Yankees MILB 6/26: Spencer Jones Walks it Off
Notes:
See below for a game that will rank high on the craziest games of 2025.
Scranton (41-34) (Defeated Worcester, 4-2, to improve to 3-0 in the second half)
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-4, K
Rodriguez is 3-for-27 in his last seven games. His average has dropped from .358 to .327.
2B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-3, R, BB, K
Vivas has a 5-game hitting streak (6-for-18).
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 2-for-3, HR (7), 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
In 40 Scranton games (he has been here that long already?): .238/.306/.413 in 160 PA (4 doubles, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 22 R, 8.1% BB, 27.5% K).
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-1
No “injury delay” after his single in the first inning, but something happened as he didn’t go into the field to start the second.
LF Ismael Munguia: 1-for-3, R, SB (18), K
C Alex Jackson: 0-for-4, 3 K
It looks like the Yankees are covered in the catching department, since they have faith in Ben Rice. That lessens Jackson’s value. Also lessening his value is the phenomenon known as a June triple slash (stop reading if children are present): .080/.115/.140 (4-for-50 with one walk and 20 strikeouts).
LF-1B CJ Alexander: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, K
DH Jose Rojas: 1-for-4, 2 K
SS Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-3, 2 K
CF Duke Ellis: 2-for-3, 2 SB (5)
Don’t discount the possibility of Ellis being on a hypothetical postseason roster.
RHP Carlos Carrasco: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Carrasco is known as a tremendous clubhouse guy, and I assume that means he is willing to work with young arms. That makes me think about how valuable it likely is for Cam Schlittler to watch how he prepares for games, etc.
RHP Zach Messinger: (W, 2-3) 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
5.48 ERA (46 IP, 49 H, 29 R, 28 ER, 3 HR, 28 BB, 45 K). As reliever: 2.50 ERA (18 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 9 BB, 19 K)
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Scott Effross (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Somerset (36-36) (Defeated Erie, 4-3, in ten innings. They earn their first win in the second half (1-2))
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-5, 2B (6), K
Lombard Jr. has four doubles, a triple, and a homer in his last ten games (10-for-39, 6 walks). He made a strong play in the 10th inning to keep the game tied. Overall, he looks very smooth at shortstop – that’s the best way to put it.
CF Spencer Jones: 2-for-5, RBI, R, K
Jones, who has a 6-game hitting streak (12-for-27), had a nice AB in this game, where he took a 2-strike pitch to left-center for a single. In the 10th, he swatted a ground ball single to right to win it. Yes, the strikeouts are high and will likely never be great, but Jones is not up there looking to hit the scoreboard with every swing.
C Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, 2B (20), R, K
Flores swatted 31 doubles in 2024. He has five consecutive 2-hit efforts (10-for-22; 5 doubles).
3B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-4, RBI
RF Brendan Jones: 0-for-3, SF, RBI
LF Garrett Martin: 1-for-4, 2B (10), R, K
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4
DH Omar Martinez: 2-for-4, K
2B Max Burt: 0-for-4, K
LHP Brock Selvidge: 5 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
According to the readings on the screen, Selvidge was throwing in the low 90s. Additionally, he was showing off a new curve – he already owned a 4-pitch mix (4-seamer, sinker, changeup, slider). At this level: 3.06 ERA (17.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 16 K). Overall, he is at 25.1 innings after missing the beginning of the season due to injury.
RHP Danny Watson: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
7.71 ERA (25.2 IP, 31 H, 22 R, 22 ER, 6 HR, 7 BB, 29 K). Watson doesn’t allow many walks, and his BABIP is high.
RHP Luis Pacheco: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Baron Stuart: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
4.91 ERA (36.2 IP, 24 H, 24 R, 20 ER, 3 HR, 25 BB, 36 K). As reliever: 3.38 ERA (16 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 17 K)
RHP Bailey Dees: (W, 4-4) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
4.64 ERA (54.1 IP, 47 H, 29 R, 28 ER, 7 HR, 28 BB, 67 K)
Hudson Valley (41-27) (Tied with Wilmington, 0-0, in the 5th. The game has been suspended due to rain. It will be completed tomorrow, followed by a 7-inning game)
LF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-2
CF Dillon Lewis: 2-for-2
RF Coby Morales: 0-for-2, K
2B Jose Colmenares: 1-for-2
SS Alexander Vargas: 1-for-2
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-1
3B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-1, K
C Tomas Frick: 0-for-1, K
DH Duncan Pastore: 0-for-1
LHP Kyle Carr: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
The stats aren’t official yet, but I’ll update them anyway: 2.86 ERA (63 IP, 44 H, 28 R, 20 ER, 5 HR, 32 BB, 50 K). There is good and not-so-good in that profile.
Tampa (38-33) (Lost to Ft. Myers, 12-7)
DH Edgleen Perez: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, R
Perez has the average up to .210 thanks to back-to-back multi-hit efforts (5-for-10). It is impossible to know how much power any player will grow into, but Perez’s advanced approach for a kid his age is encouraging.
CF Brian Sanchez: 3-for-5, RBI, R, SB (19), BB, K
Sanchez has three 3-hit games (16 multi-hit efforts). He is 19-for-23 (82.6%) stealing bases.
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, R, BB, 2 K
I root for prospects, not against them. That said, I also know the signs of a regressing prospect. Can he turn it around? Weird things happen. However, he has to start showing SOMETHING soon.
