Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz: Yankees 2025 Minor League Player Of The Year
Righthander Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz set one primary goal for this season, his first in the Yankees organization following an offseason trade, and proceeded to meet the challenge—and then far exceed it.
“One of my goals this year was to get to 100 innings, and thankfully I was able to get past that,” Rodriguez-Cruz said. “That was one of the main goals, to stay healthy and get past 100 innings. That was the first time I’ve been past it.”
The 22-year-old tossed 150 innings in a season he split between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset, plus one Triple-A start. He struck out 176 batters, pitched to a 2.58 ERA and allowed a .192 opponent average. All four of those marks were among the best in the minor leagues.
“I feel really good. Even though it’s been a long season, I’ve still got a lot left, and the arm has been feeling good,” Rodriguez-Cruz said.
The Yankees acquired Rodriguez-Cruz from the Red Sox in December when they traded Carlos Narvaez to Boston. Narvaez shined as a rookie catcher for the Red Sox this season.
Now, Rodriguez-Cruz appears to be a part of the Yankees’ future, potentially a prominent one after he joined the Top 100 Prospects late this season. He throws six pitch types led by a mid-90s sinker that has approached 98 mph and includes a four-seamer, sweeper, curveball, splitter and gyro slider.
“He has that six-pitch mix, but he knows how to use it,” Somerset pitching coach Peter Larson said. “And I think that’s the separator for such a young guy.”
The Red Sox drafted Rodriguez-Cruz in the fourth round in 2021 out of Leadership Christian Academy in Puerto Rico. He reached High-A in the Boston system in 2024.
Larson said the Yankees had Rodriguez-Cruz lean into a sinker to help combat righthanded hitters and fine-tune a sweeper that he had already been throwing.
“His ability to use all (his pitches) and attack each hitter accordingly,” Larson said. “I think it’s a pretty elite trait that he’s already showing. There’s a lot to like with him.”
