The Yankees’ Pitching Trio Is Turning Heads - And They Might Be Bronx-Bound Sooner Than You Think
While the Yankees' 2025 season was a roller coaster of thrilling peaks and frustrating valleys, something quietly promising was brewing down on the farm. Three young arms - Elmer Rodriguez, Carlos Lagrange, and Ben Hess - began the year as rotation-mates in High-A Hudson Valley and climbed the ladder together, reuniting in Double-A Somerset by season’s end. Now, they’re not just names in a minor league box score - they’re central to the Yankees’ plans, whether that’s as future rotation staples or valuable trade chips.
Let’s be clear: the Yankees are excited. And they should be. These are three 22-year-old right-handers with very different arsenals but one shared goal - getting to the Bronx and staying there.
Elmer Rodriguez: The Most MLB-Ready Arm in the System
Of the trio, Elmer Rodriguez is the furthest along. He’s already been added to the 40-man roster, and the expectation is that he’ll be in the mix for starts in 2026. He’s not just knocking on the door - he’s practically got a key.
Rodriguez struck out 176 batters over 150 innings last season, backed by a 2.58 ERA and a 2.81 xFIP. That’s not just solid; that’s front-line potential.
What makes him especially intriguing is the way the Yankees have helped him evolve. By lowering his arm slot and release height, they’ve turned him into more of an east-west pitcher, someone who can manipulate movement across the zone with sinkers and sweepers.
The sinker, in particular, stands out. It’s not the flashiest pitch in his arsenal - that honor goes to his breaking stuff - but it’s the one that consistently lands on the first-base side of the plate, freezing hitters and stealing called strikes. It’s the kind of pitch that sets the tone early in counts, especially when paired with a strong framer like Austin Wells behind the plate.
Rodriguez’s pitch mix is deep and versatile. He’s got a four-seamer, cutter, changeup, sweeper, and curveball - and he knows how to use all of them. In fact, he actually performed better against lefties than righties last season, which speaks to just how advanced his sequencing and command have become.
If you’re looking for the Yankees’ top pitching prospect, Rodriguez is the guy. He may even be in the conversation for best overall prospect in the system.
Carlos Lagrange: Electric Stuff, Sky-High Ceiling
Then there’s Carlos Lagrange - or as he’s known around the system, La Pistola. The nickname fits. His fastball sits at 98 mph and can touch 103, and when he’s on, he’s overpowering.
Lagrange put up a 3.53 ERA with a 3.21 xFIP across High-A and Double-A, striking out a jaw-dropping 33.4% of hitters. His fastball is elite, but it’s the secondary stuff that really rounds out the profile.
He throws a devastating changeup and two different sliders - one a sweeping breaker, the other a tighter, gyro-style pitch. All three secondary offerings generated elite whiff rates last season.
The big question with Lagrange is command. He walked 12.3% of batters last year, which is on the high side and introduces some reliever risk.
But when you’re striking out a third of the hitters you face and lighting up radar guns, the upside is massive. If you’re evaluating prospects based on their ceiling - their 90th percentile outcome - Lagrange might have the best pure stuff in the entire Yankees system.
He’s not as polished as Rodriguez, but the raw talent is undeniable. And if he can tighten up the command just a bit, we’re talking about a potential frontline starter with electric swing-and-miss stuff.
Ben Hess: The Underrated Workhorse with Big-League Traits
Ben Hess might not have the same buzz as Rodriguez or Lagrange, but don’t sleep on him. The Yankees’ first-round pick in 2024, Hess quietly had a strong year and showed the kind of adaptability that front offices love to see.
He posted a 3.22 ERA with a 2.94 xFIP and led the trio in K-BB% at 22.1% - a key metric when evaluating pitching prospects. His fastball sits in the 92-94 mph range, but it plays up thanks to excellent vertical movement and a low release point, making it tough to square up at the top of the zone.
What really stands out is how quickly Hess adjusted to Double-A hitters. His walk rate dropped after his promotion, and his xFIP remained steady, a strong signal that he can handle more advanced competition. That’s a trait he shares with Rodriguez - they both know how to make adjustments, and that’s half the battle when climbing the ladder.
Hess doesn’t have the same overpowering arsenal as Lagrange or the deep pitch mix of Rodriguez, but he’s consistent, efficient, and smart on the mound. Every rotation needs a guy like that.
A Shared Journey, A Shared Future?
What makes this trio even more compelling is the path they’ve taken - teammates at two levels in one season, pushing each other and rising together. They’ve become a tight-knit group, and their development has mirrored one another in some fascinating ways.
There’s still time for the Yankees to make moves this winter, and it’s possible one or more of these arms could be on the move in a trade. But if they stay in the organization, Spring Training is going to be must-watch. Don’t be surprised to see all three get looks during Grapefruit League action, much like Cam Schlittler did last year.
Whether they debut in 2026 or continue sharpening their tools in the upper minors, Rodriguez, Lagrange, and Hess are giving the Yankees something they haven’t had in a while - a homegrown wave of starting pitching talent with real upside.
And if things break right, this trio could be the next chapter in the Yankees’ long tradition of dominant arms.