Yankees MILB 8/10: Ben Rice: 4 Hits, HR, 3 RBI

News:

There will be no report on Friday, August 11th. Please hold back your tears.

That was fast: RHP Deivi Garcia was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox were among the first teams to get a crack at him. That ends his frustrating Yankees tenure, a tenure that included a start (for one inning) in an important playoff game and a complete collapse in 2022 that makes no sense to this day.

In the regular season, Garcia posted a 4.84 ERA (90 ERA+) over 48.1 IP with a 43/14 K/BB ratio. Good luck, and don’t fall asleep in the bullpen.

Baseball America updated its Top 100 Prospects list today, with seven Yankees prospects making the list. All of them are in the lower 50, but that makes sense as the system is more about its strong depth than having that one stud player who is about to invade MLB. That doesn’t mean we have a bunch of quality players and no future superstars. You never know when someone will surge and become a consistent MLB All-Star. The important thing, for now, is seeing the recognition.

Late update: MLB Pipeline wasn’t as favorable to Yankees prospects, listing only three prospects – all of whom are in the 79-81 range (Spencer Jones, Jasson Dominguez, Everson Pereira)

Scranton (51-57; 17-17 in the second half) (Lost to Syracuse, 10-1)

SS Oswald Peraza0-for-4
C Austin Wells1-for-3, 2B (7), K
Wells has seven doubles in 17 games since his promotion.
  C Rodolfo Duran1-for-1, 2B (13)
I am not sure why Wells left the game – it was 9-0, so that hopefully explains it.
LF Everson Pereira0-for-4, 2 K
.324/.372/.559 in 111 PA since his promotion. I get it: Triple-A is souped up. What is Pereira supposed to do about that, exactly? All he can do is hit under the conditions before him. And he is doing that.
3B Andres Chaparro1-for-4, K
RF Franchy Cordero1-for-4
DH Carlos Narvaez0-for-3, BB, 2 K
2B Jamie Westbrook2-for-4, HR (16), RBI, RS, K
1B Jake Lamb1-for-4, 2B (3)
CF Brandon Lockridge0-for-3, 2 K

RHP Clayton Beeter: (L, 1-3) 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 2 HR
Since promotion: 6.25 ERA (31.2 IP, 32 H, 23 R, 22 ER, 9 HR, 16 BB, 37 K). There is no sugarcoating how rough of a line that is – Triple-A is souped up big time and we are seeing some pitchers having trouble adjusting (Will Warren also fits in that category)
RHP Michael Gomez2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Zach Greene1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Zac Houston0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Ron Marinaccio1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Wilmer Difo1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
The utility guy gets on the hill.

Somerset (61-42; 19-16 in the second half) (Destroyed Binghamton, 14-0)

LF Jasson Dominguez2-for-5, 2 RS, SB (36)
Dominguez has a 9-game hitting streak (17-for-39, 8 stolen bases) and has multiple hits in five straight games. He was on the verge of reaching.250 tonight but settles in at .247/.365/.396.
C Ben Rice: 4-for-5, 2B (3), HR (6), 3 RBI, 4 RS
Rice, who has a pair of 4-hit games this season (both of which were a triple away from the cycle), has a 1.049 OPS in 78 PA since his promotion (3 doubles, 1 triple, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 15 R, 8 BB, 12 K, 4-for-5 SB). Overall, he has 41 RBI and 37 runs scored in 42 games. At 24, I can see the Yankees giving him a late-season taste of Triple-A. He is likely a hit-first type of prospect, and the bar goes up if he is more of a first baseman than a catcher. We’ll see.
1B Agustin Ramirez2-for-5, RBI, 2 RS, K
His first multi-hit game since his promotion. I can’t emphasize enough how big of a season this kid is having. Anyway, tonight was his first career start at first base. It doesn’t hurt to get him experience there.
CF Elijah Dunham: 3-for-5, HR (6), 3 RBI, 2 RS, SB (14), CS (3)
Personally, I would get Dunham back up to Scranton. If the idea to send him back down to Somerset was to allow him to regain some confidence, it has worked. He has 6 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 27 games. Overall, he has 12 home runs and 26 stolen bases in 32 attempts.
DH Anthony Seigler: 1-for-3, 2 SF, 2 RBI, K
The master of productive outs.
SS Jesus Bastidas1-for-5, RBI, K
RF Jeisson Rosario1-for-4, SF, RBI, RS, K
2B Max Burt1-for-4, 2B (10), RBI, RS, K
3B Eduardo Torrealba: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 RS

