2025 MLB Farm Review: New York Yankees

The Yankees’ organization has some monster pitchers in terms of size and potential. One of those individuals is 6’7” left-hander Henry Lalane, one of several notable pitchers to pitch in Tampa this season.

Lalane only made six starts this past year, all of which came after mid-July. The 21-year-old native of The Bronx is an interesting specimen, albeit one who had fluctuating velocity. He sat as low as 89 MPH with his fastball and as high as 95 MPH. But despite that and 13 walks over 16 innings, Lalane struck out 20 and was one of many interesting pitchers to play for the Tarpons.

Several 2024 MLB Draft picks, including fifth-rounder Greysen Carter and sixth-rounder Griffin Herring, got their feet wet in the FSL. Herring, who couldn’t find much time in the LSU rotation, did very well as a starter with the Tarpons, as he struck out 58 over 44 innings and posted a Whiff% north of 36%.

Herring was arguably the headliner in the trade for Ryan McMahon in July.

Tampa’s pitching staff also includes pitchers who showed the ability to get swings-and-misses, including 20-year-old left-hander Franyer Herrera and Chris Veach. The 24-year-old Veach struck out 75 over 57 innings with the Tarpons.

As for the offensive group, the Yankees found great success with now-Giants prospect Parks Harber. Harber, who did nothing but hit for power with Georgia and UNC, posted a .551 SLG in 20 games with Tampa before he was promoted to High-A.

Youngsters Edgleen Perez and Brian Sanchez showed the ability to work their way on base via the walk, while former Wofford outfielder Marshall Toole stole 44 bases and picked up a team-high 96 hits.

However, Harber, Perez, Sanchez, and Toole are all no longer with the organization. Perez and Sanchez were flipped to Pittsburgh in the David Bednar trade. while Toole was the PTBNL in the Jose Caballero deal.

Who is still in the organization is switch-hitting infielder Roderick Arias, the $4MM bonus baby from four years ago. Arias stalled yet again in Low-A, as he struck out 134 times over 103 games with Tampa.

His Whiff%, which was above 35% in Low-A, ranked among the bottom-25 in the Florida State League.

Hudson Valley Renegades

The Yankees’ High-A affiliate was loaded with high-end pitching talent at the start of the year. Ben Hess, the Yanks’ 2024 first-rounder, was with the Renegades. Among them were former Vandy star Bryce Cunningham, Carlos Lagrange, and Elmer Rodriguez, the pitcher New York (AL) acquired from the Red Sox for Carlos Narvaez.

We’ll start with Cunningham, the 2024 second-round pick who missed most of 2025 due to injury but pitched well when healthy. Cunningham, a primary four-pitch pitcher, struck out 55 over 54 innings, including a fair amount of groundballs (41%), and limited walks (19).

Hess, the former Alabama product, missed a month but put up eye-popping strikeout numbers. The right-hander punched out 94 over 66.2 IP, posted a 31.5% Whiff% rate, and forced his way to Double-A later in the summer.

Rodriguez-Cruz, a tall pitcher who induced a lot of groundballs and is more of a prototypical, modern pitcher with heavy usage of both a two-seam and four-seamer, posted a stellar 2.26 ERA. He recorded a Whiff% north of 35%, and opposing hitters batted .174 off him.

Lagrange, another big pitcher, struck out 64 over 41 innings. The right-hander moved to Double-A in June.

Those four comprised the nucleus of the Renegades for at least some of the season. Lagrange wasn’t long for the level. But Kyle Carr, who posted a 1.96 ERA in Hudson Valley, proved to be formidable despite low strikeout and whiff numbers. Four-pitch pitcher, including two fastballs (4S & 2S), a slider, and a changeup.

As for the offense, Dillon Lewis emerged as a sleeper prospect. Lewis, who made consistent, hard contact in the FSL, hit 22 total home runs between Low-A and High-A. His 13 home runs led the ‘Gades in 2025.