C Engelth Urena: 0-for-5, 3 K
3B Juan Matheus: 2-for-5, 2B (16), 2 RBI, R, 2 SB (24), K
Matheus is 24-for-31 (77.4%) in the stolen base department.
1B Tyler Wilson: 1-for-4, BB
LF Hans Montero: 1-for-4, RBI, R, HBP, 2 K
RF Marshall Toole: 1-for-3, R, SB (22), 2 BB, 2 K
2B Santiago Gomez: 0-for-2, R, HBP, BB, 2 K
RHP J.T. Etheridge: 5 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
6.83 ERA (29 IP, 27 H, 28 R, 22 ER, 2 HR, 15 BB, 34 K). This is your reminder that this is the 23-year-old’s debut season (Yankees signed him as an undrafted free agent late in the 2024 season)
LHP Tanner Bauman: (L, 2-6) 1.2 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
RHP Gus Hughes: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Sean Hermann: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
1.07 ERA (33.2 IP, 18 H, 10 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 23 BB, 26 K). Hermann walked 15 in 12.1 innings in April. He has walked eight in 21.1 innings since.
FCL (18-21) (Defeated the Phillies, 5-4. I wonder if they ever get bored of playing the same three teams all season. I know I would)
LF JoJo Jackson: 0-for-3, K
His rehab continues.
PH-LF Isael Arias: 1-for-2, RBI
CF Wilson Rodriguez: 1-for-3, R, HBP, SB (8), CS (2)
.284/.369/.405 in 85 PA (3 doubles, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 10 R, 8-for-10 SB). The 20-year-old left-handed bat is doing enough to get a shot at a full-season league.
C Ediel Rivera: 0-for-2, R, CS (3), 2 BB, K
SS Dexters Peralta: 1-for-4, RBI, K
DH Luis Escudero: 2-for-3, 3B (2), R, SB (9), BB
2B Gabriel Terrero: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, SB (5)
Still only 19, he owns a .290/.328/.484 triple slash over 22 games.
RHP Omar Gonzalez: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
4.41 ERA (32.2 IP, 19 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 3 HR, 20 BB, 36 K). He’s been solid over his last three starts (14.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 16 K).
DSL Yankees (7-10) (Lost to the DSL Blue Jays Red, 6-1)
SS Mani Cedeno: 0-for-3
Cedeno was taken out of the game after being HBP in the first inning on Tuesday, but is seemingly fine. Unlike Stiven Marinez, he isn’t off to the hottest of starts (.191/.400/.234 in 64 PA), but there is no reason to worry about that.
CF Francisco Vilorio: 0-for-2, HBP, 2 K
LF Isaias Castillo: 1-for-3, R, 2 SB (9)
The 17-year-old’s hot start continues (13-for-37 (.351/.467/.622); 3 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 8 R, 9-for-9 SB, 8 BB, 11 K)
RF Estivenzon Montero: 1-for-3, RBI
Castillo and Montero compiled the only two hits. The 18-year-old is 12-for-38 with a pair of homers and ten RBI.
RHP Jhosneyker Colina (L, 1-1): 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
This follows his 5 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K effort last time out.
DSL Bombers (6-10) (Lost to the DSL Mets Orange, 20-19. That isn’t a typo. To make it even crazier, this was a 7-inning game. The Mets Orange had 20 runs on 13 hits with ten walks. The Bombers had 19 runs on ten hits with 13 walks. Additionally, they were hit by a pitch seven times. The Bombers scored six runs in the 7th as they tried for the miracle win.)
This game is deserving of posting the full lineup. The full pitching lines? Ummm…no.
CF Ruben Castillo: 2-for-6, HR (1), RBI, 2 R, 3 K
Castillo, 17, launches his first professional home run. He is 8-for-17 with a pair of doubles and a homer in his last four games.
SS Stiven Marinez: 1-for-3, 2B (1), RBI, 2 R, SB (9), CS (1), 3 BB, 2 K
.289/.481/.316 in 54 PA (1 double, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 11 R, 9-for-10 SB, 13 BB, 12 K). So far, Marinez is living up to the big signing bonus.
C Queni Pineda: 0-for-2, 3 R, 2 HBP, 2 BB, K
.310/.473/.452 in 55 PA (going back to last year, he’s hitting .267/.443/.442 in 228 PA (12 doubles, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 44 R, 52 BB, 47 K)
DH Browm Martinez: 1-for-5, 2B (1), RBI, 2 R, BB, K
14-for-37 (.378/.477/.649; 1 double, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 14 R, 8-for-9 SB)
3B Leni Done: 1-for-3, RBI, R, CS (1), HBP, 2 BB, K
2B Juan Torres: 0-for-1, RBI, 2 R, SB (6), 2 HBP
2B Adrian Feliz: 0-for-2, RBI, BB
LF Jose Castro: 0-for-2, R, BB, K
PH-LF Eddinson Charles: 0-for-1, 2 R, HBP, BB, K
1B Remy Veldhuisen: 2-for-2, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
PH Alessandro Rodriguez: 0-for-1, K
Rodriguez (16) makes his professional debut. No word on his signing bonus, so it was small. He is listed as a catcher.
RF Richard Meran: 2-for-3, 2B (3), HR (2), 4 RBI, R, HBP, K
Meran (19) is spending his third season here (53 games). The two home runs represent a personal best (the only other HR was in 2023).
PH Edgar Jimenez: 1-for-1, 2B (1), 2 RBI, R