Format = Position Player | Age on 4/1/2026 | Highest Level Played | Estimated Time of Arrival
1. OF Spencer Jones | 24 | AAA | 2026
At 6’7” 240 pounds from the left side, Jones is a fantasy darling for his combination of power and speed. The 25th overall pick in the 2022 draft, he came just one steal shy of a 30/30 season in 116 games across two levels in 2025, slashing .274/.362/.571 with 35 home runs, 29 stolen bases and a 35.4 percent strikeout rate. That last piece might not matter much given how much impact Jones makes on contact, but it creates enough doubt to keep me skeptical, despite what his ranking here suggests. The upside is just too enticing and near to ignore.
2. RHP Carlos Lagrange | 22 | AA | 2026
The Yankees have been good for a long time, of course, but part of me feels like we’re at the beginning of a pitching wave that could carry them to several division titles. Luis Gil won Rookie of the Year in 2024. Cam Schlittler would’ve been a contender this season if the timing had lined up a bit differently. Clarke Schmidt was reaching a new level when he got injured. Will Warren threw 162.1 innings as a rookie this year. Oh and hey let’s not forget the Juan Soto trade of 2023, paid for by four pitchers (Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vazquez) and Kyle Higashioka. Even so, 2026 could usher in a whole new group of impact rookie arms.
Lagrange is a 6’7” 248 pound metahuman who throws 102 miles per hour. The Yankees signed him for $10,000 in February of 2022. Now he’s on the cusp of the majors after recording a 3.53 ERA with 168 strikeouts in 120 innings between High-A and Double-A. He allowed just 82 hits but also 62 walks. Clearly, he needs to find the strike zone more often, but when he does, the four-pitch mix of that nasty fastball alongside a plus slider and serviceable changeup and cutter will create problems for the AL East.
3. RHP Elmer Rodriguez | 22 | AAA | 2026
Rodriguez came over from Boston in the Carlos Narvaez trade over the winter and steadily pitched his way through High-A and Double-A, culminating in a five-inning Triple-A start to close out the season. In 150 innings across the three levels, he recorded a 2.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 176 strikeouts. Pretty comfortable Top 100 prospect at this point on the strength of a high-90’s heater and well-rounded pitch mix he can command.
4. SS George Lombard Jr. | 20 | AA | 2027
A right-handed hitter at 6’2” 190 pounds, Lombard son of Lombard was drafted 26th overall in 2023 and has climbed the org ladder quickly despite some big fluctuations in his outcomes. His hot start in High-A (24 games) gave way to a challenging summer in Double-A: 108 games that saw him slash .215/.337/.358 with eight home runs and 24 stolen bases. It doesn’t look great but still added up to a 111 wRC+ against much older players. If everything comes together, he’ll offer four-category upside in fantasy. Five if it’s an OBP league.
5. RHP Ben Hess | 23 | AA | 2026
The 26th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Hess has the build and repertoire of a prototype innings eater at 6’5” 255 pounds. He can gas it up to 99 mph with the fastball but sits in the mid 90’s. It’s a typical Yankees heater in that it has good armside run from a balanced delivery that gets good extension, so it plays well up in the strike zone and sets up a curveball with sweeper action coming from his low three-quarter delivery. In 103.1 innings across two levels and 22 starts, he banked a 3.22 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 139 strikeouts against 46 walks. He was better in Double-A (2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) and looks ready for the next challenge.
6. SS Dax Kilby | 19 | A | 2030
The 39th overall pick in the 2025 draft, Kilby signed for $2,797,500 then thrived for 18 games in Low-A, slashing .353/.457/.441 with 11 strikeouts and 13 walks. It’s tough to fake a hit tool like that against pro pitchers, even for three weeks. At 6’2” 190 pounds from the left side, he’s got the frame to add strength and would be an ideal fit in that ballpark. He turned 19 on Monday so he’s got a chance to play way up, age-wise, throughout his minor league life, lending his prospect stock a little boost in the process. Happy Birthday, Dax!
7. RHP Bryce Cunningham | 23 | A+ | 2027
Oh hey it’s another big (6’5” 230lb) righty with a dynamite fastball that eats whiffs especially when placed high in the zone. And oh look he’s also got a sweepy breaking ball in the mid-80’s and a splitter-like changeup in the high-80’s. The Yankees snagged Cunningham out of Vanderbilt with the 53rd overall pick in the 2024 draft and paid him more like a late first-rounder: $2,297,500. He debuted in High-A this year and dominated for a couple months (1.93 ERA in 46.2 IP) before injuries abbreviated his season. He pitched a couple innings at a time in fits and starts from there but should be all systems go for 2026. I think he could be ready to contribute to the major league team down the stretch if they need him.
8. LHP Henry Lalane | 21 | A | 2027
At 6’7” 211 pounds with a low-three-quarters delivery, Lalane pairs a deceptive fastball with a plus curveball and changeup: a trio that tunnels well and makes him a potential nightmare matchup for lefty-heavy lineups. Trouble is he’s pitched just 53.1 innings over the last three seasons, but he looked good in short outings late this summer and could fly through the system if he’s in rhythm this season. Potential nickname: The Juicer. Maybe not ideal.
9. OF Brando Mayea | 20 | CPX | 2029
A $4.35 million signing out of Cuba, Mayea is a 5’11” 175 pound right-handed hitter with power and speed. He was hitting well on the complex when his season ended with an ankle injury on May 30. In 20 games, he hit .297 with three home runs and four stolen bases. I noticed in my glances around some sites, he seems pretty far off the radar. Feels like a good time to buy in the dynasty game.
10. RHP Chase Hampton | 24 | AA | 2026
Following a strong spring, Hampton was poised to become part of the 2024 pitching staff at some point during the summer. Instead, he battled injuries and pitched just 18.2 innings across three levels. When healthy, he features four plus offerings in his fastball, slider, cutter and curveball. The changeup and command are works in progress. He pitched 59.2 Double-A innings in 2023 and could look like a major league option early in 2026 if he’s healthy to start the season.
Thanks for reading!
