Elmer Javier Rodríguez Cruz (born August 18, 2003) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2026.
Career
Boston Red Sox
Rodríguez attended Leadership Christian Academy in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[1] He spent his first professional season in 2022 with the rookie-level Florida Complex League Red Sox and Salem Red Sox. In 2023, he again pitched for the Salem Red Sox. In 2024, he pitched for Salem and for the Greenville Drive.[2]
New York Yankees
On December 11, 2024, the Red Sox traded Rodríguez to the New York Yankees in exchange for Carlos Narváez.[3] He split the 2025 season between the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades, Double-A Somerset Patriots, and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, accumulating an 11–8 record and 2.58 ERA with 176 strikeouts over 150 innings of work. On November 18, 2025, the Yankees added Rodríguez to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[4]
The Yankees optioned Rodríguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to begin the 2026 season.[5] Rodríguez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on April 29, 2026.[6] He made his MLB debut for the Yankees that day, taking the loss in a 3-0 defeat to the Texas Rangers after giving up two runs in four innings.[7]
International career
Rodríguez pitched for the Puerto Rico national baseball team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.[8]
References
- ^ Cotillo, Chris (July 12, 2021). “Red Sox draft Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, pitcher from Puerto Rico, with fourth-round pick”. MassLive.com.
- ^ “Elmer Rodríguez Minor & WBC Leagues Statistics”. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ Hoch, Bryan (December 11, 2024). “Yanks get pitching prospect, int’l pool money from Red Sox for Narvaez”. MLB.com.
- ^ Adams, Steve (November 18, 2025). “Yankees Select Spencer Jones, Elmer Rodriguez, Chase Hampton”. MLB Trade Rumors.
- ^ Hoch, Bryan (March 9, 2026). “With no room in deep outfield, Yanks send spring star Jones to Triple-A”. MLB.com.
- ^ Devin, Jake (April 29, 2026). “Yankees promote Elmer Rodríguez, DFA Randal Grichuk”. Pinstripe Alley.
- ^ “Yankees’ Elmer Rodriguez: Takes loss in debut”. CBS Sports. April 29, 2026.
- ^ Hoch, Bryan (April 29, 2026). “Pause the game, you’re getting the call: Yanks No. 3 prospect Rodríguez set for MLB debut”. MLB.com.
External links
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)