Yankees MILB 6/27: Spencer Jones Homers in First Scranton AB
Notes:
OF Everson Pereira, the top choice to come up when J.C. Escarra went on paternity leave, is also on the paternity list. The Yankees decided to go with a 25-man roster instead of calling up someone from the Jorbit Vivas, Jesus Rodriguez, CJ Alexander pool (all three are on the 40-man). Another player on the 40-man, Braden Shewmake, is injured. He reportedly was the second choice after Pereira.
OF Spencer Jones, as you likely know, was promoted to Scranton today. Typically speaking, top-top prospects don’t hang around in Triple-A for long. However, it seems probable that Jones will stay at Scranton for the remaining 2.5 months of the season. The promotion was earned, as Jones was red-hot and compiled 830 Double-A plate appearances.
Scranton (42-34) (Defeated Worcester, 4-2, to improve to 4-0 in the second half)
2B Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-3, 2 BB
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-4, R, SB (10), BB, 2 K
Rodriguez’s slump continues, showing us that slumps are inevitable for everyone. He is still hitting .321/.409/.407 in 259 PA at this level.
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-5, HR (1), RBI, R, 2 K
Jones homered in his first Triple-A plate appearance (397 feet, 109.9 MPH). His 17th HR overall ties his personal best from last year in 72 fewer games. That’s crazy. Oh, and he keeps his streak of alternating home run days alive (he has 6 HR in his last 11 games – one every other day)
DH T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-3, BB, 2 K
PR-DH Duke Ellis: 0-for-1, 2 SB (7), K
This is why I said I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the postseason. Aaron Boone used him only once in the postseason last year (pinch ran against Kansas City) before he was taken off the roster for the Guardians and Dodgers series.
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 2-for-2, R, 2 SB (6), 2 BB
LF CJ Alexander: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
C Alex Jackson: 0-for-4, 3 K
1B Jose Rojas: 2-for-2, HR (12), 2 RBI, R, 2 BB
Rojas’ 125th career minor league homer (681 games)
SS Andrew Velazquez: 1-for-3, SAC
RHP Sean Boyle: (W, 6-5) 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, HR
4.46 ERA (74.2 IP, 68 H, 43 R, 37 ER, 9 HR, 25 BB, 72 K). Boyle (28) screams of a pitcher who will get a few MLB chances as he grinds out a professional career. The Yankees invited him to spring training this year, and he is a minor league free agent after the season (this is his 7th minor league campaign). This assumes the Yankees aren’t going to add him to the 40-man.
LHP Jayvien Sandridge: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
0.96 ERA (9.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 18 K). Overall, he owns a 25/7 K/BB over 14.1 innings.
RHP Clayton Beeter (S, 2): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Beeter maxed at 97.5 MPH. He owns a 1.02 ERA in 17.2 IP (9 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 14 BB, 29 K)
Somerset (36-37) (Lost to Erie, 6-2)
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-3, R, SB (14), 2 BB
Lombard Jr. has 55 walks and 25 stolen bases in 70 games. He is 20-for-88 (.227; 5 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 19 R, 7-for-8 SB) in June (started the month 3-for-21). That doesn’t suggest he is “hot” but the adjustments are showing up.
C Rafael Flores: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-2, R, HBP, BB, K
3B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-4, 2 K
DH Brendan Jones: 1-for-4, 2B (4), 2 RBI, K
Jones was heating up before a little 0-for-11 slump. There is talent here – he is just having a tough time early in his Double-A journey.
CF Garrett Martin: 0-for-3, SB (14), CI
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4, 2 K
LF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-3, BB, K
RF Cam Eden: 0-for-4, K
RHP Trent Sellers: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Sellers needed 91 pitches to earn 14 outs, but the outing was impressive. Striking hitters out hasn’t been an issue for the 25-year-old, as he has 68 in 55.1 innings this year and 168 in 139 innings in his career. The walk rate needs work (26 this season; 66 in his career). It’s a mixed bag and one wonders if his future is in the bullpen.
RHP Cole Ayers: (L, 0-1) 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Hayden Merda: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
Merda struggled mightily in his Somerset debut – while not perfect, a better performance tonight.
RHP Kelly Austin: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Ryan Anderson: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Anderson allowed both of Austin’s baserunners to score.
