News:
We are nearing August 1st and haven’t seen any “mass promotions” yet. That will likely happen after the deadline.
Because we no longer have short-season leagues, promotions come with cuts. It is a harsh reality. While Agustin Ramirez, Jared Serna, and Abrahan Ramirez were in no danger of being cut, Brian Cashman is considering many angles with his deals. The Rule 5 draft, the current 40-man roster, players they want to promote, etc.
As I said yesterday, it’s easy to get attached to prospects. If you read this report, I tend to have a positive slant while mixing in some reality (I think that is fair).
The best advice I can offer: The kids you love to follow will have better MLB opportunities elsewhere. Serna’s probability of making it to MLB increased when the trade was announced.
Scranton (56-45) (Lost to Worcester, 6-5)
CF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-2, 3 SB (34), 3 BB, K
In 164 games over the last two seasons, Lockridge is 74-for-83 stealing bases.
DH Jasson Dominguez: 1-for-5, 2 K
He was out for a while, so I forgot about his hitting streak. He owns a 10-game hitting streak (16-for-42).
3B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-4, RS, HBP
For Scranton: .247/.383/.385 in 217 PA. With the acquisition of Jazz Chisholm Jr., Vivas can concentrate on finishing strong here and see what opportunities arise in 2025.
SS Oswald Peraza: 1-for-4, RS, SB (15)
July: .275/.356/.413 (7-for-9 SB)
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, K
Rumfield has 7 RBI in his last 6 games (zero RBI in the previous five games)
C J.C. Escarra: 2-for-4, RS
Escarra has four multi-hit efforts in eight games since his promotion (12-for-28)
2B Kevin Smith: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K
RF Taylor Trammell: 2-for-4, HR (7), 3 RBI, RS
LF Josh VanMeter: 0-for-4, 2 K
LHP Thomas Pannone: 5 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
One reason why you bring in Pannone: If you trade from your pitching depth, you have someone who can eat minor league innings. The Triple-A season is nearly as much of a grind as the MLB season, minus the insane travel.
RHP Nick Burdi: 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Burdi averaged 95.4 MPH with his 4-seamer (averaged 97.5 MPH in MLB this season)
RHP Alex Mauricio: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
For Scranton: 1.16 ERA (31 IP, 20 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 17 BB, 37 K). Mauricio allowed three runs in his second outing this season (April 11th). He’s been dominant since. He relies on a cutter/slider combination with a 4-seamer that he throws in the 92-93 range.
RHP Jack Neely: (L, 1-1) 1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
Neely, a call-up candidate, didn’t have it today. Due to his small sample size at this level, this spiked his ERA from 0.93 to 3.38.
LHP Tim Mayza: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Somerset (48-48) (Lost to Portland, 4-2. Ever since I pointed out how well they are playing, their offense has gone into the tank)
3B Caleb Durbin: 0-for-3
Durbin is 1-for-10 since being placed here. He hasn’t struck out. He is still on a rehab stint that isn’t labeled that way – don’t place him on a “hug” watch because he was pulled.
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-1, RS
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, K
1B Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-3, K
No need to place Rodriguez on a “hug” watch – he is still on the “rehab plan”. This is his first game at 1B this season (15 last season).
RF Grant Richardson: 0-for-0, SF, RBI
C Rafael Flores: 0-for-3, BB, K
DH Tyler Hardman: 1-for-4, HR (5), RBI, RS, 3 K
Hardman has 5 HR in 33 games for Somerset this year (31 in 110 games going back to last year). That is solid pop, though he has struggled with other aspects of his offensive game this year.
RF-1B Elijah Dunham: 1-for-3, BB, K
LF Jared Wegner: 1-for-3, K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-3
2B-3B Max Burt: 0-for-3, 2 K
LHP Ben Shields: (L, 1-1) 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Since promotion: 2.08 ERA (21.2 IP, 17 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 10 BB, 23 K). Between here, Scranton, and Hudson Valley, Shields is up to 75.2 innings in his debut season.
RHP Matt Sauer: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP McKinley Moore: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Carlos Gomez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Kevin Stevens: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.48 ERA (36.1 IP, 27 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 1 HR, 15 BB, 52 K). Stevens has impressed and I would like to see him promoted to Scranton. That way, we can get some Savant data.
