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Bronx Pipeline: Taking Stock of the Yankees’ Farm System

When PJ Bishop took over the Yankees, he made it clear that the empire would be rebuilt on two fronts: a frontline big-league rotation and a steady stream of talent from the minors. The first wave is already in the Bronx—Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, Spencer Jones and Will Warren all opened the season on the major-league roster—but what’s left behind them?

According to the league’s Annual Top Systems report, the Yankees check in at 25th overall. At first glance, that looks underwhelming. Look a little deeper, though, and the picture is less “empty cupboard” and more “top shelves raided early.” A system that’s already graduated several key contributors still features a handful of potential impact pieces—especially in the middle infield and on the mound—which fits Bishop’s long-term vision.

Here’s a tour through the Bronx pipeline.

Headliners: Lombard and the Next Wave of Position Talent

2B George Lombard Jr. (#61 overall)
The crown jewel of the system right now is Hudson Valley second baseman George Lombard Jr., a 19-year-old with a gorgeous right-handed swing and true up-the-middle athleticism. Scouts see plus speed, advanced strike-zone feel and the potential for above-average power as he fills out. The glove is already a weapon—good range, a strong arm, and the versatility to handle shortstop or third in a pinch.

With an “Extreme” risk tag and an ETA around 2028, Lombard isn’t a quick fix. But if he hits his 60-grade ceiling, Bishop could eventually be looking at a dynamic, two-way second baseman to pair with Volpe in the infield of the future.

3B/SS Roderick Arias (#101 overall)
Down in Tampa, Roderick Arias offers a different kind of intrigue. A switch-hitting infielder with plus speed and arm strength, Arias can bounce between second, third, and short, and his bat is starting to catch up to the tools. The contact tool remains a work in progress, but the organization loves his ability to impact the game on the bases and in the field.

If the bat makes the expected leap, the Yankees could have two high-upside, athletic infielders pushing toward the Bronx at roughly the same time.

Arms on the Rise

Bishop has been outspoken: the Yankees’ long-term identity will be built around starters who miss bats and bully lineups. Fittingly, the system’s strength now lies on the mound.

RHP Carlos Lagrange (#83 overall)
The loudest arm belongs to Carlos Lagrange, a 6’7” right-hander lighting up radar guns in Somerset. Sitting 97–99 mph with a fastball that could reach 80-grade at maturity, plus a pair of potentially plus breaking balls and a solid changeup, Lagrange looks every bit the prototype Bishop covets.

The question is command. Right now the control sits below average, and walks will be the last hurdle before he’s considered a legitimate rotation candidate. But with starter stamina and four pitches that all flash, Lagrange profiles as a potential high-octane No. 2 or 3 starter if everything clicks.

RHP Ben Hess (#169 overall)
At High-A Hudson Valley, Ben Hess is a study in contrasts. His stuff isn’t as electric as Lagrange’s, but the arsenal is deep: low-to-mid-90s heat, a solid slider, usable curveball and change. With above-average movement and developing command, Hess projects as a durable mid-rotation arm who can soak up innings and fit seamlessly into Bishop’s “attack the zone, trust the defense” mantra.

RHP Cam Schlittler (#197 overall)
Closer to the big leagues is Cam Schlittler, now in Triple-A Scranton. His profile screams “safe value”: average-to-above stuff across the board, multiple usable pitches, and stable control. Whether he ultimately lands as a back-end starter or multi-inning relief weapon, Schlittler is the kind of arm that reinforces Bishop’s depth charts and keeps the organization from overpaying for pitching patchwork.

The Injured but Intriguing Duo

Injuries are part of any farm-system story, and for the Yankees they loom especially large in the rotation pipeline.

RHP Thatcher Hurd (#225 overall) and RHP Chase Hampton (#234 overall) both entered the year as notable arms with mid-rotation potential—and both are currently shelved with Tommy John surgery, expected to miss roughly a year. Each features a fastball that can touch the mid-90s, solid breaking stuff and enough command to project as starters if they return to form.

Bishop has been vocal internally about patience with injured arms. In his view, a system built around pitching can’t panic at the first UCL tear. If Hurd and Hampton come back healthy in 2026, the Yankees could suddenly find themselves with a glut of controllable starting options.

Outfield Depth and the Next Wave of Bats

While Spencer Jones has already broken camp with the big club and Jasson Domínguez sits on the doorstep, the outfield pipeline hasn’t run dry.

OF Everson Pereira (#220 overall)
Pereira is a tooled-up outfielder with experience in all three spots, above-average speed, and a strong arm. The bat offers moderate power and improving plate discipline, and his defensive range gives him a credible floor as a fourth outfielder. If the contact continues to tick up in Double-A, he could become a versatile everyday option in either corner or an internal answer if injuries hit the big-league outfield.

Behind him, a cluster of lower-level arms and role-player bats—Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, Henry Lalane, Luis Serna, Brock Selvidge and others—gives the system the kind of organizational depth Bishop has insisted on to support his big-league club.

Graduates and the Bigger Picture

Any evaluation of this farm system has to start with who isn’t on the list anymore:

Anthony Volpe, now the starting shortstop and clubhouse leader.

Austin Wells, opening-day catcher and left-handed bat near the top of the lineup.

Spencer Jones, already patrolling left field in Yankee Stadium.

Will Warren, slotted directly into the major-league rotation.

Jasson Domínguez, hovering just off the MLB roster as an impact-ready outfielder.

Graduating that much talent tends to drag down league-wide system rankings, but it represents exactly what Bishop promised when he arrived: a club that wins with players it has drafted, signed, and developed.

The Yankees might sit 25th on paper, but in practice, they’re already reaping the benefits of earlier prospect waves while quietly stockpiling the next one.

Bishop’s Blueprint Going Forward

For PJ Bishop, the current state of the farm is both a challenge and an opportunity:

The top-end ceiling is still there in Lombard, Arias, and Lagrange.

The pitching depth—even with injuries—fits his obsession with building around the rotation.

The system’s ranking provides motivation to invest further in scouting, development, and international talent, something Bishop has made a budget priority.

“We’ve already asked a lot of this system,” Bishop said. “Volpe, Wells, Jones, Warren—those are big checkmarks. Now our job is to make sure there’s another wave right behind them. That’s how you stop talking about windows and start talking about eras.”

The Yankees’ farm isn’t the envy of the league right now, at least not in the standings of prospect pundits. But with a clear philosophy, targeted investments, and a handful of blue-chip talents rising through the ranks, the Bronx pipeline still has enough firepower to keep feeding the empire PJ Bishop intends to rule for years to come.