Hudson Valley (42-29) (Split two games against Wilmington)
Game 1 (Won, 2-0, in the conclusion of last night’s game)
LF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4
CF Dillon Lewis: 2-for-4
RF Coby Morales: 0-for-4, 2 K
2B Jose Colmenares: 2-for-4, R, SB (9), K
SS Alexander Vargas: 2-for-4, RBI, R
1B Josh Moylan: 2-for-4
3B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-4, K
C Tomas Frick: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 K
.231/.364/.385 in 132 PA. Frick does his job with his medium-sized usage (he has played in 37 of their 71 games)
DH Duncan Pastore: 0-for-2, BB, K
LHP Kyle Carr: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
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.
RHP Ocean Gabonia (W, 1-2): 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Huey Morrill: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
0.62 ERA (29 IP, 13 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 11 BB, 22 K)
RHP Bryce Warrecker (S, 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
0.85 ERA (31.2 IP, 14 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 37 K). Have I mentioned how dominant the 6’8″ right-hander has been?
Game 2 (Lost, 11-0)
CF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, K
The 0-for-8 doubleheader drops his triple slash to .221/.318/.303 in 283 PA. His .288/.345/.438 triple slash with RISP has allowed him to drive home 35 runs in 62 games.
DH Dillon Lewis: 1-for-3, 2B (3)
Since promotion: .200/.250/.411 in 96 PA. Nine of his 18 hits have gone for extra bases (3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HR). He is a fun prospect to follow, since you can tell that the tools exist.
RF Coby Morales: 0-for-3, 2 K
2B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-3, K
3B Alexander Vargas: 1-for-2, BB
C Manuel Palencia: 0-for-3, 2 K
1B Josh Moylan: 1-for-3, 2 K
Moylan hasn’t been able to get anything going (.162/.309/.263 in 243 PA). Last season, at this level, he showed some promise with his .246/.357/.381 line in 406 plate appearances.
SS Brenny Escanio: 1-for-2, BB, K
LF Luis Durango: 0-for-3, K
LHP Griffin Herring (L, 1-1): 3 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, HR
Proof that everyone has bad days. This spiked his combined ERA to 1.64 (71.1 IP, 45 H, 15 R, 13 ER, 3 HR, 27 BB, 83 K). He entered the night with the lowest ERA amongst all minor league pitchers (excluding those in the rookie leagues). It’s possible (probable) that he will wake up tomorrow nearly tied for first with…fellow Yankees’ farmhand Brendan Beck. Beck’s ERA is 1.6409 while Herring’s is 1.6402.
RHP Sebastian Keane: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Jordany Ventura: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Tampa (39-33) (Defeated Ft. Myers, 5-3)
C Edgleen Perez: 2-for-3, R, SB (5), 2 BB
Perez is hopefully heating up, as this is his third straight multi-hit effort. He is up to .216/.371/.242 in 286 plate appearances with an impressive 51 walks (17.8%).
RF Brian Sanchez: 1-for-4, R, SB (20), 3 K
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 R, HBP
When the Yankees handed him a trillion dollars (give or take a few million), this is what they envisioned. It hasn’t happened consistently.
DH Engelth Urena: 0-for-4, BB, K
3B Juan Matheus: 2-for-4, 2 SB (26), BB, K
Matheus is feeling frisky on the basepaths lately. He is 12-for-14 in June and has at least one stolen base in five straight games. This surge has jumped him to first place in stolen bases within the organization.
LF Hans Montero: 1-for-3, 2B (6), RBI, SB (13), BB, K
CF Marshall Toole: 0-for-3, BB, K
1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-4, K
2B Santiago Gomez: 2-for-3, HR (1), RBI, 3 SB (6), BB, K
As I said the other day, Gomez can run. He just needs to consistently get on base to showcase it. He has 70 stolen bases in 156 career games. As for the power, that is not his forte. This was his 9th career homer.
LHP Xavier Rivas (W, 2-1): 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 13 K (previous personal best was 8)
Rivas allowed two runs in the sixth but was otherwise spectacular tonight. At this level: 3.47 ERA (23.1 IP, 17 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 28 K)
RHP Jack Sokol: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2.84 ERA (25.1 IP, 23 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 19 K). He hasn’t allowed a run in 9.1 June innings.
