DYNASTY BASEBALL: 2026 New York Yankees Top 20 Fantasy Baseball Prospects

The New York Yankees have long operated with expectations that few organizations in baseball are asked to carry. Winning at the major-league level is never treated as a distant objective in New York—it is the expectation every season. Yet beneath the pressure to contend, the Yankees have continued to build a talent pipeline capable of supplying the major-league roster while also creating valuable organizational depth, as you’ll see in the Yankees’ Top 20 fantasy baseball prospects profiled ahead.

DYNASTY BASEBALL: 2026 New York Yankees Top 20 Fantasy Baseball Prospects

That operation continues under Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Cashman, whose tenure has been defined by balancing those competing priorities. The Yankees must pursue championships without abandoning the scouting, drafting, international acquisition, and player-development infrastructure necessary to sustain success beyond a single competitive window.

For dynasty fantasy managers, that organizational context matters.

The Yankees have consistently shown a willingness to pursue physical upside. Power, athleticism, bat speed, arm strength, and the potential for impact tools frequently appear throughout the system. On the pitching side, the organization has also demonstrated an appetite for arms with swing-and-miss characteristics and the raw ingredients necessary to develop major-league weapons.

But opportunity in New York must be earned.

Like other perennial contenders, the Yankees rarely have the luxury of giving young players unlimited time to develop at the major-league level. Prospects can encounter established veterans, championship expectations, roster competition, and the constant possibility that organizational needs will change through trades or free-agent additions. That environment can complicate the path to immediate fantasy value, even for talented players.

At the same time, breaking through that competition can be meaningful. When the Yankees create sustained opportunities for a young player—or continue challenging a prospect aggressively through the minor leagues—it deserves attention from dynasty managers. Organizational actions can sometimes tell us nearly as much as prospect rankings themselves.

Cashman and the Yankees also remain willing to use their farm system strategically. Prospects can become contributors in the Bronx, but they can just as easily become valuable currency when the organization identifies an opportunity to strengthen a championship-caliber roster. That possibility adds another layer to evaluating Yankees prospects: talent matters, but so do proximity, organizational depth, roster construction, and the likelihood of a future role.

For dynasty managers, the objective is therefore not simply to identify the most recognizable names in the Yankees system. It is to determine which players possess the combination of ceiling, development trajectory, age-to-level performance, and realistic opportunity necessary to become meaningful fantasy assets.

Under Brian Cashman, New York remains an organization where major-league expectations and long-term talent development must coexist. That tension makes the Yankees farm system particularly interesting for dynasty baseball—because the prospects who ultimately emerge from it often have to prove they belong before the organization entrusts them with an opportunity in the Bronx.

Also, make sure to check out our 2026 MLB organizational Prospect Rankings!

#20 — Michael Harpster | RHP (ETA 2029)

Harpster entered the Yankees organization as a seventh-round selection in the 2026 MLB Draft out of East Tennessee State. He’s not the type of pitcher who immediately jumps off a prospect list based solely on draft pedigree, but New York has had success finding interesting traits in later-round college arms.

His delivery and lower release create an uncomfortable look for hitters, while the cutter/slider portion of his arsenal offers the best avenue toward generating strikeouts. There is enough here to envision a climb if the Yankees can add a little more velocity or help his fastball play above its raw speed.

For dynasty managers, Harpster belongs firmly in the watch-list category rather than being a must-roster prospect. The most likely fantasy path may eventually be through the bullpen, but meaningful improvement in stuff could turn him into a sneaky starting-pitching sleeper.

#19 — Xavier Rivas | LHP (ETA 2027)

The Yankees took a calculated gamble when they selected Rivas in the 16th round of the 2024 Draft out of Ole Miss, as Tommy John surgery had wiped out his final college season. That late-round investment has become increasingly interesting as Rivas has moved through the organization.

Velocity isn’t what makes him troublesome. Instead, Rivas changes speeds effectively and owns a changeup that can disappear underneath barrels, giving him a legitimate weapon against opposite-handed hitters. His slider supplies another avenue for missing bats.

The lack of premium fastball velocity creates some reliever risk, but reaching the upper Minors has made Rivas increasingly relevant in deep dynasty formats. He’s a low-cost strikeout sleeper whose changeup gives him a chance to outperform his modest prospect reputation.

#18 — Jace Avina | OF (ETA 2027)

Avina was originally drafted by Milwaukee in 2021 before the Yankees acquired him with Brian Sánchez in the November 2023 trade that sent Jake Bauers to the Brewers. He brought an intriguing combination of physical strength and athleticism into New York’s system.