Hudson Valley (46-48) (Defeated Wilmington, 5-4)
2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-4, RS, BB, K
.227/.357/.392 in 337 PA. Splits: .282/.417/.385 against LHP and .218/.347/.393 vs. RHP. He is a left-handed bat.
LF Garrett Martin: 1-for-5, RBI
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-4
DH Antonio Gomez: 0-for-4
Gomez is 10-for-68 (.147) since joining this level.
3B Josh Moylan: 2-for-4, HR (6), RBI, 2 RS, K
Moylan has homered three times in his last five games. He is hitting .242/.360/.361 in 292 PA.
1B Kiko Romero: 0-for-2, 2 BB
CF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-3, RS, HBP
RF Anthony Hall: 2-for-4, 2B (1), 3B (1), RBI, RS
SS Brenny Escanio: 1-for-2, SB (4), CS (2), 2 BB
RHP Baron Stuart: 4 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HR
3.70 ERA (82.2 IP, 72 H, 36 R, 34 ER, 4 HR, 32 BB, 68 K)
RHP Cole Ayers: (W, 3-4) 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
3.27 ERA (52.1 IP, 45 H, 23 R, 19 ER, 5 HR, 19 BB, 64 K).
RHP Matt Keating: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
4.64 ERA (54.1 IP, 40 H, 31 R, 28 ER, 8 HR, 23 BB, 64 K)
RHP Indigo Diaz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Huey Morrill: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
3.78 ERA (33.1 IP, 32 H, 19 R, 14 ER, 6 HR, 10 BB, 37 K)
RHP Mason Vinyard (S, 2): 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
3.90 ERA (32.1 IP, 27 H, 20 R, 14 ER, 2 HR, 20 BB, 46 K)
All these relievers likely have a case to go to Somerset, though it’s hard to find room for everyone.
Tampa (39-54) (Defeated Clearwater, 3-2, in a rain-shortened game. Tampa improves to 16-12 in the second half and 9-1 in their last 10 games)
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-2
.235/.354/.349 in 345 PA (17 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 43 R, 28-for-32 SB, 13.6% BB, 24.1% K). He has 41 games at SS, 17 at 2B, and 9 at 3B.
2B Roderick Arias: 0-for-2
.222/.319/.365 in 405 PA (15 doubles, 7 triples, 7 HR, 52 RBI, 55 R, 26-for-37 SB, 11.6% BB, 32.8% K). He has 55 games (51 starts) at SS, 30 at SS, and 2 at 3B. I have talked about his extreme splits, but he has improved somewhat against LHP. His average is higher against southpaws (.239 to .218) but everything else continues to show the extremeness.
3B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-1, RS, BB
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-2, 2B (17), RS
.258/.388/.414 in 317 PA (17 doubles, 1 triple, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 50 R, 16-for-20 SB, 17.4% BB, 19.6% K)
LF Willy Montero: 1-fo-2, 2 RBI, RS
His 2-run single in the bottom of the 4th tied the game at 2. He is hitting .243/.302/.360 in 348 PA (15 doubles, 2 triples, 6 HR, 43 RBI, 45 R, 9-for-10 SB)
DH Hans Montero: 0-for-1, BB, K
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-2, K
C Diomedes Hernandez: 0-for-2, RBI, K
Little did he know that his RBI fielder’s choice would prove to be the game-winner. He is 3-for-11 since his promotion.
RF Daury Arias: 0-for-2
RHP Gabriel Barbosa: (W, 4-7) 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, HR
Barbosa records his second complete game (neither was 9 innings, obviously). Season: 4.87 ERA (92.1 IP, 92 H, 54 R, 50 ER, 9 HR, 28 BB, 95 K). Barbosa features a 6-pitch mix, throwing five of those pitches 10%+ of the time today. Interestingly, his two most-used pitches are a slider and curve.
FCL (35-22)
Day off. They must beat the Pirates tomorrow to force a Game 3 in the semi-finals.
DSL Yankees (13-25)
Scheduled day off.
DSL Bombers (22-17)
Scheduled day off. The Bombers are in third place, two games behind the Marlins. In the DSL, eight teams make the playoffs (6 division winners + 2 wild cards).