Meet the 'young pups': Yanks arms who could make waves in '26

TAMPA, Fla. -- Cam Schlittler stood on the field at Yankee Stadium shortly after the deciding game of the American League Wild Card Series, his cap backwards and his arms slung around each of his parents. He wore a beer-soaked clubhouse T-shirt and a grin of satisfaction, one that said he had accomplished his mission.

Schlittler pitched the game of his life that night, sending the Red Sox home while becoming the first pitcher in postseason history to throw at least eight scoreless innings with 12 or more strikeouts and no walks.

That performance has the Yankees excited about what the 25-year-old right-hander can do over a full season, but to hear general manager Brian Cashman tell it, Schlittler’s emergence may just be the tip of the iceberg.

“We have some young pups pushing up the ladder,” Cashman said recently. “We have a lot of quality young arms that are high-caliber, that are going to try to push their way into the mix.”

Though the absences of Carlos Rodón, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt will impact the rotation early, the Yankees believe pitching will be a strength. They’ll be counting on growth from Schlittler as well as Will Warren, who led all Major League rookies in strikeouts, starts and innings last year.

Here is a closer look at five pitchers whom Cashman said are “hungry and thirsty” to make an impact in the Majors this year:

Elmer Rodríguez, RHP

Rodriguez, 22, could be the closest Yankees pitching prospect to The Show after advancing from High-A Hudson Valley to a one-game cameo with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season.

Acquired in a December 2024 trade that sent catcher Carlos Narváez to the Red Sox, Rodríguez flashed a fastball that jumped to 93-96 mph and topped out at 98 mph last year, with an improving slider that helped him earn a spot on Puerto Rico’s roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

The 6-foot-3 Rodriguez posted an 11-8 record with a 2.58 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) in the Yanks’ system, striking out 176 while issuing 57 walks and allowing 104 hits over 150 innings.

“I just always try to stay away from looking too far ahead into the future and focus on my day-to-day stuff,” Rodriguez told the YES Network. “I trust that whatever’s in my road ahead is going to figure itself out.”

Carlos Lagrange, RHP

Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $10,000 in February 2022, Lagrange has the makings of a lottery ticket that could cash, pairing a triple-digit fastball with improved command last season.

The 22-year-old opened the season with High-A Hudson Valley before earning a promotion to Double-A Somerset, where he was 7-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 16 games (15 starts). Overall, Lagrange struck out 168 batters in 120 innings, issuing 62 walks and allowing 82 hits. He could see his first big league action as a reliever.

“[2025] was really important for everything in me, because I can use more of my pitches and learn the most about the full season, about the batters, when I can throw this pitch in this count,” Lagrange said.

Angel Chivilli, RHP

Acquired from the Rockies in January, Chivilli has yet to find sustained success in the Majors. He owns a 6.18 ERA over 90 1/3 innings, including a 7.06 ERA in 43 appearances last year.

The Yankees believe removing Chivilli from hitter-friendly Coors Field and offering full access to their pitching lab will unlock more from the 23-year-old. He averaged 97.1 mph with his fastball last season and showed promise with his slider and changeup.

“He’s got a tool package that’s pretty exciting,” said Cashman, noting Chivilli also can be optioned to the Minors. “I think there’s a lot to work with there, so we look forward to putting him in our pitching program and seeing where that takes him.”

Cade Winquest, RHP

The Yankees’ first Rule 5 Draft selection since 2011, Winquest must remain on the 26-man roster all season or be offered back to the Cardinals for half his $100,000 selection price.

According to assistant general manager Michael Fishman, the Yanks have tracked Winquest closely since his days at the University of Texas at Arlington. The Yanks love his ability to spin the ball, featuring a mid-90s fastball, big-breaking upper-70s curve and a low-80s slider in a five-pitch mix.

“Even with my other pitches, I’ve been able to pick up pitches fairly quickly and use that to my advantage,” Winquest said. “What [pitching coach Matt] Blake told me was, ‘We love the way you [have] spin capacity on all your pitches.’ He’s really excited to work with me and maybe adjust some grips to make pitches better.”

Ben Hess, RHP

Though he’s further away than the other names on this list, with just 103 1/3 professional innings under his belt, Hess was the Yankees’ first-round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft and could be on a fast track to the Bronx.

An Alabama product who will be a non-roster invitee to Major League Spring Training, the 23-year-old Hess flashed ace makeup as he pitched to a 3.22 ERA in 22 combined games for High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset last season. He struck out 139 while walking 46, with 65 hits allowed.

“I spent most of the offseason at the [Tampa] complex, so I got to take full advantage of all of those resources,” Hess said. “From the technology to the people to the facilities, everything is top-notch. They’re obviously really good at developing pitching.”