News:
The Yankees added RHP Keynan Middleton from the Chicago White Sox for RHP Juan Carela (Rule 5 eligible).
The Yankees needed some bullpen innings (I guess) and acquired a pure rental to fill those innings. I guess that excites someone.
This year for the White Sox, the 29-year-old pitched to a 3.96 ERA in 39 games. He is showing off an impressive strikeout rate (30.1%) and, by emphasizing his changeup more, he has increased his GB rate to 50%. It was 26% in Arizona in 2022.
If Middleton started 2023 with the Yankees, we would be touting him as a major Matt Blake success story. While that is well and good, I am not sure what he adds to this bullpen for two months. He would be a nice complimentary acquisition of something bigger. As a lone acquisition, what’s the point?
Carela (21) pitched to a 3.67 ERA (3.73 FIP) over 83.1 innings for High-A Hudson Valley. His 31.1% K rate shows some of his potential, but he doesn’t possess the velocity that organizations look for. For Chicago, he represents a decent get for a rental relief pitcher. One can project him as a future reliever who focuses heavily on his breaking stuff.
The Yankees made a smaller trade for RHP Spencer Howard, giving up only cash considerations to the Texas Rangers. Howard has done nothing to thrill you in MLB, but he was ranked as the 27th prospect in MLB by Baseball America in 2021. Storing his arm in Triple-A hurts nobody, so this doesn’t bother me. If the Yankees made a meaningful acquisition today, his news would have been buried.
Scranton (47-53; 13-13 in the second half) (Defeated Rochester, 5-4)
2B Oswaldo Cabrera: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K
SS Oswald Peraza: 3-for-3, 2B (7), SF, 2 RBI, RS, BB, SB (12)
.272/.362/.508 in 221 PA (7 doubles, 1 triple, 12 HR, 30 RBI, 35 R, 21 BB, 39 K, 12-for-15 SB)
C Austin Wells: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
Since promotion: .235/.325/.294 in 40 PA. He has five walks and 15 strikeouts.
RF Everson Pereira: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, RS, K
Since promotion: .329/.368/.573 in 82 PA. Pereira has three multi-hit games in his last four games played.
CF Estevan Florial: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K, SB (19)
Florial has hit safely in ten of his last 11 games.
3B-1B Andres Chaparro: 0-for-3, BB
LF Franchy Cordero: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K, SB (5)
2B Jesus Bastidas: 0-for-0
C Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-4, RS, 3 K
1B Jake Lamb: 2-for-4, RS
PR-LF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-0, RS, 2 SB (12)
Lockridge is 29-for-33 stealing bases between here and Somerset (he is tied with Jasson Dominguez and Caleb Durbin for the organizational SB lead)
LHP Edgar Barclay: 3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, HR
Barclay’s Triple-A debut.
RHP Zac Houston: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Well, this is rather impressive.
RHP Michael Gomez: (W, 1-4) 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
RHP Matt Bowman: (S, 4) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Somerset (58-37; 16-11 in the second half) (Lost to Akron, 6-1)
SS Trey Sweeney: 1-for-4, 2 K
.249/.365/.420 in 425 PA (18 doubles, 2 triples, 13 HR, 49 RBI, 62 R, 58 BB, 83 K, 15-for-22 SB). Sweeney/Dominguez at the top of the order has produced plenty of baserunners for the hitters below them.
CF Jasson Dominguez: 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB, CS (7)
.228/.356/.372 in 421 PA (10 doubles, 2 triples, 12 HR, 53 RBI, 65 R, 70 BB (16.6%), 112 K (26.6%), 29-for-36 SB). I like to see dropping K rates…for hitters, at least.
1B Ben Rice: 0-for-3, BB
LF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-4, 2 K
2B Mickey Gasper: 0-for-3, 2 K
C Anthony Seigler: 0-for-3, 2 K
.166/.320/.221 in 181 PA, He continues to draw his walks (18.8%) but the hit tool has not developed well – some of that can be the injuries.
3B Max Burt: 0-for-2, BB, 2 K, CS (4)
DH Jeisson Rosario: 1-for-3, 2 K
RF Aaron Palensky: 1-for-3, RS
RHP Blane Abeyta (L, 6-5): 4 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
5.82 ERA (89.2 IP, 93 H, 60 R, 58 ER, 12 HR, 39 BB, 93 K)
RHP Blas Castano: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Lisandro Santos: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Tanner Myatt: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
3.66 ERA (39.1 IP, 24 H, 18 R, 16 ER, 3 HR, 30 BB, 47 K)
Hudson Valley (54-43; 15-15 in the second half) (Lost to Wilmington, 8-4)
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-4, RBI, BB, 2 K
2B Ben Cowles: 1-for-4, 2B (14), RS, BB, K
He has hit safely in nine of his last ten games.
C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-4, RBI, RS
Since promotion: .400/.447/.726 in 103 PA (10 doubles, 7 HR, 18 RBI, 19 R, 7 BB, 12 K). His hitting streak is up to seven (12-for-31)
DH Rafael Flores: 1-for-4, K
LF Christopher Familia: 1-for-4
Since promotion: .253/.316/.460 in 95 PA. Overall: .324/.395/.688 in 190 PA.
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-3, RS, BB, K
1B Spencer Henson: 1-for-4, K
RF Aldenis Sanchez: 3-for-4, RS
Sanchez has a 6-game hitting streak (8-for-24).
3B Eduardo Torrealba: 1-for-3, RBI, BB
RHP Brendan Beck: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
At this level: 0.47 ERA in 19 IP (14 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 20 K)
LHP Joel Valdez: (L, 2-5) 2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Shane Gray: 1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Carlos Gomez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Tampa (46-50; 15-15 in the second half) (Annihilated Bradenton, 15-6)
SS Jared Serna: 4-for-6, 2 2B (20), HR (19), 2 RBI, 2 RS
As usual, once you think Serna is “slumping,” he does something like this. Serna has four 4-hit games this season and has 20 doubles, 19 HR, 68 RBI, and 69 runs scored.
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-4, RBI, RS, BB, HBP, 2 K
C Omar Martinez: 4-for-6, 3 HR (15), 5 RBI, 4 RS, K
Martinez is the third Yankees prospect to hit three home runs in a game this season (Jhon Imbert, Tyler Hardman). He is hitting .263 with a .857 OPS (11 doubles, 1 triple, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 46 R).
CF Anthony Hall: 3-for-3, HR (9), 2 RBI, 2 RS, BB
Hall is hitting .286 with a .875 OPS (9 doubles, 2 triples, 9 HR, 36 RBI, 42 R, 38 BB, 55 K). He likely belongs in Hudson Valley.
PH-CF Daury Arias: 2-for-2, RS
DH Coby Morales: 2-for-5, 2B (1), HR (1), 4 RBI, 2 RS, K
This is an impressive professional debut for Morales, who was their 18th-round pick out of the University of Washington. He is a 21-year-old left-handed bat.
LF Garrett Martin: 0-for-5, BB, 2 K
Martin’s professional debut. The 23-year-old was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Austin Peay State. He played in 20 games for Oklahoma State back in 2022.
RF Tayler Aguilar: 1-for-6, RBI
1B Beau Brewer: 0-for-4, 2 BB
2B Jose Colmenares: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RS, BB
RHP Sean Hermann: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
RHP Osiel Rodriguez: (W, 1-0) 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Since promotion: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 10 K
RHP Cole Ayers: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Alex Bustamante: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
3.59 ERA (42.2 IP, 28 H, 21 R, 17 ER, 1 HR, 29 BB, 46 K)
FCL Yankees (24-15) (Split a doubleheader with the Phillies)
Game 1 (Won, 2-1, in 8 innings)
DH Keiner Delgado: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K, 2 SB (24)
2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-3, BB, 2 K
Riggio made his debut yesterday. He has fast-rise potential.
RF Willy Montero: 0-for-4, 2 K
SS Hans Montero: 0-for-2, 2 BB
1B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-2, 2 BB
Jasso, a 20-year-old out of Mexico, makes his professional debut.
CF Cole Gabrielson: 3-for-4, HR (1), RBI, RS, K
Gabrielson, a 23-year-old right-handed bat out of USC, makes his professional debut. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent.
LF Joel Mendez: 1-for-2, K
RHP Luis Serna: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
4.97 ERA (12.2 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 15 K)
RHP Jordy Luciano (W, 2-3): 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
4.26 ERA (19 IP, 15 H, 14 R, 9 ER, 0 HR, 18 BB, 20 K)
RHP Steven Fulgencio: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Fulgencio’s first career save. Congrats!
Game 2 (Lost, 4-3)
SS Keiner Delgado: 0-for-4, 2 K
.280/.386/.467 in 176 PA with a 24-for-29 stolen base rate. Delgado is 58-for-71 stealing bases in 88 career games.
3B Enmanuel Tejeda: 2-for-3, RS
.305/.471/.449 in 157 PA with an 18-for-23 stolen base rate. He has 33 walks and 34 strikeouts.
LF John Cruz: 1-for-3
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-2, 2B (3), RBI, BB
His trip up to Low-A (where he went 2-for-4) was a one-off.
CF Wilson Rodriguez: 1-for-3, 2B (1), RBI, K, CS (1)
The 18-year-old was drafted in the 17th round in this year’s draft out of Puerto Rico. He is a left-handed bat.
RHP Jackson Fristoe: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
5.85 ERA (20 IP, 16 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 3 HR, 21 BB, 22 K). Although he is 23, it is also his first taste of pro ball.
DSL Yankees (24-14) (Defeated Colorado, 9-4)
CF Brando Mayea: 2-for-5, 3B (1), RBI, 2 RS, SB (17)
.248/.358/.352 in 123 PA with a 17-for-20 SB rate. He isn’t crushing the level, but his performance is fine.
SS Luis Suarez: 2-for-5, RBI, 2 RS, 2 SB (17)
2B Santiago Gomez: 2-for-4, 2B (9), 2 RS, BB, 2 SB (12)
.282/.433/.427 in 134 PA (9 doubles, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 27 R, 20 BB, 27 K, 12-for-15 SB). Gomez is 19 and repeating the level.
3B Luis Ogando: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, RS, K, SB (11), CS (6)
.374/.463/.596 in 121 PA for the 19-year-old. He hit .300/.417/.440 in 34 games at this same level last year.
RHP Christian Zazueta: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K
RHP Jesus Castellanos (W, 1-0): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Signed on July 12th, this is Castellanos’ professional debut.
DSL Bombers (19-20) (Lost to DSL Miami, 6-2)
2B Gabriel Terrero: 1-for-4, RBI, BB
.314/.407/.578 in 118 PA (7 doubles, 1 triple, 6 HR, 23 RBI, 25 R, 14 BB, 23 K, 12-for-16 SB). Nice debut season for the 17-year-old.
CF Gabriel Lara: 0-for-2, RBI, 2 HBP
.263/.403/.430 in 144 PA (5 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 26 R, 23 BB, 25 K, 14-for-18 SB). Another 17-year-old having a nice debut season
RHP Joshawn Lampson (L, 0-3): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
A DSL line if there ever was one.