Yankees MILB 9/25: Where are they now?

A look at the prospects the Yankees have traded/lost over the last several years. This list is comprehensive (in my opinion) but likely not complete. So many prospects are lost to minor league free agency or latch on somewhere after the Yankees release them. Impossible to keep up with all of them.

The Jameson Taillon deal:

RHP Roansy Contreras – Purchased by the Angels from the Pirates, Contreras is pitching pretty well (3.99 ERA/4.96 FIP in 49.2 IP). The Angels haven’t been able to add strikeouts to his game (18.9%) but his GB% has spiked to 48.6 (higher than the league average). He is used mostly in middle relief, though he has three starts and a pair of saves.

RHP Miguel Yajure – Yajure has found a home in Japan, where he owns a 3.40 ERA over 124.1 innings with an 81/41 K/BB for the Yakult Swallows.

OF Canaan Smith-Njigba – The Pirates released Smith-Njigba in July and he was picked up a month later by the White Sox. Between all levels, he is hitting .210/.329/.315 in 309 plate appearances. After playing in 18 MLB games in 2022-2023, he hasn’t appeared in 2024.

IF Maikol Escotto – Escotto hasn’t been able to adjust to High-A. After a .213/.272/.347 line in 89 games in 2023, he returned to post a .215/.257/.355 line in 68 games this year.

While Taillon didn’t stand out (he had his moments), the Yankees aren’t regretting this trade.

The Joey Gallo deal:

RHP Glenn Otto – Otto is bouncing around. After being claimed by the Padres last September, he was released by the organization earlier this year. He has since caught on with the Astros, where he pitched in two games for their Triple-A affiliate before landing on the IL.

UTIL Ezequiel Duran – A key contributor in the first half of the 2023 championship season, Duran’s free-swinging ways have seemingly been figured out. This season, he owns a .253/.293/.331 (80 OPS+) line in 273 plate appearances  On the positive side, his K% is 21.6%, down nearly 6% from his s023 mark.

UTIL Josh H. Smith – Like Duran in 2023, Smith played well in the first half in 2024, hitting .293/.392/.469. However, the SS/3B has faltered in the second half, hitting only .223/.274/.307. The combined result is solid (.263/.343/.400 (114 OPS+) with 13 HR, 7.9% BB, and 20.2% K). If he can settle into that production, he will be useful.

UTIL Trevor Hauver After a slow start to his first Triple-A campaign, Hauver improved to finish the season at .247/.360/.425 in 420 plate appearances. However, in the souped-up PCL, that is good for only a 99 wRC+.

The Rangers received a pair of useful players in Duran and Smith for a player whose career was about to crash and burn. They are happy with that.

The Anthony Rizzo deal:

RHP Alexander Vizcaino – After failing to report to the Cubs last year, Vizcaino resurfaced in the Dominican Winter League, where he pitched to a 2.70 ERA in five games. There hasn’t been a sign of him since.

OF Kevin Alcantara – Alcantara is close to making his MLB debut. The 22-year-old played in 35 Triple-A games this season, hitting .292/.378/.469 in 148 plate appearances with a high K% (29.1). Like Yankees prospect Spencer JonesAlcantara is a big (6’6″) athletic kid with potential to tap into. While he can handle CF in MLB, he will likely settle into RF in Chicago.

The Andrew Heaney deal:

RHP Janson Junk – Junk appeared in five games for the Brewers before being designated for assignment. After being plucked off waivers by the Astros, he was dumped again. He has landed in Oakland, where he allowed 7 runs without recording an out in an appearance on September 4th. He was demoted to Triple-A.

RHP Elvis Peguero – Peguero was a cog in the Brewers’ division-winning bullpen, compiling a 2.98 ERA (4.04 FIP) with a pair of saves over 51.1 innings before being sent down to the minors in mid-September. Peguero isn’t a swing-and-miss type but he generates a high percentage of ground balls (55.6%) while keeping the ball in the ballpark (4 HR).

The Yankees traded a pair of spare parts for Heaney, both of whom were traded as a package (again) to the Brewers. Peguero has developed into a useful reliever since moving to Milwaukee.

The Clay Holmes deal:

UTIL Hoy Park – Park has spent the 2024 season playing for Las Vegas (Oakland’s Triple-A club), hitting .254/.374/.397 in 434 plate appearances. He hasn’t appeared in MLB since 2022.

UTIL Diego Castillo – Castillo is quickly becoming an Immaculate Grid legend. The 24-year-old utilityman has appeared for three teams over three years (Pittsburgh, Arizona, Minnesota). He is 2-for-8 in four games for the Twins but spent most of his campaign in Triple-A (.261/.364/.397). He briefly returned to the Yankees’ organization last winter when he was claimed off waivers, but was subsequently claimed by the Phillies two weeks later.

Holmes’ erratic pitching is well-documented, but this trade was and still is a steal.

The Jose Trevino deal:

LHP Robby Ahlstrom – The 25-year-old has ascended to the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock, where he pitched to a 3.98 ERA in 20.1 innings with a 15/8 K/BB. Ahlstrom was the Yankees’ 7th-round pick in 2021 but never appeared in a game for the organization.

The Andrew Benintendi deal:

RHP Beck Way – Way spent most of the season in the Double-A bullpen, pitching to a 3.88 ERA (4.62 FIP) in 58 innings with a 15.3% BB and 24.1% K.

RHP Chandler Champlain – The 6’5″ Champlain tossed 104.1 innings for the Royals’ Triple-A club in Omaha, compiling a 5.61 ERA (5.74 FIP) with a 15.5% K and 9.9% BB. He is Rule 5 eligible this winter.

LHP T.J. Sikkema – Now in the Reds’ organization (minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft), Sikkema pitched well for their A+/AA squads, compiling a 3.61 ERA with a 72/16 K/BB over 72.1 innings.

At the time of the trade, I was impressed with the Royas’ haul. The pitchers have yet to make the Yankees have any regrets, however. Way was moved to the bullpen and has control issues. Champlain hasn’t pitched well in Triple-A, and Sikkema is trying to get his career going after some injuries.

The Scott Effross deal:

RHP Hayden Wesneski – Wesneski spent time on the injured list in 2024, but returned recently to the Cubs’ bullpen.  In 2024, he owns a 3.97 ERA (4.58 FIP) in 65.2 IP with 23.8% K, 7.6% BB, and 43.6% GB.

I was bullish on Wesneski when he was in the Yankees’ organization. While the Cubs could try him again as a starter, I think his best place of residence is the bullpen. As for Effross, 2024 will go down as a rehab year.  The hope is that he rediscovers his stuff in 2025.

The Frankie Montas deal:

LHP Ken Waldichuk – Waldichuk is out for the season. He didn’t appear in any games at any level in 2024. Here’s hoping for a full recovery.

RHP Luis Medina – Medina is on the 60-day injured list. In 8 big league starts in 2024, he went 2-4 with a 5.18 ERA (4.44 FIP) over 40 innings with a 17.8% K and 11.1% BB. Medina will have a tough time establishing himself in MLB if he doesn’t miss bats as it seems unlikely he will be able to reduce his BB% by much.

LHP JP SearsAt the very least, Sears is durable. After starting 32 games in 2023, he has taken the ball 31 times in 2024. His 2024 numbers don’t jump out (11-12, 4.43 ERA (4.61 FIP) over 174.2 innings with an 18.1% K and 6.3% BB) but Oakland needs innings, and he provides that. His ability to take the ball and gobble up innings will keep him in the majors.

