News:
RHP JT Brubaker and Scott Effross will begin their rehab stints in Tampa on Wednesday.
Effross hasn’t pitched since October 2, 2022. Acquired from the Cubs for Hayden Wesneski, he pitched to a 2.54 ERA (2.46 FIP) in 2022 with a 27.1% K and 44% GB. While he isn’t a traditional “blow it past you” reliever, he does miss bats.
Brubaker is a starter acquired from the Pirates over the winter for infield prospect Keiner Delgado. Brubaker hasn’t dazzled in his MLB career (4.99 ERA/4.43 FIP), but he does feature slightly above-average GB (44.1%) and strikeout (23.3%) rates. We’ll see if the Yankees try to use him in a relief role or use him for starter depth. He is under team control through 2025. As for Delgado, the 20-year-old is playing for Pittsburgh’s Low-A affiliate, hitting .242/.324/.411 in 139 PA. He is playing well in June (.268/.412/.561 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 homers).
As for today’s roster moves, Ben Rice earned his promotion to MLB. The Yankees will not open a roster spot for RHP Jack Neely unless it is a permanent move. Hence, I am OK with adding Anthony Misiewicz and Clayton Andrews. Both pitchers are easy to DFA once a 40-man roster slot is needed.
In Tampa, RHP Ryan Harvey and Kristofer Bow were placed on the injured list. Harvey is a starter while Bow’s turbo-sinker has been used out of the bullpen. The Tampa transactions page doesn’t yet list replacements.
As I mentioned on Twitter, the Yankees don’t have great outfield depth in the minors. If Aaron Judge requires IL time, you are looking at players like Taylor Trammell, Oscar Gonzalez, Brandon Lockridge, and Jose Rojas. Trammell has a “prospect pedigree” while Gonzalez was successful in Cleveland in 2022 (.296/.327/.461 in 91 games). Lockridge is a speed/defense guy while Rojas is a veteran without much MLB success.
In other words, hopefully, Judge is OK.
Scranton (40-28) (Outslugged Buffalo,11-10)
CF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-4, RBI, BB, K
2B Jorbit Vivas: 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, RS, SB (3), BB, K
Vivas, who reached double digits in HR between 2021-2023, hits his first homer as a member of the Yankees’ organization (27th game)
SS Oswald Peraza: 0-for-5, RS, K
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-3, RS, BB
Rumfield’s 7-game hitting streak is snapped.
C Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-4, HR (7), 2 RBI, RS, 3 K
Narvaez is hitting .251 with a .804 OPS. His personal best for HR is 12, set last year.
DH Jose Rojas: 2-for-4, HR (13), 2 RBI, 2 RS, K
Rojas has always been an offensive force in the minors, reaching 31 homers and 107 RBI in 2019 (yes, it was the PCL). However, MLB hasn’t been kind to him.
RF Oscar Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2B (7), 2 RS
LF Taylor Trammell: 1-for-4, HR (2), 3 RBI, RS, K
3B Jeter Downs: 1-for-1, 2B (10), RBI, 2 RS, 3 SB (12), CS (4), 3 BB
A nice night (understatement) for Downs, who has performed well this season. That does not mean his prospect status is back, but perhaps he can still grind out an MLB career.
LHP Josh Maciejewski: 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Art Warren: (W, 1-0) 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Phil Bickford: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
2.93 ERA (27.2 IP, 23 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 2 HR, 12 BB, 35 K)
RHP Matt Sauer: (S, 1) 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
Somerset (32-32) (Knocked off Erie, 6-1)
CF Spencer Jones: 3-for-4, 2B (8), RBI, RS, K
This jumps his OPS to .712 as he compiles his 4th 3-hit game this season. Next up is a march towards .800! Jones is 18-for-61 (.295/.362/.525) in June.
C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-4, 2B (14), 2 RBI, K
Ramirez has four doubles in his last six games. He is hitting .339/.359/.613 (5 doubles, 4 HR, 14 RBI) in June.
3B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, RS, K
Hardman has homered in back-to-back games and has 28 homers in 85 Double-A contests.
3B Max Burt: 0-for-0
SS Ben Cowles: 0-for-4, 3 K
Cowles went 2-for-8 in his first two games this season. That was the last time he was under .300 until tonight (.295).
1B J.C. Escarra: 0-for-3, RS, BB
LF Grant Richardson: 1-for-4, 2 RS, SB (7), K
.260/.326/.410 in 193 PA. Richardson has struggled in June, but he has hit safely in six of his last seven games.
DH Jared Wegner: 2-for-4, 2 2B (7), 2 RBI, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
RF Aaron Palensky: 1-for-4, RS
RHP Trystan Vrieling: (W, 7-4) 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
4.58 ERA (74.2 IP, 70 H, 40 R, 38 ER, 6 HR, 22 BB, 72 K). This is an impressive Double-A showing for a kid in his debut season. I don’t remember the last time the Yankees started a pitching prospect’s career in Double-A.
RHP Colby White: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Luis Velasquez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Hudson Valley (33-30) (Lost to Greensboro, 2-0)
2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-3, BB, 2 K
SS Jared Serna: 0-for-4, K
Thankfully, Serna missed only one game after the HBP.
CF Jace Avina: 2-for-4, 2B (17), K
After a bit of a slump, Avina has hit safely in six of his last seven games (8-for-31).
1B Rafael Flores: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
.302/.415/.506 in 207 PA.
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-4, 3 K
DH Christopher Familia: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-3, CI, 3 K
3B Josh Moylan: 1-for-4, 2 K
LF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-3, 2B (9), BB
RHP Jackson Fristoe: (L, 1-3) 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, HR
3.58 ERA (37.2 IP, 27 H, 17 R, 15 ER, 2 HR, 27 BB, 40 K). This is the second time in his last three starts where he has limited walks (0 BB in 6 IP on 6/4). As I like to say, it is something to build on.
