TAMPA — The Novel York Yankees commence their Grapefruit League schedule Friday with a game against the Orioles in Sarasota, Fla., and the starting assignment goes to a pitcher poised for a potential breakout: Elmer Rodriguez.
The 22-year-old right-hander, acquired by the Yankees last offseason from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for catcher Carlos Narváez, represents a key piece of the organization’s pitching future. Rodriguez is coming off a stellar 2025 season where he posted a 2.58 ERA with 176 strikeouts across three levels – High-A, Double-A, and a single start in Triple-A. His performance has generated excitement within the Yankees organization, and manager Aaron Boone expressed his enthusiasm for the young pitcher’s potential.
““[Rodriguez has made] a large impression,” Boone said Thursday. “He’s one of those guys that I hadn’t seen really in person, but one of those few guys you get excited to reach down here, and notice. I think he’s got a chance to be a starting pitcher in this league for a long time. That’s how he profiles to me and everything I hear about him. I’m excited to see him go [Friday]. I think he’s got a really bright future.”
Rodriguez is also scheduled to pitch for Puerto Rico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, providing him with valuable international experience before the start of the regular season.
Several other Yankees players are also preparing to participate in the World Baseball Classic. Infielders Jazz Chisholm Jr., José Caballero, and Amed Rosario, along with catcher Austin Wells, are all expected to depart for tournament play next week. Aaron Judge, who will captain Team USA, is slated to make his spring debut Saturday against the Detroit Tigers, starting in right field, and is likely to transition to a designated hitter role on Sunday against the Mets.
Boone indicated he intends to get Judge into four or five of the Yankees’ first nine spring games before he joins Team USA.
On the sidelines, reliever Rafael Montero is currently awaiting clearance to join the team. Boone stated that Montero has a locker at Steinbrenner Field but is experiencing delays due to paperwork and visa issues. The right-hander signed a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp last week, and the Yankees are hopeful he will soon be able to compete for a spot in the bullpen.
Meanwhile, pitcher Will Warren continues to build arm strength, throwing three innings of live batting practice Thursday and reaching a fastball velocity of 93-96 mph – consistent with his 93.3 mph average from last season. Warren reportedly struck out Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton, and Judge consecutively during the session.
The Yankees’ Grapefruit League schedule will offer a first look at how these players, and others, perform as they prepare for the 2026 season. The team will continue to evaluate its roster and refine its strategies throughout spring training.
The Yankees will next face the Tigers in a Saturday afternoon contest at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Fans can follow spring training updates and the team’s progress on the official Yankees website.
If you are interested in learning more about the Yankees’ spring training schedule and roster, please visit MLB.com’s Yankees page.