RHP Richard Fitts: (W, 9-5) 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
3.38 ERA (119.2 IP, 101 H, 46 R, 45 ER, 17 HR, 30 BB, 130 K). Tremendous season and I hope he gets to Scranton before too long.
RHP Tanner Myatt1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Josh Maciejewski1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Jesus Liranzo1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (57-46; 18-18 in the second half) (Lost to Jersey Shore, 2-1)

CF Spencer Jones1-for-3, RS, BB
I am going to be fascinated to see what he does when he gets to the Double-A level. His season has been a tad uneven – but the end results are still encouraging. He is a big kid and goes through the stuff big kids go through. Patience will be key.
2B Jared Serna1-for-4, RBI
Serna’s first RBI since his promotion and 72nd overall.
3B Ben Cowles: 2-for-3, 2B (16), BB
.261/.352/.409 in 355 PA, He has hit safely in every August game (8; 11-for-28, 3 doubles)
1B Rafael Flores0-for-4, 3 K
SS Alexander Vargas0-for-4, 2 K
DH Anthony Hall0-for-4, 2 K
C Antonio Gomez1-for-4, K
LF Grant Richardson0-for-2, BB, 2 K
RF Jared Wegner0-for-2, BB, K

RHP Tyrone Yulie: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Yulie’s stay on the IL wasn’t too long. He owns a 4.86 ERA in 82.2 IP with a 91/45 K/BB ratio.
RHP Luis Velasquez: 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Since promotion: 2.59 ERA (24.1 IP, 15 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 HR, 15 BB, 29 K). You may think that all organizations are filled with big-arm relief prospects. That isn’t really true – the Yankees are above average in this category. You don’t need too many of them to pan out.
LHP Clay Aguilar: (L, 3-2): 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Tampa (49-56; 18-21 in the second half) (Lost a doubleheader to Clearwater)

Game 1 (Lost, 12-4)

2B Roc Riggio1-for-4, 2B (1), K
Riggio’s first career extra-base hit.
3B Kiko Romero: 0-for-2, BB
DH Josh Moylan0-for-3, 3 K
LF Daury Arias0-for-3, 2 K
SS Brenny Escanio: 1-for-3, HR (3), RBI, RS
.216/.335/.285 in 404 PA.
RF Cole Gabrielson1-for-3, RS, K
Gabrielson’s first Low-A hit.
CF Tayler Aguilar: 2-for-3, 2 HR (7), 3 RBI, 2 RS
Aguilar has two career 2-HR games – on 8/10/22 and 8/10/23. 
C Manuel Palencia0-for-3
1B Beau Brewer1-for-3, K

RHP Hayden Merda: (L, 2-6) 3.2 IP, 7 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 2 HR
LHP Edwar Polimir1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
The Low-A debut for the 22-year-old. He pitched to a 4.43 ERA in 20.1 FCL innings with a 26/10 K/BB ratio.
RHP Nolberto Henriquez2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
The Low-A debut for the 23-year-old. These promotions are likely doubleheader related.

Game 2 (Lost, 3-1)

DH Roc Riggio0-for-2, BB, K
LF Coby Morales0-for-3, 2 K
C Omar Martinez1-for-3, 2B (12), 2 K
.263/.376/.478 in 343 PA.
1B Josh Moylan0-for-2, BB, K
SS Brenny Escanio1-for-3, K
RF Garrett Martin1-for-3, 2B (3), RS
5-for-22 with three doubles and three runs batted in
CF Daury Arias0-for-2, BB, K
3B Beau Brewer0-for-3
2B Jose Colmenares0-for-2, K

