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2025 New York Yankees Top Dynasty Baseball Prospects

New York Yankees Prospects for Fantasy Baseball

Last year when I wrote the Yankees Top Prospect list, I had genuine excitement for the players they had. There was high end talent. There was intriguing depth. They had pitchers with impressive stuff, just needed to stay healthy and perform. This year, the list feels meh. 2024 was not a banner season for the Yankees prospects. They dealt with a lot of injuries and regression in worrisome departments, all while not really having any intriguing risers. It is weird to write a list in back to back years with all the same names, and similar “what if” potential scenarios. With that being said, let’s get into the list!

Head over to the Pitcher List dynasty page to check out the other prospect rankings already published.

 

Top Yankees Prospects

 

The Top Tier

 

1) Jasson Domínguez – OF, 21 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (A/AA/AAA) : .314 AVG | .376 OBP | .504 SLG | 11 HR | 16 SB | 20.0 K% | 8.8 BB%

2024 MLB Stats: .179 AVG | .313 OBP | .304 SLG | 2 HR | 5 SB | 28.4 K% | 16.4 BB%

 

Actions speak louder than words, right? So, if you were the New York Yankees decision makers with a struggling offense during the playoffs, would you rather have Alex Verdugo or your superstar potential top prospect in the lineup everyday? The lineup was struggling to put up runs, and if Domínguez is as talented as he is supposed to be, why wouldn’t you give him at bats? I might be reading too deep into it, but that said something to me about how the Yankees might actually feel about Domínguez.

We have always known the talent is there for Domínguez. He is physically as gifted as any in the prospect ranks, all while still being only 21 years old. But 2024 was supposed to finally be his MLB breakout year. And here we are in January of 2025 having the same conversation as a year ago. I understand the injury that limited him to just 76 total games, but it’s hard not to imagine he would have helped the Yankees offense when they needed it most if he was the player many expect him to be. He put up impressive numbers during his 2024 MiLB campaign, but the struggles at the MLB level seemed to outweigh the positives for the Yankees. The question still remains, what will Jasson Domínguez be?

 

2) George Lombard Jr. – SS, 19 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (A/A+): .231 AVG| .338 OBP | .334 SLG | 5 HR | 39 SB | 22.9 K% | 12.3 BB%

 

There is nothing I love more than a player who grew up around a big league clubhouse. Lombard Jr. grew up around the game of baseball with his dad spending six seasons in the MLB before getting into coaching where he is the Tigers’ bench coach. He was lucky enough to learn from a young age “what it takes” to be a big leaguer. That support system and experience will help Lombard through the trials and tribulations that come with player development.

2024 was an interesting season for Lombard. He regressed in many ways. His walk rate went down a significant amount, his strikeout rate went up, and his batting average dropped. All of those trends would typically be concerning, but for some reason Lombard’s prospect profile rose. The reason why? Because of the improvements he made. During his first full season, he showed advancements in his power production. He hit 25 doubles and five home runs in 110 games, which for a prospect who’s biggest question was power production, that is a huge step. With that increase in power, came a decrease in other areas, but that is typical for a hitter trying to improve power. As he gets more comfortable with his increase for power, the hit tool, swing decisions, and overall production will come. Lombard is a really good baseball player overall, and the speed, defense, and improving power make for him to be one of the top potential risers entering 2025.

 

3) Spencer Jones – OF, 23 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (AA): .259 AVG | .336 OBP | .452 SLG | 17 HR | 25 SBs | 36.8 K% | 9.9 BB%

 

The narrative around Jones has changed massively in a calendar year. His second half swing and miss improvements in 2023 made many think a massive step forward was coming in 2024. For a hitter with legit 70-grade raw power, swing and miss improvements would make him a top-10 prospect in all of baseball. Well that experience was short lived because the swing and miss went in the wrong direction in 2024.

In 2023, Jones swung and missed at 28.9% of the pitches he swung at. A concerning number even for a power hitter. During 2024, that number rose to 36.8%. Statistically, he was basically identical to his 2023 output, actually improving his overall power and walk rate, but that swing and miss has many questioning if Jones will ever make enough contact to be anything more than a three-true-outcome player at the MLB level. While that type of player can be valuable, it isn’t exactly top 10 prospect value. So what will 2025 bring?

