Yankees MILB 7/5: Ben Cowles’ Big Day

News:

RHP Phil Bickford rejected an outright assignment a few days ago. Today, he re-signed with the Yankees. Veterans often do this to earn extra money on minor league deals if they can’t secure an MLB opportunity elsewhere.

Scranton (47-37)  (Defeated Lehigh Valley, 7-4)

CF Brandon Lockridge1-for-3, SAC, CS (3)
.293/.406/.389 in 189 PA. I can’t wait until Lockridge makes his debut – it might not be with the Yankees, but I think someone is going to give him a shot.
3B Jorbit Vivas: 2-for-3, HR (4), 2 RBI, RS, SB (8), BB
On a night when Gleyber Torres leaves the game, Vivas has another big effort. He is hitting .269/.409/.429 in 152 PA. As for his ability to play third base: The scouting reports aren’t favorable and the Dodgers scaled back his time last season. The Yankees have used him sparingly there, indicating that they think he can handle it to an extent. Perhaps a “break glass in case of emergency” type of deal. If you believe reports, if Vivas is going to make it, it will be as a second baseman.
2B Oswald Peraza0-for-4, K
Peraza, another option to call up, is hitting .201/.318/.236. I am a big Peraza fan. I wanted him to take over SS for the Yankees halfway through 2022. But I can’t justify him being called up. He has not earned that.
1B Agustin Ramirez1-for-4, HR (3), RBI, RS, K
Ramirez has homered three times in his last seven games.
C Carlos Narvaez1-for-3, 2B (17), RS, CS (1), BB, K
Narvaez’s strong year continues: .269/.390/.454 in 292 PA (17 doubles, 9 HR, 45 RBI, 44 R). The 45 RBI are a personal best for RBI in a season. If the Yankees move on from Jose Trevino after 2024, Narvaez is a candidate to play with Austin Wells next season. We are a while away from worrying about that.
RF Oscar Gonzalez2-for-4, RBI, RS, K
LF Taylor Trammell: 2-for-3, 2B (11), HR (4), 2 RBI, 2 RS, BB
DH Jeter Downs1-for-4, RBI, RS
I have been asked about Downs. Given his name and prospect pedigree, fun story to follow. Do I think he is an MLB difference-maker at this stage? Probably not. But players figure things out at different rates. 
SS Kevin Smith1-for-4, RS, K

RHP JT Brubaker2.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 1 K, HR
Once his rehab stint is over, the Yankees must add him to the 40-man roster. The good news is that he has options. He is an interesting depth piece because he can be a starter/reliever/swingman.
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Scott Effross1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
For Scranton: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. Yes, we want to see zeroes – but we are still in a stage where the work is the most important thing.
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: (W, 5-0)  1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Jack Neely1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Neely needed 30 pitches to get through his first inning but was able to come out to record two more outs. Everything they ask him to do has a purpose. He has yet to do back-to-back days, but you don’t necessarily have to prove you can do that in the minors.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
LHP Victor Gonzalez (S, 1): 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
7 pitchers were used tonight. Thankfully for them, the squad has Sunday and Monday off.


Somerset (41-39) (Won two games against Reading)

Game 1 (Won, 8-2, in the conclusion of last night’s suspended game. This one went the full 9 innings)

CF Spencer Jones0-for-4, RS, BB, 3 K
SS Ben Cowles: 4-for-5, 2B (22), HR (7), 3 RBI, 2 RS, CS (2)
1B Tyler Hardman1-for-4, RBI, CI, 2 K
DH Rafael Flores1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, RS, HBP, K
Flores has three doubles and two home runs in 9 games since his promotion.
LF Elijah Dunham1-for-5, 2B (13), K
Dunham increases his hitting streak to 13.
C J.C. Escarra1-for-4, RS
RF Jared Wegner2-for-3, RS, BB
.248/.337/.393 in 205 PA.
2B Anthony Seigler1-for-3, 2B (15), RS, BB
This is Seigler’s third double in four July games.
3B Max Burt1-for-3, HR (4), SF, 2 RBI, RS, K

