BALTIMORE – If they have a need and want to fill it, the New York Yankees can almost always scratch a check. That may never change.
Yet in this modern era where the Yankees are outflanked in the spending department by a handful of ballclubs and owner Hal Steinbrenner is both far less capricious and much more patient than his father, there’s an almost equal likelihood the Yankees will patch that hole internally: Through scouting and development and guiding to Yankee Stadium players who are ready to meet the moment.
Six of the Yankees’ current 14 regular position players and starting pitchers are products of the system, an output that places them tied for 11th among 30 Major League Baseball teams, according to USA TODAY Sports research.
More notably, three of them – franchise player Aaron Judge, young slugger Ben Rice and emerging ace Cam Schlittler – are well on track to rep the club at this summer’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
Cam Schlittler turned heads with his 2025 postseason performance.
They’re the product of organizational consistency, along with coherent messaging that ensures they’re ready as they can be for the Bronx.
Even if you’re a former seventh-round pick who was once too skinny and did not throw nearly hard enough to hear his name called the first day of the draft.
“The Yankees are really good at what they do. They’re a superstar organization, they develop players well and they’re a winning organization,” Schlittler, the American League’s leader with a 1.35 ERA, tells USA TODAY Sports. “They give you the pieces for your success. You gotta be able to do it on your own, as well: ‘Here’s what we can do for you. It’s up to you if you want to put in the work.’
“They’re not going to baby you. This is professional baseball. I took advantage of the resources I had, the coaches and teammates I had along the way and that’s why I’m in the position I’m in.”
Schlittler arrived from Northeastern University with several red flags: He had trouble putting on weight and adding velocity. His mechanics were a mess. And his pitch mix needed an entire makeover, all the way through the Yankees system.
Thanks to the infrastructure the Yankees had in place, there was an answer for it all.
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.
Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a ball hit for a single by the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jake Mangum during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.
April 13: The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz celebrates a home run in the dugout while wearing a welder’s hood during the 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
April 12: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, The Phanatic, entertains fans with local team mascots for a birthday celebration before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
April 11: The Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda (left) celebrates with Ryan Vilade after hitting a walk-off single against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field.
The Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the team’s all-time leader in games played against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026.
A rainbow appears during the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026.
A fan dresses as the Pope claps during the first inning of the game between the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Rate Field on April 5, 2026. The White Sox won the game, 3-0, to complete a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays.
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.
A young Red Sox fan meets Tessie the Boston Red Sox mascot before the Red Sox’s home opener against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 3, 2026.
Cleveland Guardians players warm up as the launch of NASA’s Artemis II is shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.
Fans try to catch a solo home run hit by the San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman as San Diego Padres left fielder Nick Castellanos looks on during the third inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026.
Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic entertains fans during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026.
The Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.
The Cincinnati Reds’ Eugenio Suárez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.
Fans react as the Milwaukee Brewers’ Jake Bauers homers against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 26, 2026.
Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.
1 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
1 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
2 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.
3 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a ball hit for a single by the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jake Mangum during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.
4 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.
5 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 13: The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz celebrates a home run in the dugout while wearing a welder’s hood during the 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
6 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 12: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, The Phanatic, entertains fans with local team mascots for a birthday celebration before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
7 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 11: The Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda (left) celebrates with Ryan Vilade after hitting a walk-off single against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field.
8 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the team’s all-time leader in games played against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026.
9 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A rainbow appears during the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026.
10 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A fan dresses as the Pope claps during the first inning of the game between the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Rate Field on April 5, 2026. The White Sox won the game, 3-0, to complete a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays.
11 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.
12 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A young Red Sox fan meets Tessie the Boston Red Sox mascot before the Red Sox’s home opener against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 3, 2026.
13 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Cleveland Guardians players warm up as the launch of NASA’s Artemis II is shown on the center-field video board at Dodger Stadium on April 1, 2026.
14 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.
