News:
What do I think about the Yankees draft?
I don’t pretend to be something I am not. I don’t follow much college baseball and I sure as heck don’t pay attention to high school baseball – so how much can I really know?
It seems like a bit of a typical draft – perhaps a little more “meh” than some recent ones. They will pay George Lombard Jr. an over-slot bonus, pay players without much leverage well below their slot, and mix in some of the kids they drafted beyond the 10th round. I will read up more on them as they make their debuts. Until then, I grade their draft somewhere between a 20 and an 80 on the 20-80 scale.
You are going to start to see Top 100 lists come out. As you get lower on those lists, remember that publications are choosing between several players for the last several slots. Is there a major difference between #97 and #105? Probably not – but it still is beneficial to find yourself on the list.
Baseball America had a nice write-up on Chase Hampton as one of their “Notable Risers.” He went from unraked to 61st. Meanwhile, Prospects Live! didn’t rank him at all (and only ranked two Yankees – Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones).
The Yankees signed veteran cornerman Jake Lamb to a minor league deal. Lamb, who has experience playing all four corner positions, hit .216/.259/.353 with two home runs in 18 games for the Angels earlier this season. In 723 career games, he has a .235/.326/.427 (97 OPS+) line with 96 home runs. Most of the good stuff was compiled back in 2016-2017 when he hit 59 home runs and drove in 196 runs in 300 games for Arizona.
Scranton (41-44; 7-4 in the second half) (Lost to Norfolk, 7-3)
CF Estevan Florial: 0-for-3, 2 BB, K
47 walks in 68 games (54 in 101 games last season)
SS Oswald Peraza: 0-for-3, 2 BB, K
Peraza has nine walks in eight July games. He is only 6-for-30, so the walks have helped keep him afloat during a bit of a down period.
LF Everson Pereira: 1-for-4, RS, 2 K
Pereira has hit safely in all five games since his promotion. He is 10-for-21, so this isn’t a situation where he is “simply” earning a hit a game.
DH Ben Rortvedt: 0-for-4, 2 K
3B Andres Chaparro: 0-for-4, 3 K
C Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-3, HR (7), 2 RBI, RS, BB, 2 K
Narvaez is hitting .273/.418/.463 in 153 PA since his promotion. If the goal truly is to keep Austin Wells behind the plate, he will need to catch most of the time when he comes to this level. Assuming he ever does come to this level.
1B Jake Lamb: 1-for-4, 2B (1)
Lamb’s first game as a member of the Yankees organization.
2B Jesus Bastidas: 1-for-3, HR (9), RBI, RS, BB
.261/.325/.436 in 268 PA. Bastidas continues to flash some pop (last year, he hit 18 home runs and slugged .427 down in Somerset)
RF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-3, BB, K, SB (7)
Lockridge is 24-for-27 stealing bases between here and Somerset.
RHP Will Warren: 3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
Since promotion: 4.74 ERA (38 IP, 34 H, 26 R, 20 ER, 8 HR, 18 BB, 39 K). He was on a bit of a roll entering tonight, so hopefully this is just a blip.
RHP Michael Gomez: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
LHP Matt Krook: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Aaron McGarity: (L, 4-2) 0.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Well, he might not last on the 40-man roster for long.
RHP Zach Greene: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Somerset (48-32; 6-6 in the second half) (Defeated Binghamton, 4-2, in a rain-shortened contest)
SS Trey Sweeney: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 RS, BB
Nice to see Sweeney earn a few hits. He is now 6-for-26 in July, though that comes with eight walks.
CF Jasson Dominguez: 2-for-3, RBI, BB, SB (25)
He has the OPS up to .700, courtesy of three multi-hit games in his last four games played. He is 11-for-35 in July.
C Austin Wells: 1-for-4, RBI, K
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-3, 2B (8), RBI, BB, K
3B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4, 4 K
LF Elijah Dunham: 2-for-4, 2B (1), 2 K, 2 SB (3)
Dunham has one objective: Get back to Scranton.
2B Max Burt: 0-for-3, RS, BB, K
DH Josh Breaux: 1-for-4, 2 K
RF Jeisson Rosario: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB, K
RHP Chase Hampton: (W, 1-0) 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
Hampton celebrates his inclusion on the Baseball America Top 100 with a solid performance. He didn’t seem to be on his game early, but he ended up with a strong line. Since promotion: 3.90 ERA (27.2 IP, 22 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 2 HR, 9 BB, 33 K)
RHP Tanner Myatt: (S, 5) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Hudson Valley (47-35; 8-8 in the second half) (Lost to Bowling Green, 7-4, in a 6-inning, rain shortened game)
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-0, RS, 3 BB
.263/.337/.470. Jones is starting to take some walks, as he has 19 in 30 June/July games. In April/May, he walked 11 times in 39 games. This is the point where you hope he starts putting the power/discipline together all at once.
2B Ben Cowles: 0-for-2, RS, BB, K
C Agustin Ramirez: 2-for-3, 2 2B (7), 2 RBI
Ramirez is 16-for-41 (.390) with seven doubles and two home runs since his promotion. That works.
LF Christopher Familia: 0-for-3
Meanwhile, Familia has struggled since his promotion: 8-for-43 (.186) with a home run and 16 strikeouts.
DH Rafael Flores: 0-for-2, RS, BB, 2 K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-3
1B Spencer Henson: 0-for-2, BB, K
RF Grant Richardson: 2-for-3, HR (8), 2 RBI, RS
Richardson is hitting .192/.289/.390 in 93 games at High-A going back to last year. He has flashed some pop (18 HR) and speed (13-for-14 SB), but the rest of the game has yet to click.
