Yankees MILB 5/3: George Lombard Jr. is Scorching

Notes:

Will the Yankees dodge a bullet with Clarke Schmidt? “Soreness in the side” is scary, but I hope so.

The Yankees lack rotation depth. This should not come as a surprise to people who read these reports. The Triple-A rotation consists of prospects Zach Messinger and Sean Boyle, along with veterans Allan Winans, Brandon Leibrandt, Erick Lealand Jake Woodford.

Winans is on the 40-man roster and would seemingly have a leg up. In 2025, the right-hander has a whopping strikeout rate of 42.9%. Even though it’s Triple-A, it’s considerably higher than any previous season at any level. He has yet to allow an earned run in 14 innings.

Fangraphs labeled Messinger as a “depth starter” in its annual prospects report. He has an innings-eater profile, including 150 for Somerset in 2024 (6th most in minor league baseball). He hasn’t pitched well for Scranton thus far (6.48 ERA/5.18 FIP in 25 innings). Boyle has tossed three strong starts and three less-than-ideal starts. Woodford has 89 games (25 starts) of MLB experience, posting a 4.88 ERA (4.94 FIP) and 15.2% K rate.

If I don’t sound enthusiastic, that is a good observation. Their 6th starter depth is not ideal. Hence, it is imperative that Schmidt feels better when he wakes up on Sunday.

LHP Edgar Barclay was placed on the injured list for Somerset.

Injury Log


Scranton (15-16) (Lost to Syracuse, 8-2)

CF Ismael Munguia0-for-5
LF Everson Pereira1-for-4, HR (6), RBI, R, K
Pereira has three home runs in his last two games (5 HR in his last 8 games)
1B T.J. Rumfield1-for-4, 2 K
C Jesus Rodriguez1-for-3, BB
Rodriguez has an 8-game hitting streak (15-for-31).  Since his promotion, he has more walks (13) than strikeouts (10).
DH Dominic Smith1-for-3, HR (2), RBI, R, BB, K
RF Bryan De La Cruz1-for-4, 2 K
His first hit as a member of the Yankees’ organization.
3B Jose Rojas1-for-4
2B Jake Gatewood0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K
SS Andrew Velazquez1-for-3, BB, K

RHP Erick Leal (L, 1-3): 0.2 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
RHP Leonardo Pestana2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
3.95 ERA (13.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 HR, 10 BB, 18 K). He did a nice job settling the game down.
RHP Eric Reyzelman2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2.63 ERA (13.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 16 K). This is his longest career outing.
RHP Yerry De Los Santos1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Wilking Rodriguez1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
1.50 ERA (12 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 18 K)
LHP Grant Richardson0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
The outfielder makes his first career pitching appearance.


Somerset (11-15) (Lost to Richmond, 4-1)

3B Dylan Jasso0-for-3, CS (2), BB, 2 K
LF Spencer Jones0-for-3, 3 K
.228/.372/.554 in 113 PA (3 doubles, 9 HR, 16 RBI, 20 R, 6-for-7 SB, 17.7% BB, 36.3% K).  Even if Jones is a viable MLB player, games like tonight will be relatively common.  You take the good with the bad.
DH Rafael Flores0-for-3, K
1B Tyler Hardman0-for-3, K
2B Jose Colmenares0-for-3, 2 K
CF Cole Gabrielson0-for-3, 2 K
RF Garrett Martin0-for-3
SS Alexander Vargas1-for-3, 2B (6), R
Vargas breaks up the no-hitter with one out in the 9th.  He is hitting .270/.338/.397 in 71 PA.
C Antonio Gomez0-for-2, SF, RBI, BB
Gomez’s first Double-A RBI.

RHP Trent Sellers (L, 0-1): 4.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, HR
3.91 ERA (23 IP, 14 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 11 BB, 31 K). The undrafted free agent out of Oregon State (2023) has pitched well enough to get on the radar. 
RHP Indigo Diaz1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Luis Pacheco2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K


Hudson Valley (18-8) (Walked it off against Jersey Shore, 5-4)

RF Jace Avina2-for-3, 2 2B (6), 2 R, HBP, BB, K
.329/.467/.439 in 105 PA (6 doubles, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 18 R, 2-for-3 SB, 16.2% BB, 23.8% K). Avina has reached base safely in 24 of 25 games this season. He was ejected after his first AB in the only game where he hasn’t reached base.
SS George Lombard Jr.3-for-5, 2 2B (8), 2 RBI, 2 R
.329/.495/.488 in 111 PA (8 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 22 R, 11-for-13 SB, 20.7% BB, 19.8% K). Lombard Jr. has six doubles in his last seven games and is starting to make his case for a promotion. No, I am not there yet. However, last I checked, my vote doesn’t count.
CF Jackson Castillo0-for-4, BB
3B Parks Harber1-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, K
1B Coby Morales2-for-5, 2B (2), RBI, R, K
Morales’ double with one out in the 9th tied the game (brought home Lombard Jr.)
DH Omar Martinez1-for-4, 2B (4), BB
Martinez has a 5-game hitting streak (6-for-18).
1B Josh Moylan0-for-4, BB, 4 K
2B Brenny Escanio2-for-4, RBI, CI, K
Escanio with the walk-off single with one out in the 9th.
C Tomas Frick1-for-4, 2 K