15 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans try to catch a solo home run hit by the San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman as San Diego Padres left fielder Nick Castellanos looks on during the third inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026.
16 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic entertains fans during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026.
17 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.
18 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cincinnati Reds’ Eugenio Suárez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.
19 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The St. Louis Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.
20 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans react as the Milwaukee Brewers’ Jake Bauers homers against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 26, 2026.
21 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.
Cohesion and consistency
In an industry as volatile as baseball, continuity is elusive. Less than one-fourth through this season, three managers have already been fired. Support staff like pitching and hitting coaches are viewed as fungible should a rough patch come up during the season.
And from October through January, the annual ritual of expunging and recycling scouts, coaches, and other non-executive personnel is the sport’s grimmest ritual.
Under George Steinbrenner, Yankee managerial instability was legend. In this era, though, the executives responsible for funneling players to the majors are as entrenched as the plaques in Monument Park.
Damon Oppenheimer, the club’s vice president of amateur scouting, has been with the club 34 years, and run their amateur draft since 2005. Kevin Reese, the VP of player development, is in his 19th season as a scout or front office member and ninth year heading up player development.
While the phalanx of scouts, coaches and quants beneath them may rotate, continuity at the top shows up when the next rookie is ready for pinstripes.
At 27-16, the Yankees are once again on track for more than 90 wins and a 10th playoff berth in 12 seasons.
“It’s been really good, especially lately,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone tells USA TODAY Sports. “We’ve done a really good job the last four and five years developmentally, getting better and better on the pitching and position player side of things.
“They’re very much cohesive. I think it’s huge. It’s very important. And I feel like they’ve just continued to build on that cohesion.”
And, as Boone points out, the Yankees are hardly drafting the pick of the litter. They haven’t had a losing season since 1992, have made the playoffs nine of the past 11 seasons and often lose their first-round pick as free agent compensation for the stars they do import.
So their first draft pick often comes after the first two or three dozen players have already been selected. No matter: Their top draft pick has made the majors ever year from 2015-2022, with 2023’s No. 1, shortstop George Lombard Jr., expected to become a big league regular.
And since 2019, the Yankees have drafted and developed 17 major leaguers who have produced 36.7 WAR. That’s nearly double the 19.5 WAR Los Angeles Dodgers draftees – like the Yankees, perennial winners drafting late – produced from their 17 big leaguers.
The most recent Yankee to bubble up, 6-foot-7 slugger and speed demon Spencer Jones, was picked 25th overall out of Vanderbilt in 2022. He blasted through the minors, with an .848 career OPS and a 35-homer season in 2025.
With his strikeout rate slowly falling into place, Jones got the call for his major league debut May 8, knowing the process will continue.
“Our player development group does such an incredible job of not only helping us in the minor leagues but also the guys in the major leagues, being open and communicating the things we need to get better at, what we need to work on,” says Jones. “And we’re all trying to help each other get better. There’s no interference or static.
“Everybody’s pulling on the same rope as far as development and the belief it doesn’t stop when you get here.”
It doesn’t hurt to have a familiar face waiting when you’re ready to debut.
From Dartmouth to dominance
Like Schlittler, Rice was a lightly-regarded collegiate prospect from the Northeast, picked in the 12th round of the 2021 draft. A year later, Jones was drafted and the two made the minor league climb together, at least until Rice got the call to the Bronx in June 2024.
Since then, he’s evolved from intriguing lefty bat who can both catch and play first base to essential Yankee.
Rice leads the major leagues in slugging (.696) and OPS (1.113) and is tied for fifth with 13 home runs. These are not numbers expected from a Dartmouth draftee.
Yet regardless of pedigree, the simple message from player development resonated just as easily to Rice.
“They were very clear from day one how we were evaluated from an offensive standpoint and what would move you up from level to level: Control the strike zone. Hit the ball in the air. And that’s about it,” says Rice.
“For me, that communication was key. I knew what I needed to do to move up the system.”