3B Marcos Cabrera: 0-for-3, 3 K
RHP Zach Messinger: (L, 1-7) 4.2 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, HR
3.80 ERA (73.1 IP, 67 H, 42 R, 31 ER, 11 HR, 37 BB, 89 K). It has been a bit of a roller coaster, but I assume the Yankees feel good about what he has done this season.
RHP Harrison Cohen: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
2.95 ERA (21.1 IP, 19 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 2 HR, 9 BB, 27 K).
RHP Carlos Gomez: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Tampa (40-42; 9-7 in the second half) (Lost a crazy game to Lakeland, 14-12)
SS Jared Serna: 3-for-5, 2 HR (16), 7 RBI, 2 RS
Serna has a career night in a season filled with big nights. He is hitting .290/.349/.502 while leading the FSL in home runs (16) and RBI (58) while hitting leadoff all season. Is he due for a promotion soon?
CF Greg Allen: 1-for-2
Allen starts his rehab assignment.
CF Daury Arias: 0-for-1, BB
C Ben Rice: 2-for-5, HR (2), 2 RBI, RS
The question with Rice is what you do with him once the rehab is complete – Hudson Valley has Antonio Gomez and Agustin Ramirez. You could move him to Somerset (given his age and dominance of High-A earlier this season), but Austin Wells is there. Rice can squeeze out some playing time at first base, as well.
LF Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-4, BB, CS (2)
Rodriguez was caught stealing 3B with two outs in the 9th, team down 14-12. That is what you call a teachable moment.
DH Omar Martinez: 1-for-5, HR (7), RBI, RS
Martinez has homered in back-to-back games.
2B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-3, 2 BB
3B Brett Barrera: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, RS, BB
1B Ronny Rojas: 1-for-3, 2 RS, BB
RF Felix Negueis: 1-for-2, RBI, 3 RS, BB, HBP, K
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
4.97 ERA (38 IP, 36 H, 22 R, 21 ER, 7 HR, 19 BB, 50 K). Pestana made three appearances between 2021-2022, after the entire minor league season was canceled in 2020. Hence, they are taking it very easy with him.
RHP Kris Bow: (L, 2-3) 1.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Bow is a bit of a work in progress – just has to keep going out there and gain experience.
RHP Shane Gray: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Manny Ramirez: 0 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Yorlin Calderon: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
2.87 ERA (47 IP, 39 H, 17 R, 15 ER, 4 HR, 12 BB, 61 K). I still wonder if the bullpen shift is permanent – the writing may be on the wall since that is the only role he has pitched in this year.
RHP Alex Bustamante: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
FCL Yankees (15-11) (Doubled up the Phillies, 8-4)
2B Keiner Delgado: 1-for-4, HR (4), 3 RBI, RS, HBP, 3 K, SB (16)
.266/.375/.468 in 128 plate appearances. He is only 6-for-34 in July, so hopefully this gets him back on track.
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-2, 2 RS, 3 BB, K
His 13-game hitting streak is over, but we’ll take the three walks. Arias is hitting .281/.430/.528 in 114 PA with 22 RBI, 28 R, and 11 stolen bases in 16 attempts.
3B Hans Montero: 2-for-4, 2B (5), 2 RBI, HBP, SB (12)
.322/.504/.506 in 123 impressive plate appearances. He has reached base safely in 25 of his 26 games.
DH Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-5
CF Willy Montero: 1-for-3, RBI, RS, BB, K
.313/.370/.458 in 108 PA with 23 runs batted in. The 18-year-old is showing some prospect chops…
RF John Cruz: 2-for-4, RS, K
LF Joel Mendez: 2-for-4, RBI, K
C Edinson Duran: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 RS, HBP
20-for-48 (.417) with a pair of doubles and triples.
1B Kelvin Espino: 1-for-3, 2B (5), RS, BB, K
RHP Luis Serna: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
One of their intriguing lower-level pitching prospects puts together a strong effort.
LHP Edwar Polimir (W, 3-0): 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K
RHP Sebastian Keane: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K
1.62 ERA (16.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 24 K)
DSL Yankees (19-8) (Doubled up the Giants, 10-5)
CF Brando Mayea: 2-for-5, 2B (6), 2 RBI, RS, BB, 2 K, SB (13), CS (3)
.281/.403/.422 in 77 PA with six doubles and a home run.
C Josue Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2B (10), RBI, RS, 2 BB, SB (4)
20-for-44 (.455) with 22 walks and six strikeouts. I don’t care which level you are playing at – that is ridiculous.
3B Santiago Gomez: 1-for-3, RS, 2 BB, SB (10)
SS Luis Suarez: 0-for-1, RS, 2 BB
1B Luis Ogando: 1-for-3, 2B (7), 3 RBI, RS, 2 HBP, K
LF Andres Lacruz: 2-for-3, 2B (2), RBI, RS, SB (13)
RHP Sabier Marte: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
3.26 ERA (19.1 IP, 18 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 23 K)
RHP Joshua Quezada (W, 3-0): 4 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
DSL Bombers (12-15) (Lost to the Angels, 7-6)
2B Gabriel Terrero: 1-for-3, RS, 2 BB, K, SB (10)
.367/.457/.667 in 70 PA
C Edgleen Perez: 2-for-4, RBI, RS, BB, K
CF Gabriel Lara: 1-for-2, SF, 3 RBI, 2 BB, SB (9)
RF Ramiro Altagracia: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, K