Watch these 5 prime Yankees prospects play in MLB Spring Breakout sport 2025 – NorthJersey.com

Baseball scouts and executives all the time warning about rookie performances in March and September.
A sizzling begin in exhibition video games and an enormous end as a late season callup doesn’t give the total image of a prospect, however it’s thrilling to get a glimpse of the long run.
“Not plenty of guys hit a ball like that,’’ Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned earlier this spring coaching, marveling at a towering, opposite-field residence run by Spencer Jones.
As soon as once more, the lefty-hitting slugger is a part of the Yankees’ prospect roster for Saturday’s MLB Breakout Collection, dealing with a crew of Baltimore Orioles prospects at Sarasota, Fla.
Right here’s a have a look at 5 Yankees children to look at within the 6:05 p.m. sport:
Place: Shortstop.
Draft information: 2023 first spherical, twenty sixth total, Gulliver Prep, Pinecrest, Fla.
Peak-weight: 6-foot-2, 190 kilos.
Solely 19, Lombard Jr. is likely to be the Yankees’ most untouchable prospect, with five-tool potential on the big-league stage.
Given his offensive promise, massive arm and stellar defensive status, Lombard Jr. may settle at third base, teaming with shortstop Anthony Volpe on the left aspect.
Lombard Jr. may spend the majority of 2025 at Class A Hudson Valley, after making an impression in massive league camp (together with two exhibition residence runs) along with his expertise and demeanor.
“He’s acquired an incredible arm, correct, clean fingers, dependable,’’ mentioned Yankees captain Aaron Choose, providing his scouting report of the group’s No. 2 prospect and greatest defensive participant, per MLB Pipeline.
The son of Detroit Tigers’ bench coach and ex-MLB outfielder George Lombard, the right-handed hitting Lombard Jr. additionally attracts raves from scouts for his “off-the-chart’’ make-up.
Place: Beginning pitcher.
Draft information: 2024 first spherical, twenty sixth total, College of Alabama.
Peak-weight: 6-foot-5, 255 kilos.
Per MLB Pipeline, Hess charges because the Yankees’ prime pitching prospect (No. 4 total), simply forward of Will Warren, who may discover himself in Boone’s rotation out of camp.
Hess, 22, has but to throw a minor league inning, however his massive body and massive strikeout totals make him a projectable MLB starter.
“When he’s been actually good, it’s been three pitches which can be simply dynamite – fastball as much as 98 (mph), a now-plus curveball, a now-slider, and a changeup that’s developed at instances to the place it’s above common,’’ mentioned Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer, after drafting Hess final summer time.
Issues embrace a excessive ERA and elevated stroll price final 12 months at Alabama, and an harm historical past that features a 2023 flexor pressure.
Place: Shortstop.
Draft information: 2022 worldwide free agent signee, Dominican Republic.
Peak-weight: 6-feet, 178 kilos.
Arias’ total promise as a switch-hitting shortstop has enticed the group that signed him for $4 million as an adolescent.
However he’s nonetheless a uncooked expertise as he enters his fourth professional season, rated because the Yankees’ No. 7 prospect (and their second-best infielder, behind Lombard Jr.) by MLB Pipeline.
Arias, 20, confirmed energy (13 homers, 74 RBI) and base-stealing means (37 steals, 50 makes an attempt) throughout his age-19 season final 12 months at Class A Tampa, his first full professional season (124 video games).
However his huge strikeout totals (171 Ks, 552 plate appearances), weak stats as a right-handed hitter and occasional defensive lapses counsel that this can be a key season developmentally on the diamond.
Place: Heart fielder.
Draft information: 2022 first spherical, twenty fifth total, Vanderbilt College.
Peak-weight: 6-foot-6, 235 kilos.
You may recall Jones’ memorable day in final 12 months’s inaugural Breakout Sport, blasting two homers in opposition to a crew of Toronto Blue Jays prospects.
“His ceiling is big,’’ Boone mentioned of the fleet, highly effective Jones, 23, whose bodily comparisons as a lefty-hitting Choose have gained as a consequence of his comparable batting stance.
Reducing down on strikeouts can be one thing to look at for Jones, who whiffed 200 instances in 544 appearances (124 video games) final 12 months at Class AA Somerset.
“There have been some issues with my swing that have been getting away from me,’’ Jones mentioned of a sluggish begin final 12 months, ending with 17 homers, 78 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 34 makes an attempt. He ultimately circled again to returning to hitting drills designed to “hold me sincere with my swing.’’
This can be a massive 12 months for Jones, who may end the season at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and compete for a big-league outfield spot subsequent spring coaching.
Place: Beginning pitcher.
Draft information: 2023 sixth spherical, 192 total, Mississippi State College.
Peak-weight: 6-foot-1, 190 kilos.
Smith figures to open 2025 in Class A Hudson Valley’s rotation, the place he completed final 12 months (two begins) after spending most of 2024 at Class A Tampa (3.47 ERA 19 video games, 17 begins).
An influence reliever on Mississippi State’s 2021 nationwide championship crew, the right-handed Smith, 22, has a four-pitch arsenal and generates excessive spin charges.
MLB Pipeline ranks Smith because the Yankees’ No. 16 prospect and ninth-best pitching prospect, behind the likes of Chase Hampton, Brock Selvidge, Henry Lalane and Cam Schlittler however forward of Eric Reyzelman and Yoendrys Gomez.

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