025 season, highlighting his ability to make adjustments. Look for Lombard Jr. to begin the season in AA, with a promotion to AAA not far away if he shows growth.