IF Cooper Bowman – After dominating Double-A, Bowman finished the season at Triple-A, hitting .218/.284/.308 (48 wRC+) in 152 plate appearances.

Oakland received four decent prospects for Montas. I don’t think they are complaining.

The Greg Allen deal:

RHP Diego Hernandez – Hernandez (20) appeared in 10 games for the FCL Red Sox, posting a 6.10 ERA and 15/17 K/BB over 10.1 innings.

The Keynan Middleton deal:

RHP Juan Carela – Carela ascended to Double-A Birmingham this year, posting a 3.58 ERA in 32.2 IP with a 36/13 K/BB.

Carela isn’t an upside pitcher, but the White Sox did fine in acquiring him for a rental reliever.

The Alex Verdugo deal:

RHP Richard Fitts – Fitts is making an early impression in MLB. In 3 starts, he owns a 0.00 ERA (3.23 FIP) over 15.2 innings. However, he isn’t missing bats (11.1% K) and his GB% isn’t overwhelming (41.2). Whether he is sustainable or not, he is turning out to be a good enough get.

RHP Nicholas Judice – The 23-year-old owned a 5.19 ERA between the FCL/A. He threw only 8.2 innings.

RHP Greg Weissert – Weissert has received a 60-game bullpen tryout for the Red Sox, posting a 3.23 ERA (3.80 FIP) over 61.1 IP with a 21.9% K and 7.8% BB. The 29-year-old has limited right-handed hitters to a .270/.299/.329 (.628 OPS) line but lefties hit him at a .290/.370/.527 clip.

Verdugo did not provide what the Yankees were looking for. The Red Sox received a promising back-end starter/swingman and a reliever who can fill out a bullpen. The Red Sox did well for themselves.

The Juan Soto deal:

RHP Drew Thorpe – Thorpe was subsequently traded to the White Sox (brilliant Dylan Cease transaction). For the White Sox, he made 9 starts, going 3-2 with a 5.48 ERA (5.87 FIP) and 13.2% K/11.1% BB over 44.1 innings. A right flexor strain cut his season short.

RHP Jhony Brito Before ending up on the 60-day injured list, Brito appeared in 26 games for the Padres, posting a 4.12 ERA (3.72 FIP) over 43.2 IP. His calling card is an above-league-average GB% (47.3) as missing bats is an issue (15.7% K).

RHP Randy Vasquez – Vasquez was sent to the minors for the September playoff drive. Before that, he made 19 starts for the Padres, compiling a 5.18 ERA (4.79 FIP) over 92 innings with a 14.2% K and 6.9% BB. A not-so-encouraging sign is the .317/.369/.492 that hitters posted against him. Essentially, he turned every hitter into Corey Seager/Freddie Freeman.

RHP Michael King – While the “We aren’t giving up King!” stuff was posturing, the Yankees knew what they had with the 29-year-old. King is putting together an incredible season for the Padres, going 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA (3.33 FIP) over 173.2 IP with a 27.7% K and 8.7% BB. He is 4th in the NL in ERA, 7th in FIP, and 5th in H/9 (7.463) and strikeouts (201). While the Padres have a solid rotation, King has earned a chance to start in the playoffs.

It’s Juan Soto. I don’t care what the Yankees gave up to land one of baseball’s elite hitters. However, to make the trade a grand slam for the Bronx Bombers requires a contract extension.

The Victor Gonzalez/Jorbit Vivas deal:

SS Trey Sweeney – Sweeney was shipped to the Tigers in the Jack Flaherty trade. He has contributed to their late-season playoff surge, posting a .242/.291/.421 (100 OPS+) line in 32 games.

Gonzalez was a bust for the Yankees. This deal comes down to Vivas vs. Sweeney (and Flaherty, if you want to use the transitive property). Sweeney was traded to the perfect situation. As for Vivas, he could be in the 2025 second-base mix for the Yankees.

The Caleb Ferguson deal:

RHP Christian Zazueta – Only 19, Zazueta made his way to Low-A Rancho Cucamonga, where he posted a 6.36 ERA over 52.1 IP with a 63/20 K/BB. The road ahead of him is long, but the Dodgers thought enough of him to get him into a full-season league relatively quickly.

As for Ferguson, he was brought in to be a swing-and-miss left-handed reliever and it didn’t work out. The Yankees traded him to the Astros (where he has pitched fairly well) for promising relief prospect Kelly Austin.

The Jon Berti deal:

OF John Cruz – To put it bluntly, Cruz had a forgettable season in Low-A, posting a .169/.259/.213 (45 wRC+) line over 314 plate appearances. While still young, Cruz is another example of not taking Rookie League stats (he hit .294/.376/.531 last year) seriously.

The Clayton Andrews deal:

RHP Joshua Quezada – The 20-year-old spent the season in the DSL for the Brewers, going 2-2 with a 3.44 ERA in 34 innings. He struck out 40 and walked 14. There isn’t much to evaluate him on. That said, Andrews was forgettable.

The Cody Morris deal:

OF Estevan Florial – Florial flopped for Cleveland, hitting .173/.264/.367 in 111 plate appearances. He wasn’t his usual self in Triple-A (.213/.320/.371). His speed and defense may get him several cups of MLB coffee (better than most professional players), but any talk that the Yankees “screwed him” should go away now.

As for Morris, he was called up to the Yankees (but didn’t pitch) earlier in the season before being designated for assignment. He ended up staying with the organization, finishing his season at Triple-A Scranton.

The JT Brubaker deal:

2B/SS Keiner Delgado – Delgado played 89 games for the Pirates’ Low-A affiliate in Bradenton, hitting .232/.318/.347 in 381 plate appearances with 25 stolen bases in 31 attempts. Another Rookie League cautionary tale. While in the DSL/FCL, Delgado walked 94 times while striking out only 59 times in 477 plate appearances. This year, in Low-A, he compiled 33 walks and 83 strikeouts.

Brubaker couldn’t get back on an MLB hill and pitched in only 8 minor-league contests. If the Yankees still feel he is viable, they have one more year of control. He will require a 40-man roster spot, however.

The Jazz Chisholm Jr. deal:

C/1B Agustin Ramirez – Ramirez hit 20 home runs in 87 games between Somerset/Scranton before this trade. After the deal, Ramirez played for the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate in Jacksonville. He hit .262/.358/.447 with 5 homers and 24 RBI in 39 games. While the Yankees split his time between catcher and first base, the Marlins used him only behind the plate.

2B/SS Jared Serna – The Marlins moved Serna to Double-A Pensacola immediately after the trade. He hit .266/.343/.390 with 2 home runs and 23 RBI in 175 plate appearances. That was enough for a late-season promotion to Triple-A Jacksonville, where he went 2-for-20 in 6 games.

IF Abrahan Ramirez – Every big trade typically has a lottery ticket. The trade with the Marlins occurred just as the FCL season was wrapping up. Hence, he is listed as “Not Yet Reported” on his MILB page. I wouldn’t read anything into that.

The Mark Leiter Jr. deal:

RHP Jack Neely – Neely pitched in 6 games for the Cubs, allowing 6 runs on 8 hits over 6 innings with a 7/2 K/BB. He has since been demoted to Triple-A Iowa, where he pitched to a 3.12 ERA in 8.2 IP with a 16/2 K/BB.

