Notes:
Some pitching promotions to announce.
LHP Will Brian and RHP Cole Ayers are coming to Somerset from Hudson Valley.
RHP Tony Rossi was promoted from Tampa to Hudson Valley.
In his debut season, the 25-year-old Rossi (undrafted free agent, 2024) was predictably overwhelming Low-A hitters (7.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K).
The 26-year-old Brian (10th round, 2022) was equally effective for Hudson Valley (7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K).
Ayers (16th round, 2021) has the most experience of the trio (106 games from 2022 to 2025). Like the others, he owns a 0.00 ERA this season (6.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K). This isn’t his first taste of Somerset, as he appeared in eight games for the Patriots in 2024.
Unfortunately, promotions sometimes come with cuts. The Yankees released right-handed relievers Cole Percival and Colby White from their minor league contracts.
RHP Yoendrys Gomez nearly cleared waivers but the Dodgers nabbed him. Oh well.
Scranton (12-12) (Lost to Charlotte, 4-1. This game started late due to rain so they decided to only play 7 innings)
CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-2, SB (5), BB
3B Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-2, CS (3), BB
After an insane, unsustainable stretch, Vivas is now 1-for-12 in his last four games. He has drawn three walks, however.
DH Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-2, R, BB
Rodriguez is hitting .290 with a .775 OPS in 42 PA since his promotion.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-3
Rumfield’s first game since Sunday. No idea why, but it was obviously minor.
LF Dominic Smith: 1-for-3, 2B (2), RBI
C Ronaldo Hernandez: 0-for-3
SS Jake Gatewood: 0-for-3, 2 K
2B Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-2, K
RF Grant Richardson: 1-for-2
RHP Zach Messinger: (L, 0-2) 4 IP,3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 2 HR
4.79 ERA (20.2 IP, 22 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 2 HR, 13 BB, 22 K). It’s only the 4th time in Messinger’s career where he has allowed 2+ HR in a game (tonight was his 85th game/67th start).
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
4.82 ERA (9.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 8 BB, 13 K)
RHP Wilking Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
He did allow an inherited runner to score. Season: 0.00 ERA (8.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 12 K)
Somerset (8-11) (Mauled by Hartford, 19-4)
2B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-2, 3 BB
Jasso had three walks in 14 games entering tonight. Baseball! By the way, walks aren’t a foreign concept to Jasso (he had a solid 9.8% rate last season). Tonight’s three walks jumped his 2025 rate to 9.2.
LF Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 K
.242/.383/.591 in 81 PA (2 doubles, 7 HR, 12 RBI, 14 R, 4-for-5 SB, 17.3% BB, 33.3% K). It’s the theme for Jones – encouraging profile with an obvious red flag.
C Rafael Flores: 1-for-4, SF, RBI, 2 R
DH Garrett Martin: 2-for-4, 2B (3), HR (3), 3 RBI, R, K
Martin has two doubles and two homers in his last four games (one of each in his first 12 games)
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-4, 2 K
1B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-2, 2 BB
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, BB, K
SS Alexander Vargas: 1-for-4, 2B (5), R
3B Max Burt: 0-for-4, K
RHP Baron Stuart: (L, 0-1) 2.2 IP, 4 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 6 BB, 3 K
RHP Luis Pacheco: 1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Indigo Diaz: 1.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Cole Ayers: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Ayers ate a few innings and slowed down the Hartford machine.
RHP Diomedes Hernandez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
The 20-year-old catcher/first baseman makes his 4th career pitching appearance. Perhaps he should have started?
Hudson Valley (13-6) (Shut down Asheville, 3-0)
LF Brendan Jones: 0-for-4, K
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-4, CS (2), K
.273/.461/.400 in 76 PA (2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 14 R, 9-for-11 SB, 22.4% BB, 21.1% K). A lot to like in his profile so far.
DH Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, 2 K
.240/.377/.340 in 61 PA (5 doubles, 9 RBI, 4 R, 3-for-3 SB, 18.0% BB, 29.5% K)
CF Jace Avina: 1-for-2, R, 2 BB
.250/.403/.286 in 72 PA (2 doubles, 6 RBI, 9 R, 1-for-2 SB, 16.7% BB, 25.0% K)
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-4, 3 K
1B Coby Morales: 0-for-2, R, SB (4), BB, K
3B Josh Moylan: 2-for-3, 2B (4), RBI, R, SB (2)
2B Brenny Escanio: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, CS (2), K
RF Anthony Hall: 0-for-3, K
RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz: (W, 2-1) 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K (new personal best; struck out seven in a row at one point)
Since he was acquired for Carlos Narvaez, here is a Narvaez update: The catcher has played in 18 of Boston’s 27 games, slashing .210/.269/.371 with 4 doubles and 2 home runs. He is grading out well defensively, however. As for Rodriguez-Cruz, the 21-year-old owns a 2.42 ERA (22.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 30 K). That works.
RHP Sebastian Keane: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
3.18 ERA (5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 7 K)
RHP Tony Rossi (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
His first Hudson Valley appearance results in a save. Can he be fast-tracked to Somerset this season? Certainly. I am not a fan of holding relief pitchers back. However, let’s be patient.
Tampa (8-11) (Lost to Dunedin, 4-2. Edgleen Perez remains out of the lineup but is not on the injured list.)
3B Roderick Arias: 0-for-3, RBI, BB, 2 K
After a 5-game hitting streak (5-for-21), Arias is 0-for-10 in his last three games. He is hitting .147/.293/.250 in 82 PA (15.9% BB, 26.8% K). Arias owns a paltry .200 BABIP, which should normalize. There is a “positive” for you.
DH Engelth Urena: 1-for-4
.172/.329/.362 in 73 PA (16.4% BB, 23.3% K). Like Arias, there is a small sample size BABIP issue (.179).
1B Parks Harber: 0-for-4, 2 K
LF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-4, 2 K
RF Tyler Wilson: 1-for-4, R, SB (5)
Wilson is 5-for-7 stealing bases. He is searching for his first extra-base hit of 2025 (17 games)
2B Austin Green: 1-for-3, R, SB (2), BB, K
SS Juan Matheus: 1-for-3, BB, K
.250/.365/.375 in 52 PA (5 doubles, 10 RBI, 5 R, 4-for-5 SB, 9 BB, 7 K). Matheus owns a BB/K rate above 1.00 in his career (98/89).
C Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3, K
CF Marshall Toole: 0-for-2, RBI, BB, 2 K
LHP Tanner Bauman: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
Bauman needed a decent outing after a pair of rough ones. This qualifies. The biggest issue is walks (17 in 14.1 IP).
RHP Cade Austin: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Sean Hermann (L, 1-1): 2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
FCL (0-0)
Their season starts on May 3rd.
DSL (0-0)
Their season starts in June.