The New York Yankees drafted Roc Riggio in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Although his performance last season was solid—highlighted by a strong walk rate, low strikeout rate, and respectable power—it wasn’t particularly standout.
He opened the 2025 season on the injured list but quickly returned to action in Hudson Valley following a brief rehab stint in the Florida Complex League.
Despite the delayed start, Riggio has been on fire with the Renegades, blasting his seventh home run in just 19 games—an impressive leap considering it took him 106 games to hit 11 last year.
Boasting a 191 wRC+ and a 19.5% walk rate in High-A this season, Riggio is enjoying the best stretch of his pro career so far, and the Yankees should seriously consider moving him up to Double-A soon.
Why the Yankees Should Keep a Close Eye on Roc Riggio
Roc Riggio turned in a solid 2024 campaign with the Hudson Valley Renegades, finishing with a 117 wRC+, 11 home runs, 27 stolen bases, and 27 doubles. His plate discipline was a standout feature, with a 14.8% walk rate and a 20.2% strikeout rate that highlighted his advanced approach and promising skill set. Still, given that he slugged 18 homers with a .344 ISO in his final college season, there was a sense that he had even more power to tap into.
Now in 2025, Riggio appears to be doing just that. In just 19 games, he’s already launched seven home runs, along with four doubles and a triple, and is slugging an impressive .662. Among High-A hitters with at least 80 plate appearances, he leads the league in slugging percentage, wRC+, and OPS—all while maintaining the same contact rate as the previous season.
What’s especially encouraging is how he’s generating power. Riggio isn’t just pulling fly balls for home runs—he’s gone opposite field multiple times already this season, showing a more complete power profile. His raw power has clearly ticked up, and the ball is coming off his bat with more authority than last year. If these improvements prove sustainable, he could emerge as one of the Yankees’ more exciting position player prospects.
Riggio’s swing is also a great fit for Yankee Stadium, where his left-handed stroke can take advantage of the short right-field porch. His ability to draw walks and do serious damage on contact aligns perfectly with the Yankees’ offensive philosophy.
Over his last 80 games with Hudson Valley, Riggio has compiled 15 home runs, 23 doubles, and an .855 OPS. A promotion to Double-A feels warranted at this point. The anticipated return of Jazz Chisholm from the injured list could open up a roster spot in Somerset, and with three infielders on that roster currently unranked in the Yankees’ top 30 prospects, there’s a clear path for Riggio.
A strong performance at the Double-A level could propel Riggio into the organization’s top 15 prospect rankings. Given the Yankees’ limited depth in upper-level position players, they’ll be eager to see if he can continue this upward trajectory. While his defense at second base still needs refinement and his offensive surge warrants a larger sample size, Riggio is well on his way to climbing the rankings when the mid-season update comes around.
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