IF Ben Cowles – Last fall, the Yankees sent Cowles to the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .290/.405/.551 in 20 games. Building off that in 2024, Cowles put together a .295/.376/.472 season for Double-A Somerset before the trade. Before the deal, Cowles was placed on the injured list (obviously, that didn’t impact the Cubs’ interest) and remained there until September 9th. He appeared in only four games, going 1-for-13. He will once again participate in the Arizona Fall League.

Neely was arguably the Yankees’ top relief prospect at the time of the trade and Cowles could remind some of Rob Refsnyder, who continues to carve out a MLB career. Do I call this one a loss? No. Leiter has team control and Neely/Cowles haven’t established themselves. This is more of a “wait-and-see”.

The Enyel De Los Santos deal:

OF Brandon Lockridge – The 27-year-old Lockridge, the Yankees’ 5th-round pick in 2018, is on the Padres’ MLB roster. They are using him in a pinch-running role. In eight games, he is 1-for-5 with three runs scored and a stolen base. He might make their postseason roster in this role. As for De Los Santos, he was a failure for the Yankees. The White Sox picked him up and he owns a 4.20 ERA in 14.2 IP with a 13/8 K/BB.

The Yankees also picked up relief prospect Thomas Balboni Jr. in his trade.

Others:

RHP Mitch Spence – Oakland was smart in targeting Spence in the Rule 5 draft. In 34 games (23 starts), he owns a 4.35 ERA (4.20 FIP) over 147 IP with a 19.2% K, 7.0% BB, and 48.7% GB. Spence is why the Rule 5 exists – at most, his role with the Yankees was a place on the Scranton Shuttle.

RHP Matt Sauer – If the Royals make the playoffs and win the World Series, Sauer will get a ring. That said, he didn’t pitch well for the Royals and was returned to the Yankees. After a slow start, he pitched well down the stretch in a bullpen role for Somerset.

RHP Carson Coleman – A right shoulder injury wiped out his 2024 campaign after he missed the 2023 season. Being on the 60-day injured list all season allows the Rangers to retain him after selecting him in the Rule 5 draft. However, his career is at a crossroads. I hope he gets back healthy in 2025.

1B/3B Andres Chaparro – Lost to minor league free agency, Chaparro landed in Arizona. For their Triple-A squad in Reno, he hit .332/.403/.564 in 414 plate appearances. That caught the attention of the Washington Nationals, who acquired Chaparro at the trade deadline for reliever Dylan FloroFloro hasn’t worked out for the Diamondbacks, but Chaparro was promoted to MLB. Thus far, he is hitting .215/.280/.413 with 12 doubles and four home runs. He hit his first MLB home run against the Yankees.

LHP Matt Krook – After purchasing him from the Yankees, Krook pitched in one MLB game for the Orioles this season. In 41 Triple-A games, he posted a 3.92 ERA in 43.2 innings before landing on the “Development List”.

UTIL Oliver DunnThe Yankees’ 11th-round pick in 2019, Dunn played in 41 games for the division-winning Brewers before landing on the injured list. He hit .221/.282/.316 in 104 plate appearances with three stolen bases.

1B Eric Wagaman – Wagaman, the Yankees’ 13th-round pick in 2017, is an example of a player who was unlikely to make it to MLB with the Yankees. However, going to the Angels opened up an opportunity. He is hitting .250/.250/.462 in 13 games with five doubles and a pair of home runs.

UTIL Mickey Gasper – Taken by the Red Sox in the minor league phase, the 28-year-old is 0-for-12 in ten MLB games. He was the Yankees’ 27th-round pick in 2018. While he has catching experience, the Red Sox have primarily used him at second base.

C/1B Josh Breaux – After the Yankees released him, he signed with the Phillies organization. Before landing on the IL, he played in 29 games for their Double-A/Triple-A affiliates, hitting four homers and driving in 20.

1B Dermis Garcia – After receiving a 39-game tryout with the 2022 Oakland Athletics, Garcia hasn’t sniffed MLB. This year, he spent his time playing for Washington’s Double-A affiliate in Harrisburg, hitting .182/.274/.332 with 14 homers in 108 games.

RHP Deivi Garcia – Garcia appeared in 14 games for the White Sox in March/April. He compiled a 7.07 ERA in 14 innings with a 15/11 K/BB. The White Sox designated him for assignment, but he went unclaimed. In 40 games for their Triple-A affiliate, he compiled a 6.18 ERA in 51 innings with a 62/27 K/BB.

RHP Michael Gomez – While others have made their MLB debuts, Gomez has not. The 28-year-old pitched to a 5.01 ERA in 55.2 IP for Tampa’s Triple-A affiliate in Durham.

3B Marcos Cabrera – Taken by the Pirates in the minor league phase, Cabrera was released by the organization on April 25th and hasn’t appeared anywhere else.

 

Yankees MILB 9/24: The Finale

News:

Thanks to everyone for reading.

I say it every year: By the time we get to this point, I am ready for a break. Yes, there are fall and winter leagues to follow but I don’t pay as much attention. I certainly do not write full reports.

I have a “Where are they now?” (a look at past Yankees prospects) post ready for tomorrow. That will be my final entry for a while. I might write a full recap after the Yankees’ season ends.


Scranton (89-60)

Their season is over.


Somerset (75-62 (regular season); 2-2 (playoffs)) (Lost to Erie, 3-2. Erie takes the championship series, 2-0)

CF Spencer Jones0-for-4, 3 K
The kind of MLB player Jones becomes depends heavily on the strikeout rate. A 36.8% rate in Double-A is scary. He knows that. The Yankees know that. We’ll see if he can adjust his game to cut that down.
C Rafael Flores0-for-3, 2 K
He was named the Organizational Player of the Year by Baseball America. Once Agustin Ramirez was traded, the competition opened up, and the “big-name prospects” (Jones, Roderick Arias, etc.) didn’t establish themselves enough. Flores hit .279/.379/.495 in 506 PA with a 13% BB and 25.3% K. He hit 31 doubles, 21 home runs, and drove home 68. As for his future, he isn’t Rule 5 eligible until 2025, so the Yankees get one more evaluation year. He may make his MLB debut in 2025.
  C Juan Crisp: 0-for-1, K
2B Anthony Seigler1-for-4, RS
Seigler had a decent season in his first year as a second baseman (he didn’t catch once all year). Once again: He is beyond the point of being a “prospect,” but it was nice to see him healthy and contributing.
LF Grant Richardson1-for-4, K
1B Tyler Hardman1-for-3, HR (1), 2 RBI, RS, K
Hardman had 26 HR in 77 games for Somerset in 2023 before an injury ended his season (he had a legitimate chance at 35+ HR). His comeback in 2024 didn’t go well (10 HR in 96 regular season games), and I wonder if his injury played a role. 
RF Cole Gabrielson0-for-2, BB, K
SS Alexander Vargas0-for-3
DH Kiko Romero1-for-3, 2 K
3B Max Burt0-for-3, K

RHP Cam Schlittler4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
To his credit, Schlittler needed 61 pitches to get through a rough first two innings. He bounced back to put up a pair of zeroes before leaving the game. He is in the running for Organizational Pitcher of the Year (he won the Sally League (High-A) Pitcher of the Year Award) and should make his way to Scranton sometime in 2025.
LHP Ryan Anderson1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
While the 6’6″ Anderson has missed bats in the minors (28.3% K heading into tonight), his calling card is the ground ball (63.4%). Anderson survived the 2023 Rule 5 draft without being picked but he is the type who is at risk.
RHP Luis Velasquez1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Velasquez always puts up solid strikeout numbers but control has been an issue during his development.
RHP Cole Ayers: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Ayers earned a promotion to Double-A down the stretch, which is significant. After the promotion, he pitched to a 5.00 ERA in 9 IP (4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 11 K). Four of those runs were allowed in one outing.
RHP Matt Sauer: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Sauer initially struggled after the Royals sent him back. He pitched well out of the Somerset bullpen down the stretch. 


