News:
I have nothing interesting to report.
Scranton (2-0) (Defeated Buffalo, 4-3)
CF Greg Allen: 0-for-4, K
3B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4, 2B (2), K
I mentioned Durbin’s speed and versatility yesterday. What did I leave out? His insane (in a good way) strikeout rate. In 22 games for Hudson Valley, he struck out at a 9.3% rate. “OK, so what did he do in the higher minors? Haha! Bet it wasn’t so great!” The answer: 4.6% in 47 games for Somerset. Amongst all minor leaguers with at least 250 PA, his 6.2% combined rate was second to 27-year-old Ernie Clement (Toronto). FYI: I wrote that blurb before his fourth AB, where…of course, he struck out.
C Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-3, RS, BB, K
LF Everson Pereira: 1-for-3, RS, CS (1), BB, K
Pereira hit a 102.7 MPH bullet for an out. The hit? 30.2 MPH.
1B Jose Rojas: 1-for-2, 2B (1), 2 RBI, RS, 2 BB
PR Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-0, RS, SB (3)
1B Jordan Groshans: 0-for-0
SS Kevin Smith: 2-for-4, RBI, K
Game-winning RBI single in the 9th.
RF Luis Gonzalez: 1-for-3, 2B (1), SF, RBI, K
Is Brian Cashman trolling us by signing a player named Luis Gonzalez?
DH Josh Breaux: 0-for-3, 2 K
Breaux has 67 home runs in 316 minor league games. The power isn’t in question – the rest of his offensive game (plus his position) are questions.
2B Josh VanMeter: 0-for-3, 2 K
VanMeter is a depth utility player. His bat hasn’t done much in his MLB career (.206/.293/.347 in 841 PA). His 39.00 ERA in three games doesn’t make him the ideal Isiah Kiner-Falefa replacement either.
RHP Cody Poteet: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Poteet, signed as a free agent over the winter, is on the 40-man roster. The 29-year-old has 19 games of MLB experience (9 starts) between 2021-2022 with the Marlins. He posted a 4.45 ERA. Today, he featured his 4-seamer (27%), sinker (29%), and change (27%) while mixing in some curves (10%) and sweepers (6%).
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
Underwood is no stranger to professional baseball, given that his debut was in 2012. Players like him tend to bounce around, but the Yankees are only his third organization (Cubs, Pirates). He has 144 games of MLB experience between 2018-2023, compiling a 4.63 ERA (4.08 FIP) in 144 games. Not bad for a depth guy.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
If you hung around for the entire 2023 season (you are forgiven if you didn’t), you will recognize Misiewicz, who pitched in three games for the big club.
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: (W, 1-0) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 0 K
De Los Santos was a dark horse to make the MLB roster at the beginning of spring training. He (typically) keeps the ball on the ground, which we know Matt Blake loves.
Somerset (0-0)
The season starts on 4/5.
Hudson Valley (0-0)
The season starts on 4/5.
Tampa (0-0)
The season starts on 4/5.
FCL (0-0)
The season starts on 5/4.
DSL (0-0)
It will be a while before their season starts!