ARLINGTON, Texas – Elmer Rodríguez was already deep into a mission when the real call came — just not the kind he had been chasing his entire life.
The Yankees’ young right‑hander was in his Pennsylvania hotel room late Monday night, locked into a round of Call of Duty: Warzone, when the front desk rang. Shelley Duncan, the Triple‑A Scranton/Wilkes‑Barre manager, was waiting in the lobby with what he described only as “something urgent.”
“I had no idea,” Rodríguez said. “I was literally just playing video games. It was so weird — 11:40 at night and they’re calling me, especially the receptionist. It felt kind of fishy, but I went down there and got the news.”
Whatever battles Rodríguez was fighting on screen are now on hold.
Rated the Yankees’ No. 3 prospect and No. 72 overall by MLB Pipeline, the 22‑year‑old joined the club Tuesday at Globe Life Field. He is scheduled to make his Major League debut Wednesday against the Rangers.
Rodríguez said his parents are traveling from Puerto Rico to be in attendance. His mother, he added, “jumped out of bed” when he shared the news.
“It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid,” Rodríguez said. “To get the chance to debut, especially in a Yankees uniform, is something I’ve always dreamed of. I’m happy to be here.”
Rodríguez has earned the opportunity. He posted a 1.27 ERA across four starts for Scranton/Wilkes‑Barre this season and was acquired from the Red Sox in December 2024 in exchange for catcher Carlos Narváez. Last year, he went 11–8 with a 2.58 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) across three levels of the Yankees’ system.
“I certainly view him as a guy who’s going to have a long career in this game as a starting pitcher,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s coming off a phenomenal year and got off to a great start this year. He’s earned that opportunity. I feel good about him taking the ball.”
The Yankees optioned Luis Gil to Triple‑A on Sunday. Will Warren had been listed as the probable starter for Wednesday’s series finale but will instead pitch Friday to open a homestand against the Orioles.
Boone indicated Rodríguez could remain in the rotation until left‑hander Carlos Rodón completes his Minor League rehab assignment. Rodón is scheduled to pitch Thursday for Double‑A Somerset and is expected to need at least one more outing.
“That keeps everyone in line, which should line up Elmer to potentially get a couple of starts,” Boone said.
To fill out the bench Tuesday, the Yankees recalled infielder Max Schuemann from Triple‑A. The move corresponds with Giancarlo Stanton being placed on the injured list with a right calf strain, retroactive to Saturday. Schuemann was hitting .203 (15-for-74) with four doubles, a home run and seven RBIs for Scranton/Wilkes‑Barre.
Rodríguez pitched for Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic and has held opponents to a .171 average through 21 1/3 innings this season, striking out 20 and walking seven.
“It was a great experience to pitch there,” Rodríguez said of the WBC. “It’s close to the same environment you’re going to have in the bigs. I feel like it prepared me and helped me get my feet wet.”
Rodríguez features a four‑seam fastball that sits at 96 mph and touches 99, along with an 82–85 mph slider. He also mixes a high‑70s curveball and an upper‑80s splitter/changeup.
He will face a Rangers lineup that has struggled to score, entering Tuesday ranked 26th in MLB with 115 runs and 20th with a .696 OPS. Texas is scheduled to start right‑hander Nathan Eovaldi on Wednesday.
“I’ve really been impressed with a lot of our young guys who are knocking on the door, and Elmer is included in that,” Boone said. “He seems to have a really good way about him. That should serve him well.”
