“Back to the Empire”: Yankees Introduce PJ Bishop as New GM/Manager

[XxVols98xX]

“Back to the Empire”: Yankees Introduce PJ Bishop as New GM/Manager

The Bronx has a new architect.

On Tuesday, the New York Yankees announced PJ Bishop as the organization’s new General Manager and field Manager, entrusting him with a single, unmistakable mandate: restore the Yankee empire and keep it standing for years to come.

“There is no rebuild in the Bronx,” Bishop said at his introductory press conference. “Not on my watch. Our job is to compete for a World Series every year. Period.”

A Big Budget, a Bigger Plan

Bishop steps into the role with one of the game’s largest payrolls at his disposal—and a clear vision for how to use it.

The Yankees under Bishop will pour resources into three pillars:

Player Development – Heavy investment in coaching, analytics, and sports science to squeeze every ounce of potential from homegrown talent.

Scouting – An expanded focus on the amateur draft and international market, with the goal of building a steady pipeline of impact arms and athletic position players.

Selective Star Power – The Yankees will still be a destination for marquee free agents, but Bishop’s emphasis is on fit: players who match the club’s identity and can help win immediately without blocking the next wave of talent.

“Our preferred path is draft, develop, and win with Yankees who come up wearing pinstripes,” Bishop explained. “But if there’s a player out there who fits what we’re building and moves the needle right now, we’re going to be in that conversation every time.”

Rotation First: Building From the Mound Out

If Bishop’s blueprint has a headline, it’s this: the rotation is the foundation.

The organization will be built around starting pitching, with a particular profile in mind:

High Stuff – Strikeout arms who can miss bats in October as well as in May.

Good Movement – Limiting damage on contact, keeping the ball in the yard in a homer-friendly park.

Solid Control – Command enough to avoid beating themselves; Bishop is willing to trade a bit of raw stuff for truly elite strike-throwers if the profile fits.

“You win playoff series by running out starter after starter that other teams don’t want to see,” Bishop said. “We’re going to stack those guys.”

Behind them, Bishop envisions a bullpen full of power arms—relievers with premium stuff and strong movement, even if their control occasionally lives on the edge. The late innings in the Bronx are about to become a parade of high-velocity, high-spin chaos for opposing hitters.

On-Field Strategy: Modern, Aggressive, and Relentless

Bishop’s in-game strategy mirrors his roster philosophy: modern, efficient, and unapologetically aggressive.

Offensively, don’t expect a small-ball revolution in Yankee Stadium. Bunting will be a rare sight, and squeeze plays will almost never come out of the drawer. Instead, Bishop prefers a lineup packed with:

Power/Speed threats – Hitters who can change the game with one swing and still pressure defenses on the bases.

Glove-first reliability – Solid to above-average defense at every position, protecting that prized pitching staff.

“We want nine guys who can hit it out, go first-to-third, and make every routine play,” Bishop said. “If you can’t do at least two of those three things, you probably won’t be here long.”

While he won’t turn the Yankees into reckless runners, Bishop is far from conservative on the bases. His clubs will look to take the extra 90 feet when the math supports it, using athleticism and smart reads rather than sheer volume of steals.

On the pitching and defensive side, Bishop’s sliders tell their own story. Intentional walks and constant pitching around hitters are off the table; his staff will attack the zone and trust their stuff. Extreme defensive gimmicks such as constant shifting are out as well—Bishop favors positioning that respects data but doesn’t pull defenders out of their strengths.

He’s also prepared to act decisively with his pitching changes: quick hooks for both starters and relievers if matchups or performance demand it. Sentimentality won’t outweigh the win probability chart.

Culture and Expectations

Inside the clubhouse, Bishop plans to blend the Yankees’ traditional mystique with a modern, data-forward edge.

“We’re going to use every tool available—analytics, scouting, technology—but none of it replaces accountability,” he said. “You put on this uniform, the standard is championships. That’s not pressure; that’s a privilege.”

The message to players is simple: compete, adapt, and play complete baseball. The message to the rest of the league is even simpler: the Yankees are not waiting for a window to open—they believe it’s already here.

As PJ Bishop takes the reins in the Bronx, the goal isn’t a feel-good turnaround or a distant five-year plan. It’s a return to what the franchise has always believed itself to be: the team everyone else is trying to knock off.

The empire, if Bishop has his way, is under reconstruction—and this time, it’s being built from the mound out.

