Notes:
RHP Jake Woodford triggered his May 31st opt-out and is now a free agent. Most veteran players include various opt-out clauses in their spring training and minor league deals. The opt-outs are a way to force the MLB team to either add them to the 26-man roster or let them go. On occasion, the player may renegotiate their minor league deal for a higher salary.
A veteran of five seasons with the Cardinals, White Sox, and Pirates, Woodford pitched to a 4.54 ERA (5.09 FIP) over 39.2 innings for Scranton. He owned a 9.4% BB, 21.5% K, and 42.4% GB.
With Woodford likely gone, the Yankees’ veteran minor league pitching depth (with MLB experience) consists of Allan Winans, Anthony DeSclafani, and Brandon Leibrandt. Carlos Carrasco was called up to the big club today as an extra arm and will need to go through the DFA process again.
After a hot May, 1B/OF Dominic Smith also exercised his opt-out clause. Given how the season has played out, there wasn’t a path to MLB for Smith.
Scranton (25-29) (Lost to Worcester, 7-4)
C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-2, 2B (7), R, 2 BB, K
.362/.443/.461 in 167 PA. I will reiterate what I have been saying all year: If there were any plans on deploying Rodriguez at 3B in MLB, they would be playing him there more often than they are. It’s not coming soon. With Chisholm Jr. almost back and the insistence that DJ LeMahieu has something to offer, there isn’t room anyway.
LF Everson Pereira: 1-for-3, R, CS (1), BB, 2 K
.275/.380/.517 in 142 PA.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, K
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 3-for-4, HR (3), 3 RBI, R, K
For De La Cruz to have any value, he has to hit home runs. It’s what he does. He has three in 22 games since joining Scranton.
2B Braden Shewmake: 0-for-4, K
DH Ronaldo Hernandez: 0-for-3, SB (1), BB, K
CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-4
SS Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-3, SB (14), BB, K
3B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-2, R, HBP, K
RHP Sean Boyle: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
4.72 ERA (55.1 IP, 47 H, 33 R, 29 ER, 8 HR, 20 BB, 57 K). The Yankees could have summoned Boyle to Los Angeles instead of Carrasco, but it isn’t surprising they went with the disposable veteran over their minor league depth.
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
I don’t know if it was strategy or not, but taking Reyzelman out of the game after recording a strikeout (and stranding a runner) wasn’t a bad idea. Let him build some confidence.
RHP Scott Effross: (L, 0-1) 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
Effross has allowed eight runs in three innings since moving to Scranton. It is possible that his injuries won’t be overcome, which would be a sad outcome. I would argue we aren’t there yet.
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Geoff Hartlieb: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Somerset (24-26) (Defeated Akron, 3-0)
DH Jazz Chisholm Jr.: 0-for-3, K
The Yankees have yet to let him play a full game in the field. I believe that’s coming, and he will be activated soon.
DH Max Burt: 0-for-1
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-2, R, CS (2), 2 BB, 2 K
Lombard Jr. continues to try to find his stroke. The good news is that the walks keep coming (20 in 23 games). Today is the last day we can call him a teenage prospect. Happy 20th Birthday tomorrow, George!
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-3, R, 2 K
.240/.382/.550 in 123 PA (4 doubles, 9 HR, 17 RBI, 24 R, 7-for-9 SB, 17.9% BB, 36.6% K).
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-0, BB
C Rafael Flores: 1-for-4, HR (11), 3 RBI, R, K
Flores’s 3-run homer in the first was all the scoring they needed. He leads the Eastern League in homers and is tied for second in RBI (37).
3B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3, HBP, K
.274/.335/.469 in 191 PA. Jasso hit .260/.311/.385 in May after a .303/.369/.592 April.
RF Brennen Davis: 1-for-3, BB
Davis is 6-for-26 with a pair of homers, eight walks, and nine strikeouts.
LF Garrett Martin: 1-for-3, 2B (9), BB
.231/.339/.442 in 184 PA. 17 of his 36 hits have gone for extra bases (9 doubles, 8 HR). Over his career, 55 of his 111 hits have gone for extra bases.
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-3, 2 K
2B Alexander Vargas: 1-for-3
RHP Cam Schlittler (W, 4-5): 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
2.38 ERA (53 IP, 47 H, 19 R, 14 ER, 1 HR, 17 BB, 64 K). Schlittler has been among the best pitchers in the Eastern League. He entered today as the league leader in FIP and is in the top five in strikeouts and K-BB%. The only bad thing in his profile is something that is hard for him to control: An elevated BABIP (.357 after today’s game).