Another second half adjustment has many intrigued about Jones in 2025. There was a notable shift in his mechanics, and his swing started to look eerily similar to Yankees superstar Aaron Judge. That was intentional. Jones started working with Judge’s hitting coach, Richard Schenck, or better known as Teacherman. We can debate Teacherman’s hitting philosophy until the cows come home (another time and place), but the reality is it seemed to work for Jones. The swing and miss will always be a part of his game, no different than Judge, but the overall production improved as he hit .303 over his last 38 games. 2025 will be a make or break year for the 23 year old, whether he can break through as a top prospect or not.

 

4) Roderick Arias – SS, 20 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (A): .233 AVG | .335 OBP | .393 SLG | 13 HR | 37 SB | 31.0 K% | 12.3 BB%

 

The Yankees love themselves high ceiling position players. At both the MLB and MiLB, there is an intent to find guys who can hit the ball consistently hard, no matter the swing and miss. The results for that ends up with tantalizing prospect who COULD be great, but sometimes the production is not always there. Arias, along with Jones and Domínguez, might be the poster boy of that process.

Arias did not have the best 2024 season. In 2023, he showcased major improvements in swing decisions, contact rate, and overall production. For a 19-year-old, that left many intrigued by what he would do in full season. Well, the results were less than ideal. The strikeout rate went back up to a concerning 31%, and the production regressed. The inconsistencies should come as no surprise, and it was not all bad for Arias. He still showcased impressive swing decisions, and showed the ability to hit for some power with 21 doubles and 13 home runs. Over time, those doubles will become home runs, and his ability to draw walks will allow for him to be successful. But can he make enough contact? The tools are impressive with plus speed and above average power, but if he can’t make contact, he can’t produce. There is still plenty of time for the 20 year old, and progress is never linear. At the very least the power and speed potential makes Arias a must follow for 2025.

 

5) Chase Hampton – SP, 23 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (Rk/A/AA): 18.2 IP | 2.41 ERA | 21.1 K% | 11.8 BB%

 

On the surface, 2024 seemed like another successful season for Hampton, but considering the fact that he only pitched 18.2 innings, it is definitely a question whether he will be able to stay healthy as a starter. Coming out of 2023, showcasing multiple plus pitches consistently in the strike zone, and striking out 145 hitters in just 106.2 innings, it was easy to imagine Hampton breaking through the MLB rotation. But we enter 2025 with more questions than answers. The stuff? Not a question. The durability? Definitely a concern.

Hampton features a plus fastball that has life up in the zone. It features the fastball shape that we have seen top-of-the-rotation starting pitchers dominate hitters with at the top of the zone. On top of a plus fastball, he also features a plus 12/6 breaking ball that tunnels off the fastball and a slider that has legit depth and movement. Those three pitches combined are enticing enough to make him a potential mid-rotation starter. If he can stay healthy, and throw those pitches for strikes, he will be in store for a huge 2025 season. But history tells us that is far from a guarantee.

 

6) Ben Hess – RHP, 22 YO

2024 MiLB Stats: Did Not Play

 

During the college baseball season, I wrote an article about how the high run scoring environment of college baseball impacts evaluating pitchers. Home runs are at an all time high in college baseball, and I wanted to know what pitchers were impacted the most. Well the top-2 pitchers on the list in HR/9 were Hess, and Bryce Cunningham (we will discuss in a second). I am not saying the Yankees read the article, but their draft strategy was to try to identify pitchers with premium stuff, who were hurt pitching in the balloon era of college baseball. No different than a pitcher in Colorado.

During the 2024 college season, Hess struggled to the tune of a 5.98 ERA. Surprisingly that is actually an average ERA in college baseball right now, but that’s another discussion. So if Hess struggled so bad, why did the Yankees take him in the 1st round? Well he struck out 35.5% of the hitters he faced. He just happened to give up 1.75 HR/9. Getting out of the metal ball, home run friendly SEC, will do wonders for Hess. The stuff is not in question with a fastball that flashes up to 99 with life, and a plus curveball that generates a ton of swing and miss. The 2 pitches alone are exciting, but if getting out of college baseball allows Hess to attack hitters in the strikezone, his best baseball is ahead of him.

 

Prospects Dynasty Managers Should Know

 

7) Everson Pereira – OF, 23 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (AAA): .265 AVG | .346 OBP | .512 SLG | 10 HR | 5 SB | 32.4 K% | 8.8 BB%

 

Will Pereira hit enough to be an everyday big leaguer? That is a question we will continually have to ask ourselves. A truly polarizing prospect, Pereira has a ton of swing and miss to his game, but when he makes contact it is LOUD. Even as he struggled during his MLB debut, he featured a 54.7% Hard-Hit rate and a 39.6% sweet-spot rate, all with a 91.9 MPH average exit velocity. All of these would be in the top percentile across the MLB. But to consistently tap into hard contact, you have to in fact make consistent contact, which Pereira struggled with.

