Yankees Savant presents our top 10 prospect list for the New York Yankees farm system. There may be a few more surprises here than other lists, along with a bit more honesty than other outlets. I will call a “spade” a “spade” here. We don’t have any pro scouts, but I do have training on what to look for and how to scout and grade prospects. Without any further delay, our Top 10 prospect list for late Spring 2025.
Late Spring Top 10 Yankees Prospects
| Previous | Moved | Rank | Name | Position | Current Level | ETA | OFP | Risk |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | George Lombard Jr | INF | AA | 2026 | 60 | High |
| 5 | 3 | 2 | Ben Hess | RHP | A+ | 2028 | 55 | Extreme |
| 20 | 17 | 3 | Carlos Lagrange | RHP | AA | 2027 | 55 | Extreme |
| 12 | 8 | 4 | Eric Reyzelman | RHP | AAA | 2025 | 50 | High |
| DNP | -- | 5 | Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz | RHP | A+ | 2028 | 50 | High |
| DNP | -- | 6 | Griffin Herring | LHP | A+ | 2028 | 50 | High |
| 2 | -5 | 7 | Chase Hampton | RHP | AA/Inj. | 2027 | 50 | Extreme |
| 11 | 3 | 8 | Spencer Jones | OF | AA | 2026 | 45 | High |
| 14 | 5 | 9 | Bryce Cunningham | RHP | A+ | 2028 | 45 | High |
| 26 | 16 | 10 | Rafael Flores | C/1B | AA | 2026 | 45 | High |
It may be fair to say that the biggest surprise for most is the disappearance of Roderick Arias off of the Top 10. Given his performance so far this season and the hot & cold performance he had last year, it feels appropriate for Arias to drop off the Top 10. Arias, through June 8, is slashing .155/.313/.240/.553 with only 20 hits in 129 at-bats.
While Arias is not quite striking out at as high of a rate as Jones (30.6% vs. 37.8%), Arias should have started in High-A this season, and considering the fact that he’s struggling in Low-A, that means there should be concern in his value.
Spencer Jones, as previously noted, has moved up a little from a previous #11 spot to #8. Jones is performing better than ever this year. His strikeout rate is still very high at 37.8%, but he’s walking quite a bit more, too, at 17.9%. In turn, while his batting average is lower than last year (.218 vs .259), all other major stats like his OBP (.350), SLG (.513) and OPS (.863)are the highest they have been since his rookie year of 2022. Jones’ wRC+ through June 8 is 160, again, the highest since his rookie year.
What’s more impressive in a way is that while he has a higher K% compared to that year (37.8% vs. 18.9%), his batting average is lower (.218 vs. .344) but the slugging % is higher (.513 vs .538) while Jones’ wRC+ is nearly the same (160 vs 172), or will be once he gets out of the current slump.
Jones definitely has a high potential to be a Major Leaguer in the relatively near future (I’m projecting 2026), but that high strikeout rate is to be of concern. If he’s striking out at this high of a rate in AA, what will Major League pitching look like? I do want to note that Jones is Rule 5 eligible this year, so if the Yankees truly did have confidence in him, they would have to protect Jones by adding him to the 40-man roster.
George Lombard Jr. is without a doubt the best prospect in the organization, which is a significant change compared to what I saw at this time last year. I think most saw that in Spring Training a few months ago. Lombard will likely be a future third baseman, despite playing exclusively at shortstop so far this season. Lombard has a strong arm that plays well at the hot corner, and his defense has improved exponentially compared to last season.
Lombard’s bat has also seen a significant transformation over last season; his wRC+ has jumped from 100 last year to 135 so far this year, and that’s considering he’s hitting right at the Mendoza line in AA Somerset. Lombard is hitting a slash line of .258/.415/.363/.778 between High-A and AA this year.
I think it’s fair to say that those of us that follow the Yankees system relatively closely expected a big year from Carlos Lagrange, but I also think that no one outside the organization expected this kind of year so far. Don’t put a lot of weight into his 4.15 ERA; his K/9 (13.82) and BB/9 (2.59) are the stats to give more consideration. Lagrange also had a FIP- of 66 (100 is average, and lower is better). That FIP- stat is exactly the same as what Max Fried is throwing for the Yankees this year. Comparatively, Lagrange struck out more in High-A but is walking batters at the same rate as Fried.
Obviously, it’s not fair to compare a pitcher in the A-levels with a Major League pitcher, but that’s to get across the point of how well Lagrange has done this season so far. He has recently been promoted to Double-A Somerset after only 41.2 IP at the High-A level. Even after one 6 inning appearance at Double-A, Lagrange has done well and put up commendable numbers: 9.00 K/9, 1.50 BB/9, .143 BABIP & 4.50 ERA.
All this and Lagrange still throws his fastball in the upper-90s and into the triple digits. His control and command is still something to be finessed overall, but there is a lot to like about “La Cabra” or “The Goat”, as he calls himself.
Griffin Herring has been the most pleasant surprise of those in the Top 10. It’s difficult sometimes to project how the transition from amateur to pro ball will go, but Herring has kept geaux-ing without issue.
Herring received numerous accolades while in Low-A Tampa, including being named Florida State League Pitcher of the Month for April after throwing a 0.39 ERA in 23.1 IP, with a 10.80 K/9, 3.86 BB/9 and OBA of .148. Herring was also named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week twice, on April 27 and May 25. In the latter outing of the two, Herring threw 6 no-hit innings in what was his last appearance with Tampa.
Herring was selected by the Yankees in the 6th round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Louisiana State University, and was mostly used as a reliever with the Tigers. Last season in his sophomore year, Herring threw a 1.79 ERA in 50.1 innings, with 20 of 21 games as a reliever. Herring has an 11.98 K/9 and a 2.32 BB/9, both elite stats.
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz was acquired by the Yankees in the trade to the Red Sox for C Carlos Narváez last December, and he’s been a huge asset to an already incredible Hudson Valley rotation.
Despite having a somewhat rocky month of May, Rodriguez-Cruz still owns an ERA of 2.95. Aside from two rough outings on May 17 (4.1 IP, 6 ER on 7 H) and May 31 (5.1 IP, 5 ER on 6 H), he has limited opponents to 3 runs or less per outing. Rodriguez-Cruz has recorded 4 outings of 9 strikeouts or more, including an outing on April 25 where he recorded a 12 K shutout, 1-hit outing in 6.1 innings of work. That particular outing is what earned him South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week honors.
Rodriguez-Cruz, drafted in the 4th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Leadership Christian in Guaynabo, PR (alma mater of Heliot Ramos and Jose Miranda) by Boston, currently has a 10.80 K/9 along with a 3.76 BB/9, and should be in AA before too long.
Who would you like to have seen in the top 10? Do you agree with the rankings? Leave us a comment and we’ll discuss, but be sure to stay tuned for the Top 30 ranking dropping around the All Star Break.
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