It didn’t hurt that multiple coaches in the Yankees system climbed the ranks as Rice did and are now on the major league staff, such as assistant hitting coaches Jake Hirst and Casey Dykes.
The lessons do not stop once the pinstripes are donned. Even Judge has significantly benefited from the enhanced infrastructure of the past seven years, upping his game even as he approaches his mid-30s.
“They would, of course, love for you to be a finished product, but they don’t require that. They know there’s going to be adjustments at the big league level,” says Rice. “But their goal, what they’ve always told us, is they try to set you up for a transition that is a little smoother than most. Set you up for success.
“They’re not going to send you up to the next level if they don’t think you’re ready to handle the adjustments they think you’re going to need to make.”
Will Warren found that out this season. The second-year right-hander was an eighth-round draft pick in 2021, and enjoyed a decent rookie season a year ago.
Yet over the winter, the Yankees pitching staff discovered if he moved just a few inches on the pitching rubber, toward the third base side, his pitches would gain greater effectiveness, particularly his sweeper against right-handed batters.
“That move helped me tunnel stuff a little deeper,” says Warren after improving to 5-1 by hodling Baltimore to four hits over 5 2/3 innings May 12. “I can throw sinkers in and sweepers away and there might be 30 inches of difference, but the tunnel is the same to the hitter.
“Therefore, we get later swings. They have to guess a little more.”
Through eight starts, Warren has nearly doubled his strikeout-walk ratio, from 2.63 to 4.92, and his adjusted ERA has improved from a below-average 93 to 123.
All thanks to a few inches in his set-up.
“Your strengths aren’t really ever going to change,” says Warren. “It’s just honing in on the little things – we found something that was going to make a difference even if we were going to be throwing the exact same pitches.
“That’s what it takes to be at that next level here in the big leagues. Everyone’s the best. What’s going to separate me from whoever?”
The Yankees started making big moves on the pitching side in 2019, when they hired Sam Briend away from the Texas Rangers and Driveline Baseball, where he was director of pitching for the innovative Seattle-based lab.
Before leaving the Rangers, Briend took note of a Rangers pitcher retiring that year – and took Preston Claiborne with him to the Yankees.
Now, Claiborne is the Yankees’ assistant pitching coach. But in 2023, he had a different project: Turn a skinny, erratic, soft-throwing draftee into a major leaguer.
And Claiborne got to work on Cam Schlittler.
(Salaries in present-day value calculated by MLB Labor Relations Department, impacted by deferrals and signing bonuses)
1. Juan Soto, Mets – $61,875,000
2. Cody Bellinger, Yankees – $42,500,000
3. Bo Bichette, Mets – $42 million
3. Zack Wheeler, Phillies – $42 million
5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays – $40,214,286
6. Aaron Judge, Yankees – $40 million
7. Anthony Rendon, Angels – $38,571,429
8. Jacob deGrom, Rangers – $38 million
9. Mike Trout, Angels – $37,116,667
10. Gerrit Cole, Yankees – $36,000,000
11. Jose Altuve, Astros – $33 million
11. Kyle Tucker, Dodgers – $33 million
13. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers – $32,500,000
14. Francisco Lindor, Mets – $32,477,277
15. Tarik Skubal, Tigers – $32 million
16. Carlos Correa, Astros – $31,500,000
16. Corey Seager, Rangers – $31,500,000
18. Sonny Gray, Red Sox – $31 million
19. Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks – $30,790,069
20. Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees – $29 million
21. Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers – $28,536,643
22. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers – $28,206,684
23. Dansby Swanson, Cubs – $28 million
24. Carlos Rodon, Yankees – $27,833,333
25. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (*retired) – $27,814,045
26. Bryce Harper, Phillies – $27,538,462
27. Trea Turner, Phillies – $27,272,727
28. Blake Snell, Dodgers – $27,152,056
29. Kris Bryant, Rockies – $27 million
30. Yordan Alvarez, Astros – $26,833,333
1 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
(Salaries in present-day value calculated by MLB Labor Relations Department, impacted by deferrals and signing bonuses)
1. Juan Soto, Mets – $61,875,000
1 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
(Salaries in present-day value calculated by MLB Labor Relations Department, impacted by deferrals and signing bonuses)
1. Juan Soto, Mets – $61,875,000
2 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
2. Cody Bellinger, Yankees – $42,500,000
3 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
3. Bo Bichette, Mets – $42 million