[XxVols98xX]

Bronx Aces: Bishop’s First Yankees Rotation Sets the Tone on Opening Day

By the time the sun rose over the Bronx on Opening Day, one thing was already clear about the PJ Bishop era: this team is going to live and die with its starting pitching.

From the moment Bishop took over as GM/Manager, he preached a simple philosophy—build the empire from the mound out. High stuff, strong movement, solid control. That’s the template. And as the Yankees break camp and line up for the 2025 season, the five arms entrusted with setting that identity are officially in place:

Max Fried – LHP

Carlos Rodón – LHP

Will Warren – RHP

Carlos Carrasco – RHP

Marcus Stroman – RHP

It’s a blend of established stars, battle-tested veterans, and a homegrown arm ready for his shot. It’s also very much a PJ Bishop rotation: different looks, different strengths, but the same mandate—attack, compete, and give this lineup a chance to win every night.

No. 1: Max Fried – The Calm at the Top

The new face of the staff is a familiar one to baseball fans. Fresh off signing in free agency, Max Fried takes the ball as the Yankees’ Opening Day starter and immediate tone-setter.

Fried brings the exact profile Bishop loves:

Polished stuff with a deep pitch mix.

Excellent movement, keeping the ball off barrels and in the yard.

Reliable command, capable of pitching deep into games without the walk-induced meltdowns that drive managers crazy.

An extreme groundball tendency, plus a premium defense behind him, makes Fried the perfect ace for a club that wants to turn hard contact into quick outs. In a division filled with power bats, having a lefty who can both neutralize right-handers and control the running game is a luxury.

“This is a guy who knows how to navigate lineups, not just overpower them,” Bishop said. “He fits exactly what we want this staff to be.”

No. 2: Carlos Rodón – The Power Punch

If Fried is the surgeon, Carlos Rodón is the sledgehammer.

Slotted as the No. 2, Rodón gives the Yankees a very different but equally dangerous look on the day after Fried. His fastball lives in the mid-to-upper 90s, and the slider still has that wipeout, two-strike bite that has terrorized lefties and righties alike.

Rodón’s profile is pure power pitcher—high velocity, big strikeout totals, and the ability to change a game with a single pitch when he needs a punchout. He doesn’t generate the same groundball rates as Fried, but Bishop is willing to live with the extra fly balls when the stuff is this electric.

Back-to-back lefties at the top of the rotation also create matchup headaches for opponents trying to set their lineups for a series in the Bronx. Stack righties to deal with Fried’s repertoire, and you’re still staring at Rodón’s power fastball/slider combo less than 24 hours later.

No. 3: Will Warren – The Homegrown Wild Card

If there’s a symbol of Bishop’s “draft and develop” mantra in this rotation, it’s Will Warren.

Once a promising minor-league arm, Warren now steps into the No. 3 role with the chance to prove he belongs as a long-term piece. His ratings show a balanced skill set—solid stuff, good movement, and dependable control. The fastball sits in the mid-90s, complemented by a full mix of secondary pitches that keep hitters honest.

What makes Warren particularly intriguing to the Yankees isn’t just his arsenal; it’s his personality profile. He’s seen as a leader, the type of competitor who doesn’t shy away from big spots and can set a tone in the clubhouse as well as on the mound.

For Bishop, it’s the ideal test case: Can a homegrown, well-rounded arm, molded inside the organization’s revamped development system, slide in behind two established stars and thrive?

“We’re not asking Will to be perfect,” Bishop said. “We’re asking him to compete like a Yankee every fifth day. His makeup tells us he’s ready for that.”

No. 4: Carlos Carrasco – The Veteran Stabilizer

Championship teams need more than just top-end talent; they need stability. Enter Carlos Carrasco.

At 37, Carrasco has seen just about everything a major league mound can throw at a pitcher. His ratings don’t scream ace—average-to-solid stuff and movement with steady control—but they do scream reliability. He knows how to mix pitches, change speeds, and manage a lineup the third time through.

For a club aiming for 162 games of contention, Carrasco is the kind of arm who keeps losing streaks from snowballing and eats innings when the bullpen is worn down. On days when his slider is working and the command is sharp, he’s more than capable of looking like the pitcher who logged quality seasons in Cleveland and New York earlier in his career.

“Cookie understands how to pitch, not just throw,” Bishop said. “When you’re chasing October, those guys matter a lot more than people realize.”

No. 5: Marcus Stroman – The Competitive Edge

Rounding out the rotation is Marcus Stroman, the undersized righty with a gigantic presence.

