Format = Player Position | Age on 1-4-2026 | Highest level played | Estimated time of arrival
1. FROM Spencer Jones | 24 | AAA | 2026
At 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds from the left side, Jones is a fantasy darling because of his combination of power and speed. The 25th overall pick in the 2022 draft put him just one steal away from a 30/30 season in 116 games at two levels in 2025, slashing .274/.362/.571 with 35 home runs, 29 stolen bases and a 35.4 percent shooting rate. That last bit may not matter much given how big of an impact Jones makes on contact, but it creates enough doubt to make me skeptical despite what its ranking here suggests is simply too enticing and too close 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 boom that could take them to several division titles. Luis Gil won Rookie of the Year in 2024. Cam Schlittler would have been a contender this season if the timing had been a little different. Clarke Schmidt reached a new level when he was injured. Will Warren threw 162.1 innings as a rookie this year. Oh and let’s not forget the 2023 Juan Soto trade paid for by four pitchers (Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vazquez) and Kyle Higashioka. Still, 2026 could usher in a whole new group of impact rookie arms.
Lagrange is a 6-foot, 248-pound metahuman who throws 102 miles per hour. The Yankees signed him for $10,000 in February 2022. Now he’s on the cusp of the majors after posting 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. Obviously he needs to find the strike zone more often, but if he does, the four-pitch mix of that pesky fastball alongside a plus slider and serviceable changeup and cutter will cause problems for the AL East.
3. RHP Elmer Rodriguez | 22 | AAA | 2026
Rodriguez came over from Boston in the Carlos Narvaez trade this winter and steadily pitched his way through High-A and Double-A, culminating in a five-inning Triple-A start to end 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 candidate right now thanks to the power of a high-90’s heater and a well-rounded pitch mix he can master.
4. SS George Lombard Jr. | 20 | AA | 2027
Lombard, Lombard’s son, is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed hitter. He was drafted 26th overall in 2023 and has quickly risen the organizational ladder despite some major fluctuations in his results. His good start in High-A (24 games) gave way to a challenging summer in Double-A: 108 games in which he slashed .215/.337/.358 with eight home runs and 24 stolen bases. doesn’t look great, but still amounts to a 111 wRC+ against much older players, when it all comes together, he offers a four-category lead in fantasy Five if it’s an OBP league.
5. RHP Ben Hess | 23 | AA | 2026
Hess, the 26th overall pick in the 2024 draft, has the build and repertoire of a prototypical innings eater at 6’5″, 255 pounds. He can tank it up to 99 mph with the fastball, but sits in the mid-90s. He is a typical Yankees heater in that he has a good armside run from a balanced delivery that gets good extension, so he plays well in the strike zone and sets a curveball with sweeper action coming from his low three-quarter pitches in 103.1 innings across two levels and 22 starts, posting a 3.22 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 139 strikeouts against 46 walks (2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) and appears ready for the next challenge.
6. SS Dax Kilby | 19 | A | 2030
Kilby was the 39th overall pick in the 2025 draft. Kilby signed for $2,797,500 and then thrived in Low-A for 18 games, slashing .353/.457/.441 with 11 strikeouts and 13 walks. It’s hard to fake such a hitting tool against professional pitchers, even over three weeks. At 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds from the left side, he has the frame to add strength and would be an ideal fit in that ballpark. He turned 19 on Monday, so he has a chance to play well ahead of his age for his entire minor league life, giving his future stock a small boost. Happy Birthday, Dax!
7. RHP Bryce Cunningham | 23 | A+ | 2027
Oh hey, he’s another big (6’5″ 230lb) righty with a dynamite fastball that eats scents, especially when placed high in the zone. And oh look, he also has a sweepy breaking ball in the mid-80s and a splitter-like changeup in the high 80s. The Yankees drafted 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 few months (1.93 ERA in 46.2 IP) before injuries threw his season in fits and starts, but all systems go for 2026 I think he could be ready to contribute to the Major League team down the road.
8. LHP Henry Lalane | 21 | A | 2027
At 6-foot-4, 211 pounds and with a low three-quarter throw, Lalane combines a deceptive fastball with a plus curveball and changeup: a trio that tunnels well and makes him a potential nightmare for heavy left-hander lineups. The problem is he’s thrown just 53.1 innings over the last three seasons, but he looked good in brief appearances late this summer and could fly through the system if he gets into a rhythm this season. Possible nickname: The Juicer Maybe not ideal.
9. FROM Brando Mayea | 20 | CPX | 2029
Mayea, who left Cuba for $4.35 million, is a 5’11”, 175-pound right-handed hitter with power and speed. He was hitting well in the complex when his season ended with an ankle injury on May 30. In 20 games, he was hitting .297 with three home runs and four stolen bases. I noticed in my glances at some sites that he seems pretty far off the radar. It feels like a good time to buy the Dynasty.
10. RHP Chase Hampton | 24 | AA | 2026
After a strong spring, Hampton was set to be part of the 2024 pitching staff sometime this summer. Instead, he struggled with injuries and threw just 18.2 innings across three levels. When healthy, he has four plus offerings in his fastball, slider, cutter and curveball. The change and assignment are work in progress. He threw 59.2 Double-A innings in 2023 and could look like a Major League option in early 2026 if he’s healthy to start the season.
Thanks for reading!
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