TAMPA, Fla. The Yankees are a few weeks into Grapefruit League play, and while the box scores rarely tell the full story this time of year, the details coming out of camp are beginning to define the early outlook for 2026. Mechanical adjustments, health updates, and a handful of emerging prospects have been the primary themes at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Here’s where things stand as the Yankees move deeper into Spring Training.
Gerrit Cole Debuts a New Windup
The most notable development on the pitching side is Gerrit Cole’s new windup, an over-the-head start to his delivery that introduces a slightly different rhythm and timing mechanism.
The adjustment originated late last summer during his rehab process following Tommy John surgery. What began as a feel-based change has carried into full competition this spring.
“I was just goofing around one day, trying to make light of the monotony during last summer,” Cole said. “It felt good. I liked the rhythm. I just kind of stuck with it.”
The early returns have been encouraging.
Cole has already faced live hitters multiple times, and on Friday he took a notable step forward. He worked a mock inning against a group that included Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. It marked the first time this spring he has squared off against the Yankees’ core bats. The Yankees’ ace showed strong command and velocity in the mid-to-upper 90s.
The Yankees have been deliberate in progressing him through checkpoints, and his execution has remained consistent as he builds back toward game readiness.
The organization continues to target a late May or early June return to the rotation. If the new windup holds, it could provide an additional element of deception without sacrificing the power and command that define Cole at his best.
Giancarlo Stanton’s Elbow Remains a Monitoring Point
Giancarlo Stanton’s health will continue to be one of the most significant variables in the Yankees’ offensive outlook.
He is again dealing with lingering elbow issues that have impacted him in recent seasons, and the club has taken a cautious approach with his spring workload. The reality of the condition was underscored by Stanton’s own description of the limitations it creates in his day-to-day life.
“I can’t open a bottle,” Stanton said. “I can’t open a bag of chips … a bag of anything. That’s the way it is.”
Despite that, Stanton’s goal remains to be available across the full season, something he has not reached since 2021.
Even with the physical limitations, Stanton has shown no indication of backing off his expectations. In his first press conference of the spring, he reiterated the standard he holds for himself and the organization.
“The point of being a Yankee is being a champion,” Stanton said.
When Stanton is on the field and fully able to drive the baseball, he remains one of the most impactful middle-of-the-order bats in the league. He enters the season as the active Major League home run leader with 453, with two guaranteed years remaining on his contract and a 2028 club option still to be decided.
Ryan McMahon’s Adjusted Setup Aims to Reduce Swing-and-Miss
One of the more targeted offensive adjustments this spring belongs to Ryan McMahon.
After arriving midseason last year, McMahon’s production in New York did not match the underlying metrics the Yankees believed in when they acquired him. This offseason, the hitting group worked with him to refine his base and hand position, focusing on narrowing his stance and keeping his hands in a more efficient path through the zone.
As part of that process, McMahon said he studied video of Ben Rice and Bryce Harper, specifically looking at how they stay through the baseball and maintain a more compact setup. Those visuals helped reinforce the mechanical adjustments the Yankees were emphasizing.
The goal is to reduce the swing-and-miss that spiked during his first stretch in pinstripes while maintaining the power profile that has been a consistent part of his game.
Early results in Grapefruit League play have shown improved contact quality and better plate coverage, particularly to the opposite field. If McMahon can trim his strikeout rate even incrementally, the Yankees believe there is a more complete offensive profile to unlock alongside his already strong defensive value at third base.
Prospects Drawing Attention in Big League Camp
Several prospects have made strong impressions early in camp, giving the front office additional depth considerations for both the near and long term.
George Lombard Jr. continues to stand out defensively at shortstop. The Yankees believe he could handle the position in the Major Leagues right now from a run-prevention standpoint. The emphasis this year will be continued offensive development, particularly translating improved plate discipline and contact quality into production at the upper levels.
Spencer Jones has continued to showcase his power this spring, launching three home runs over his first four Grapefruit League games, including multiple long drives in exhibition play that left little doubt off the bat. He has also been working on swing adjustments aimed at improving consistency and contact. He said he has studied Shohei Ohtani’s stance and movement patterns as part of that process, focusing on how Ohtani generates power while staying balanced and efficient through the zone. The raw tools remain among the most impactful in the system, and if the mechanical changes translate into more consistent contact, Jones’ offensive ceiling remains significant.
On the pitching side, Elmer Rodríguez delivered one of the more composed outings of the spring, mixing five pitches effectively and working three scoreless innings in his debut. The Yankees have been encouraged by both his pitch mix and his ability to control the tempo of an inning. Those traits support what the organization believes could be a long-term role as a Major League starter.
Ryan Weathers Makes Strong First Impression
Newly acquired left-hander Ryan Weathers has been one of the early standouts among the Yankees’ pitching depth options.
In his first spring outing, Weathers generated velocity near the upper 90s and worked efficiently through 3 2/3 innings, striking out five and filling the strike zone with a mix of fastball, sweeper, and changeup. He credited veteran pitchers in camp for helping him simplify his approach, focusing on attacking hitters rather than pitching away from contact.
The Yankees have been encouraged not only by the raw stuff, but also by Weathers’ athleticism and ability to repeat his delivery. If he continues to show improved command, he could factor into the club’s pitching plans at some point during the season, particularly at the start with Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt on the IL.
Early Camp Themes
Across the roster, the defining theme has been refinement with purpose.
Veterans are making deliberate mechanical adjustments, not maintenance tweaks. And the youth are being challenged to turn raw tools into consistent production.
Spring Training rarely delivers definitive answers, but it does reveal direction. In Tampa, the Yankees are establishing the adjustments, internal competition, and standards that will shape the 2026 roster and influence how this group performs when the games begin to matter.
