Inside The Pinstripes

Yankees Announce First Two Spring Training Starters

The New York Yankees announced who will be starting in their first two Spring Training games.
Jordon Lawrenz|
May 21, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; The helmet of New York Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu (26) during the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
May 21, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; The helmet of New York Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu (26) during the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

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New York Yankees

Ahead of their Spring Training opener on February 20, the New York Yankees have announced their starting pitcher.

Elmer Rodriguez will be the first Yankees pitcher to start this season as he kicks things off against the Baltimore Orioles.

The next day the Yankees have their first game at George Steinbrenner Field as Carlos Lagrange gets the nod.

These two know these reps aren't the end of the world, but getting off to a hot start is crucial for their long-term success within the program. New York has an extremely deep starting rotation, which is undoubtedly a great thing as Rodriguez and Lagrange both throw their names into the mix.

Elmer Rodriguez Starts the Yankees Spring Training Opener

After months of waiting, it's finally time for baseball again. Rodriguez, 22, went 11-8 last year with a 2.58 ERA. He threw 150 innings and struck out 176 batters. The 6'3'' 160-pound righty was a former fourth round pick by the Boston Red Sox.

In 2025 Rodriguez took home numerous awards including SAL Pitcher of the Week along with EAS Pitcher of the Week. If that's not enough, he was named Baseball America High Class A All-Star along with Baseball America Minor League All-Star.

Rodriguez was assigned to the Yankees on February 28, 2025 after the team traded for him on December 11, 2024. He's yet to make his big league debut, but the Puerto Rican knows he's one injury away from getting the call and it all starts here at Spring Training.

Carlos Lagrange Set to Follow

Playing at home and on the road doesn't mean too much during Grapefruit League play, but Lagrange should have a great crowd on-hand as the Yankees host their first Spring Training game of the year on February 21 against the Detroit Tigers.

Lagrange, 22, is in a similar spot to Rodriguez. He also went 11-8 last year though his ERA sat at 3.53. He threw 30 fewer innings but managed to strike out 168 batters which is quite impressive as he only had eight less than Rodriguez with a much smaller sample size.

One of the main focal points when it comes to Lagrange is his frame. Standing 6'7'' 248-pounds, the Dominican Republic native brings a much different size and stature to the table. Yankees fans are in for a treat when they have the chance to see him throw as the team wasted no time throwing him and Rodriguez into the mix.

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Jordon Lawrenz
JORDON LAWRENZ

Jordon Lawrenz is a writer for On SI, part of the Sports Illustrated Network. Jordon is an accomplished writer for NFL, MLB, and college football/basketball. He contributes to PFSN’s and Heavy’s NFL coverage. Having graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay with a Sports Communication and Journalism degree, Jordon fully embraced the sports writing lifestyle upon his relocation to Florida.

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