RHP Huey Morrill: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Cole Ayers: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.63 ERA (37.2 IP, 29 H, 15 R, 11 ER, 1 HR, 12 BB, 44 K). Expect a lot of movement among the relief prospects when the Yankees start promoting guys.
Tampa (23-41) (Lost to Palm Beach, 4-0)
3B Enmanuel Tejeda: 2-for-4, K
For Tampa: .328/.379/.395 in 133 PA. This comes with a .422 BABIP, so things will likely “normalize”. Remember that he is only 19 and performing well in a full-season league.
2B George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-3, HBP, K
.222/.359/.295 in 217 PA. He owns a 23.96% K rate, which isn’t great but won’t scare off evaluators, given it is his first full professional season.
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, 2 K
Arias’ “hot streaks” are attributed to his athleticism. The raw skill is so high that he can live off that in the lower minors. Heck, Estevan Florial has lived off that throughout his minor-league career. He is still young and has time on his side. However, improving your ability to make contact is one of the hardest things for a hitter to learn.
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-4, 2 K
CF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4
DH Hans Montero: 0-for-3, 2 K
LF Willy Montero: 0-for-2, HBP, K
Montero’s 12-game hitting streak is snapped.
C Tomas Frick: 0-for-3
RF Daury Arias: 1-for-3, K
RHP Cade Austin: (L, 1-3) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Austin’s first professional start (he started only 3 games in college). This was an emergency start.
RHP Steven Fulgencio: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Osiel Rodriguez: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
1.72 ERA (31.1 IP, 14 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 4 HR, 16 BB, 35 K). Rodriguez hit 96.8 MPH with his 4-seam fastball tonight and generated whiffs with his 4-seamer, sinker, changeup, and cutter.
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Gabonia maxed out at 95.3 MPH with his sinker. I look for things that the Yankees can build on. Season: 4.64 ERA (33 IP, 38 H, 20 R, 17 ER, 3 HR, 8 BB, 39 K). His BABIP is .368.
RHP Montana Semmel: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
FCL (20-13) (Won two games over the Phillies)
Game 1 was the conclusion of a game from 6/11. They won, 10-4
CF Brando Mayea: 2-for-4, RBI, RS, BB, K
C Edgleen Perez: 1-for-3, RBI, RS, 2 BB, K
DH Engelth Urena: 2-for-5, 2B (2), RBI, RS, K
3B Abrahan Ramirez: 2-for-5, 2B (5), RBI, 2 RS, K
LF Brian Sanchez: 1-for-4, RS, BB, 2 K
SS Juan Matheus: 2-for-4, 2 2B (4), 2 RBI, RS
2B Gabriel Terrero: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 RS
RF Joel Mendez: 1-for-4, 2B (5), RBI, RS, 3 K
RHP Sabier Marte (W, 4-0): 7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
You don’t see FCL pitchers throw this many innings often (his previous best was five).
Game 2 (Won, 7-6)
CF Brando Mayea: 2-for-4, CS (2), K
The power has yet to show up, but he is hitting .271/.361/.306 in 97 PA with 12 stolen bases in 13 attempts. He has eight multi-hit efforts in 21 games.
DH Edgleen Perez: 0-for-4, 2 K
.271/.457/.400 in 116 PA. He has 20 RBI in 27 games.
3B Abrahan Ramirez: 2-for-3, 2B (7), 2 RS, BB
The 19-year-old has six multi-hit efforts in his last seven games. He is hitting .382/.505/.551 in 112 PA, placing himself firmly on the list of potential promotions.
LF Brian Sanchez: 2-for-4, 2B (11), 2 RBI, RS
Sanchez, hitting .360/.457/.629, has 11 doubles in 26 games.
SS Juan Matheus: 3-for-3, 2B (6), RBI, RS
Matheus is hitting .303/.406/.461 in 106 PA. He is playing well enough to think about a promotion, but Low-A Tampa is loaded with infield prospects.
2B Gabriel Terrero: 2-for-4, RBI, RS, K
RHP Chris Kean: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
With a couple of injuries announced for Low-A Tampa, Kean is a solid candidate to earn a promotion there.
DSL Yankees (4-8) (Defeated the Rockies, 6-3)
DH Dexters Peralta: 1-for-4, 2 K
3B Richard Matic: 1-for-4, RBI
Matic is 10-for-31 (.323) with a pair of doubles and 4 RBI.
2B Edgar Jimenez: 1-for-3, 2B (1), RBI, RS, K
Jimenez (17) is only 2-for-15 but the two hits are a double and a homer. He hit the home run in his second career game.
RF Dilan Medina: 2-for-3, 2B (1), RBI, 2 RS
The 18-year-old is 5-for-14 with a double in his debut season.
1B Johan Contreras: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, RS
RHP Keninson Diaz (W, 2-0): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Jesus Mejia (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
In his first professional game, the 18-year-old records a save. Congrats!
DSL Bombers (6-4) (Defeated Mets Blue, 5-3)
C Queni Pineda: 2-for-3, SB (3), CS (2), K
Pineda (17) is 8-for-24 (.333) with a pair of doubles and a home run.
2B Luis Escudero: 2-for-3, 2B (1)
LF David Carrera: 1-for-3, 2B (4), RS, K
The 17-year-old is 6-for-21 with four doubles and a triple.
3B Kevin Verde: 0-for-2, RS, SB (5), BB
RF Angel Ventura: 2-for-3, RBI, RS, 2 SB (6)
The 18-year-old has 6 stolen bases in 6 games.
RHP Joshawn Lampson (W, 2-1): 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
LHP Jose Ledesma (S, 1): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Ledesma is 20, but this is his debut season.