Hudson Valley (73-58 (regular season); 3-3 (playoffs))

Their season is over.


Tampa (54-74)

Their season is over.


FCL (35-22)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (17-36)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (30-25) 

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/22: Ben Rice: Grand Slam

News:

RHP Clayton Beeter is on his way up, while RHP Jake Cousins was placed on the injured list.

After returning from his injury, Beeter was exclusively a reliever. Over five games, he posted a 0.00 ERA in 7 innings (2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K). He wasn’t asked to pitch on back-to-back days, though he did pitch in two games over three days once.

Can he make the postseason roster? I would consider it a long shot but you never know.


Scranton (89-60) (Defeated Buffalo, 8-4. A tremendous season for the Railriders, but the rules keep them out of the playoffs. Too bad.)

2B Caleb Durbin: 3-for-5, 2B (23), RBI, RS, SB (29), CS (3), K
Durbin found himself in a slump early in September but finished on a little 4-game hitting streak (doubled in his final three games). Overall, including his rehab time, Durbin hit .275/.388/.451 in 406 PA (25 doubles, 2 triples, 10 HR, 60 RBI, 61 R, 31-for-35 SB, 13.1% BB, 9.9% K). Where does he fit? I would put him in the competition for an infield spot in 2025. First things first, though: He is Rule 5 eligible, so they will need to add him to the 40-man roster this winter.
3B Jorbit Vivas0-for-4, RS, CI
Vivas hit .225/.347/.366 in 422 PA for Scranton (18 doubles, 2 triples, 9 HR, 45 RBI, 57 R, 20-for-25 SB, 13.7% BB, 16.6% K). He will forever be linked to Trey Sweeney in Yankees-land. Sweeney is a part of the Tigers’ late-season surge, hitting .247/.290/.430 with four homers in 100 plate appearances.
DH Ben Rice1-for-4, HR (12; grand slam), 4 RBI, RS, BB, K
If Rice was discouraged by his demotion, he didn’t play like it. In 19 September games, he hit 9 homers, drove home 23 runs, and walked more than he struck out (17-to-16). Overall, including his time in MLB, Rice swatted 31 home runs in 531 plate appearances.
SS Oswald Peraza: 2-for-4, HR (13), RBI, 2 RS, 2 SB (24)
Peraza ends his campaign with three home runs in the last two games. He still possesses a tantalizing combination of power, speed, and defense. I don’t know if he’ll hit for average in MLB but does he need to? He hit .246/.341/.394 in 406 PA at this level. His SLG dipped to .236 after the games of July 5th and was still under .300 as late as July 26th.
1B T.J. Rumfield0-for-4, K
Rumfield hit .294/.370/.454 in 508 PA between here and Somerset (27 doubles, 15 HR, 73 RBI, 77 R, 9.6% BB, 16.1% K). If the Yankees look for their future 1B from within, Rice has the edge. As well as Rumfield played this season, I am not sure if they will protect him.
RF J.C. Escarra1-for-1
With his 1-for-1 day, Escarra finishes his Triple-A campaign over .300 (.302; he was at .298 entering today). The Yankees used him at C/1B/3B/LF/RF this season.
  PH-RF Taylor Trammell1-for-3, RBI, 2 K
I hope this was just a situation where they wanted to give Trammell a few plate appearances in the final game instead of an injury.
C Carlos Narvaez0-for-4, K
Narvaez seemingly ran into a wall late (0-for-21 in his last five games). He finishes his minor league season at .254/.370/.412 in 403 PA.
LF Jahmai Jones1-for-2
   PR-LF Duke Ellis0-for-2, RS, SB (6), K
It remains possible that Ellis will sneak onto the postseason roster for pinch-running purposes. You would think his 57 minor-league stolen bases would place him near the top of minor-league baseball. Nope, though he is tied for 10th. The leader? Tampa Bay prospect Chandler Simpson stole 104 bases in 110 games this season.
CF Greg Allen1-for-3, 2B (9), RBI, 2 RS, BB
Allen always seems to find his way back, so I won’t call this his organizational swan song.

LHP Josh Maciejewski: (W, 2-3)  5 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
The ultimate thrill for Maciejewski was making four appearances (7 innings) for the big club. The 10th-round pick in the 2018 draft worked hard to accomplish that (he was drafted in the 10th round partially for monetary reasons, as he only required a $7,500 bonus). His future? Figuring out minor league free agency is hard, so I don’t know if he is eligible this winter. If not, he will fill a similar role in 2025.
RHP Cody Morris1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP JT Brubaker1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
If the Yankees keep him around, he has one more control year before reaching free agency. It does require adding him to the 40-man (he is currently on the 60-day IL as this is a rehab stint) to retain him.
RHP Phil Bickford1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Mosqueda, signed as a minor league free agent over the winter, finishes with a 4.39 ERA (67.2 IP, 50 H, 38 R, 33 ER, 8 HR, 37 BB, 88 K). He held left-handed hitters to a .122 batting average (1 home run).


Somerset (2-1) (Lost to Erie, 9-5, to fall behind 1-0 in the best-of-3 championship series. The series moves to Somerset, starting on Tuesday)

CF Spencer Jones1-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, RS
Jones is 6-for-14 with a pair of home runs and only one strikeout in the playoffs. Additionally, he struck out once in his final four regular season contests.
C Rafael Flores1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, RS, 2 K
Flores’ 22nd HR between the regular season and the postseason. Only Ben Rice (24 minor-league homers) has more within the organization.
2B Anthony Seigler0-for-4, K
DH Elijah Dunham1-for-4, CS (1), K
1B Tyler Hardman0-for-3, BB, K
LF Grant Richardson: 3-for-4, HR (1), RBI, 2 RS, K
RF Jared Wegner0-for-3, 3 K
  PH Cole Gabrielson1-for-1
SS Alexander Vargas1-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, K
3B Max Burt1-for-3, RS
  PH Kiko Romero0-for-1

LHP Ben Shields: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
This concludes Shields’ encouraging debut campaign. In the regular season, he pitched to a 3.48 ERA (3.23 FIP) in 106 IP with a 31.1% K, 7.5% BB, and 47.8% GB. He will be 26 by the time we get to Opening Day 2025. That does not bother me.
RHP Sean Boyle: (L, 0-1)  1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Jesus Liranzo1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Leonardo Pestana0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Eric Reyzelman0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Danny Watson0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Reyzelman and Watson were reliable down the stretch. They didn’t have it tonight. It happens.


Hudson Valley (73-58 (regular season); 3-3 (playoffs))

Their season is over.