RHP Bryce Cunningham6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
2.10 ERA (30 IP, 23 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 34 K). Cunningham is cruising, as he hasn’t allowed an earned run (one unearned run) in his last three starts (19 IP). This is how you earn a spot in Double-A.
RHP Tony Rossi1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Between here and Tampa: 10.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 17 K. He’s 25, so moving him up another level could be in the cards soon.
RHP Chris Kean1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Sebastian Keane: (W, 2-0)  0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K


Tampa (10-16) (Destroyed Fort Myers, 12-5)

C Edgleen Perez1-for-3, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, K
.179/.364/.194 in 88 PA. Perez owns a .409 career OBP with more walks (94) than strikeouts (88). It will be interesting to see how his career blossoms as he matures.
CF Brian Sanchez0-for-4, SB (5), 2 K
DH Engelth Urena1-for-4, 2 R, 2 K
.183/.337/.317 in 104 PA. 
LF Dillon Lewis3-for-4, 2 HR (3), 6 RBI, 3 R, BB
Lewis improves his triple slash from .159/.233/.244 to .186/.263/.337 in one day.  He sets personal bests for hits, homers, and RBI.
SS Juan Matheus1-for-5, 2 RBI, K
RF Tyler Wilson3-for-5, RBI, SB (7), K
.239/.343/.250 in 102 PA. 
1B Josue Gonzalez0-for-4, CS (1), K
2B Hans Montero2-for-3, 2B (1), 3 R, SB (3), BB, K
.229/.327/.313 in 55 PA.
3B Owen Cobb2-for-3, HR (1), RBI, 2 R, BB
Cobb’s first professional home run (21st game)!  Congrats!

RHP Greysen Carter (W, 1-2): 5 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 2 K
“Somebody teach this kid some control before he kills somebody!” Carter is a fun project for someone whose job it is to work with projects. We are just along for the ride.
RHP Jackson Fristoe2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Brady Kirtner2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
1.69 ERA (16 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 14 K)


FCL (0-1) (Lost to the Tigers, 3-1. Another “modern” aspect of the FCL is that the Yankees will play the same teams constantly. Tigers, Phillies, Blue Jays. They play in a 4-team division. It’s essentially a drawn-out round robin.)

It’s Opening Day so I will give you the full lineup:

CF Brando Mayea0-for-3, CS (1), BB, 3 K
Mayea was their buzzy millionaire signing a few years back. The 19-year-old showed discipline last year (.281/.370/.326), but no power (2 doubles, 2 triples). He is repeating this level, which I don’t like to see. You don’t give out big bonuses, hoping the player will languish in mid-season leagues for several years. Hopefully, he will break out and get to Low-A later.
2B Roc Riggio1-for-2, RBI
First rehab game for Riggio, who hit .221/.349/.397 in 480 plate appearances for Hudson Valley in 2024.
  2B Luis Escudero0-for-1, SB (1), BB
LF Luis Durango0-for-3, CS (1), 2 K
First rehab game for Durango. As stated yesterday, the Yankees chose him in the Triple-A phase of the 2024 Rule 5 draft (from Cleveland).
   LF Gabriel Lara: 0-for-0, BB
Known for elite speed, Lara showed offensive chops in his 2023 debut season in the DSL (.267/.401/.411 with 18 stolen bases). However, he flattened out at this level in 2024 (.202/.322/.250; 14 stolen bases). That said, he only struck out 13% of the time and had a crazy low BABIP for someone with his speed reputation (.231). I am watching him for a breakout.
C Manuel Palencia0-for-4
The 22-year-old may be an organizational floater. I keep rooting for him to put one over the fence (0 HR in 134 career games).
RF Isael Arias0-for-2, SB (1), 2 BB
In his 2024 debut campaign in the DSL, he hit .246/.379/.325 with a 10-for-11 stolen base rate.
DH Ediel Rivera1-for-3, BB
“Who is this guy?” There are always a few in the crowd whom I don’t recognize. However, there is a good reason for that: This is the 19-year-old’s professional debut. The Yankees signed him out of Puerto Rico last July. He is listed as a catcher.
1B Luis Puello0-for-4, 3 K
The 19-year-old spent his first two professional seasons in the DSL. He didn’t fare well in 2023 but bounced back to hit .361/.439/.516 in 37 games last year.
3B Santiago Gomez1-for-4, R, SB (1), 2 K
Gomez is 21 and spending his 4th season in the DSL/FCL. He has significant time at 2B/SS/3B.
SS Kevin Verde0-for-3, BB
The 19-year-old’s FCL debut. He didn’t do much hitting in the DSL.

RHP Trystan Vrieling3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
First rehab start. The Yankees threw him into the Double-A fire in his 2024 debut season. He responded by going 13-7 with a 4.58 ERA in 147.1 IP. He finished strongly (1.57 ERA in August, 3.12 ERA in September).  I assume he will be back in Somerset once his rehab is complete.
RHP Sunayro Martina (L, 0-1): 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Martina struggled in 19 innings here last year (8.53 ERA), though he did strike out 23 batters.
RHP Stanly Alcantara2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
FCL debut. He will want to forget his 2024 season (34 walks in 18.2 innings).


DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *