3 underrated pitchers on Yankees spring breakout roster who could rise quickly in 2026

The New York Yankees have gained a reputation for developing pitching prospects, and so far this spring, that reputation seems well deserved. Elmer Rodriguez rode a rocket ship from Hudson Valley all the way up to Scranton last season after coming over from the Red Sox, and as part of his impressive spring, he showed his old organization exactly what they lost out on.

Carlos Lagrange is making even the best of the best take notice with his triple-digit heat and unreal secondaries. Alabama product Ben Hess is proving he belongs in the same conversation with the other two at the top, building on his strong first pro season with an exceptional spring of his own.

The thing is, these three are all building off already impressive minor league showings in 2025, but there are more guys lurking under the radar. Now, with Spring Breakout rosters set, there are a few less-experienced guys who have a chance to set themselves up as the next wave to shoot up the charts.

Three of these young arms in particular stand out, and in two cases, this will be the first time we get a good look at them.

Three under-the-radar Yankees pitching prospects who could kickstart their surge up the rankings in the Spring Breakout game

Pico Kohn

The Yankees' fourth-round pick in 2025, Pico Kohn, will be making his pro debut this season. The Mississippi State product's college career was something of a mixed bag, as Tommy John surgery interrupted it and cost him his entire 2023 campaign.

Still, there are a couple of things that stand out about Kohn. First, he's one of the few lefties in the system with high-end potential, which makes him intriguing as a complement to all the right-handed power arms the group has to offer. Second, he can get his fastball up into the mid-90s and pairs it with a frisbee-like slider and promising changeup.

With deception in his delivery and the potential to locate all three pitches for strikes, the 23-year-old has starter upside and could prove to be a fast riser.

Xavier Rivas

Another southpaw, we got a look at Xavier Rivas last year as he moved from the Florida Complex League to Tampa, and then ultimately to Hudson Valley. In that combined action, he put forth a 3.38 ERA and 31.3% strikeout rate over 85 1/3 innings.

Rivas has a couple of swing-and-miss secondaries, headlined by a changeup that induced a 41% chase rate and 57% whiff rate last season. The ridiculous nature of those pitches has piqued our curiosity.

His fastball is only average, sitting in the low-90s, and his command needs work, leaving some to believe that he's destined for a future in the bullpen. Either way, we're talking about yet another talented lefty with some standout skills if he can put it all together.

Mac Heuer

Mac Heuer, much like Ben Hess, has that typical power-pitcher build, measuring in at six-foot-five, 265 pounds. The frame alone lets you dream on the 2025 eighth-round pick's potential. Coming out of Texas Tech, he's more projection over production. With the Red Raiders, he posted ERAs of 5.94 in 2024 and 6.28 in 2025.

Still, there's potential for three above-average to plus pitches with a fastball that he can reach back and bring high 90s heat with, a sweeping slider, and a fading changeup. He'll have some work to do as he cleans up his mechanics and, in turn, his control. If he can do that, you can easily envision him adding another tick or two to the four-seamer and having a better harness on what could be two devastating secondaries.

Like Kohn, the 21-year-old will be making his pro debut in 2026, so this Spring Breakout appearance will be our first opportunity to get eyes on him. He'll be a real test for the Yankees' pitcher development system, as the makings of a dominant force are there if he can clean up his fundamentals.