The Yankees are in a familiar spot heading into 2026: chasing a World Series while also keeping one eye firmly on the future. That future, according to the latest top prospect rankings from ESPN, The Athletic, and MLB.com, is starting to take shape - and it begins with George Lombard Jr.
Lombard Jr. is the only Yankees prospect to crack all three top 100 lists, and he’s done so with authority. ESPN puts him at No.
20, The Athletic at No. 24, and MLB.com at No. 32.
No matter which lens you’re looking through, he’s the consensus top talent in the Yankees' farm system. At just 20 years old, the shortstop has already climbed from high-A to Double-A in 2025, showing poise, athleticism, and a bat that continues to develop.
Yankees fans have seen this movie before - a high school shortstop taken late in the first round who rockets up the rankings. Anthony Volpe followed that script, reaching the big leagues with plenty of hype, but the offensive production hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. Volpe’s still only 24, but the clock is ticking louder now, especially in a market that doesn’t do “wait and see” very well.
That’s where Lombard Jr. has a real opportunity. With Volpe sidelined and Jose Caballero away for the World Baseball Classic, Lombard could get a legitimate look at shortstop during spring training.
It’s not just about reps - it’s about facing big-league arms, showing whether his bat speed and approach can hold up under the bright lights. If he handles himself well, the conversation around the Yankees’ future at shortstop could get very interesting, very quickly.
Behind Lombard, the Yankees have a pair of towering right-handed pitchers who are turning heads in the scouting world.
Carlos Lagrange, a 6’7” flamethrower, brings serious heat - and serious intrigue. MLB.com ranks him at No.
79, The Athletic at No. 88, though ESPN left him off their top 100. Still, the tools are hard to ignore.
Lagrange’s fastball lives in the 97-99 mph range and can touch 103, with carry and armside run that make it a nightmare for hitters. And he’s not just a one-trick pony - he’s shown flashes of swing-and-miss stuff with three different secondary pitches.
The Yankees are hoping Lagrange can develop into more than just a bullpen weapon. With that kind of velocity and a growing arsenal, the ceiling is that of a power starter.
He’ll be in big league camp as a non-roster invitee this spring, giving him a chance to show what he can do against top-tier competition. For fans who remember the dominance of Dellin Betances, Lagrange brings a similar physical profile - but the hope is that he can stick in the rotation rather than the ‘pen.
Right behind Lagrange is another big righty: Elmer Rodriguez. Formerly known as Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, he was originally drafted by the Red Sox at age 17 and came to the Yankees in a trade for catcher Carlos Narvaez. Since then, he’s steadily climbed the ranks, earning a spot at No. 82 on MLB.com’s list and No. 88 on The Athletic’s.
Rodriguez turns 23 in August, and his development is trending in the right direction. He’ll get a high-profile test soon, pitching for Puerto Rico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
That’s not just a great developmental opportunity - it’s a chance for Yankees fans to see him on an international stage, facing off against experienced hitters in a pressure-packed environment. Puerto Rico is expected to advance out of its pool, so Rodriguez could get multiple chances to show his stuff.
Rounding out the Yankees’ presence in the top 100 is shortstop Dax Kilby, who lands at No. 94 on MLB.com’s list. Taken 39th overall in the 2025 draft, Kilby made an immediate splash in his brief pro debut, hitting .353 in 18 games for low-A Tampa. He’s just 19 and wasn’t invited to big league camp - not unusual for a player at his stage - but he’s one to watch as the season unfolds.
Kilby may be a year or two away from entering the broader conversation, but his early performance has turned some heads. For now, the spotlight stays on Lombard, who could be knocking on the door sooner than later.
Carlos Lagrange had a great past season with the New York Yankees organization. He was named EAS Pitcher of the Month in July and pitched across two levels. The top prospect earned a promotion to Double-A in June ending the year pitching for Somerset where he pitched in 16 games.… pic.twitter.com/84eW8qZcCg
— Milb Central (@milb_central) February 6, 2026
The Yankees’ top four prospects offer a mix of upside and proximity. Lombard is the headliner, with a chance to accelerate his timeline this spring.
Lagrange and Rodriguez bring power arms and projectable frames that could fit into the rotation or bullpen down the road. And Kilby, while further away, has the early signs of a potential riser.
For a team with championship goals in 2026, this kind of prospect depth matters. Injuries, slumps, and roster churn are inevitable. But with a farm system that’s starting to show real promise again, the Yankees are positioning themselves not just for this season - but for the seasons to come.