Yankees make much-needed prospect promotion (but it comes with a serious catch)

After two months of proving that he was in need of a new challenge — or, more accurately based on his dominance to kick off the year, a first challenge — the New York Yankees have given left-hander Griffin Herring what he's been begging for.

Herring, who began the year as Baseball America's No. 30 prospect in the system, will join the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades, as the Yankees look to determine whether his polished left-handed pitchability can immediately translate to the system's upper levels. Unfortunately, there's a catch here: the reason a rotation spot in Hudson Valley's stacked unit opened up was because of an injury to 2024 second-rounder Bryce Cunningham out of Vanderbilt.

Cunningham, who sported a 2.14 ERA in his first 42 frames with HV, will now hit the nebulous "7-day injured list," one of the minor leagues' most generic scourges. What does it mean? When will we see him? Is it serious, or is it a week? No one knows!

Herring's promotion seems to indicate that, whatever's wrong with Cunningham, the Yankees view it as a long-term opportunity for someone who struck out over 33% of the batters he faced with the Tampa Tarpons to start the year.

Yankees promote Griffin Herring to High-A Hudson Valley, place 2024 draft pick Bryce Cunningham on seven-day injured list

Herring's most recent start with the Tarpons was his very best; his six no-hit innings with 10 strikeouts lowered his ERA to 1.21 at the level. The Yankees have had plenty of exceptional prospect outings to choose from this spring — from Ben Hess' pro debut to Brendan Beck's resurgence — but Herring's polished dominance might've been the system's greatest jewel.

Cunningham's nebulous injury certainly hurts, but despite a few early bumps in the road and Thatcher Hurd's season-ending surgery, the Yankees' 2024 draft volume gambit appears to be working. They loaded up on pitching to a jaw-dropping degree, and already have some excellent proof of concept. Ideally, Herring's elevation continues his upward trajectory, and pushes the team's preferred narrative forward — with a crucial trade deadline on the horizon.