Tampa (54-74)

Their season is over.


FCL (35-22)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (17-36)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (30-25) 

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/21: Oswald Peraza Homers Twice

News:

I have nothing.


Scranton (88-60) (Defeated Buffalo, 8-5)

SS Caleb Durbin1-for-4, 2B (22), RS, BB
Distribution of starts: 2B (39); 3B (21); SS (12); LF (7); CF (1). Entering today, his 9.8% strikeout rate ranked 8th in minor league baseball (amongst players with 390+ PA)
3B Jorbit Vivas1-for-5, HR (9), RBI, RS, SB (20)
Vivas has 9 extra-base hits in 18 September games (.449 SLG). 
2B Oswald Peraza: 3-for-5, 2 HR (12), 3 RBI, 2 RS
Will Peraza be in the 2B mix in 2025? How about the 3B mix with Jazz Chisholm Jr. moving to 2B?  Or, perhaps a utility role?  He may be traded, as well. This was his second multi-HR and 8th 3-hit game this season.
C Ben Rice2-for-5, HR (11), RBI, RS, SB (2)
Rice has 8 HR in 18 September games. Overall (including time in MLB), Rice has 30 home runs and 78 RBI in 127 games.
DH Carlos Narvaez0-for-4, RS, SB (9), BB, 4 K
Is Narvaez the future backup to Austin Wells? Will the Yankees use him like they used Kyle Higashioka at first (a #3 catcher who eventually grows into the role)?
1B Jahmai Jones2-for-4, RS, 2 SB (10), K
LF Taylor Trammell0-for-3, RS, BB
RF Oscar Gonzalez1-for-3, 2B (22), 3 RBI, SB (7), BB
CF Cam Eden0-for-4

LHP Edgar Barclay4 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, HR
Halfway through the 2023 season, Barclay looked like a future “role” pitcher for the Yankees. That was before he entered the world of Triple-A, where nothing has gone right. After posting a 5.89 ERA in 44.1 IP last season, he owns a 5.98 ERA in 143 IP this season (150 H, 104 R, 95 ER, 30 HR, 70 BB, 118 K)
RHP Nick Burdi: (W, 2-0)  1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
LHP Anthony Misiewicz1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Scott Effross2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
The Yankees need Effross to rediscover his stuff in 2025. He dealt with multiple injuries, so I wouldn’t discount it happening.
RHP Yerry De Los Santos (S, 4): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K


Somerset (2-0)

Scheduled day off. The championship series begins on Sunday against Erie.


Hudson Valley (73-58 (regular season); 3-3 (playoffs))

Their season is over.


Tampa (54-74)

Their season is over.


FCL (35-22)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (17-36)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (30-25) 

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/20: T.J. Rumfield Homers

News:

The Yankees activated RHP Cody Poteet from his rehab stint and demoted him to Scranton. To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Ron Marinaccio was designated for assignment.

The 29-year-old Marinaccio was a breakout reliever in 2022. He posted a 2.05 ERA (3.20 FIP) over 44 innings with a 30.9% K, 13.3% BB, 41.5% GB, and 4.7% HR/FB.

However, in 2023-2024, Marinaccio appeared in 61 games, posting a 3.95 ERA (4.77 FIP) over 70.2 IP with a 26.6% K, 12.2% BB, 38.8% GB, and 13.5% HR/FB. His average fastball dropped by one MPH in 2024 compared to 2022.

I hate speculating on whether a player will be claimed or not. Many players I think are guaranteed to be claimed aren’t. Many players I think will slip through waivers are claimed. My instinct is that this is a tough time of the season to be DFA. Most teams have a set 40-man roster and playoff teams are unlikely to see Marinaccio as a difference-maker with a week left. He has not earned the right to reject an outright assignment if he clears.

By the way, it’s odd that many are upset over this. The Yankees specialize in cheap, controllable relief pitchers. Marinaccio is exactly what they look for, not someone they look to bury. They gave him chances to succeed and it didn’t work out in their mind. It happens.

As for Poteet, he is depth. If Jake Cousins is OK, there isn’t any room on the MLB roster.


Scranton (87-60) (Defeated Buffalo, 5-1)

SS Caleb Durbin1-for-5, 2B (21), RBI, K
Durbin’s 23rd overall double (he hit a pair during his rehab stint) sets a new personal best. 
2B Jorbit Vivas0-for-3, SF, RBI
1B Ben Rice0-for-4
3B Oswald Peraza1-for-4, 2B (13), RS, 2 K
DH T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-4, HR (15), RBI, RS
Rumfield has homered in back-to-back games and 3 times in his last seven games. He has 32 HR in 870 PA in 2023-2024 (4 in the first 344 PA in his career)
   
PR-DH Duke Ellis0-for-0, RS, SB (5)
Between all minor league and MLB action, Ellis is 61-for-65 stealing bases.
LF Taylor Trammell: 1-for-3, RBI, SB (20), BB, K
Trammell needs to hit two homers this weekend to compile a 20/20 campaign.
RF Oscar Gonzalez2-for-4, RBI, RS, K
C J.C. Escarra2-for-4, RS
Escarra has four multi-hit efforts in his last seven games and is 18-for-57 (.333) with four doubles and six homers in September.
CF Greg Allen0-for-2, SAC, BB, K

LHP Thomas Pannone: (W, 10-9)  6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Since signing with the Yankees: 11 starts, 6-1, 2.34 ERA; 61.2 IP, 57 H, 18 R, 16 ER, 6 HR, 6 BB, 49 K. I wonder if they will try to retain him this winter (given how well he pitched, he may want to stick with the organization).
RHP Joey Gerber: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Phil Bickford1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K


Somerset (2-0)

Scheduled day off. The championship series begins on Sunday against either Erie or Akron. Erie leads Game 3, 2-1, in the 6th inning.


Hudson Valley (73-58 (regular season); 3-3 (playoffs))

Their season is over.


Tampa (54-74)

Their season is over.


FCL (35-22)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (17-36)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (30-25) 

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/19: Ben Rice Homers Again

News:

I have nothing to offer.


Scranton (86-60) (Defeated Buffalo, 4-1. I have been mistaken lately. Like most sane people, I thought divisions mattered in the International League, but they don’t. It’s first-half champion vs. second-half champion in the entire league, even though you don’t get to play everyone. Weird. Divisions don’t matter. Scranton is 86-60 (the second-best team to Omaha) and won’t make the playoffs. That needs to be fixed because it’s freaking stupid. Why do they do this? Time. They expanded the season, so the playoffs took a hit. Instead of a 2-series format, they go straight to a best-of-3 championship. After that concludes, the International League winner plays the Pacific Coast League winner in a 1-game “winner-take-all.” Interestingly, they came up with a format that I 100% hate. I like nothing about it. I don’t care about IL vs. PCL. I care more about deserving squads making it)

LF-3B Caleb Durbin1-for-5, RBI
Even during his slump, Durbin hasn’t been striking out (6 in 12 September games). He is hitting .284/.396/.466 in 360 PA at this level (12.8% BB, 9.7% K)
2B Jorbit Vivas0-for-3, RS, BB
1B Ben Rice1-for-4, HR (10), 2 RBI, RS
Rice has 7 HR in his last 14 games and is hitting .302/.444/.656 in 124 PA at this level. It is easy to forget how little Triple-A experience he had before his call-up.
SS Oswald Peraza0-for-3, BB, K
DH T.J. Rumfield1-for-3, HR (14), RBI, RS, BB
At this level: .293/.367/.458 in 466 PA (26 doubles, 14 HR, 70 RBI, 71 R, 9.2% BB, 16.5% K). He is talked about in online fan circles but I haven’t seen much about him beyond that. Is he a serious prospect? I wish I could answer that.
C Carlos Narvaez0-for-4
RF Taylor Trammell: 2-for-4, 2B (20), K
3B J.C. Escarra: 2-for-3, 2 2B (14), RS, BB
In addition to catching, Escarra can play the four corners (1B, 3B, LF, RF). He will turn 30 next April and has yet to make his MLB debut. He would be a fun story if he made it to MLB.  He is hitting .293/.398/.524 in 196 PA at this level.
   PR-LF Duke Ellis0-for-0, SB (4)
CF Cam Eden0-for-4, K

RHP Yoendrys Gomez4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Gomez is on the 40-man roster, but I doubt he would be Jake Cousins‘ replacement. He isn’t a short reliever + he won’t be available for several days.
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: (W, 7-1)  0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Cody Morris1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Morris’ first appearance since July 20th. If you don’t recall, he was acquired for Estevan Florial. After hitting poorly in MLB (.173/.264/.367), Florial hasn’t been his usual minor-league self (.221/.329/.376 in 213 plate appearances). 
RHP JT Brubaker 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Clayton Beeter1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Beeter threw eight 4-seamers (topped out at 97.6) and six sliders. Could he be an option if Cousins isn’t available? He would be an intriguing choice. Cody Poteet is another option (perhaps the most likely one).
RHP Yerry De Los Santos (S, 3): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K


Somerset (2-0) (Defeated Hartford, 4-3, in ten innings to advance to the championship series. The series begins on Sunday against either Akron or Erie. Erie leads that series, 1-0. In tonight’s game, Akron has the lead in the 10th inning)

CF Spencer Jones2-for-5, RBI, K
Jones’ single in the top of the 10th provided the winning run. He is 5-for-10 in the playoffs.
C Rafael Flores2-for-4, HR (1), RBI, RS, BB, K
Flores’ power surge continues. He hit .279/.379/.495 in 506 PA between here and Hudson Valley in the regular season (31 doubles, 21 homers).
1B Tyler Hardman0-for-5, K
2B Anthony Seigler0-for-3, RS, SB (1), 2 BB
DH Elijah Dunham0-for-4, 2 K
LF Grant Richardson1-for-4, RS, K
RF Jared Wegner0-for-3, BB, K
SS Alexander Vargas1-for-4, RBI, K
3B Max Burt0-for-4, RS, 2 K

RHP Zach Messinger6.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, HR
Messinger dominated through six and left the game with a 3-2 lead in the 7th. Unfortunately, the inherited runner scored. If this is his final start in 2024 (Game 2 of the championship series is next Tuesday, so it may not be), he can go into the offseason with his head held high. He is Rule 5 eligible but I would put him on the “definite” list for protection (or trade). 
LHP Ryan Anderson0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Leonardo Pestana: (W, 1-0)  1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Jesus Liranzo (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K


Hudson Valley (73-58 (regular season); 3-3 (playoffs))

Their season is over.


Tampa (54-74)

Their season is over.


FCL (35-22)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (17-36)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (30-25) 

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/18: Will Warren Tosses 5 Strong Innings

News:

I have nothing to offer.


Scranton (85-60) (Lost to Buffalo, 7-6, in 10 innings. Worcester allowed three runs in the bottom of the 9th to lose, 4-3. Hence, they remain tied with four games left. Scranton holds the tie-breaker (better head-to-head record in the second half))

2B Caleb Durbin0-for-4, BB
Durbin is down to .285 thanks to an 8-for-43 September.
3B Jorbit Vivas1-for-4, RBI, HBP, K
1B Ben Rice: 1-for-4, 2B (4), SF, RBI, 2 RS, 2 K
SS Oswald Peraza0-for-4, SF, RBI, K
DH T.J. Rumfield0-for-2, RS, HBP, BB, K
   PR-DH-RF Duke Ellis0-for-1, 2 SB (3)
RF-LF Taylor Trammell0-for-3, RS, SB (19), 2 BB, K
C J.C. Escarra1-for-4, RBI, K
LF Jahmai Jones0-for-0, RS, HBP
Jones stayed in the game (and scored) after the HBP but left in the next inning.
  LF Cam Eden0-for-1
  PH-RF-P Oscar Gonzalez0-for-2, SB (6), K
CF Greg Allen1-for-4, RBI, RS, K

RHP Will Warren5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Final Triple-A numbers: 5.91 ERA (109.2 IP, 114 H, 79 R, 72 ER, 19 HR, 39 BB, 136 K)
RHP Nick Burdi1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
LHP Anthony Misiewicz0.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 2 HR
RHP Scott Effross1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Ron Marinaccio: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Oscar Gonzalez (L, 0-1): 0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
Yeah, in a game with major playoff implications, Scranton ran out of pitchers. They needed to use Gonzalez in an attempt to lock down a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the 10th. I love MILB.


Somerset (1-0)

Scheduled day off (travel day to Hartford). They resume the best-of-3 series tomorrow night.


Hudson Valley (3-3) (Lost to Bowling Green, 4-1, to lose the best-of-3 series 2-1. Bowling Green’s absurd pitching (allowed 10 hits in three games) leads them to the promised land. The Renegades had a strong season and should be proud of all they accomplished)

2B Roc Riggio0-for-3, CS (1), BB, 2 K
Riggio is an infield prospect without any doubt where his future lies as he didn’t play any position other than second base. I expect him to start 2025 in Somerset.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-3, 2B (4), RBI, BB, K
Including the playoffs, Lombard Jr. hit 12 doubles in his final 18 games.
1B Josh Moylan0-for-4, 4 K
RF Garrett Martin: 2-for-4, 2B (2)
DH Omar Martinez0-for-4, 2 K
Martinez’s grand slam in Game 2 was the only mistake the Bowling Green pitching staff made in the series. The Yankees have moved him up one level per season. If that trend continues, he will be in Somerset to start 2025.
LF Jackson Castillo0-for-3, K
3B Dylan Jasso0-for-3, 2 K
CF Brendan Jones1-for-3, RS
After a hot start, Jones’s numbers normalized down the stretch. I expect him to begin 2025 at this level.
C Antonio Gomez1-for-3, 2 K

RHP Trent Sellers: (L, 0-1)  5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Full season (including playoffs): 2.23 ERA (92.2 IP, 50 H, 31 R, 23 ER, 42 BB, 113 K).  Sellers wasn’t asked to stretch out much in 2024 but was outstanding. Signed as an undrafted free agent last year, Sellers will be 25 in October. There is zero doubt he will begin 2025 in Somerset.
RHP Harrison Cohen1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
At this level (including playoffs): 24 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 27 K.
RHP Huey Morrill1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Matt Keating1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Mason Vinyard: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Ocean Gabonia0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K


Tampa (54-74)

Their season is over.


