These days, when the chatter shifts to the New York Yankees' minor league system, it's often centered on a few burning questions: How quickly can George Lombard Jr. ascend through the ranks? Can Spencer Jones cut down on those pesky strikeouts and truly shine? And, with injuries taking a toll on the pitching staff, why don't the Yankees have more Triple-A pitchers ready to step up?
But if you dig a little deeper, you'll find some less-heralded prospects making early waves that aren't just ripples, but could be the start of a bigger swell. We're still early in the minor league season, and while it's not yet time to label these players as breakout stars, they're sure ones to keep an eye on.
Keep an eye on these three Yankees prospects as the season progresses, because if they keep up their early performances, they might just make a strong push through the farm system—and in one tantalizing case, potentially earn a spot with the big league club sooner than anticipated.
In the midst of Will Warren's ongoing struggles, one might wonder if the Yankees' minor league pitching pipeline is on shaky ground. Warren, inching closer to 26, is often touted as one of the Yankees' prime pitching prospects. However, his recent performance against Tampa, where he lasted only 1.2 innings before the bullpen was called into action, highlights the challenges on the pitching front.
Enter Cam Schlittler at Double-A Somerset. While just outside the Yankees' top 10 prospects list, he's creating a buzz.
Standing tall at 6-foot-6 and armed with a fastball touching 98, Schlittler's four-pitch mix includes a pair of breaking balls and a developing changeup. After a bumpy introduction to Double-A with a 4.45 ERA over 32.1 innings last season, his 2025 campaign is off to a roaring start with a 1.80 ERA over 15 innings.
He's striking out batters at a rate of one per inning while also boasting a 48.6% ground-ball rate.
Schlittler may not be ready to fill a significant big-league role yet, but if he maintains this level of performance throughout the season, he could certainly bolster his standing within the organization and perhaps secure a pivotal spot on the 2026 roster.
Meanwhile, at Triple-A, infielder Jorbit Vivas is making his presence known after joining the Yankees in a trade from the Dodgers. His first year with the Yankees system had its ups and downs, featuring a .225/.348/.358 line, but his impressive plate discipline—walking 13.8% of the time—was a standout feature.
Sitting at No. 20 in the Yankees' rankings, Vivas delivered a brief yet exhilarating stint during spring training, batting .423/.444/.500 in 27 plate appearances. This momentum has carried into the regular season, where he's batting .364/.443/.530 at Triple-A.
He's continued to maintain his discerning eye at the plate, walking 11.3% of the time. With improvements in his power game, including two home runs and a decent .167 ISO, Vivas is making a compelling case for himself.
Should Oswald Peraza continue to struggle, Vivas might once again be in the conversation for third base at the big league level.
Finally, at the lower tiers, a 2024 draft pick is turning heads in his professional debut. Sixth-round pick Griffin Herring, drafted out of LSU, has been electrifying in his early professional outings, posting a minuscule 0.55 ERA over three starts and 16.1 innings.
Herring, ranked 26th in the Yankees system, features a lethal slider that's troubling batters on both sides of the plate, resulting in an impressive 12.12 K/9. While there's work to be done—his fastball needs more zip, currently sitting in the low 90s, and his changeup is still developing—the initial results look promising for a rapid ascent through the ranks.
These three prospects may currently find themselves outside of the top 10 of the Baby Bombers rankings, but with performances like these, that could change sooner rather than later. For now, keep these names on your radar as the season marches forward.
