Notes:
If you missed it yesterday (it was a late addition to my report), 1B/OF Dominic Smith exercised his opt-out clause. Given how the season has played out, there wasn’t a path to MLB for Smith with the Yankees. He is hoping to convert his hot May into an MLB contract somewhere.
Scranton (25-29)
Day off
Somerset (24-26)
Day off
Hudson Valley (31-19)
Day off
Tampa (26-23)
Day off
FCL (11-11) (Swept a doubleheader against the Phillies. Brando Mayea, who left the game the other day due to some sort of injury, did not play)
Game 1 (Won, 8-7)
RF Isael Arias: 1-for-4, 2 R, 3 SB (7), 2 K
SS Dexters Peralta: 0-for-1, 3 R, SB (4), 3 BB
Sometimes, pitchers in the rookie leagues can be incredibly wild. In this game, however, Peralta drew the only three walks.
C Ediel Rivera: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 3 R, HBP
LF Wilson Rodriguez: 2-for-4, 2 2B (2), 3 RBI
3B Santiago Gomez: 0-for-3, 2 SB (11)
11 stolen bases in 19 games.
LHP Ben Shields: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
One of the Yankees’ most surprising prospects in 2024 is on a rehab stint. Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Shields pitched at three levels in his 2024 debut season (Hudson Valley, Somerset, Scranton (one start)). Combined, he went 5-5 with a 3.48 ERA (3.23 FIP) over 106 innings with a 31.1% K and 7.5% BB. His numbers were solid, yet skewed negatively by that one emergency Scranton appearance (1.2 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 7 ER).
RHP Sunayro Martina (W, 2-3): 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
RHP Alexis Paulino (S, 1): 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
Not all saves are pretty.
Game 2 (Won, 7-1)
SS Dexters Peralta: 0-for-3, 2 R, HBP, K
C Manuel Palencia: 4-for-4, 2 2B (6), 3B (1), HR (1), 5 RBI, R
It finally happened! Palencia hits his first career home run in his 150th game. Yes, it’s one of those baseball things that he hits his first career home run on a day he falls a single short of the cycle (he hit a double in his final at-bat. Jeff Frye would have stopped at first base). He is 22 years old and has played only as high as Low-A, but this is a nice moment of him.
DH Ediel Rivera: 1-for-3, 2B (4), SF, 2 RBI, K
.296/.400/.426 in 65 PA. A solid start to his professional career.
RHP Greysen Carter (W, 2-0): 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
His control struggles are well-documented, so this is good to see.
DSL Yankees (0-1) (Lost to the Rockies, 13-6. The Rockies should promote all these guys to the MLB club immediately)
SS Mani Cedeno: 1-for-5, R, 3 K
Their most hyped DSL prospect earns his first professional hit. Want to feel old? Cedeno is 16 and was born in 2008.
CF Francisco Vilorio: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB, K
As I said the other day, this is a huge year for the bonus baby. Ideally, he would have crushed this league in 2024 and would be in the FCL right now. That didn’t happen, so he has to crush this league now.
2B Carlos Bello: 1-for-5, HR (1), 2 RBI, R, K
Nothing like getting that first professional home run out of the way in your first professional game. Bello signed for $350,000.
3B Richard Matic: 1-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, R
Matic hits his first professional home run. Matic signed for $850,000. Like Vilorio, he struggled here in 2024 (.196/.333/.248 in 186 PA)
C Justin Capellan: 2-for-4, 2B (1), R
The 18-year-old hit .242/.365/.359 with 12 doubles in 41 games at this level in 2024. The Yankees used money acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Billy McKinney to sign Capellan. “Why didn’t the Pirates simply use that money for international prospects instead of trading it for a retread like McKinney?” Do you even need to ask?
DH Carlos Villarroel: 0-for-4, K
Villarroel returns coming off of an impressive .299/.390/.410 campaign in 2024. Last season, he split time between catcher and first base.
LF Isaias Castillo: 2-for-4, HR (1), RBI, R, K
A 16-year-old launching a home run in his professional debut is impressive. Castillo was a $750,000 investment during the 2025 signing period. He is a right-handed bat.
RF Angel Ventura: 1-for-4, 3B (1), RBI
The 19-year-old hit .245/.336/.276 in 113 plate appearances here in 2024.
1B Diego Flores: 2-for-3, 2B (1), BB, K
Flores compiles his first career extra-base hit (the 18-year-old played in 15 games at this level in 2024)
RHP Manuel Cruz (L, 0-1): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Cruz (19) makes his professional debut.
RHP Anthony Mena: 1 IP, 2 H, 6 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 0 K
Crazy pitching lines aren’t abnormal in the DSL!
LHP Luis Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
He’s already 20, but this was his professional debut.
RHP Varis Villarreal: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
The 19-year-old pitched in 17 games at this level last year, compiling a 4.43 ERA and 20/11 K/BB over 22.1 innings.
RHP Jesus Guerrero: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
The 18-year-old’s professional debut. Interestingly, his debut is on the hill even though he is listed as a catcher. Don’t ask me, folks. I just report what I see.
DSL Bombers (1-0) (Defeated Rangers Blue, 10-8, in a crazy game that featured a walk-off 3-run home run for Browm Martinez. This came after the Rangers scored three runs in the top of the 9th to take the lead)
CF Ruben Castillo: 0-for-4, R, BB, K
Castillo was a $875,000 signing.
SS Stiven Marinez: 2-for-3, 3 R, SB (1), BB
Impressive professional debut for the 17-year-old. The Yankees gave Marinez a $1.65 million signing bonus near the end of the 2024 signing period (Cedeno, who received $2.5 million, was part of the 2025 class)
C Queni Pineda: 0-for-3, SB (1), BB, K
I remember Pineda from last year, and it isn’t because of his unique first name. He hit .254/.434/.438 in 44 games with nine doubles and five home runs. He drew an impressive 41 walks in 173 PA (23.7%). He signed for $350,000 in 2024.
DH David Carrera: 0-for-4, RBI, BB, 2 K
The 18-year-old played well down here in 2024 (.278/.402/.418). When it comes to kids who don’t get the extreme signing bonuses, they just need to put their heads down and keep performing to get noticed. Not the same situation, but Andy Pettitte always talked about needing to prove himself every step of the way.
2B Christofer Reyes: 1-for-4, R, SB (1), BB, 3 K
Reyes signed for $100,000 in 2024. Last year, as a 16-year-old, he hit .250/.346/.314 in 179 plate appearances.
RF Browm Martinez: 2-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, 3 R, 2 SB (2)
You may as well make your first professional home run a memorable one. Martinez is coming off a solid 2024 (.278/.386/.313 with 21 stolen bases in 27 attempts). He is an 18-year-old right-handed batter.
1B Leni Done: 1-for-3, RBI, BB, 2 K
Done’s professional debut. There isn’t any information I can find on his signing bonus (which means he signed for little)
3B Juan Torres: 2-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, CS (1), 2 K
Torres’s professional debut. Like with Done, no information on what he signed for.
LF Eddinson Charles: 0-for-4, 4 K
Not the debut the 6’4″ 17-year-old wanted, but it can only get better from here. He was a $300,000 signing.
RHP Randy Angomas: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Angomas (17) makes his professional debut.
RHP Luis Burgos: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
The 19-year-old pitched in 14 games here last season.
LHP Ronald Tejada: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Tough day today, but he was good in last year’s debut season (1.75 ERA and 24/12 K/BB over 25.2 IP).
RHP Josue Silvestre (W, 1-0): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Silvestre’s first professional win.