Power is the fantasy hook. Avina can drive the baseball when he gets something he can extend on, and there’s enough pop for a future corner-outfield profile. His challenge is making sufficiently consistent contact against better pitching to unlock that power at the highest level.

He’s consequently a boom-or-bust dynasty outfielder rather than a high-floor prospect. If the hit tool takes another step, 20-plus homers are conceivable, but continued swing-and-miss issues could leave him fighting for a part-time Major League role.

#17 — Mac Heuer | RHP (ETA 2028)

New York selected Heuer in the eighth round of the 2025 Draft out of Texas Tech, adding a big-bodied right-hander with more raw ability than his draft round might suggest. His 6-foot-5 frame gives the Yankees plenty to work with from a pitching-development standpoint.

Heuer has shown impressive velocity at his best, and there’s enough movement in his fastball to keep hitters from simply sitting on heat. His secondary pitches remain important because developing a dependable second and third weapon will determine whether he can handle a starter’s workload.

This is exactly the type of pitcher who can suddenly become dynasty-relevant after a developmental jump. He’s still more speculative than established, but improved command paired with another step forward in stuff would quickly move Heuer up Yankees fantasy rankings.

#16 — Stiven Marinez | SS (ETA 2030)

Marinez became a Yankee when the organization signed him out of the Dominican Republic in December 2024 for $1.65 million. New York had preserved international bonus money during its pursuit of Roki Sasaki and ultimately redirected a substantial portion of it toward Marinez.

His fantasy profile begins with athleticism. Marinez has the speed to become a stolen-base threat, a left-handed swing with room to develop, and an encouraging understanding of the strike zone for such a young player. His eventual power output remains much harder to predict.

He’s years away, but dynasty leagues reward managers willing to identify players before the breakout arrives. Marinez has average/OBP/steals upside from a premium defensive position, giving him considerably more fantasy intrigue than his distant ETA might suggest.

#15 — Core Jackson | SS (ETA 2028)

The Yankees selected Jackson in the fifth round of the 2025 Draft out of Utah, where he established himself as an athletic middle infielder with a left-handed bat. He has since started climbing the organizational ladder while seeing time around the middle infield.

Jackson doesn’t need one enormous offensive tool to become useful. His appeal comes from potentially contributing in several areas, with enough bat speed, athletic ability, and defensive versatility to create multiple routes toward a Major League opportunity.

From a dynasty standpoint, he’s currently more of a steady riser than a potential superstar. Managers in deep systems should follow him closely because additional offensive development—particularly more game power—could turn an otherwise balanced profile into something much more valuable.

#14 — Cade Smith | RHP (ETA 2027)

Smith joined the organization when New York selected him in the sixth round of the 2023 Draft out of Mississippi State. His college experience included both starting and relief work, and the Yankees have given him the opportunity to continue developing as a starter.

Breaking stuff drives the profile. Smith can miss bats with his slider and has another useful breaking shape to keep hitters from locking onto one speed. His fastball isn’t overwhelming enough to cover mistakes, however, making location and sequencing especially important.

His dynasty value hinges heavily on whether he remains in a rotation. If he does, there’s enough swing-and-miss ability for useful strikeout production from the back half of a fantasy staff; a bullpen move would make him considerably less appealing outside deeper formats.

#13 — Brendan Brock | C (ETA 2029)

The Yankees selected Brock 99th overall in the third round of the 2026 Draft out of Oklahoma. He immediately became one of the system’s more unusual prospects because he’s a catcher with the athletic ability and speed normally associated with an outfielder.

There is power in Brock’s right-handed swing, but his offensive development will depend on improving consistency against spin and off-speed pitching. What separates him from most catching prospects is his running ability, which gives him an uncommon path to fantasy production.

A catcher capable of providing homers and meaningful stolen bases is automatically worth monitoring in dynasty leagues. Brock still carries considerable developmental risk, but retaining catcher eligibility while translating his athleticism offensively could make him a valuable fantasy piece.

#12 — Kyle Carr | LHP (ETA 2027)

New York selected Carr in the third round of the 2023 Draft out of Palomar College, taking a chance on an athletic left-hander whose amateur career had already included Tommy John surgery. He’s since progressed into the upper levels of the Yankees system.

Carr attacks hitters with a fastball/slider foundation and enough deception to make the combination uncomfortable from the left side. The development of his command and ability to neutralize right-handed hitters will ultimately determine whether he’s allowed to remain in the rotation.