RHP Cade Austin: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
2.86 ERA (28.1 IP, 27 H, 16 R, 9 ER, 3 HR, 11 BB, 31 K)
RHP Brady Kirtner: (S, 3) 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
2.41 ERA (37.1 IP, 23 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 17 BB, 42 K). Kirtner has been steady in his debut campaign, with very few hiccups.
FCL (19-21) (Defeated the Phillies, 2-0)
LF Wilson Rodriguez: 0-for-2, BB
C Ediel Rivera: 0-for-2, HBP
RF Luis Puello: 1-for-2, R
2B Gabriel Terrero: 1-for-2
1B John Cristino: 1-for-1, HR (2), 2 RBI, R, HBP
It’s his debut campaign, but he is doing what a 25-year-old should do in the FCL: 15-for-41 (.366) with a double and two home runs.
RHP Edinzo Marquez (W, 1-2): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
It counts as a CG in the record books! He owns a 3.00 ERA in eight starts (39 IP, 33 H, 18 R, 13 ER, 4 HR, 15 BB, 29 K). Can the 20-year-old get a taste of Low-A Tampa after the FCL season concludes? Certainly.
DSL Yankees (8-10) (Crushed DSL Phillies White, 11-2. This game went seven innings)
SS Mani Cedeno: 0-for-3, RBI, R, HBP, K
CF Isaias Castillo: 0-for-2, RBI, R, 2 BB
.333/.469/.590 in 49 PA (3 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R, 9-for-9 SB, 10 BB, 11 K). His career has started with a 12-game on-base streak.
3B Richard Matic: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 R, SB (3), BB
.326/.441/.630 in 59 PA (5 doubles, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 14 R, 11 BB, 16 K). Matic struggled here as a 16-year-old. The difference one year can make, even as a teenager.
DH Justin Capellan: 0-for-2, RBI, R, SB (6), 2 BB, K
2B Alfred Ciriaco: 1-for-3, R, BB
C Diego Flores: 0-for-3, RBI, R, BB
LF Angel Ventura: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 R, SB (4), BB
Ventura is 22-for-25 stealing bases in 44 career games.
RF Alfiery Matos: 0-for-3, R, SB (3), BB, 2 K
1B Jose Lavagnino: 2-for-3, 2B (1), 3 RBI, R, BB
The 18-year-old is 4-for-17 in his debut campaign.
LHP Carlos De La Rosa: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K
4.38 ERA (12.1 IP, 14 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 22 K). What is the most impressive part of that stat line? If you need more than one guess, take up a new hobby.
RHP Rafael Arias (W, 2-0): 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
DSL Bombers (6-11) (Followed up their 20-19 loss to the DSL Mets Orange with a 15-10 loss to the DSL Cardinals. This game went nine innings. Note: In the rookie leagues, the two managers come to an agreement on whether a game will go seven or nine innings)
CF Browm Martinez: 2-for-4, 2 2B (3), 2 RBI, 3 R, SB (9), HBP
He’s making a mockery of this level at this point: .390/.490/.683 in 49 PA (3 doubles, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 17 R, 9-for-10 SB). The 18-year-old was pretty good in 38 games here last year as well. The problem is that time is running out on the FCL season, making a promotion unlikely.
SS Christofer Reyes: 2-for-2, 3 SB (13), CS (1), BB
The good news is the stolen bases. The bad news is that he was pinch-ran for late in the game, which likely means injury.
PR-SS Stiven Marinez: 0-for-1, RBI, R, BB
Adding to the “injury” theory is that they replaced him with one of their top DSL prospects. Usually, when a top prospect has a scheduled day off, he isn’t coming in to pinch-run.
DH David Carrera: 0-for-2, RBI, RS, SB (5), 3 BB, 2 K
3B Leni Done: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB
.244/.392/.366 in 51 PA.
2B Adrian Feliz: 2-for-5, R, CS (2)
.250/.276/.286 in 29 PA. Like many down here, Feliz is only 16.
C Carlos Rodon: 1-for-4, 2B (2), R, BB, 2 K
RF Eddinson Charles: 1-for-5, RBI, R
1B Edgar Jimenez: 2-for-5, 2 2B (3), RBI, 2 R, K
The 18-year-old is 6-for-15 with three doubles and four RBI.
For the second day in a row, there isn’t a pitching line worth mentioning.