Stroman’s ratings highlight what he’s been throughout his career:

Elite competitiveness and leadership in the clubhouse.

Strong movement and control that allow him to live in and around the zone.

A pitch mix designed to induce weak contact and keep the ball on the ground.

Bishop isn’t asking Stroman to be the staff ace; he’s asking him to be the heartbeat of the back end, setting a relentless tone every fifth day. Stroman’s ability to work out of jams, control the running game, and go deep into games when he’s in rhythm makes him the ideal No. 5 for a contender.

“Marcus never gives less than 100 percent,” Bishop said. “You feel that when he pitches. That’s the kind of energy we want all season.”

Five Arms, One Identity

Put it all together, and Bishop’s first Yankees rotation checks every box he laid out when he took over:

High-end stuff and movement at the top (Fried, Rodón).

A developing, controllable arm with leadership traits in the middle (Warren).

Veteran stability and competitive fire anchoring the back (Carrasco, Stroman).

It’s not just a collection of names; it’s a carefully built staff designed to attack October-style lineups from Day 1 of the regular season.

In the Bronx, expectations never start low. But as Opening Day dawns and Max Fried takes his warmup tosses on the Yankee Stadium mound, there’s a sense that this rotation is more than just five starters—it’s the foundation of the new era PJ Bishop promised.

The empire, at least on paper, has its frontline. Now it’s time to see if these five can turn potential into parade routes down the Canyon of Heroes.

[XxVols98xX]

Chaos After Seven”: Inside PJ Bishop’s New-Look Yankees Bullpen

If PJ Bishop’s rotation is the foundation of the new Yankee empire, his bullpen is the shock troop unit—eight very different arms with one shared mission: turn the last nine outs into a nightmare for opposing hitters.

On Opening Day, Bishop unveiled his first relief corps as GM/Manager, and it looks exactly like the philosophy he’s been preaching since he took over: power stuff, late movement, and zero fear of a little wildness—backed by specialists who can warp matchups in the Yankees’ favor.

Here’s how the pen shapes up as the gates open in 2025.

The Back-End Monsters
Devin Williams – The Trump Card

Officially listed as a setup man, Devin Williams is much more than that: he’s Bishop’s ultimate weapon.

With upper-90s velocity and that signature, bat-dissolving changeup, Williams is the prototype of what Bishop wants in a reliever—80-grade stuff, late life, and enough movement to survive in a bandbox. He’ll handle the eighth inning on most nights, but Bishop has already hinted that leverage will matter more than labels.

“If the heart of the order is up in the eighth,” Bishop said, “you’re going to see Devin.”

In other words: he’s the stopper, the matchup breaker, the fireman who can make the biggest threat of the night disappear.

Fernando Cruz – The Ninth-Inning Hammer

Closing duties belong to Fernando Cruz, the late-blooming right-hander whose story reads like a baseball odyssey and whose arsenal now screams “closer.”

Cruz combines a mid-90s fastball with a vicious slider and a diving splitter, all carrying plus or better grades for pure stuff. Command isn’t always pristine, but that’s a trade Bishop is more than willing to accept for a reliever who can miss bats at will.

When the Yankees are ahead in the ninth, expect the stadium playlist, the lights—and a lot of empty swings.

The Bridge: Power & Versatility
Luke Weaver – The Seventh-Inning Fireman

Luke Weaver slots in as the primary seventh-inning arm, a multi-pitch power reliever whose fastball/curve/changeup/cutter mix gives Bishop options against any part of the lineup.

Weaver brings mid-90s heat and above-average movement, with just enough control to live on the edges without constantly flirting with disaster. He can get righties and lefties out, handle multi-inning stints, and step into higher leverage if Williams or Cruz are unavailable.

He’s the perfect embodiment of Bishop’s mantra: attack, don’t nibble.

Mark Leiter Jr. – The Swiss Army Knife

Every bullpen needs a pitcher who can do a little bit of everything. For Bishop, that’s Mark Leiter Jr.

Leiter’s splitter is a true out pitch, and his deep repertoire—fastball, slider, curve, splitter, cutter—lets him change looks constantly. He’ll open the year in a middle-relief role, but his profile screams “matchup weapon”: he can be deployed to chase a strikeout with runners on, or to navigate a full inning when the game is still in the balance.

If someone emerges as an unsung hero of this group, Leiter is a good bet.

