Yanks to call up No. 3 prospect Rodríguez for debut on Wednesday
This browser does not support the video element.
ARLINGTON -- Elmer Rodríguez will join the Yankees and make his Major League debut on Wednesday afternoon against the Rangers, manager Aaron Boone said on the “Talkin’ Yanks” podcast.
The 22-year-old Rodríguez is the organization’s No. 3 prospect, and the No. 72 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He was off to a strong start at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, posting a 1.27 ERA across four starts.
Rodríguez will be claiming a rotation spot vacated on Sunday, when the Yankees optioned right-hander Luis Gil to Triple-A after a rocky start against the Astros in Houston.
Will Warren had been originally announced as the Yankees’ scheduled starter for the Texas series finale. A source indicated Warren is healthy and will start during the club’s upcoming homestand against the Orioles.
Boone also said the Yankees will recall infielder Max Schuemann from Triple-A on Tuesday, the corresponding move as Giancarlo Stanton lands on the injured list with a right calf strain.
Schuemann had 15 hits in 74 at-bats (.203) for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, with four doubles, a homer and seven RBIs.
Acquired from the Red Sox in a December 2024 swap for catcher Carlos Narváez, Rodríguez posted an 11-8 record with a 2.58 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) last year, pitching at three levels of the Yankees' organization.
After representing Puerto Rico during the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Rodríguez pitched well through his first 21 1/3 innings this season at Triple-A, limiting opponents to a .171 batting average while striking out 20 against seven walks.
He features a four-seam fastball that sits 96 mph and reaches 99 mph, with an 82-85 mph slider representing his top secondary weapon. Rodríguez also elicits chases with an upper-70s curveball and an upper-80s splitter/changeup.
Rodríguez will take on a Rangers lineup that has struggled to score runs this season, with their 115 runs scored ranked 26th in the Majors and their .696 team OPS ranked 20th.
Texas is scheduled to counter on Wednesday with veteran right-hander Nathan Eovaldi.