Jace Avina and Roc Riggio, two notables in the system, both pushed their way to Double-A after good starts. So did George Lombard Jr., who slashed .329/.495/.488 over 24 games before he moved to northern New Jersey.

Lombard Jr. was still getting on top of baseballs in the South Atlantic League, to the tune of 44%. However, it did get better for him in the Eastern League.

Somerset Patriots

Alright, let’s talk more about George Lombard Jr.

Lombard Jr. spent most of the year in Double-A Somerset. The 20-year-old, a speedy shortstop with range, is not a big swing-and-miss hitter. He swung and missed roughly 28% of the time with Hudson Valley, and a little more (29.2%) with the Patriots.

He showed a heightened ability to elevate, as Lombard Jr. racked up 36 extra-base hits across 108 games. His 40.2% GB% was better than the percentage Lombard Jr. had with Hudson Valley. Lastly, he walked a team-high 64 times.

Yes, he batted .215. However, the sum of the whole doesn’t tell the whole story of Lombard Jr.

Aside from the young shortstop, the Patriots had a lot of heavy hitters.

Tyler Hardman, despite massive whiff woes, smacked a team-high 20 home runs. Roc Riggio blasted 11 after moving up from High-A, looking more like the hitter from OK State. However, Riggio is now a Colorado Rockie.

Rafael Flores hit 15 home runs and performed splendidly with Somerset before he moved up. However, he was also traded, packaged as the headliner in the David Bednar deal.

Brendan Jones, formerly of Kansas State, continued to raise his stock. Jones made consistent contact (25% Whiff%), posted a .365 on-base percentage, and stole 28 bases for the Patriots.

Then, there’s Spencer Jones.

If you were to look at the raw totals of Jones’ season in 2025, you might not see anything worn. The former Vandy standout slashed .274/.389/.594 with 16 home runs and 24 extra-base hits. He walked 21 times in 49 games. And yet, he posted the third-worst Whiff% (43.3%) in the Eastern League.

The swing-and-miss in Spencer Jones’ game complicates his future value. But from a tools standpoint, Jones has the package: speed, power, and ability to work counts.

Pitching-wise, the team was led by three pitchers. Brendan Beck, an injury-stricken pitcher who posted a 1.82 ERA, loves to establish the zone. Cam Schlittler struck out 64 over 53 innings and showed increased velocity from the year before.

Carlos Lagrange struck out 104 batters over 78.1 IP with Somerset. His 36% Whiff% was fifth-best among pitchers with 450+ induced swings in the circuit.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders

Spencer Jones spent most of 2025 with Scranton, and it went much like his time at other levels. A lot of swing-and-miss, home runs, walks, and stolen bases.

Jones hit 19 home runs over 67 games, tied for second on the team along with now-White Sox outfielder Everson Pereira. Jose Rojas was first with 32 home runs over 124 contests.

But getting back to Jones, he didn’t see as many free passes against more advanced competition. He walked 26 times over 298 plate appearances. And yes, he sported a Whiff% above 40%, one that ranked among the worst in the International League.

The Railriders’ pitching staff was laden with ex-Major Leaguers, including Carlos Carrasco, Kenta Maeda, and Allan Winans. The big pitching prospect was Schlittler, who struck out 35 over 23.2 IP before he made the move to The Bronx.

Early Projected Top 5

1. George Lombard Jr.
2. Carlos Lagrange
3. Elmer Rodriguez
4. Ben Hess
5. Spencer Jones

Aside from Lombard Jr., there are several ways one can order #2-#6. Kilby is not that far away from the top five, nor is Bryce Cunningham.

Jones is the real wild card among the five here. Lombard Jr. is slowly developing, as the power hasn’t shown up in spades yet. However, his advanced approach is very good to see. Lagrange, Rodriguez, and Hess are all impressive in their own way.

But Jones, who has put up good batting averages and OPS figures throughout his Minor League career, has a lot to prove in 2026. Especially now that the clock has begun to tick on him, as the Yankees protected him from the Rule 5 Draft in November by adding him to the 40-man roster.