My opinion on Pereira falls somewhere in the middle. Am I bullish on him becoming an above average everyday MLB contributor? Not necessarily. Does that mean I think he can’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag against the top pitching? Definitely not. Pereira will have a role. Power bats are hard to come by, and the Yankees collectively value players that can impact the baseball. Whether that will be as a platoon option, or as the everyday left fielder, will be determined by his ability to not chase pitches, and draw walks, not his ability to hit for a high average. As I always like to say, you can swing and miss, but you can’t chase. Pereira does a good job of limiting chase and drawing walks, which is a positive for a hitter with so much power potential.

Ultimately, Pereira’s potential is a lot greater in fantasy baseball than real baseball. If everything clicks, 30 home runs are in the tank, and he has been productive across multiple MiLB levels and years.

 

8) Clayton Beeter – SP, 25 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (AA/AAA): 39.0 IP | 2.08 ERA | 35.7 K% | 13.4 BB%

2024 MLB Stats: 3.2 IP | 4.91 ERA | 33.3 K% | 6.7 BB%

 

Beeter is a fascinating evaluation. Since joining the Yankees, he has never had above a 3.62 ERA. He has struck out 262 hitters in 195.3 innings as a starting pitcher. Sure the walks are concerning, but that is DOMINANT. There is some reliever risk from his lack of control, but he has legit swing-and-miss stuff featuring three above-average offerings.

Beeter will continue to have every opportunity to make an impact as a starter, and if the control develops, he could be a solid mid-rotation arm. He made his debut with the Yankees in 2024, and the swing and miss showed up in a small sample size. There is seemingly a disconnect between what Beeter has shown on the mound with the Yankees, and how the public views him. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if he becomes an above average starting pitcher, and many wonder why he wasn’t viewed higher across the sport.

 

9) Bryce Cunningham – RHP, 22 YO

2024 MiLB Stats: Did Not Play

 

The aforementioned Cunningham also struggled in college baseball with home runs. The Yankees obviously assume that the home runs will regress in professional baseball, and want to look at Cunningham on the whole. Cunningham flashes a fastball that sits in the mid 90s, flashing upper. The fastball has legit carry and generates a ton of swing and miss at the top of the zone. His best offspeed is a changeup, that is a legit weapon against left handed hitters. During college, he had a 27.6% strikeout rate, and a 9.1% walk rate. Those are respectable numbers, and should translate to the next level. As with Hess, Cunningham’s best baseball is most likely ahead of him getting out of the SEC.

 

10) Henry Lalane – SP, 20 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (Rk/A): 12.1 IP | 6.57 ERA | 24.5 K% | 17.0 BB%

 

If there was a prospect combine, Lalane would stand out in the crowd. A 6’7″, left-handed pitcher, who flashes 97 mph, would have scouts drooling over his ace potential. If that’s the case, why isn’t Lalane higher on this list? Mostly because in his career he has never thrown more than 48.1 IP, across four seasons, only appearing in six innings above Rookie ball. During the 2024 season, the walk rate regressed, as did the strikeout rate. Combine that with health concerns, and Lalane is heading in the wrong direction. Luckily for him, he is only 20 years old, he has three plus pitches, and a track record of throwing strikes and missing bats. But the best ability is availability, and that has been Lalane’s biggest obstacle. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a move to the Bullpen in the 2025 season.

 

11) Cade Smith- SP, 22 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (A/A+): 93.2 IP | 3.65 ERA | 30.6 K% | 11.1 BB%

 

The Yankees track record recently taking pitchers after the fifth round is unprecedented. Smith features two plus offerings, with a fastball that comes from a low slot and he uses it at the top of the zone with life. It sits more low to mid 90s, but has flashed to the upper 90s. His slider is his best pitch as it has legit two plane break and plays well off the fastball. His curveball needs some work, but flashes potential. Smith’s biggest question is his ability to throw strikes. The swing and miss was impressive, but the 11.1% walk rate is less than ideal. The difference between him being a legit middle of the rotation starter, or a high leverage reliever is the ability to throw strikes.

