Elmer Rodríguez: Everything you need to know

The Yankees optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday. Rodriguez made two Grapefruit League starts this spring, allowing two runs with a 5:1 K:BB over six frames. The 22-year-old grabbed a spot on the Yankees' 40-man roster this offseason, and he figures to be needed in their rotation at some point this summer.

The Yankees selected Rodriguez-Cruz's contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday. Rodriguez-Cruz reached Triple-A at the very end of the 2025 season after beginning the year at High-A Hudson Valley. He finished the season with a 2.51 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with a 176:57 K:BB through 150.1 innings across three different affiliates. The 22-year-old righty will most likely return to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to begin the 2026 campaign, though he will be a candidate to make his MLB debut at some point next year if he continues to dominate against minor-league hitters.

Rodriguez-Cruz will be promoted from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. Rodriguez-Cruz earned the late-season promotion after posting a 2.42 ERA and 173:57 K:BB over 145 innings between High-A Hudson Valley and Somerset. Acquired from the Red Sox last offseason in the Carlos Narvaez trade, Rodriguez-Cruz leads all minor leaguers with his 173 strikeouts.