There were serious doubts about the New York Yankees heading into spring training, especially following their lackluster free agency.
Despite re-signing Cody Bellinger to a five-year deal, it seemed the team didn’t make any upgrades and failed to address a litany of pitcher injuries. Concerns also arose about the strength of the lineup and whether it would be able to run it back effectively and go deeper into the postseason.
Who would replace Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon for the first half of the season? Who would help out in the outfield if Jasson Dominguez were starting in Triple-A? Is George Lombard Jr. going to be successful at the major league level?
Fans are beginning to get at least an early indication of where the team is going, and they should be encouraged. There have been quite a few surprises this spring training so far, especially when it comes to the younger prospects. The Yankees have a lot riding for them, even if it’s only a few games in.
The big story of spring training for New York was how their prospects were going to do. One of them was former top 100 outfielder prospect Spencer Jones, who still has lingering questions about his strikeout rate.
Through the first seven games, Jones has gone three-for-eight, with all of his hits being home runs. While it’s already impressive to have a small streak like that to open the season, it’s more intriguing to have all three of them be moonshots.
Jones still strikes out at a large rate, with half of his at-bats ending in strikeouts compared to two walks. It’s still early, but his power might help eclipse any strikeout concerns the Yankees might have about their former first-round pick.
One reason for Jones’ power surge could be his new swing and approach. The prospect appears to have adopted MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani’s extension and toe-tap when swinging. It’s produced some results.
“He’s a great reference of a really good mover with a great swing,” Jones told MLB.com. “He’s one of those guys that I look at with some of the stuff he does, and I try to apply it in whichever way I can.”
At the same time, top prospect Lombard Jr. is having a decent start to his spring training, most notably holding a 40% walk rate so far. It’s a definitive improvement from 2024 and 2025, and marks a continuing trend of being patient at the plate. The 20-year-old had a walk rate of 15% across two levels in 2025.
Lombard Jr. also flashed some of his leather in spring training, including a bare-handed across-the-body throw from third base. He also had a similar throw at shortstop. Given that he only had seven errors across 947 innings, he could be a perennial gold glover with his range and sure-handedness.
On the pitching side, all eyes are on top pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange, also ranked number 79 on MLB Pipeline’s top 100. Much like the first two, he has made an early impact and mark on spring training, though his path to the majors might be a little more difficult than the hitters.
During his outing against the Minnesota Twins, Lagrange threw 12 pitches that crossed the 100 miles per hour mark, including a 102-mile-per-hour fastball. It doesn’t help that he has an 83-mile-an-hour slider that could absolutely catch hitters off guard.
There were some concerns about his control and whether Lagrange could get it under control. Despite holding a four-walks-per-nine-inning rate, his 168 strikeouts in 120 innings is a telling number. He’s quickly becoming a favorite to start in Triple-A.
Elmer Rodriguez, their number two pitching prospect, has also performed well. He currently holds a three ERA over two spring starts with six innings under his belt and five strikeouts. Coming over from the Carlos Navarez trade with the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees might have gotten a score.
Even though Rodriguez doesn’t have a plus-plus pitch in his arsenal and is very thin as a pitcher at 160 pounds, he holds a decent floor. He’s projected to make his debut in 2026, which could be in the rotation if injuries continue.
The Yankees, for the current moment, are navigating spring training without many setbacks in the injury department. That doesn’t mean that they have the cleanest bill of health, though.
Giancarlo Stanton, the team’s second big-time slugger, continues to deal with health injuries that have plagued his career. This time, his elbow is in so much pain that he “can’t open a bag of chips.”
“I can’t open a bottle,” Stanton told NJ.com. “I can’t open a bag of chips … a bag of anything. That’s the way it is.”
Yet, despite the injury, Stanton’s still looking to play a full season if he’s able to get his elbow issues under control.
The good news for the team is that outfielder Cody Bellinger appeared to avoid a major injury after developing sudden back stiffness. At the same time, pitchers Clarke Schmidt, Cole, and Rodon are all progressing to live action. Shortstop Anthony Volpe is also hitting off a tee, while Chase Hampton, another pitching prospect, could return to games in the summer.
Cam Schlittler, their rookie sensation, might lose some time but not all the season. Manager Aaron Boone suggested that he thought Schlittler would “be to 80-90 pitches yet,” but suggested 70 pitches might be his limit.
Yankee fans should be very happy about the results of spring training so far, but they also must remain cautious going forward. Their season likely hinges on whether the trio of Cole, Rodon, and Schlittler can bounce back and return to prime form. Of course, they have enough pitching to turn to, but they have to be at their best in a crowded American League East.
It’s still infuriating to some that the team failed to reach and get a top-tier free agent to bolster some of their holes in the roster. Their prospects might help save the season, at least in the early phases.
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