Former Roadrunner named top position player in Yankees' organization

TAMPA, Fla. – Former Rio Hondo College baseball standout Rafael Flores has emerged as one of the New York Yankees' top prospects. On Tuesday, Flores received the Yankees' Kevin Lawn Award prior to the start of their spring training game against the Boston Red Sox. The prestigious honor recognizes the team's Minor League Position Player of the Year.

Flores, originally signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Rio Hondo in 2022, had an amazing 2024 season while splitting time at High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset. The catcher/first baseman hit .279, slugged .379, and had a .495 on-base percentage. Over 122 games, he totaled 31 doubles, 21 home runs, and 68 RBI.

According to MLB Pipeline, Flores enters the 2025 season as the Yankees' No. 17 prospect.  Just last week, Flores batted third in the Yankees' Spring Breakout game lineup against the Baltimore Orioles. The contest was a showcase of each team's top prospects.

In an interview with MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, Yankees' manager Aaron Boone had nothing but praise for Flores.

"Rafael is going to be a really good catcher in this league for a long time," Boone said. "I think the bat is big. I think it's real, real power, and he's really good behind the plate. I talk all the time about presence with our catchers, and he has that. So, it was a lot of fun getting to know him."

Flores had an impressive sophomore season for the Roadrunners in 2022. He racked up the postseason honors, as he was named All-State and first-team All-South Coast Conference while also earning the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association (CCCBCA)/Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

Overall, Flores compiled a .380 batting average, totaled 63 hits, 16 doubles, 9 home runs, and 36 RBI in 39 games for the Roadrunners.

(Chris Ruiz, Rio Hondo College Athletics)