Comments: Athletic, second-generation SS prospect had a better season than numbers indicated. Improved hit mechanics resulted in early season breakout. Selective, makes great swing decisions, takes walks. Generates above-average swing speed with slight uppercut swing. Average power likely plays with lower half adjustments. Plus defender with range.

Development Path: Lombard struggled at Double-A after his early season breakout. Evaluators expect Lombard to rebound, especially given some of the adjustments he made during his struggles. He'll start the season back in Somerset.

Fantasy Impact: Lombard will likely be higher on real world lists than fantasy ones. It's above-average hit tool, paired with average power potential, that plays up due to headiness. He'll get on base at higher clip and steal some bases with 20+ HR possible.

Upside Grade: 8B

Comments: Athletic MIF prospect wowed scouts in pro debut. Long, lean player has room to fill into frame. Incorporates crouched stance, stays compact throughout swing. Bat-to-ball skiils are double-plus. Flat-angled swing produces hard, top-spin heavy contact. Utilizes gap-to-gap approach. HIgh SB output product of headiness. Above-average runner overall.

Development Path: Though it was only 18 Single-A games, Kilby is too advanced for the level. He'll start 2026 at High-A Hudson Valley and could see Double-A Somerset by season's end. A likely fast mover despite age.

Fantasy Impact: At worst, the profile has BA and OBP skills. Kilby is already getting to strength despite wiry frame, but he's not getting the lift needed for over-the-fence power. Getting to it likely means a swing change. More power brings greater fantasy value.

Upside Grade: 8C

Comments: Tall and projectable, took step forward on the back of 4-seam FB. Utilizes upright 3/4s delivery with short extension. 4-seam FB is electric with advanced carry, an 80-grade offering. The rest of the arsenal is behind: short, vertical SL is best secondary, and could play up with more velocity; same goes for SW; also throws firm CH.

Development Path: Lagrange struggles with baserunners but otherwise dominated Double-A over a 15-start sample. He's ticketed to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes Barre to start the season with a likely trajectory to the majors by season's end.

Fantasy Impact: It's easy to swoon about the heater; it's a top 3 fastball in the minors. The hope is some of that velocity can carry over to his breakers to hopefully build a reliable 2nd and 3rd pitch. He also needs to throw more strikes to get to SP3 upside.

Upside Grade: 8D

Comments: Athletic RHP enjoyed big season after arm-slot tweaks last off-season. Repeats low 3/4s delivery with above-average extension. Has a 6-pitch arsenal, all average-to-above-average pitches. Added SI in the same velocity range as 4-seam FB. SW and CB give two distinctive breakers; SW is best offering. CH is solid 5th and throws high-80s CT.

Development Path: Rodriguez-Cruz pitched mostly at High-A and Double-A, making it to Triple-A for one start. He will return to Triple-A to start the season with a great chance at a big league debut sometime during the summer.

Fantasy Impact: This is a pitchability profile and has a great chance at an SP4 or SP5 outcome. Additional refinement is needed to get LHH out consistently. He'll pile up his share of whiffs, keeping hitters off balance.

Upside Grade: 7B

Comments: Tall, powerful OF prospect solidified power-first profile with strong showing between upper level affiliates. An opened-up stance and lower half adjustments allowed power to play. Blast data darling generates incredible carry on batted balls. Struggles mightily with approach, swings at everything with whiff rates sky high. Lost a step as runner.

Development Path: Added to the 40-man roster, Jones is one step closer to the big leagues after a big power season last year. He will start 2026 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and likely act as an injury replacement for the MLB team.

Fantasy Impact: Looking at just exit velocities and his batted-ball profile, Jones looks like an All-Star. His plate skills are messy, with low zone contact rates and high chase rates. Losing the speed dimension really hurts. This is a power-only outcome.

Upside Grade: 7C

Comments: XXL frame with the stuff to start but continues to struggle with command. Uses size well with physical, 3/4s delivery and 4-pitch arsenal. Best pitch is clearly 4-seam FB with above-average ride, though he struggles to command it within the zone. CB took a step forward while CH has taken step back. Rarely uses a power SL with sweep.

Development Path: Hess pitched better in the second half of the year, earning a promotion and a nice run at Double-A to close the season. He'll likely start 2026 at Double-A Somerset. While a Triple-A promotion seems possible, an MLB promotion is a stretch.

Fantasy Impact: Hess has upside and is coming off the best pro or colliegate season of his career. The profile would take a step forward with improved overall and the emergence of a whiff-inducing secondary pitch.

Upside Grade: 8D

Comments: Strong-framed, 3/4s RHP enjoyed solid pro debut despite missing time due to shoulder injury. Uses frame well within delivery. Primarily throws 3 offerings, sprinkling in a CB. 4-seam FB has natural ride but doesn't command well within zone. Best pitch is a late fading CH. SL showed improvement in pro debut with a solid two-plane break.

Development Path: Cunningham, if not for injury, ends up in Double-A by seasons end last year. He was able to get innings in the Fall League. The numbers were poor but his last start was stellar. He starts 2026 in Double-A.

Fantasy Impact: Cunningham lacks ace qualities overall. However, with three potentially above-average-or-better pitches, the mix and frame is there to be a future durable SP3 in the bigs. Reaching the upside is contingent on improving FB command.

Upside Grade: 8D

Comments: Former top prospect missed all of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Repeats upright, high 3/4s delivery; is a pitchability RHP with 5 pitches. Mixes 4-seam and 2-seam FB as primary offerings. SW is best secondary and finds whiffs. CT and vertical CB create different angles to keep hitters off balance.

