BALTIMORE — One of many Yankees’ high pitching prospects is now one step away from the majors.
The crew has promoted Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz to Triple-A. The best-hander, ranked the 99th-best prospect within the recreation by Baseball America, will be a part of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Saturday for a recreation towards the Buffalo Bisons.
Rodriguez-Cruz, Baseball America’s high Yankees’ pitching prospect alongside Carlos Lagrange, leads all minor league arms with 173 strikeouts this season. Rodriguez-Cruz additionally owns a 2.42 ERA, has allowed simply three house runs and has a 54.8 groundball fee over 26 video games (25 begins) and a career-high 145 innings between Excessive-A and Double-A.
Drafted out of Puerto Rico within the fourth spherical by the Crimson Sox in 2021, the 22-year-old Rodriguez-Cruz joined the Yankees in a uncommon rivalry commerce that despatched Carlos Narváez to Boston this previous December.
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz has been one of many BEST pitchers on the MiLB stage this 12 months.
He can contact 99 MPH together with his fastball, throws six pitches, and has solely allowed two house runs in 96.2 IP.
2.42 ERA | 27.5% Okay% | 51.6% GB% | .185 AVG pic.twitter.com/RYnriur2J0
Reese’s prediction comes with the Yankees already in place to boast a younger rotation in 2026, although one by no means is aware of what roster shuffles the offseason will deliver. Rodriguez-Cruz can at all times be dealt — SNY’s Andy Martino just lately reported that the Yankees refused to commerce him in talks for Baltimore’s Charlie Morton — as might a number of the crew’s greener starters.
Whereas veterans Max Fried and Carlos Rodón are set to steer the group subsequent 12 months, Will Warren, 26, and Cam Schlittler, 24, might be coming off their rookie seasons. Then there’s Luis Gil, who’s 27.
Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt are additionally anticipated to affix the rotation midseason after every underwent Tommy John procedures this 12 months.
With little time left to pitch at Triple-A this season, Rodriguez-Cruz might comply with an identical path as Schlittler, who shined in massive league camp earlier than incomes a number of promotions and making his massive league debut on July 9. His rise was accompanied by an uptick in velocity, which Schlittler attributed to placing on weight and taking higher care of his physique this previous offseason.
Double-A pitching coach Peter Larson talked about Schlittler’s bulk-up when requested what Rodriguez-Cruz must work on now that he’s a stage nearer to the large leagues.
“Continue to fine-tune the sweeper and cutter,” Larson stated. “Similar to Cam, keep working hard in the weight room for additional strength.”
Nonetheless, Larson specified that fastball velocity is “not an issue” for the 6-3, 160-pound Rodriguez-Cruz — who can hit 99 mph — and that he has thrown more durable because the season has progressed regardless of an unprecedented workload. Larson added that Rodriguez-Cruz’s common velocity was really higher at Double-A than it was at Excessive-A.
