The New York Yankees didn’t just promote a pitcher this week—they gave fans a glimpse of the future. On Saturday, Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, the organization’s most exciting young arm, made his long-awaited Triple-A debut with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. For a franchise that has spent the season juggling injuries and searching for pitching depth, Rodriguez-Cruz’s arrival at the doorstep of the majors carries real weight.

It wasn’t a flawless outing, but in many ways, that’s exactly the point of these starts. Triple-A is where baseball reveals its sharp edges, and Rodriguez-Cruz got his first taste of it and came out of it alive.

A Learning Experience in Scranton

Rodriguez-Cruz lasted a solid five innings in his RailRiders debut, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out three wit

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