 

12) Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz- SP, 21 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (A/A+): 89.2 IP | 2.91 ERA | 27.2 K% | 11.5 BB%

 

A farmhand for the Red Sox the last couple seasons, Rodriguez-Cruz enters the Yankees system with a lot of buzz. Through his time in the minors, he has never had above a 2.91 ERA showcasing enough stuff to strike out 195 hitters in 183.1 IP. Rodriguez-Cruz does it with a four-pitch mix, led by the fastball and slider. The fastball saw an uptick this spring sitting 94-96, topping out at 98. That should come as no surprise as he was drafted at 17 years old weighing 160 pounds. It is easy to imagine him continuing that uptick in velocity. The slider is his best offspeed pitch, flashing plus potential at times. He could continue to improve his command, but with how much he has physically grown recently, he is still learning how to use his body. The Yankees have a lot to work with in Rodriguez-Cruz.

 

13) Brando Mayea – OF, 19 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (Rk): .281 AVG | .370 OBP | .326 SLG | 0 HR | 19 SB | 27.9 K% | 10.4 BB%

 

Mayea features some of the best tools in all of the Yankees system, grading out above average in both hit and raw power, while also clocking some 80-grade run times. During the 2023 season, he showcased good plate discipline with above average walk and strikeout numbers, but that was with limited power production. In 2024, the strikeout and walk numbers regressed, while the power went in the wrong direction. That is worrisome for a toolsy player, but the average continues to be above average, and if the power can progress, Mayea could be an exciting prospect. He is still so young, and the swing and miss most likely went up chasing for more power.

 

14) Griffin Herring – LHP, 21 YO

2024 MiLB Stats: Did Not Play

 

The Yankees pitching development deserves a lot of credit. One of the main things they have done successfully is identify pitchers either in their Sophomore college campaign or coming off injuries with small sample sizes, who do outlier things well. They give them overslot value, then give them the tools to succeed in pro ball. Herring would fall into that category.

In two seasons at LSU, he was their go-to back-end reliever. He pitched to a 2.66 ERA with 108 strikeouts and 32 walks over 84.2 IP. A lot of those outings were multiple innings as well, showing he can hold his stuff beyond one inning. This spring Herring was going to move into the rotation. If he showcased two plus pitches, and above average control as a starter, he would have had his name called on the first day in the 2025 draft. The Yankees just felt like they had enough to expedite that process under their watchful eye. 2025 will be fascinating, and Herring could be another Yankees success story.

 

15) Will Warren – SP, 24 YO

2024 MiLB Stats (AAA): 109.2 IP | 5.91 ERA | 28.0 K% | 8.0 BB%

2024 MLB Stats: 22.2 IP | 10.32 ERA | 26.4 K% | 9.1 BB%

 

Strikeouts went up, walks went down, ERA went up a lot. Coming into 2024, there was a lot of buzz over Warren. The 2024 was a trip back to earth between AAA and the MLB. What is interesting is the strikeout rate, and walk rate, were almost identical to the 2023 season. Does that mean it was bad luck, or did he get hit extremely hard? In 22.2 MLB innings, the answer is hit hard. He gave up an average exit velocity of 92.7, with a 11.6% barrel rate, and a 50.7% hard hit rate. Combine that with only 37.7% ground-ball rate for a sinkerballer, that is concerning.

With that said, the Yankees have done a phenomenal job improving sinkers, so Warren might just need time in the lab. Combine that with the slider which is a serious weapon spinning at 3,000 RPM. If Warren returns to his pre-2024 form, there is no reason he could not be a solid mid-rotation starter. If not, the two-pitch mix could be successful with Matt Blake’s track record for sinker/slider pitchers.

 

The Next Five

 

Although these prospects do not crack the Top 15, dynasty managers should keep their eye on these five players.

Kyle Carr – 22 YO – Premium stuff from the left side, who had a great track record of throwing strikes pre-draft.

Brock Selvidge – 22 YO – Highly regarding coming into 2024 season, but regressed massively in strikeout rate and walk rate.

Thatcher Hurd – 22 YO – Two legit plus offerings that made many think he would be a 1st round pick. Inconsistent in college.

Francisco Vilorio – 18 YO – Power over hit teenager who if developed properly could be a major riser.

Rafael Flores – 24 YO – Another Yankees find. Slashed .279/.379/.495 between A+ and AA after being undrafted.

 

Photo and Logos Courtesy of Wikipedia | Designed by Aaron Asbury (@aarongifs on Instagram)

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