RHP Trystan Vrieling3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
At least he got three innings in before the rain started. Season: 5.67 ERA (85.2 IP, 94 H, 57 R, 54 ER, 9 HR, 27 BB, 83 K). His numbers were impacted greatly by his last two starts (8 IP, 22 H, 17 R, 16 ER, 4 BB, 9 K).
RHP Yorlin Calderon: (W, 1-1)  2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
RHP Luis Velasquez2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Colby White1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Joey Gerber1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Game 2 (Won, 5-4)

CF Spencer Jones0-for-4, 4 K
Once he starts to reel you in, he has a 0-for-8 doubleheader with 7 strikeouts. He has to move on to tomorrow. 
2B Ben Cowles: 3-for-3, HR (8), RBI, 2 RS, BB
Have yourself a day, Ben Cowles!  His Game 1 homer was hit last night, but still – 7 hits in two games is insanity.  He entered the two games hitting .289/.367/.456 and is now hitting .306/.382/.493. 
1B Tyler Hardman1-for-4, 2B (2), RS, K
C Rafael Flores1-for-2, RS, 2 BB
DH Elijah Dunham2-for-3, HR (7, grand slam), 4 RBI, RS, BB
Dunham has a 14-game hitting streak. His grand slam was hit in the top of the 7th (final inning) with the team down 3-1. He owns a .267 average with a .838 OPS. Before the hitting streak, he was hitting .233/.344/.411 (.755 OPS).
3B J.C. Escarra1-for-4, 2B (16)
RF Grant Richardson1-for-4, K
LF Aaron Palensky0-for-3, BB, K
SS Max Burt0-for-3, K

RHP Bailey Dees5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
3.93 ERA (84.2 IP, 73 H, 42 R, 37 ER, 10 HR, 28 BB, 88 K). I love how he has taken to starting.
RHP Eric Reyzelman: (W, 1-0)  1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
After 16.1 scoreless innings, Reyzelman gives up his first run in 2024.
RHP Kevin Stevens (S, 5): 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
The bottom of the 7th was an adventure, but he worked his way through it.


Hudson Valley (40-37) (Lost to Brooklyn, 8-3)

2B Roc Riggio1-for-4, 2 RS, 3 SB (14), BB
This is the player the Yankees drafted – a pest who can play second base, has sneaky pop and can steal you a base. He owns a 21-game on-base streak.
SS Jared Serna0-for-4, K
LF Jace Avina2-for-4, 2B (22), RBI, RS, K
Avina has 30 extra-base hits (22 doubles, 8 HR) in 64 games. 
C Omar Martinez1-for-3, RBI, BB
DH Antonio Gomez1-for-4, K
3B Josh Moylan: 1-for-4, RBI, K
RF Christopher Familia1-for-4, K
CF Cole Gabrielson1-for-4, K
1B Kiko Romero1-for-4, 2 K

RHP Cam Schlittler: (L, 3-3)  4.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
2.97 ERA (63.2 IP, 42 H, 29 R, 21 ER, 6 HR, 32 BB, 81 K)
LHP Joel Valdez2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
RHP Mason Vinyard2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K


Tampa (29-49) (Swept a doubleheader against Lakeland)

Game 1 (Won, 2-1)

SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-2, BB, K
3B Enmanuel Tejeda0-for-3
2B Roderick Arias0-for-3, K
1B Dylan Jasso1-for-3, RS
CF Jackson Castillo1-for-3, RS, K
DH Hans Montero2-for-3, RBI
LF Willy Montero0-for-3, K
C Josue Gonzalez1-for-2, RBI
RF Coby Morales0-for-2, K

RHP Steven Fulgencio3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Only his second career start.
RHP Cade Smith: (W, 4-6) 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
4.05 ERA (66.2 IP, 51 H, 36 R, 30 ER, 5 HR, 33 BB, 85 K)

Game 2 (Won, 7-6)

SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-4, RS, SB (24), K
.233/.362/.330 with 24 stolen bases in 27 attempts. I like what I see.
3B Enmanuel Tejeda1-for-1
   Tejeda left the game due to an injury. Update: Virginia Yankee (on Twitter) said Tejeda was helped off the field. Ugh.
  PR-3B Hans Montero1-for-3, HR (5), 2 RBI, RS, K
Tejeda’s replacement hits a huge 2-run HR in the bottom of the 6th to give Tampa the lead.
2B Roderick Arias0-for-3, 2 RS, 2 SB (21), BB, K
Arias is 21-for-30 in the stolen base department. He started the season 5-for-10 and is 16-for-20 (80%) since. This is the type of potential Arias has – he can be disruptive on days when he doesn’t earn hits. There is a lot of work to do, I am not going to lie.
1B Dylan Jasso1-for-3, 2B (20), RBI, K
LF Jackson Castillo2-for-2, 2B (14), RBI, RS, SB (11), BB
.256/.379/.420 in 253 PA (14 doubles, 1 triple, 6 HR, 18 RBI, 39 R, 11-for-15 SB). 
CF Willy Montero0-for-3
C Josue Gonzalez1-for-3, RBI, RS, K
Gonzalez is 5-for-10 with three RBI since his promotion.
DH Coby Morales2-for-3, SB (22), K
Once of the strangest stories in their system is the spike in stolen bases for Morales.
RF Daury Arias1-for-3, RBI, SB (6), K

RHP Gabriel Barbosa4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
RHP Jordy Luciano: (W, 1-3)  2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Aaron Nixon: (S, 3)  1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K


FCL (27-15) (Defeated the FCL Phillies, 4-2. This was the conclusion of a game started on June 27th. They didn’t play a regularly scheduled game today, but will play two tomorrow).

We are rapidly approaching the end of the FCL season (July 25th). The Yankees own a 2.5-game lead over the Tigers for the division title. That is the easiest path to the playoffs.

RF Anthony Hall: 3-for-4, RBI, RS
3B Abrahan Ramirez1-for-4, 2B (9), 2 RBI
.395/.500/.588 in 145 PA (13 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 28 R, 6-for-7 SB). Before you ask: Everything in the boxscore is retroactive. That is why you see 9 doubles in the box score but 13 overall!

RHP Sabier Marte4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
One of the most-used pitchers thus far at this level, Marte owns a 2.65 ERA in 37.1 innings with a 33/16 K/BB.
RHP Andrew Landry2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
The 22-year-old was the Yankees’ 16th-round pick in 2023 out of Southeastern Louisiana. In his final year of college, he started full-time.
RHP Yoljeldriz Diaz (W, 4-0): 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K


DSL Yankees (9-14) (Lost to the DSL Bombers, 4-0)

LF Gabriel Lara1-for-4, SB (8)
C Luis Puello1-for-3
DH Diego Flores: 1-for-2, SB (1), BB
The 17-year-old catcher is 3-for-14 in his debut season.

RHP Emanuel Vargas: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Vargas is 18 years old. If you think I know much about 99% of the players here, you give me too much credit.


DSL Bombers (13-9) (Defeated the DSL Yankees, 4-0)

CF Francisco Vilorio1-for-4, K
DH Queni Pineda1-for-2, 2B (5), RS, BB
The 17-year-old continues to be featured prominently in these reports. That is what a .264/.458/.472 line will do.
2B Luis Escudero: 1-for-2, RS, SB (15), BB
15-for-17 stealing bases in 17 games. Despite how crazy that is, he ranks 8th in the league in stolen bases.
LF Angel Ventura1-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, RS, SB (8), K
The 18-year-old is hitting .182/.308/.212 with 8 stolen bases in 9 attempts.

RHP Mariano Salomon (W, 3-0): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K
The 21-year-old owns a 2.50 ERA in 68.1 IP over the last two seasons (85/15 K/BB). That seems like enough for a promotion.
RHP Anthony Mena1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Richard Jimenez0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K