Yankees MILB 8/17: Solid Night for Richard Fitts

News:

Estevan Florial‘s stay on the injured list was short-lived as he returned to action tonight.

Both OF Everson Pereira and C Austin Wells didn’t play tonight for Scranton, fueling speculation that one or both could be on their way to New York. There is nothing (yet) that indicates this will happen (players do get random days off in the minors, though the timing would be interesting. On Friday, the Yankees can bring them up without losing a year of control).

Scranton (56-58; 22-18 in the second half) (Defeated Worcester, 2-1)

CF Estevan Florial0-for-5
His stay on the IL wasn’t a long one.
2B Oswald Peraza1-for-4
1B Andres Chaparro1-for-4, HR (21), RBI, RS, K
Chaparro sets a new personal best for home runs in a season. He has 41 HR in 749 plate appearances over the last two seasons.
C Carlos Narvaez0-for-2, BB, HBP, K
3B Jamie Westbrook1-for-4, RS
DH Rodolfo Duran2-for-2, 2 BB
.249/.323/.447 in 220 plate appearances. 
RF Michael Hermosillo1-for-4, RBI, K
LF Brandon Lockridge1-for-3, SAC
And we were told that the Yankees don’t “teach baseball”…
SS Wilmer Difo1-for-3, 2B (7), BB, K

RHP Mitch Spence6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K
4.63 ERA (126.1 IP, 125 H, 72 R, 65 ER, 24 HR, 43 BB, 115 K). Spence is doing a solid job eating innings down here and perhaps can earn himself a big-league shot. I don’t think that will happen with the Yankees, though.
RHP Michael Gomez0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
LHP Anthony Misiewicz (W, 1-1): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Zach Greene (S, 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Somerset (65-45; 23-19 in the second half) (Lost to Reading, 5-4)

CF Jasson Dominguez1-for-4, 2B (16), 2 RBI, BB, 3 K
Yes, he struck out three times. You still can’t ignore how much better Dominguez has played in recent weeks. I would end his season in Scranton, personally.
C Ben Rice1-for-4, RS, BB
You know you are having a good season when a single and a walk are a “ho-hum” night for you.
DH Agustin Ramirez1-for-5, 2 K
Ramirez is 7-for-39 with a double since his promotion. I will continue to tell anyone who reads his stat line during this adjustment period to have some patience.
RF Elijah Dunham1-for-2, 2 BB, K
2B Caleb Durbin0-for-3, K
    2B Eduardo Torrealba1-for-1, RBI
1B Mickey Gasper0-for-4, K
LF Aaron Palensky0-for-4, RS, SB (9)
Between Hudson Valley and Somerset, Palensky has 19 doubles, 19 homers, and 20 stolen bases.
SS Jesus Bastidas1-for-3, HR (2), RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
Bastidas has 11 home runs between Scranton and Somerset. 
3B Max Burt1-for-4, K

RHP Richard Fitts5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HR
It was a battle for Fitts tonight, who needed 102 pitches to earn the 16 outs. The impressive thing is that he was able to keep runs off the board, allowing only a solo HR in the first inning. He owns a 3.31 ERA in 125 IP (105 H, 47 R, 46 ER, 18 HR, 32 BB, 135 K). August: 18.1 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 17 K. It is all a matter of preference when it comes to their Double-A arms. I think Chase Hampton has the most upside as a potential top-of-the-rotation guy, but Fitts and Drew Thorpe both appear to be legitimate. 
RHP Bailey Dees1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Danny Watson: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
Since promotion: 1.55 ERA (29 IP, 13 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 HR, 14 BB, 33 K)
RHP Jack Neely: (L, 0-1) 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
We expect Dees-Watson-Neely to shut it down every night – sometimes, the baseball gods just tell us no.

Hudson Valley (62-49; 23-22 in the second half) (Pulled off a nice comeback against Brooklyn, 6-5. They were down 5-0 entering the top of the 5th)

CF Spencer Jones0-for-4, RS, BB, 2 K, SB (33)
DH Anthony Hall2-for-3, 2B (5), RBI, 2 BB
Hall is up to .258/.361/.419 in 37 PA since his promotion and .267/.380/.446 in 309 PA overall.
2B Jared Serna0-for-5, K
3B Jesus Rodriguez3-for-5, RBI, RS
Rodriguez’s big season continues. He has two 3-hit games in eight games played since his promotion (11-for-28). 
SS Alexander Vargas0-for-5, K
1B Spencer Henson0-for-4
C Rafael Flores1-for-4, 2B (15), RBI, RS, K
RF Grant Richardson3-for-4, 2B (6), HR (13), 2 RBI, 2 RS, K
Richardson has been hovering around .200 for most of the season (currently at .199). There is power and speed in his game – can they develop his hit tool?
LF Jared Wegner2-for-3, RS, BB, K
At this level: 4-for-11 with a pair of doubles.