For dynasty purposes, Carr benefits tremendously from proximity. His ceiling may not match the more explosive arms near the top of this countdown, but a left-handed starter approaching the Majors with strikeout capability deserves attention in deeper leagues.

#11 — Sean Duncan | LHP (ETA 2030)

The Yankees invested the 63rd overall selection in the second round of the 2026 Draft in Duncan, a highly regarded Canadian prep left-hander. He underwent Tommy John surgery shortly before the Draft, making the selection a clear bet on long-term talent rather than immediate production.

Before the injury, Duncan showed the ingredients scouts look for in a young starter: athletic movements, a quality fastball, promising breaking stuff, and a developing changeup. His youth also leaves plenty of room for additional velocity and physical growth once he’s healthy.

Duncan is a long-horizon dynasty investment. The combination of Tommy John recovery and teenage pitching volatility makes him risky, but healthy development could eventually give New York a three-pitch left-handed starter with substantial strikeout upside.

#10 — Pico Kohn | LHP (ETA 2028)

Kohn became a Yankee when New York selected the Mississippi State left-hander in the fourth round of the 2025 Draft. His amateur career included Tommy John surgery, but he rebuilt his prospect stock by returning with improved stuff and better control.

The attraction isn’t simply radar-gun velocity. Kohn’s release gives hitters an unusual angle, while his sweeping breaking ball can move away from left-handed bats and across the zone against righties. A developing changeup gives him the third offering needed to keep starting.

Kohn has the ingredients of a sneaky dynasty riser. He doesn’t carry the name recognition of New York’s premium arms, but pitchers combining deception, strike-throwing and multiple usable offerings often climb quickly once professional results begin matching the underlying traits.

#9 — Thatcher Hurd | RHP (ETA 2028)

New York selected Hurd in the third round of the 2024 Draft out of LSU, betting that its pitching-development staff could bring consistency to an arsenal that had flashed considerable upside in college. Tommy John surgery in 2025 subsequently delayed his professional progression.

When healthy, Hurd can attack hitters with good velocity and multiple breaking pitches capable of finishing at-bats. His raw arsenal has never been the central question; consistently locating those pitches and staying healthy enough to build innings are the larger issues.

That makes Hurd one of the bigger risk-versus-reward pitching stashes in this system. The strikeout ceiling is enticing, but dynasty managers must account for both command volatility and the possibility that his long-term destination eventually becomes the bullpen.

#8 — Bryce Cunningham | RHP (ETA 2027)

Cunningham entered the organization after the Yankees selected him 53rd overall in the second round of the 2024 Draft out of Vanderbilt. His combination of size, athleticism, and pitch characteristics gave New York a strong foundation for further development.

The changeup is particularly intriguing for fantasy purposes because it gives Cunningham a weapon capable of generating empty swings rather than relying exclusively on velocity. Pairing it with a firm fastball and improving breaking ball gives him a legitimate starter’s toolkit.

He’s a pitcher I’d rather roster before everything fully clicks. Cunningham has enough strikeout potential to become a worthwhile fantasy starter, and improved command would give him a realistic route toward a mid-rotation role instead of simply surviving at the back of one.

#7 — Allen Facundo | LHP (ETA 2028)

Facundo represents one of the organization’s better low-cost international finds. The Yankees signed him out of Venezuela for $20,000 in 2021, then stayed patient through significant arm trouble that included Tommy John surgery.

The payoff has been a dramatically more powerful pitcher. Facundo can now reach triple-digit territory with his fastball, an extraordinary weapon from the left side, while his breaking ball gives him another route to strikeouts. His biggest remaining challenge is commanding that firepower consistently.

Few players in this range offer a wider gap between floor and ceiling. Facundo could become an impact strikeout starter if the command develops, while a move to high-leverage relief remains entirely plausible. In dynasty, the upside makes the gamble worthwhile.

#6 — Wilberson De Pena | OF (ETA 2030)

De Pena originally signed with the Angels before the Yankees acquired him at the 2025 Trade Deadline in the deal that sent Oswald Peraza to Los Angeles. He wasn’t the biggest name involved, but his subsequent development has made the transaction increasingly interesting.

The young outfielder’s offensive game has begun taking off, particularly his ability to turn on pitches and produce damage in the air. There is legitimate home-run potential here, and his youth leaves plenty of opportunity for both physical and approach-related improvement.

He’s exactly the type of lower-level hitter dynasty managers should try to identify before prospect-list helium fully arrives. There’s enormous distance between Rookie ball and Yankee Stadium, but De Pena has the offensive ingredients to eventually become a power-producing everyday outfielder.

