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 Jones: 0-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 Flores: 0-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 Seigler: 1-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 Richardson: 1-for-4, K
1B Tyler Hardman: 1-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 Gabrielson: 0-for-2, BB, K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-3
DH Kiko Romero: 1-for-3, 2 K
3B Max Burt: 0-for-3, K
RHP Cam Schlittler: 4 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 Anderson: 1 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 Velasquez: 1 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.