LHP Brock Selvidge3.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
The strikeouts are nice, but it was a tough night for Selvidge. Given how well he is pitching in 2023, we can toss this one aside. Since his promotion: 3.95 ERA (27.1 IP, 23 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 28 K). Overall, Selvidge is up to 104.2 innings (he tossed 42.2 innings in 2022)
RHP Luis Velasquez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Since promotion: 2.22 ERA (28.1 IP, 16 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 HR, 18 BB, 31 K)
LHP Clay Aguilar2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
3.13 ERA (31.2 IP, 27 H, 13 R, 11 ER, 2 HR, 14 BB, 47 K). Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020 (shortened COVID draft), Aguilar has pitched well. He did miss all of 2022 due to injury.
RHP Shane Gray: (W, 2-1) 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
A much-needed performance for Gray, who struggled in his first seven appearances at this level.

Tampa (54-57; 23-22 in the second half) (Destroyed Daytona, 10-1)

2B Roc Riggio0-for-4, RBI, 2 BB, 3 K
Riggio has 11 walks in seven games since his promotion.
1B Josh Moylan0-for-3, SF, RBI, RS, BB, K
DH Omar Martinez1-for-4, RBI, BB, 2 K
.267/.377/.485 in 363 solid plate appearances (14 doubles, 1 triple, 17 HR, 62 RBI, 57 R, 52 BB, 95 K)
LF Garrett Martin1-for-5, 2B (4), RBI, 2 K
RF Tayler Aguilar: 1-for-4, 3B (1), RS, BB, 3 K
CF Cole Gabrielson1-for-5, 3B (1), RBI, RS, 2 K
C Manuel Palencia: 2-for-4, 3 RS, BB
Palencia is 7-for-16 with four RBI and five runs scored at this level. He hit .271/.354/.314 in 79 FCL plate appearances.
3B Beau Brewer2-for-2, 2 RBI, 2 RS, 3 BB
Brewer continues his hot August (15-for-37; 11 BB, 4 K). He has walked six times in his last two games.
SS Jose Colmenares1-for-3, HR (5), 2 RBI, 2 RS, 2 BB, K
The 21-year-old has five HR in 15 games. He hit four homers in 57 games in 2021-2022.

RHP Hayden Merda4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K
RHP Montana Semmel: (W, 2-0)  2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Impressive night for the 21-year-old. He owns a 13/2 K/BB ratio in 12.1 IP at this level (3.65 ERA)
RHP Luis Arejula2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Low-A debut for the 21-year-old. He pitched to a 2.84 ERA in seven games down in the FCL.

FCL Yankees (30-21) (Lost a big game to the Phillies, 9-5. A win today and tomorrow would have resulted in a division title. A win tomorrow will still reduce the magic number to 1)

2B Keiner Delgado0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 K
.283/.400/.473 in 220 PA with more walks (31) than strikeouts (29). He is 28-for-33 stealing bases.
CF Jackson Castillo0-for-2, RS, 2 BB
RF Willy Montero1-for-4, RBI, RS, BB
.343/.395/.453 in 190 PA with 42 runs batted in. 
1B Dylan Jasso1-for-4, RBI, BB
17-for-45 (.378) with a 10/4 BB/K ratio. Jasso has reached base in 12 of his 13 games.
LF John Cruz0-for-3, RBI, RS, BB, 2 K
DH Enmanuel Tejeda1-for-4, K
Tejeda is on a 6-game hitting streak and is hitting .310/.465/.471 in 202 PA. He has 22 stolen bases in 28 attempts.
SS Hans Montero1-for-3, 3B (3), RS, BB
3B Dayro Perez1-for-3, SF, RBI, RS
C Edinson Duran1-for-4, RBI, K

RHP Jackson Fristoe (L, 1-3): 3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
5.27 ERA (27.1 IP, 20 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 3 HR, 24 BB, 31 K)
LHP Allen Facundo2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
2.37 ERA (30.1 IP, 20 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 0 HR, 13 BB, 40 K). Facundo hasn’t allowed a home run in 79 career innings.
RHP Sebastian Keane1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
1.85 ERA (24.1 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 14 BB, 34 K). I will continue to hope that he will spend the last month of the season up in Tampa.
RHP Donys Garcia1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

DSL Yankees (31-17) (Lost to the 39-12 Pirates Gold squad, 10-0)

CF Andres Lacruz and LF Andry Javier (double) are the only two players to compile a hit this afternoon. Javier (19) is hitting .324/.495/.465 with 23 walks and 11 strikeouts. Lacruz (who added two walks to his single) is hitting .250/.432/.340 with 19 stolen bases in 21 attempts.

LHP Franyer Herrera2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
This is the first career start for Herrera (following ten relief appearances)

DSL Bombers (24-26) (Lost to DSL Colorado, 4-2)

2B Gabriel Terrero1-for-3, HR (7), 2 RBI, RS, BB
.300/.405/.538 in 153 PA (8 doubles, 1 triple, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 30 R, 20 BB, 33 K, 14-for-18 SB). A solid debut season for the 17-year-old.
CF Gabriel Lara0-for-3, BB, SB (17), CS (7)
We won’t worry about the SB% right now – I 100% agree with having Lara try to steal as often as possible while in the minors. If he makes it, stealing bases will be a part of his value. 

RHP Mariano Salomon (L, 3-3): 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
An impressive debut season includes a 3.13 ERA and 60/9 K/BB ratio over 46 innings. He is 21 years old.
RHP Christopher Medina2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K