RHP Kris Bow: (L, 2-5)  1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
RHP Yorlin Calderon3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, HR
3.45 ERA (62.2 IP, 57 H, 27 R, 24 ER, 5 HR, 18 BB, 77 K)
RHP Alex Bustamante1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
3.35 ERA (48.1 IP, 34 H, 22 R, 18 ER, 1 HR, 31 BB, 53 K)
RHP Matt Keating1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
3.53 ERA (51 IP, 48 H, 26 R, 20 ER, 4 HR, 27 BB, 72 K)

FCL Yankees (26-19) (Doubled up the Phillies, 6-3)

SS Keiner Delgado0-for-3, 2 RS, 2 BB, K
.277/.385/.452 in 195 PA. Delgado has more career walks (84) than strikeouts (54) and has stolen 60 bases in 73 tries (82.2%).
2B Enmanuel Tejeda2-for-4, 2B (4), RS, SB (21)
.311/.475/.452 (21-for-27 SB) in 179 PA after hitting .289/.463/.493 (11-for-17 SB) in 188 PA down in the DSL in 2022. This is exactly what you want to see.
RF Willy Montero3-for-4, 3B (2), 3 RBI, SB (5)
.325/.373/.435 in 169 PA. Montero hit .262/.396/.382 in 235 PA down in the DSL in 2022.
3B Hans Montero1-for-4, 2 K
DH John Cruz0-for-4, K
1B Dylan Jasso2-for-4, 2B (4), RS
8-for-18 with four doubles and three runs batted in.
CF Wilson Rodriguez2-for-3, 2 HR (2), 3 RBI, 2 RS, BB
Since top pick George Lombard Jr. has yet to make an appearance, Rodriguez is taking over as the high school draftee to drool over (8-for-20, 2 doubles, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4 BB)

RHP Jackson Fristoe4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
4.88 ERA (24 IP, 17 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 3 HR, 22 BB, 26 K). Last year’s 12th-round pick hasn’t allowed a run in his last three appearances (9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 9 K). Five of those six walks occurred in one of the starts.
LHP Allen Facundo (W, 5-0): 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
If you want to win a lot of games, find a job as a middle-inning reliever in the rookie leagues. The starters don’t typically get to five innings, which opens the door!  Facundo has a 1.91 ERA in 28.1 IP with a 37/12 K/BB

DSL Yankees (27-15) (Lost to Phillies White, 6-0)

CF Brando Mayea0-for-4
RF Jose Castro1-for-4, K, SB (15)
19 RBI, 19 R, 15-for-16 SB in 27 games in his debut season.
C Josue Gonzalez2-for-3, 2B (12), BB
It just feels as if hitting is contagious amongst many of the organization’s catchers in 2023. Gonzalez (who is 19 and repeating the level, which is important to note) is hitting .367/.556/.620 in 117 PA

RHP Jerson Alejandro4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
4.32 ERA in 33.1 IP (28 H, 17 R, 16 ER, 3 HR, 15 BB, 31 K). He is 17 so the goal is to get his feet wet and hope he can stay healthy.
LHP Pedro Rodriguez2.1 IP, 0 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
The pure definition of a DSL pitching line.

DSL Bombers (21-23-1) (Defeated Mets Blue, 7-6)

CF Gabriel Lara3-for-5, 2B (6), RS
Lara’s fourth 3-hit game this season. The most impressive thing for me is the hit tool he is showing, as he is at .269/.401/.423 in 162 PA (6 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 28 R, 15-for-21 SB). The immense speed is there. The defense will benefit from the immense speed. If there is a bat to tap into, he can be a top prospect in the system within a few years. We will not get ahead of ourselves, though.
LF Abrahan Ramirez1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
Ramirez has 27 walks and 16 strikeouts in 116 PA.
2B Geyber Blanco2-for-4, SF, RBI, RS
.344/.418/.479 in 110 PA for the 17-year-old.
3B Adrian Gonzalez2-for-5, 2B (3), 2 RBI

RHP Mariano Salomon4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, HR
The 21-year-old has three 8-strikeout games this season (58 in 42 IP to go along with his 3.43 ERA)
RHP Jose Julian Rodriguez1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Only the second career appearance for the 19-year-old.