RHP Danny Watson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Indigo Diaz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Harrison Cohen: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
2.41 ERA (18.2 IP, 12 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 10 BB, 26 K)
RHP Kelly Austin (S, 3): 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
1.69 ERA (16 IP, 13 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 16 K)
Trying to figure out which relief prospects are legitimate is a tough exercise. We’ve seen pitchers like Brooks Kriske dominate in the minors, only to struggle once in MLB. By the way, in case you are wondering, Kriske is still out there. He recently tossed two scoreless innings for the Cubs but has since been designated for assignment.
Hudson Valley (31-19) (Defeated Wilmington, 2-1, in ten innings)
2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-4, BB, 3 K
CF Brendan Jones: 0-for-2, 2 SB (23), CS (4), 3 BB, K
Jones is 41-for-45 (91.1%) stealing bases in 68 minor league games. He was 70-for-77 (90.9%) in college.
LF Jace Avina: 1-for-3, RBI, 2B (13), 2 BB
Avina’s walked it off with a … walk. He has 13 doubles in 40 games (8 doubles in 17 May games).
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-4, K
3B Parks Harber: 0-for-4, K
DH Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, 2 K
Martinez slowed down after an insane hot stretch but still finished May at .293/.424/.533 with five home runs.
SS Jose Colmenares: 1-for-3, 3B (1), R, BB
Colmenares tripled with one out in the 9th. He scored the tying run on a wild pitch.
C Tomas Frick: 0-for-3, BB, K
RF Anthony Hall: 0-for-4, 3 K
PR Luis Durango: 0-for-0, R
LHP Griffin Herring: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Herring is dominant in his High-A debut. He has my full attention.
RHP Hayden Merda: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Tony Rossi: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Between here and Tampa: 17.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 24 K. Impressive.
RHP Bryce Warrecker: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
0.79 ERA (22.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 5 BB, 29 K). Pure dominance. This is the first time he didn’t strike out a batter in his professional career (33rd game).
RHP Huey Morrill (W, 3-1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Tampa (26-23) (Lost a heartbreaker to Fort Myers, 3-2. They had a 2-1 lead entering the 9th)
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, R, BB, K
CF Brian Sanchez: 2-for-4, SF, RBI, SB (11), K
Sanchez has seven multi-hit efforts in his last nine games. He is hitting .286/.341/.445 in 132 PA (4 doubles, 20 RBI, 10 R, 11-for-14 SB).
C Edgleen Perez: 0-for-4, K
DH Engelth Urena: 1-for-3, HBP, K
.212/.346/.341 in 208 PA. Urena has shown flashes of the power he is known for, but it hasn’t been consistent. Not surprising for a 20-year-old playing in Low-A.
LF Cam Eden: 1-for-3, BB
RF Dillon Lewis: 2-for-4, R, 2 K
The raking continues. He is hitting .250/.323/.477 in 195 PA (9 doubles, 2 triples, 9 HR, 29 RBI, 33 R, 13-for-14 SB, 9.2% BB, 28.2% K).
3B Juan Matheus: 0-for-4, 2 K
2B Austin Green: 0-for-4, K
1B Hans Montero: 2-for-4, RBI
LHP Xavier Rivas: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Rivas’s Low-A debut (he tossed 15.2 innings in the FCL before his promotion). The 22-year-old was another SEC draft pick last year, nabbed in the 16th round out of Ole Miss. There is no StatCast data available today, so the information is limited. He generated 9 whiffs and hit the low 90s with his 4-seam fastball and sinker. His arsenal also includes a changeup and slider.
RHP Kevin Stevens: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Stevens’ rehab assignment was moved here from the FCL.
RHP Carson Coleman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
This is Coleman’s fourth rehab appearance. It likely won’t be long before he is in Scranton’s bullpen. Perhaps Somerset.
RHP Sean Hermann: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Chris Veach: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
1.35 ERA (20 IP, 15 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 12 BB, 32 K). Veach hasn’t allowed a run since April 27th. He has ten straight scoreless appearances (10.2 IP).
RHP Brady Kirtner (L, 2-2): 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Kirtner has been strong in his debut season. Today wasn’t his day. Season: 2.67 ERA (27 IP, 16 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 HR, 13 BB, 31 K)
FCL (9-11)
Day off. They have a doubleheader scheduled against the Phillies tomorrow.
DSL Yankees (0-0)
Their season begins on Monday.
DSL Bombers (0-0)
Their season begins on Monday.
My coverage of the DSL is even lighter than my FCL coverage. I will probably write a report tomorrow since it is Opening Day.