FCL (35-22)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (17-36)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (30-25) 

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/17: Spencer Jones Homers, Collects 3 Hits

News:

The Yankees recently released LHP Victor Gonzalez, who was toiling in Triple-A after mediocre results in MLB earlier this season. Seen as a potential Wandy Peralta replacement, Gonzalez was never able to get into a consistent groove. The trade with the Dodgers comes down to how the two prospects (Trey Sweeney (now with Detroit) and Jorbit Vivas) perform.


Scranton (85-59) (Defeated Buffalo, 10-5, in 12 innings. Worcester won, so the two teams remain tied with five games to play. If they finish tied, Scranton wins the tiebreaker)

2B Caleb Durbin0-for-6, RS, K
Durbin has 19 games this season with 5+ AB. He earned at least one hit in the previous 18 games.
3B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-4, HR (8), RBI, 2 RS, SB (19), 2 BB, K
Vivas has 8 extra-base hits (5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR) in 14 September games. 
1B Ben Rice: 2-for-3, HR (9), 2 RBI, RS, HBP, 2 BB
Rice has 6 HR in 14 September games.
  PR-CF Cam Eden0-for-0, RS
SS Oswald Peraza1-for-4, RS, 2 SB (22), HBP, BB, K
Peraza, who will be out of options, will be a fun story to watch over the winter and into next spring (if he is still in the organization)
CF-LF Taylor Trammell: 1-for-5, 3B (2), 3 RBI, RS, HBP, 4 K
Trammell’s 3-run triple in the 12th was the big blow in the game.
DH Carlos Narvaez0-for-5, 2 K
   PR-DH Duke Ellis0-for-0, RS
   PH-DH T.J. Rumfield0-for-0, RS, BB
C J.C. Escarra: 2-for-6, 2B (12), K
Escarra has 30 doubles between here and Somerset.
RF Oscar Gonzalez2-for-6, HR (8), 3 RBI, RS, 2 K
Gonzalez’s 3-run HR in the 12th was the dagger that put the game out of reach.
LF-1B Jahmai Jones2-for-5, SF, RBI, K

RHP Cody Poteet3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
RHP Alex Mauricio1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Clayton Beeter1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Beeter topped out at 95.8 MPH (94.6 average)
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Joey Gerber : 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Phil Bickford: (W, 4-4)  1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K


Somerset (1-0) (Defeated Hartford, 3-2, to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 series. The series shifts to Hartford, starting on Thursday)

CF Spencer Jones: 3-for-5, HR (1), RBI, RS, SB (1)
Jones has eight 3+ hit efforts during the regular season.  A lot has been written about his 200-strikeout season. Nobody denies that the strikeout rate has to come down (if they are, they are in denial). However, there is (obviously) a lot of talent to tap into. Will the Yankees be patient or cash in one of their biggest chips?
C Rafael Flores0-for-3, BB, K
2B Anthony Seigler0-for-2, RS, 2 BB
RF Elijah Dunham1-for-4, RS, 2 K
1B Tyler Hardman1-for-4, RBI, 2 K
Hardman’s RBI single in the bottom of the 8th tied the game at 2.
LF Grant Richardson: 1-for-2, CS (1), BB, K
DH Jared Wegner0-for-2, BB, 2 K
SS Alexander Vargas2-for-4, RBI, CS (1), K
Vargas’ RBI single in the bottom of the 8th broke the 2-2 tie.
3B Max Burt1-for-4, K

RHP Bailey Dees6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, HR
Dees pitched strongly down the stretch and it continued into tonight’s playoff start. He could factor into the Yankees’ 2025 plans at some point, though he is Rule 5 eligible. It is either protect him or trade him. I cannot imagine them leaving him exposed.
RHP Danny Watson: (W, 1-0)  1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Watson also pitched well down the stretch (8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 9 K in his last seven appearances). Like Dees, he is Rule 5 eligible this winter.
RHP Eric Reyzelman (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
I can’t guarantee that the Yankees will hold onto Reyzelman, but he has high-leverage reliever potential.


Hudson Valley (3-2) (Defeated Bowling Green, 6-2, to tie the best-of-3 series at 1-1. They will play for the title tomorrow night)

2B Roc Riggio0-for-3, RS, BB, K
Riggio is 6-for-19 (.316) with a double and homer during the postseason.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K
Lombard is 5-for-18 (.278) with three doubles and three walks during the postseason.
1B Josh Moylan0-for-4, 2 K
RF Garrett Martin1-for-3, 2B (1), RS, HBP
DH Omar Martinez1-for-3, HR (1), 4 RBI, RS, BB, K
Martinez’s grand slam broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the 5th.
LF Jackson Castillo0-for-3, SF, RBI
3B Dylan Jasso0-for-4, K
CF Brendan Jones0-for-1, RS, 2 BB, K
C Antonio Gomez1-for-2, RBI, RS, BB, K

RHP Josh Grosz: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Grosz was one of the best pitchers in the minors from June 28th through the end of the season. Tonight, he was in “bend, don’t break” mode. He limited the damage nicely.
RHP Indigo Diaz1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Thomas Balboni Jr.: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K
RHP Kelly Austin2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Austin was impressive after being acquired for Caleb Ferguson


Tampa (54-74)

Their season is over.


FCL (35-22)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (17-36)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (30-25) 

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/15: Caleb Durbin, Spencer Jones, Roc Riggio: Leadoff Homers

News:

Nothing


Scranton (84-59) (Defeated Lehigh Valley, 5-4. Worcester won, so the two teams will enter the final week tied for first place in the second-half title chase)

SS Caleb Durbin: 1-for-2, HR (10), RBI, 3 RS, SB (28), HBP, BB, K
Durbin hits a leadoff home run (the beginning of a trend today?). Durbin’s first double-digit HR campaign. He is hitting .295/.409/.488 in 344 PA at this level (20 doubles, 2 triples, 10 HR, 57 RBI, 54 R, 28-for-30 SB, 13.1% BB, 9.9% K). He also has 11 HBP this season and 43 in 275 career games.
2B Jorbit Vivas1-for-4, 2B (18), 2 RBI
.231/.354/.364 in 393 plate appearances. Vivas is 12-for-50 with seven extra-base hits (5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR) in September.
3B Oswald Peraza1-for-3, RBI, RS, BB, 2 K
1B Ben Rice2-for-4, RBI, K
Rice is hitting .294/.440/.612 in 109 Triple-A plate appearances. Triple-A isn’t a problem. So, we’ll see if he can be a productive MLB player.
CF Taylor Trammell1-for-4, K
DH Carlos Narvaez0-for-4, 2 K
C J.C. Escarra1-for-4, RS
RF Oscar Gonzalez0-for-3
LF Jahmai Jones0-for-3, 2 K

LHP Josh Maciejewski5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K
RHP JT Brubaker1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Brubaker will be a 2025 rotation/bullpen/swingman option – assuming he is healthy.
RHP Phil Bickford0.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
LHP Anthony Misiewicz0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Scott Effross: (W, 6-1)  0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Effross will have an offseason to work on getting back to the pitcher he was before his injuries.
RHP Nick Burdi0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Ron Marinaccio (S, 8): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K


Somerset (75-62) (Defeated New Hampshire, 5-1, to win the second-half title. Portland lost, so they were covered both ways. The first round starts on Tuesday, when Hartford comes in for a visit. There is a tropical rainstorm that might impact the area that night)