The Left-Handed Problem
Tim Hill – The Submarine Contrast

From the third-base side, hitters will see Cruz, Williams, Weaver—the over-the-top, high-octane, four-seam brigade.

Then the phone rings again, the gate opens, and Tim Hill jogs in: a left-handed submariner whose arm slot might as well be coming from the on-deck circle.

Hill doesn’t fit the classic “power arm” mold, but he fits something else Bishop loves: extreme ground balls and awkward at-bats. His sinker/slider combo bores in on lefties’ hands and saws righties off just enough to get weak contact. He’ll live in middle innings and high-leverage spots against tough left-handers.

Brent Headrick – The Emerging Specialist

Backing Hill is fellow lefty Brent Headrick, tabbed as the bullpen’s left-handed specialist. With a firm fastball, a sharp slider, and the ability to mix in a sinker and cutter, Headrick gives Bishop another look to throw at left-handed power bats in the late innings.

His role will be more targeted—“vs. LHB” is basically written on his bullpen chair—but on the right nights, he could swing entire series with a timely out or two.

Length & Youth
Ryan Yarbrough – The Long Man and Damage Control

When starters exit early or extra innings loom, the bullpen turns to Ryan Yarbrough.

While Yarbrough doesn’t light up the radar gun, he brings something every contender needs: innings. His command, funky angle, and willingness to change speeds make him the perfect long-relief option. He’ll also double as a mop-up arm when games get out of hand, protecting the high-leverage arms for tomorrow.

On a staff where velocity is the headline, Yarbrough is the change-of-pace paragraph.

Yoendrys Gómez – The Live-Arm Lottery Ticket

Rounding out the group is Yoendrys Gómez, the youngest member of the relief corps and perhaps the biggest wild card.

Gómez offers mid-90s velocity, a full mix of secondaries, and the kind of raw stuff that suggests his 40-grade current rating might just be the floor. Bishop will break him in with middle relief and mop-up duty, but if the strikes come more consistently, Gómez has the arsenal to force his way into more important innings as the season progresses.

A Pen Built in Bishop’s Image

Put them all together, and the Opening Day bullpen looks exactly like PJ Bishop promised when he took over:

Two elite back-end monsters (Williams, Cruz) with top-tier stuff.

A flexible bridge of power arms and pitch-mix specialists (Weaver, Leiter).

Multiple left-handed looks to neutralize the modern slugger (Hill, Headrick).

Length and upside to weather the grind of 162 games (Yarbrough, Gómez).

It won’t always be clean—Bishop has already made it clear he can live with the occasional walk or wild inning as long as the strikeouts and soft contact keep coming. But for the first time in a while, the Yankees enter a season with a bullpen that doesn’t just aim to hold leads; it aims to smother them.

In the new era of Yankees baseball, once the starter hands the ball off after six or seven, the message from the bullpen gate is simple:

Good luck.

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“Bombers, Reloaded”: Bishop Unveils His First Opening Day Lineup

The rotation and bullpen might be the spine of PJ Bishop’s new-look Yankees, but on Opening Day, the focus shifts to what the Bronx has always craved most: a lineup built to crush mistakes, pressure defenses, and turn the short porch into a weekly crime scene.

Bishop’s first card as GM/Manager is exactly what he promised when he took over—power/speed combos at every spot, real gloves behind the pitchers, and star power in the middle. It’s a modern, matchup-driven group that looks a little different depending on who’s on the mound, but the theme never changes: attack, run, and catch the ball.

Lineup vs RHP + DH

1. C Austin Wells (L)
Bishop hands the leadoff spot to a bat-first catcher with OBP skills and left-handed thump. Wells brings solid contact, real pull power, and enough plate discipline to see pitches and set the table. Defensively he’s taken a step forward—blocking and framing are both playable—which is crucial for a staff built around elite arms.

2. RF Cody Bellinger (L)
A former MVP slotted into the two-hole tells you everything about how deep this order can be. Bellinger is the perfect Bishop player: above-average contact, over-the-fence power, plus speed, and strong defense in right field with the ability to slide to center or first if needed. Hitting in front of the big man means he’ll see strikes; he has the swing to punish them.

3. DH Aaron Judge (R)
The face of the franchise keeps his familiar spot in the heart of the order, but Bishop starts him at DH on Opening Day to keep his legs fresh for the long haul. Judge still boasts elite power and plate discipline—80 power, 80+ eye in scouting shorthand—and remains the hitter every opposing game plan orbits around. With Bellinger ahead of him and real threats behind, there’s nowhere to hide.

