Yankees Make Bold Move: Top Prospects Spencer Jones, Chase Hampton, and Elmer Rodriguez Added to 40-Man Roster—What It Means for the Future

The New York Yankees are playing it smart—real smart—locking down three of their hottest prospects just before Tuesday’s Rule 5 Draft deadline. Outfielder Spencer Jones and pitchers Chase Hampton and Elmer Rodríguez have officially been tucked into the 40-man roster, shielding them from any sneaky moves by other teams hungry for talent. Considering Jones ranked No. 4, Hampton No. 8, and Rodríguez No. 3 within the Yankees’ prospect hierarchy, this was a no-brainer move. These guys aren’t just names on a list—they’re the future of the franchise, with big league debuts looming between 2026 and 2027, per MLB Pipeline’s keen insights. Trust me, protecting players like Jones—who exploded with power in the minors last year—and Rodríguez, Baseball America’s top minor league player, means the Yankees are gearing up to stay competitive for years. Meanwhile, Hampton’s bouncing back strong from Tommy John surgery, already showing he’s a force on the mound. It’s a shrewd, no-nonsense approach from the Bronx Bombers to keep their brightest stars in house – a masterclass in organizational foresight if you ask me. LEARN MORE

The Yankees protected a trio of top prospects from the Rule 5 Draft on Tuesday, officially adding outfielder Spencer Jones and right-handers Chase Hampton and Elmer Rodríguez to the 40-man roster.

All major league clubs had until Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline to set their rosters, and Jones was among five prospects inside MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 rankings list who would’ve been exposed to the draft process and eligible to be poached.

New York’s decisions were no-brainers, as Jones (No. 4), Hampton (No. 8), and Rodríguez (No. 3) are consensus Top 10 prospects within the organization. Their big league debuts are projected to arrive between the 2026 and 2027 seasons, according to MLB Pipeline.

As one of the best minor league hitters in 2025, Jones slashed .274/.362/.571 (403 at-bats) with 35 home runs, 23 doubles, 80 RBI, 102 runs, and 29 stolen bases in 116 combined games with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 25-year-old also placed second among all qualified minor leaguers in home runs and fifth in slugging.

Hampton, who underwent Tommy John surgery in February and missed the entire 2025 campaign, has produced a 3.45 ERA with 161 strikeouts over 125.1 innings (27 starts) across three different levels, reaching as high as Double-A in 2023 and 2024. The 24-year-old was a sixth-round pick in 2022.

Rodríguez, named the Yankees’ top minor league player by Baseball America this season, produced a sharp 2.58 ERA with 176 strikeouts across 27 appearances (26 starts) between Triple-A, Double-A, and High-A Hudson Valley. The 22-year-old’s strikeouts mark ranked second among all minor league pitchers.