CF Spencer Jones: 2-for-4, 2B (30), HR (17), RBI, 2 RS
Jones hits a leadoff home run (sense a trend?). Final stats: .259/.336/.452 in 544 PA (30 doubles, 6 triples, 17 HR, 78 RBI, 73 R, 25-for-34 SB (73.5%), 54 BB (9.9%), 200 K (36.8%)). I agree: 200 strikeouts at Double-A is not ideal and a .401 BABIP benefited him. However, he also displayed the power/speed combination that tantalizes scouts. He is one of the most interesting prospects I have ever covered. And that is saying something.
C Rafael Flores0-for-3, BB
Final Somerset numbers: .274/.359/.519 in 273 PA. Overall, he hit .279/.379/.495 in 506 PA with 31 doubles and 21 home runs. He is a breakout prospect in 2024.
1B Tyler Hardman2-for-4, RBI
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-3, RS, SB (29), HBP, K
.234/.350/.398 in 433 PA (24 doubles, 12 HR, 49 RBI, 61 R, 29-for-32 SB). I am happy that Seigler played in 118 games (his previous high was 97) and contributed to the team’s success. It’s been a grind for the kid.
DH Elijah Dunham2-for-4, HR (15), RBI, RS, SB (19)
Dunham played a big role this week. He has homered four times in his last five games.
LF Grant Richardson1-for-3, HR (9), RBI, RS, CS (6), BB
Last season, Richardson hit 7 doubles and 18 home runs. This season, he hit 25 doubles and 9 home runs. He just missed his third consecutive double-digit HR/SB campaign.
RF Jared Wegner0-for-3, BB, 2 K
SS Alexander Vargas0-for-3, 2 K
Vargas hit .254/.293/.375 in 256 PA after his promotion.
3B Max Burt0-for-3, 2 K

RHP Trystan Vrieling (W, 13-7): 5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
4.58 ERA (147.1 IP, 140 H, 79 R, 75 ER, 13 HR, 46 BB, 132 K). In his first professional season, the Yankees shipped Vrieling directly to Somerset which is highly unusual. He had ups and downs but finished very strongly (2.23 ERA in 40.1 August/September innings). He can be in the conversation for MLB innings as early as mid-2025.
RHP Sean Boyle1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Leonardo Pestana1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
At this level: 3.18 ERA (22.2 IP, 19 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 HR, 9 BB, 28 K). If Pestana can stay healthy, he has potential as a relief pitcher. However, health has been a concern.
RHP Eric Reyzelman1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
Since I talk him up often, it is fair to comment on a flaw: Reyzelman’s walk rate isn’t ideal (14 BB in 23.1 innings for Somerset). He doesn’t have to improve it by much if his ability to miss bats translates to MLB.


Hudson Valley (2-2) (Lost to Bowling Green, 5-1. They are down 1-0 in the best-of-3 series, which will continue on Tuesday in Hudson Valley)

2B Roc Riggio1-for-3, HR (1), RBI, RS, BB, K
Riggio hits a lead-off homer (yes, there was a trend). However, this was Hudson Valley’s lone hit.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
1B Josh Moylan0-for-4, 3 K
RF Garrett Martin0-for-4
DH Omar Martinez0-for-3, BB, K
LF Jackson Castillo0-for-3
3B Dylan Jasso0-for-3
CF Brendan Jones0-for-3, K
C Antonio Gomez0-for-2, 2 K
  PH Coby Morales0-for-1, K

RHP Baron Stuart: (L, 0-1)  2.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, HR
RHP Harrison Cohen1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Cohen continues to dominate High-A hitters.
LHP Joel Valdez0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Yorlin Calderon2.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Blane Abeyta1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K


Tampa (54-74)

Their season is over.


FCL (35-22)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (17-36)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (30-25) 

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/14: Ben Rice Homers Twice

News:

Nothing


Scranton (82-59) (Mauled Lehigh Valley, 10-1. Worcester lost, so the division is tied with seven games to play)

SS Caleb Durbin2-for-4, SF, RBI, RS, SB (27), K
.294/.405/.477 in 340 PA (20 doubles, 2 triples, 9 HR, 56 RBI, 51 R, 27-for-29 SB). I don’t know what the Yankees plan to do with their infield next year, but Durbin will be in the spring training mix.
2B Jorbit Vivas0-for-3, 2 RS, 2 SB (18), 2 BB, K
Don’t discount Vivas being in that mix.
3B Oswald Peraza3-for-5, 3 RBI, RS, 2 K
Speaking of being in the mix, Peraza has more prospect history than any of their options. He is hitting .241/.338/.372 in 374 PA with 20 stolen bases in 27 attempts.
C Ben Rice3-for-3, 2 HR (8), 3 RBI, 3 RS, 2 BB
I like that the Yankees are still giving him catching reps. This is his third multi-HR game this season (including the 3-HR game in MLB). 
DH T.J. Rumfield1-for-3, 2 BB
LF Taylor Trammell1-for-3, HR (18), 2 RBI, RS, HBP, BB
Trammell is a year too late. Last year, he likely gets 50+ games in the MLB outfield.
RF J.C. Escarra0-for-3, BB, 2 K
  RF Cam Eden0-for-1, K
1B Jahmai Jones2-for-4, 2 RS, SB (8)
CF Greg Allen1-for-3, SAC

LHP Edgar Barclay4 IP, 4 H. 1 R. 1 ER. 4 BB. 4 K, HR
RHP Joey Gerber (W, 1-1): 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Clayton Beeter2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
I think Beeter has a reliever written all over him. That is where they will extract the most value out of him long-term, though I understand why you want to keep a kid in the rotation for as long as possible.
RHP Yerry De Los Santos1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K


Somerset (73-62) (Defeated New Hampshire, 3-1. Portland won again. The Patriots own a 0.5-game lead with one game to play. It all comes down to tomorrow)

CF Spencer Jones0-for-2, RS, CS (9), 2 BB, K
Jones reaches the 200-strikeout barrier. It doesn’t surprise me, given his profile and the work still needed to make him a viable MLB player. 
C Rafael Flores1-for-4, 2B (14), K
There was some buzz surrounding Flores but I never expected this kind of extra-base hit explosion (31 doubles, 21 home runs in 502 PA)
1B Tyler Hardman0-for-3, 3 K
2B Anthony Seigler0-for-0, SF, RBI, RS, 3 BB
Seigler has a 14.9% BB and 17.7% K. 
DH Grant Richardson0-for-3, 2 K
LF Elijah Dunham1-for-2, HR (14), 2 RBI, RS, 2 SB (18), BB, K
Dunham has homered three times in his last four games.
RF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-2, 2 SB (3), BB
SS Alexander Vargas0-for-3
3B Max Burt0-for-3, K

RHP Cam Schlittler: (W, 2-4)  5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K
Overall season (Hudson Valley, Somerset, spot start with Scranton): 3.36 ERA (120.2 IP, 98 H, 58 R, 45 ER, 10 HR, 55 BB, 154 K). Nice job.
RHP Matt Sauer2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Sauer continues his late surge (14 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 17 K in his last 10 games). In a “Baseball is fun” twist, Sauer earns a ring if the Royals win the championship but does not if the Yankees do.
RHP Luis Velasquez1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Danny Watson (S, 4): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K


Hudson Valley (2-1)

The championship series against Bowling Green starts on Sunday. It is a best-of-3 series.


Tampa (54-74)

Their season is over.


FCL (35-22)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (17-36)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (30-25) 

Their season is over.