Development Path: Hampton's Tommy John surgery was at the start of spring training though he struggled with partial tears for a couple seasons. The Yankees will treat Hampton with kid gloves in 2026. He'll start the season rehabbing.

Fantasy Impact: Hampton likely isn't a source of strikeouts. If healthy, he will be able to carve out a nice mid-rotation role. It remains to be seen if the injuries are behind him. We're cautiously optimistic he regains pre-2024 form.

Upside Grade: 8E

Comments: Low 3/4s LHP with funky cross-fire delivery has yet to make pro debut. Relies on angles and above-average command to keep hitters off balance. Three primary pitches. 4-seam FB has solid spin profile; commands it to all quadrants of the zone. SW has above-average potential. Late-fading CH with terrific velo separation has plus markings.

Development Path: Kohn is fully recovered from 2023 Tommy John surgery. Talk out of the Yankees complex point towards an increase in velocity and imporved secondary pitches. Kohn likely starts in High-A before a Double-A promotion.

Fantasy Impact: Kohn, who comes from a poor development situation in college, is the type of arm the Yankees have done well with developing. It's a mid-rotation upside with velocity gains and continued breaking ball improvement.

Upside Grade: 7C

Comments: Late-round pick enjoyed power/speed breakout split. Muscular, athletic frame. Upright, slight open stance with slight leg lift. Hands dip slightly on trigger. Utilizes uppercut swing with plus bat speed. Long levers and lack of swing flexibility contribute to whiff issues. Plus runner with 93% SB%. Poor defender, likely LF only.

Development Path: Lewis did damage at both A-ball affiliates, ending the season with Hudson Valley. The true test is how the hit tool responds to upper level pitching. He'll start 2026 at Double-A Somerset.

Fantasy Impact: Lewis is a great speculative add in deep leagues given his power is already showing up in-game. Really, if he hits at a below-average rate, there's a chance for an average outcome. With a better hit tool, he could be a solid outcome.

Upside Grade: 8E

Comments: Tall, athletic LHP missed majority of 2025 due to off-season shoulder surgery. Stays tall in delivery. Utilizes deceptive low 3/4s slot and employs 3-pitch arsenal. Stuff was down post-surgery though results were solid. Best offering is late fading CH. SL varies between SW and SU shapes. Could be above-average offering as one or the other.

Development Path: Even though it was just 16.1 IP, Lalane's FB/CH are too good for Low-A. He's already Rule 5 eligible, meaning his timeline forces NYY to push the profile. He likely starts 2026 with High-A Hudson Valley.

Fantasy Impact: It's hard to evaluate a pitching prospect coming off a major surgery. The FB projects as a plus pitch if the pre-surgery shape returns. Same goes for the breaking pitch. CH is the difference maker here with whiff potential.

Upside Grade: 8E

Comments: Veratile, speedy OF prospect enjoyed career highs in HR and SB across two levels. Short-statured, lean athletic frame. Utilizes mostly upright stance with a quiet trigger to hit position. Swing stays compact with a slight uppercut trajectory. Has a CF to pull side approach with sneaky power down the pull side line. Double-plus runner can play CF.

Development Path: Jones' hard contact rates dropped upon his promotion to Double-A. He likely starts 2026 at Double-A Somerset with a shot at Triple-A by season's end.

Fantasy Impact: Jones has a tweener profile. His ability to play all three outfield positions is key to find his way into a big league lineup. He likely doesn't hit enough to get into a big league lineup enough to be a fantasy option.

Upside Grade: 7D

Comments: Athletic RHP struggled with shoulder issues early before posting strong season across A-ball affiliates. 3/4s slot delivery, achieves above-average extension despite shorter stature. Feel for spin carries profile. Two distinct breaking pitches have chance for plus outcomes, generating high chase rates. FB has solid carry. Struggles with CH.

Development Path: Smith proved dominant during the regular season and the Arizona Fall League. Double-A is his next assignment. Can his chase-heavy arsenal survive when hitters figure out he can't really throw pitches in the zone?

Fantasy Impact: Smith's whiff-inducing breaking pitches are the selling point for the fantasy profile. The FB is good enough to survive as an SP if he can improve his command. Likely a RP profile but potentially a good one.

Upside Grade: 7C

Comments: 3/4s LHP enjoyed strong season repeating High-A. The Good: Threw more strikes. SW and SL became distinctive offerings while FB maintained solidness. The Bad: The stuff is still less than college and may not play. 4-seam FB is best pitch with a flat-angled profile and ride. SW would get more whiffs at higher MPH. Rounds out mix with CH and SL.

Development Path: Carr won South Atlantic League (High-A) Pitcher of the Year last year, his second season at the level. He looks to spend 2026 at Double-A Somerset. He is a couple seasons away from MLB.

Fantasy Impact: If Carr hadn't shown promise in college and in early season career, he's likely unranked. The hope here is the FB can regain cut/ride action and the sweeper gets thrown at a higher MPH. Without that, the profile struggles to compete.

Upside Grade: 7C

Comments: Second-generation MIF prospect (Dad Jeff is a former MVP) selected in 2025 draft has high floor skill set. Hit-over-everything-else profile. Utilizes upright stance with moderate leg lift. Heady approach, works counts, spray contact skills. Average power to pull side. Will need to add strength for raw power to play. Below-average runner.

Development Path: Kent played a few games at Hudson Valley (High-A) to end the season. He likely starts there in 2026 and moves up to the upper affiliates. Triple-A by season's end is not out of the question.

Fantasy Impact: Kent's hit tool skills are refined but he lacks the bat speed and the strength to get to additional power. If he somehow finds it, he becomes a regular performer. As of now, the projection is a bench bat.

Upside Grade: 6C