Yankees MILB 4/23: Spencer Jones: 3 Hits, HR

News:

2B Jorbit Vivas made his organizational debut today, while IF DJ LeMahieu began his rehab stint (he was sent to Double-A for the stint). He didn’t last long in the game. It is impossible to count on him – if/when he comes back, you hope he can perform. Until that happens, you can’t include him as part of the 2024 puzzle.

OF Oscar Gonzalez, who impressed during spring training, started a rehab stint in Tampa tonight.

Scranton (13-8) (Lost to Durham, 3-2)

2B Jorbit Vivas1-for-4, K
Vivas finally makes his Yankees’ organizational debut. Late in spring training, he suffered an orbital fracture. The Yankees acquired him (along with Victor Gonzalez) from the Dodgers for Trey Sweeney during the off-season. His ceiling? Your 2025 second baseman.  But that’s a long time away and a lot will happen between now and then.
LF Caleb Durbin0-for-4
Vivas can play some third, but it isn’t recommended. Durbin will still get reps at second base but his versatility will help him get his plate appearances.
RF Everson Pereira0-for-4, 2 K
.239/.333/.577 in 81 PA with a 9.9% BB and 37% K.
1B T.J. Rumfield1-for-3, 2B (3), RS, 2 K
Rumfield is 7-for-25 since his promotion
C Carlos Narvaez0-for-3, 2 K
Narvaez, who would be the likely call-up if they decided to send Austin Wells down, is hitting .197/.378/.295 in 82 PA.
DH Luis Torrens1-for-3, HR (1), 2 RBI, RS
Torrens’ first homer as a member of the Yankees’ organization since 9/3/16.
SS Kevin Smith1-for-3, K
Smith cleared waivers and was outrighted back to Scranton.
3B Jeter Downs0-for-3, 2 K
CF Brandon Lockridge0-for-3, 2 K

RHP Yoendrys Gomez3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K
Gomez threw 60 pitches today and hasn’t been asked to go deep into games. He owns a 2.92 ERA in four starts (only 12.1 innings) with 11 hits allowed and a 15/5 K/BB.
RHP Phil Bickford1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 4 K
RHP Yerry De Los Santos (L, 1-1): 1.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K


Somerset (7-9) (Lost to Reading, 10-4. It is unusual to see Somerset struggle in the wins column!)

3B DJ LeMahieu0-for-1, K
   SS Alexander Vargas0-for-4, K
CF Spencer Jones: 3-for-5, HR (2), RBI, RS, CS (2), K
Jones is 11-for-26 (.423). He has three straight multi-hit efforts (including back-to-back 3-hit games).
C Agustin Ramirez1-for-4, 2 SB (4), BB
Catchers who steal bases in the minors typically don’t steal many in the majors (Gary Sanchez stole 15 bases in 2012 and has six in his MLB career). So, enjoy them while you can!
DH Ben Rice0-for-4, 2 K
2B Jordan Groshans: 2-for-4, RS, 2 K
He was sent down here from Scranton likely due to playing time reasons (Vivas coming off the IL being the biggest culprit)
1B J.C. Escarra: 2-for-4, 2B (4), 3B (1), RS
SS-3B Ben Cowles1-for-2, 2B (8), SF, RBI, BB, K
Cowles has eight doubles in 16 games (43 doubles in 237 games before 2024, which wasn’t so bad either).  He is hitting an impressive .345 with a 1.003 OPS.
LF Elijah Dunham0-for-3
RF Grant Richardson0-for-2, RS, SB (4), BB, HBP, K

RHP Zach Messinger: (L, 0-2)  6 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 9 K
Messinger ties his personal best for strikeouts in a game. He has a 5.48 ERA in 23 IP (20 H, 20 R, 14 ER, 4 HR, 8 BB, 27 K)
RHP Kevin Stevens1.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Yorlin Calderon0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Calderon has made appearances for Hudson Valley, Somerset, and Scranton this year.


Hudson Valley (9-6) (Lost to Bowling Green, 7-0)

CF Jace Avina 1-for-4
5-for-18 with a double, four walks, and four strikeouts. By the way, I am certain that Roc Riggio was in the original lineup, so I don’t know what happened there.
SS Jared Serna0-for-3, BB
3B Jesus Rodriguez3-for-4
Rodriguez records his first 3-hit game this season (eight 3-hit games in 2023). He is hitting .308/.357/.404 (2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB, 10 K (17.9%)). In High-A, Rodriguez is hitting .330/.429/.486 in 168 PA since his promotion last year.
DH Omar Martinez0-for-4, K
LF Garrett Martin1-for-4, SB (5), 3 K
1B Josh Moylan1-for-2, 2 BB
.233/.425/.333 in 40 plate appearances.
C Rafael Flores0-for-4, 2 K
RF Anthony Hall0-for-4, K
2B Beau Brewer0-for-3

RHP Baron Stuart: (L, 0-1) 4 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
RHP Cole Ayers2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
1.86 ERA (9.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 14 K)
RHP Leonardo Pestana1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K. Nothing to complain about here!


Tampa (4-12) (Lost to Lakeland, 2-1)

SS George Lombard Jr.:  1-for-4, SB (9), K
DH Oscar Gonzalez0-for-3, BB, 2 K
Rehab stint for the 26-year-old. The Yankees signed him out of the Cleveland organization before this season. He missed the first several weeks due to an orbital fracture.
3B Enmanuel Tejeda2-for-4, K
Tejeda increases his hitting streak to five (8-for-22). 
2B Roderick Arias1-for-3, RBI, SB (4), BB, K
.203/.319/.390 in 69 PA. The numbers are starting to look more respectable.
1B Dylan Jasso0-for-4, 2 K
RF Coby Morales2-for-3, SB (4), BB, K
CF Willy Montero0-for-4, K
LF Jackson Castillo0-for-2, K
Castillo’s first game since 4/9, so no need to be concerned about him leaving the game early.
  LF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-1
C Manuel Palencia1-for-3, RS

RHP Gabriel Barbosa6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
His 80-pitch effort included: 20% curveballs, 19% 4-seamers, 18% sinkers, 16% changeups, 16% sliders, and 11% cutters. That is what you call a true 6-pitch mix. The Yankees grabbed him in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 and this is his best of his three 2024 starts.
RHP Montana Semmel: (L, 1-1) 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Osiel Rodriguez1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
8.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 9 K


FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.


DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!