#5 — Hunter Dietz | LHP (ETA 2029)

Dietz joined New York as the 35th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 Draft out of Arkansas. At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, he’s an imposing left-hander with the type of physical foundation that gives pitching coaches plenty of possibilities.

His fastball can reach the upper 90s, but the deeper attraction is having more than one breaking ball capable of becoming a legitimate weapon. That gives Dietz several ways to miss bats and prevents hitters from simply gearing up for premium velocity.

From a dynasty perspective, Dietz offers front-half-of-a-rotation upside without needing an unrealistic projection. Young pitchers remain inherently dangerous fantasy investments, but a big left-hander with velocity and multiple swing-and-miss secondaries is the kind worth betting on.

#4 — Ben Hess | RHP (ETA 2027)

The Yankees made Hess their first-round pick, 26th overall, in the 2024 Draft out of Alabama. He brought an extensive track record of missing bats, along with enough durability questions to make his professional workload worth monitoring.

Hess can challenge hitters with a powerful fastball before changing eye levels and shapes with multiple breaking pitches. His arsenal has genuine put-away ability, giving him a considerably higher strikeout ceiling than the typical mid-rotation pitching prospect.

That’s what makes Hess particularly attractive in fantasy. The command still needs refinement, but if he throws enough strikes to remain a starter, he has the arsenal to become a high-strikeout No. 3 type with the upside for more. He’s one of New York’s better pitching stashes.

#3 — Carlos Lagrange | RHP (ETA 2026)

The Yankees found Lagrange for almost nothing by modern international standards, signing him out of the Dominican Republic for $10,000 in 2022. He has since grown into a 6-foot-7 power arm and one of the organization’s most remarkable development stories.

The fastball can climb beyond 100 mph, immediately giving Lagrange an elite weapon, but he’s much more interesting now because there are secondary pitches capable of generating their own swings and misses. Few minor-league starters can match his sheer ability to overpower hitters.

For dynasty baseball, Lagrange offers enormous strikeout upside with equally obvious volatility. Keeping his long frame synced and throwing enough strikes will determine whether he’s an impact starter or devastating reliever. If starting works, the fantasy ceiling is enormous.

#2 — Elmer Rodriguez | RHP (ETA 2026)

Rodriguez wasn’t originally a Yankees prospect. New York acquired him from Boston in December 2024 in the trade that sent catcher Carlos Narváez to the Red Sox, and Rodriguez has since developed into one of the best pitching prospects in the organization.

Rather than relying on one overwhelming pitch, Rodriguez wins with a deeper collection of weapons and a more polished starter’s approach. He can miss bats, work through a lineup, and handle innings, which gives his profile a reassuring level of stability compared with many young power pitchers.

Lagrange may own the louder raw stuff, but I give Rodriguez the slight dynasty edge because of his combination of strikeouts, proximity, and probability of sticking in the rotation. A fantasy-relevant Major League starter could arrive very soon.

#1 — Dax Kilby | SS (ETA 2028)

Kilby became a Yankee when New York selected the Georgia high school shortstop 39th overall in the supplemental first round of the 2025 Draft. His rapid emergence has already pushed him near the very top of the organization; MLB Pipeline currently ranks him second in the Yankees system.

What makes Kilby so appealing isn’t one oversized tool. His left-handed swing gives him a chance to hit for average, his approach should support strong on-base percentages, and his athleticism can translate into stolen bases. The remaining question is how much home-run power arrives as he matures physically.

For dynasty fantasy baseball, Kilby is my No. 1 player in this particular group. A shortstop who can potentially supply average, OBP, runs, and steals while developing 15-20-plus homer power has numerous ways to become valuable—and additional power development could push his ceiling substantially higher.

Final Thoughts

The Yankees’ system offers an appealing mix of near-term pitching and longer-range upside, but it remains an organization where opportunity can be difficult to predict. Elmer Rodriguez and Carlos Lagrange give dynasty managers two arms who could impact fantasy rosters soon, while Dax Kilby provides the system’s most attractive blend of offensive upside and category versatility.

Beyond the top three, the organization is deep in intriguing pitching, with Hunter Dietz, Ben Hess, Allen Facundo and Bryce Cunningham all carrying meaningful strikeout upside. The larger theme is risk versus reward: several of these arms have starter ceilings but also command, health, or bullpen concerns.

For dynasty managers, this is a system worth mining rather than simply ranking. New York’s constant roster competition and willingness to trade prospects can change opportunity quickly, making development trajectory and organizational movement especially important to monitor.