Yankees MILB 7/10: Ben Shields Dazzles Again

News:

The Yankees have signed LHP Tim Mayza to a minor league contract.

Mayza pitched in 352 games from 2017-2024 with the Blue Jays, compiling a 3.87 ERA (3.63 FIP; 111 ERA+) in 283.2 innings. His 24.4% K and 51.9% GB rates are above league average.

Last season, Mayza had his best year to date. He compiled a 1.52 ERA in 53.1 IP with 24.7% K and 58.5% GB.

However, 2024 has been a struggle. In 35 games, he owns a ghastly 8.03 ERA (more respectable 4.92 FIP) over 24.2 IP with a minuscule 13.2% K and an alarming 38.7% GB. A reliever who can miss bats and keep the ball on the ground is gold. A reliever who can’t do either of those things is not.

To Yankees fans, Mayza’s claim to fame was allowing Aaron Judge‘s 61st home run in 2022.

There is no such thing as a bad minor-league deal. If he can figure out how to get back to his norms, he’s a solid relief pitcher. If not, he’ll be out of the organization.

Scranton (48-38) 

Their game against Syracuse was postponed due to the remnants of Beryl. There is a Tornado Watch in effect in that region.

They will attempt to play two tomorrow.


Somerset (42-41) (Defeated Erie, 9-3)

3B Ben Cowles1-for-4, 2B (23), 2 RBI, RS, BB, K
.300/.378/.483 in 336 PA (23 doubles, 3 triples, 8 HR, 46 RBI, 49 R, 13-for-15 SB, 10.4% BB, 18.8% K). A reminder that his 2023 K% was 28.0%. Cowles has played 57 games (54 starts) at SS, 18 games (15 starts) at 3B, and 9 games (all starts) at 2B.
CF Spencer Jones2-for-4, 3B (3), RS, BB, 2 K
.241/.321/.409 in 330 PA (13 doubles, 3 triples, 10 HR, 46 RBI, 47 R, 18-for-22 SB, 10.0% BB, 36.7% K)
1B Tyler Hardman1-for-4, RBI, RS, BB, K
For Somerset: 21-for-79 (.266/.341/.443; 2 doubles, 4 HR, 13 RBI)
DH Rafael Flores1-for-4, HR (3), 3 RBI, 2 RS, BB
Flores is 11-for-51 (.216) since his promotion but has 3 doubles and 3 home runs. 
LF Elijah Dunham: 2-for-4, 2B (15), SB (10), BB
Dunham has a 17-game hitting streak and is hitting .275/.361/.500 in 227 Double-A plate appearances. In July, he has five multi-hit efforts in eight games.
C J.C. Escarra2-for-4, 2B (17), RBI, RS, K
2B Anthony Seigler0-for-3, RS, BB, K
Seigler has 20 walks in 27 June/July games. Discipline is something he has displayed throughout his minor league career.
RF Aaron Palensky1-fot-4, 2B (9), RS
SS Max Burt1-for-4, RS, K

LHP Ben Shields (W, 1-0): 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Shields’ longest outing in his brief professional career. In 2 starts for Somerset: 12.1 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 13 K. Shields wasn’t drafted last year. The Yankees signed him as an undrafted free agent out of George Mason. In other words, don’t expect to see him pop up on many “Top Yankees Prospects” lists. But, who cares? If you perform, people will notice.
RHP Joey Gerber1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Kevin Stevens1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
3.00 ERA (30 IP, 26 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 45 K). Like Shields, Stevens is an unheralded, undrafted prospect performing very well. Remember: The draft is shorter nowadays. More talent slips through the draft than in the past.


Hudson Valley (41-40) (Lost to Jersey Shore, 10-4)

2B Roc Riggio1-for-5, CS (3), K
.221/.365/.381 in 285 PA (16 doubles, 3 triples, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 45 R, 15-for-18 SB, 16.1% BB, 17.9% K).
SS Jared Serna0-for-2, BB, HBP
While he wasn’t pulled after the HBP, it worries you that he left the game. That said, he didn’t leave the game until he was pinch-hit for in the 9th inning of a 10-4 game.
   PH Oscar Silverio0-for-1, K
CF Jace Avina0-for-5, 2 K
.274/.356/.452 in 298 PA (22 doubles, 8 HR, 41 RBI, 36 R, 4-for-5 SB, 9.7% BB, 25.2% K).
DH Omar Martinez0-for-3, BB, K
Martinez has an 18.1% BB and 22.5% K.
C Antonio Gomez1-for-3, BB, K
Gomez is 6-for-29 with a pair of home runs at this level.
3B Josh Moylan0-for-3, RS, BB, K
RF Garrett Martin0-for-2, RS, BB, HBP
LF Christopher Familia1-for-4, HR (3), 3 RBI, RS, K
In 64 High-A games (266 PA) going back to last season, Familia is hitting .236/.312/.422 with 13 HR.
1B Kiko Romero1-for-3, RS, BB

LHP Kyle Carr (L, 0-6): 3 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
6.53 ERA (62 IP, 70 H, 54 R, 45 ER, 5 HR, 40 BB, 55 K). It is all about control for last year’s 3rd round pick.
RHP Cole Ayers2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
3.02 ERA (47.2 IP, 39 H, 20 R, 16 ER, 3 HR, 17 BB, 56 K). Going back to 2023, he has appeared in 41 games at this level. I think he gets to Somerset this season.
LHP Joel Valdez2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K


Tampa (30-51) (Defeated Dunedin, 9-8)

2B George Lombard Jr.: 2-for-6, 2B (13), 2 RS, 2 K
Lombard Jr., who owns a .708 OPS, is 9-for-30 with a double and two home runs in July. 
SS Roderick Arias: 2-for-4, 2B (12), RBI, 2 RS, SB (22), BB, K
Back-to-back bullet doubles by Lombard Jr. and Arias brought home a run in the first inning.
1B Dylan Jasso1-for-5, 2B (21), RBI, 2 K
CF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 RS, SB (13), 2 BB
Castillo continues to float under the radar. He has strong BB (18.0%) and K (19.5%) rates while playing mostly center field (50 starts). If he is a true center fielder, he is someone to watch despite a smallish frame (5’9″).
DH Willy Montero1-for-5, RBI, RS, K
3B Hans Montero: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 RS, 2 SB (8), 2 HBP
Montero has a 5-game hitting streak (8-for-16, 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
C Josue Gonzalez0-for-3, BB, HBP
Since promotion: 7-for-21 with a pair of walks and strikeouts.
RF Coby Morales: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
LF Daury Arias0-for-4, BB, 3 K

RHP Luis Serna3.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 2 HR
5.97 ERA (63.1 IP, 59 H, 43 R, 42 ER, 6 HR, 21 BB, 71 K). Before tonight, the 19-year-old had never allowed multiple home runs in a game.
RHP Jordy Luciano1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
Luciano (22) dialed it up to 95.5 MPH. Not bad when you stand 5’10”. The issue for him is walks (48/38 K/BB in 41 IP).
RHP Harrison Cohen: (W, 1-0)  1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Cohen’s rehab assignment continues.
RHP Montana Semmel: (S, 5)  2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K


FCL (29-17)

Scheduled day off.


DSL Yankees (9-16)

Scheduled day off.


DSL Bombers (16-10)

Scheduled day off.