4. 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L)
Jazz brings electricity. Left-handed pop, 20-20 potential, and the kind of athleticism that fits perfectly with Bishop’s power/speed mandate. At second base he gives the Yankees range and flair, and in the cleanup spot he forms a brutal left-right balance with Judge that can tilt any game in one inning.

5. 1B Paul Goldschmidt (R)
New York’s veteran run-producer slots into the five-hole, turning the middle of this lineup into a gauntlet. Goldschmidt still mixes contact, gap power, and over-the-fence juice, along with a professional approach that lengthens innings. Defensively, he’s a steady presence at first, turning errant throws into outs and quietly anchoring the infield.

6. LF Spencer Jones (L)
If Judge is the present and Goldschmidt the proven, Spencer Jones is the looming future. The 6'6" lefty brings massive raw power, real speed, and enough athleticism to handle a corner outfield spot. Hitting sixth takes pressure off while still giving him RBI chances with traffic on base. One hot stretch, and he could turn the bottom half of the order into a second middle.

7. CF Trent Grisham (L)
This is where Bishop’s “defense everywhere” mantra really shows. Grisham might not carry the same raw power as the top of the lineup, but he brings patience at the plate and plus defense in center field—critical behind a staff that lives in the zone. Batting seventh, he acts as an on-base bridge back to the top while vacuuming up fly balls in the gaps.

8. 3B Oswaldo Cabrera (S)
Cabrera is the Swiss Army knife of this roster, but on Opening Day he gets the nod at third. The switch-hitter offers league-average pop from both sides, sneaky speed, and the ability to move around the diamond as needed. Hitting eighth, he’s less about star power and more about versatility—he keeps Bishop’s options open all game.

9. SS Anthony Volpe (R)
Calling Volpe a “nine-hitter” is a little misleading. Bishop views him as a second leadoff man: good on-base skills, gap power that’s growing, and plus speed with strong instincts on the bases. Defensively, he’s the infield anchor—plus range, sure hands, and the leadership traits of a future captain. When the lineup turns over, pitchers don’t get to exhale.

Lineup vs LHP + DH

Against lefties, Bishop tweaks the card rather than blowing it up, leaning into platoon advantages while keeping his core intact:

1B Paul Goldschmidt (R) – On-base machine vs LHP, setting the tone early.

LF Pablo Reyes (R) – Contact-oriented bat who puts the ball in play and adds more right-handed balance.

CF Trent Grisham (L) – Stays in for the glove and underrated on-base ability.

DH Aaron Judge (R) – Same story: the sun rises in the east, and Judge hits in the middle.

RF Cody Bellinger (L) – Protected by righties around him, still dangerous vs same-side pitching.

2B Oswald Peraza (R) – Brings plus infield defense and a right-handed stick, fitting Bishop’s “defense first, power growing” ideal.

C Ben Rice (L) – Another left-handed catcher with real pop, giving the Yankees thunder deep in the order.

SS Anthony Volpe (R)

3B Oswaldo Cabrera (S)

The result is a lineup that flips from lefty-heavy vs righties to more balanced vs lefties without sacrificing power, speed, or defense.

Depth and the Bishop Blueprint

What makes this group feel different from recent Yankee lineups is the blend:

Homegrown core: Volpe, Wells, Jones, Peraza, Cabrera, Rice—and waiting in the wings, Jasson Domínguez—are all products of the organization’s draft-and-develop focus that Bishop vowed to double down on.

Targeted veteran stars: Judge, Goldschmidt, Bellinger, and Grisham weren’t added just for name value; they’re tailored fits for the park, the philosophy, and the run-prevention focus behind them.

Position flexibility: Multiple players can move around the diamond, letting Bishop play matchups, protect leads with defense, or chase runs with power late.

On paper, it’s a lineup capable of hanging crooked numbers in a hurry but also grinding out wins with speed and run prevention—exactly the identity Bishop laid out on Day 1.

“We wanted nine guys who can either take you deep, take the extra base, or take a hit away in the field,” Bishop said. “On most nights, we’ve got all three at once.”

The rotation may set the early tone, and the bullpen may slam the door, but as this new era in the Bronx officially begins, the Opening Day lineup sends a clear message:

The Yankees aren’t just trying to out-slug you. Under PJ Bishop, they plan to out-run you, out-defend you, and out-think you too—while still putting balls in the seats the way the Bronx expects.

[XxVols98xX]

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.