4 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
3. Zack Wheeler, Phillies – $42 million
5 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays – $40,214,286
6 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
6. Aaron Judge, Yankees – $40 million
7 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
7. Anthony Rendon, Angels – $38,571,429
8 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
8. Jacob deGrom, Rangers – $38 million
9 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
9. Mike Trout, Angels – $37,116,667
10 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
10. Gerrit Cole, Yankees – $36,000,000
11 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
11. Jose Altuve, Astros – $33 million
12 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
11. Kyle Tucker, Dodgers – $33 million
13 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
13. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers – $32,500,000
14 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
14. Francisco Lindor, Mets – $32,477,277
15 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
15. Tarik Skubal, Tigers – $32 million
16 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
16. Carlos Correa, Astros – $31,500,000
17 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
16. Corey Seager, Rangers – $31,500,000
18 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
18. Sonny Gray, Red Sox – $31 million
19 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
19. Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks – $30,790,069
20 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
20. Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees – $29 million
21 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
21. Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers – $28,536,643
22 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
22. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers – $28,206,684
23 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
23. Dansby Swanson, Cubs – $28 million
24 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
24. Carlos Rodon, Yankees – $27,833,333
25 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
25. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (*retired) – $27,814,045
26 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
26. Bryce Harper, Phillies – $27,538,462
27 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
27. Trea Turner, Phillies – $27,272,727
28 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
28. Blake Snell, Dodgers – $27,152,056
29 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
29. Kris Bryant, Rockies – $27 million
30 / 30
See the top 30 highest paid players in MLB baseball
30. Yordan Alvarez, Astros – $26,833,333
‘He skyrocketed’
Schlittler barely cracked 88 mph at Northeastern. In his first full pro season at high-A Hudson Valley in 2023, he’d be fortunate to touch 90 mph.
Enter Claiborne, whose work relationship with Schlittler would prove mutually beneficial.
“He fixed my mechanics,” says a grateful Schlittler. “He’s really good.”
To hear Claiborne tell it, the credit goes to the pupil.
“He has a lot of underlying qualities we really liked,” says Claiborne. “As he’s going to physically mature, a lot of the strength aspects take care of themselves. That’s why I always say, credit to him for putting in the work in 2023.
“He showed up in 2024 spring training pumping 95, 97 mph and the rest is history – he skyrocketed.”
With Briend working to refine Schlittler’s pitch mix, the 6-6 right-hander posted a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts following his July 2025 debut.
By October he was starting the decisive Game 3 of the AL wild card series and beating the Boston Red Sox, hitting 99 or 100 mph on the radar gun 37 times.
And now, just might start the All-Star Game for the AL.
Schlittler views it as doing nothing more than expected of him from an organization that finds just enough gems to maintain their expected level of excellence.
And demand nothing less.
“The Yankees being the Yankees, some guys aren’t built for it,” says Schlittler. “You’ve seen guys come in here, leave and have a lot more success. That’s just part of the game.
“If you want to be a Yankee, you need to be able to handle that pressure playing in New York. And if you can’t, it will expose you. That’s what makes it exciting – relying on the fans, relying on the atmosphere. You’re in that stadium every other week. You’re making a playoff push. That’s the goal.
“There’s nowhere I’d rather be. If you’re gonna have pressure on you, and those are the situations I’m in, I’m going to take that over a team maybe looking for 75 wins and draft picks.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yankees’ dominance isn’t just payroll as Schlittler and Rice shine
