I am not going to be home to do this report tomorrow.
I am not a fan of the current state of the farm system, but there is talent here. If Spencer Jones can put more pieces of the puzzle together while Roderick Arias/George Lombard Jr. continue their development, we’ll think differently by the end of the year. The Yankees are good at developing college arms, which they love to package in trades. They hope the same will be true with many of their 2024 draftees.
Scranton (0-1) (Lost to Lehigh Valley, 5-4)
LF Everson Pereira: 1-for-3, RS, SB (1), K
The most recognizable Yankees prospect at this level, Pereira has an impressive power profile (10 HR in 40 games in 2024; 66 in 331 career games). The issues? Two things: 1. How much contact will he make?; 2. Can he get over his injury history? Why was he pulled tonight? He is coming off of Tommy John Surgery, so my assumption is they didn’t want to give him a full game in the field yet.
LF Duke Ellis: 0-for-2, K
Ellis can’t hit, but he can run. 57-for-61 stealing bases in the minors last season.
2B Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-4, SF, RBI, K
Acquired in a deal with the Dodgers before the 2024 season, Vivas’ big issue is that he is likely anchored at second base despite having experience at 3B. On the 40-man roster, he can make his official debut this season (he was called up in 2024 but never appeared in a game)
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-5, 2B (1), RBI, CS (1)
An organization will typically tell us how they feel about a player without actually telling us how they feel about a player. Rumfield wasn’t protected in the Rule 5 and received zero chances to take over 1B after Anthony Rizzo‘s injury last year. That said, he has a solid defensive reputation and is coming off of a good year at the plate.
C Alex Jackson: 1-for-3, 2 RS, BB, K
The Yankees acquired him in an off-season trade with the Reds (along with current Yankees’ bullpen member Fernando Cruz). The Yankees released him on March 22nd, only to re-sign him on March 23rd. Obvious paperwork move. Jackson can’t hit (understatement), which makes his cleanup assignment funny, even in a minor league game.
CF Ismael Munguia: 3-for-4, 2B (1)
The left-handed hitting 26-year-old earns the system’s first hit this season. He was a spring sensation (.372/.400/.488) for the second straight year (.410/.477/.641 in Giants’ camp last year). He has yet to make his MLB debut.
RF Jose Rojas: 1-for-3, 2B (1), BB, K
Rojas is your typical Triple-A filler/depth guy. The 32-year-old spent 67 games here in 2024 before the Yankees released him (signed with the Pirates). The Yankees re-signed him this winter. “Why would they re-sign someone they released?” Simple: He was likely released by request to take advantage of another opportunity. No biggie. Rojas has experience at the “four corners” and at second base.
DH Ronaldo Hernandez: 0-for-3, SF, 2 RBI, K
Before 2019, Hernandez (a catcher) made it on the Top 100 prospects lists. He hasn’t lived up to that standard and has yet to make his MLB debut. However, no harm in giving the 27-year-old a spot in Triple-A.
SS Braden Shewmake: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
Perhaps the player you least recognize on the roster, Shewmake has 31 games of MLB experience. His time is mostly spent at 2B/3B, though he has a few games at 3B. He is 53-for-60 stealing bases in his MILB career, including 27-for-28 in 2023.
3B Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-3, RS, 2 SB (2), BB, K
The Bronx native and fan favorite during the 2021 season (hit his first career HR in Yankee Stadium), Velazquez is back to provide some infield depth. There is speed to tap into (40-for-47 stealing bases in his MLB career), but no bat.
LHP Brandon Leibrandt: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, HR
The 32-year-old has toiled in professional baseball since 2014, the year he was drafted by the Phillies. He has seven games of MLB experience (2020 with the Marlins and 2024 with the Reds). He is your prototypical mix-and-match lefty, featuring 6 pitches including a 4-seamer that maxed out at 89.9 MPH. Old school!
LHP Rob Zastryzny: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
The veteran lefty has spent parts of six seasons in MLB. His biggest opportunity was in 2023, when he posted a 4.79 ERA in 21 games for the Pirates.
RHP Eric Reyzelman: (L, 0-1) 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
Reyzelman maxed at 95.7 MPH (averaged 94.4) with his heater tonight, which can be concerning to the prospect world. Anyway, he is the rookie most likely to make his bullpen debut in 2025. That doesn’t mean he *will* be the first rookie to make his debut this year.
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Eligible for minor league free agency after the 2024 season, the Yankees blocked it by placing him on the 40-man roster. One of the final cuts before Opening Day, he is a sinker-baller with consistent 50%+ ground ball rates.
RHP Geoff Hartlieb: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
The 31-year-old has a nice arm, but control is an issue (55 BB in 79.1 MLB innings).