Yankees MILB 7/5: Everson Pereira Completes the Cycle
Notes:
1B/3B Jeimer Candelario was signed to a minor league deal after being released by the Cincinnati Reds.
Candelario, a 31-year-old switch-hitter, hit a robust .113/.198/.213 (10 wRC+ – they give you nine points just for spelling your name right) in 91 plate appearances for the Reds this season. Yay.
In an ill-advised deal, the Reds signed him to a 3-year, $45 million contract heading into 2024. This was after a 4-year stretch where he hit .254/.329/.437 (113 OPS+). In 134 games for the Reds, he hit .207/.265/.394 in 554 plate appearances with 25 doubles, 22 homers, and 66 RBI.
In case you are wondering, the Reds are still on the hook for most of the money. The Yankees will pay him the prorated league minimum, which gets deducted from his Reds pay.
Will they call him up? They likely signed him with that possibility in mind, but he shouldn’t excite anyone at this point. His bat has tanked, and his defense doesn’t make up for it.
The Yankees also signed veteran RHP Joel Kuhnel to a minor league contract. He was recently released from his minor league deal with the Phillies.
Kuhnel, 30, has 82 games of MLB experience, mostly with the Cincinnati Reds, in addition to cameos with the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays. Most of his action came with the 2022 Reds, where he posted a 6.36 ERA in 53 games (58 IP, 67 H, 8 HR, 14 BB, 56 K). Overall, in 82 MLB games, he owns a 5.86 ERA in 93.2 IP with a 52% GB, 18.7% K, and 5.9% BB. His pitch mix includes a 4-seamer, sinker, slider, and changeup.
Left-handed reliever Will Brian was placed on the injured list for Somerset today.
RHP Geoff Hartlieb, designated for assignment by the Yankees earlier this week, has elected free agency, while former Top 100 prospect (not as a Yankee!) Ronaldo Hernandez was released. The right-handed hitting catcher wasn’t used much, appearing in 25 games for Scranton, hitting .221/.287/.351 with a pair of homers and 13 RBI.
Scranton (45-37) (Crushed Lehigh Valley, 16-6)
2B Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-3, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 K
We’ll take the three walks, but Vivas is in a 3-for-29 slump.
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-5, 2B (13), 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, K
RF Spencer Jones: 2-for-4, SF, RBI, 2 R, SB (2), BB, K
Since promotion: .393/.486/.821 in 35 PA (2 doubles, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 8 R, 2-for-2 SB, 6 BB, 11 K (31.4%)). Overall, he is hitting .291/.403/.626 in 243 PA (11 doubles, 19 HR, 36 RBI, 50 R, 12-for-14 SB, 15.6% BB, 33.3% K). If I was a General Manager, it would be difficult for me to give up a talent like this, even if I recognize the bust potential.
CF Everson Pereira: 5-for-6, 2B (7), 3B (1), 2 HR (15), 6 RBI, 4 R
Pereira with the cycle! This is his second career 5-hit game (8/12/21; 5-for-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI), and he misses his personal best for RBI (7 on 6/17/22). As for past cycles, Ryder Green accomplished one for Pulaski (a Yankees affiliate at the time) in 2019. Green was an interesting prospect once upon a time. Injuries derailed him. If there has been a more recent one (probably), I can’t find it. Back to Pereira: He has 3 HR and 9 RBI in his last two games (11 RBI in four July contests).
1B T.J. Rumfield: 3-for-5, 4 RBI, BB
.287/.371/.464 in 310 PA (18 doubles, 1 triple, 9 HR, 50 RBI, 47 R, 4-for-5 SB, 10.9% BB, 18.4% K).
DH Bryan De La Cruz: 2-for-5, HR (8), RBI, R, BB, K
Since signing with the Yankees’ organization, De La Cruz has eight homers in 46 games.
SS Nicky Lopez: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 BB, K
His debut as a member of the Yankees’ organization. The signing of Candelario doesn’t invade his space, given that they only overlap at third base.
C Alex Jackson: 0-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB
LF Duke Ellis: 2-for-5, 2B (2), 2 RBI, R, SB (9), K
RHP Allan Winans: (W, 8-0) 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
1.30 ERA (55.1 IP, 45 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 15 BB, 59 K). Winans has done his job here. I won’t try to convince you that he showed much in MLB. He’s a pitcher who has to be precise with everything, or he is going to get hit.
RHP Luis Pacheco: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
This is as sharp as we have seen Reyzelman this year. Can he follow it up? Season: 3.82 ERA (33 IP, 20 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 4 HR, 37 BB, 34 K)
RHP Joel Kuhnel: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
His Yankees’ organizational debut didn’t go as planned.
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Somerset (41-39) (Walked it off against Reading, 4-3)
2B Roc Riggio: 4-for-5, 2 2B (8), 2 RBI, R
Riggio walks it off with a 1-out, 2-run single. It’s his first career 4-hit effort, and he is hitting .282/.339/.592 since his promotion. The pop continues to show up, as he has 16 extra-base hits in 26 games for Somerset (8 doubles, 8 HR). As a Yankees fan, the thing that should intrigue you is his pull power. If he stays with the organization, the porch will play into his game.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-3, HBP
Lombard Jr. has run into a little 2-for-20 slump. Typically, when he isn’t hitting, he still gets on base. However, this slump includes only two walks and two HBP. It happens.
C Rafael Flores: 0-for-3, BB, K
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3, SF, RBI
LF Garrett Martin: 1-for-4, R, 2 K
CF Brendan Jones: 0-for-2, R, SB (4), 2 BB
Jones is 27-for-32 (84.4%) stealing bases between here and Hudson Valley.
DH Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, 2B (2), K
Martinez is 6-for-27 with two doubles and a homer since being promoted.
RF Cam Eden: 0-for-3, R, BB, 3 K
3B Max Burt: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K
The veteran minor leaguer kept the line moving with an RBI single in the 9th.
LHP Ben Shields: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
For Somerset: 8 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 13 K. They stretched him to 70 pitches tonight (Shields has been rehabbing from an injury)
RHP Mason Vinyard: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Hayden Merda: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Double-A can be tough to adjust to. That’s a statement that always stands the test of time.
RHP Indigo Diaz: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
3.78 ERA (33.1 IP, 23 H, 15 R, 14 ER, 2 HR, 15 BB, 30 K)
Hudson Valley (46-32) (Shut down Brooklyn, 7-0)
DH Jace Avina: 1-for-4, SB (3), BB, K
.284/.402/.438 in 204 PA (13 doubles, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 31 R, 14.2% BB, 25% K). Who was the better prospect acquired for Jake Bauers? Most say Avina over Brian Sanchez, though Sanchez is making strides.
CF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-4, BB, K
1B Coby Morales: 0-for-5, 2 K
LF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-4, 2 R, SB (14), BB, K
Last 7 games: 9-for-26 (.346) with five runs scored.
SS Alexander Vargas: 1-for-3, 2 R, SB (7), 2 BB
Vargas has a 14-game hitting streak. Would you be shocked, given what baseball is, to find out that he started this streak after a 2-for-23 stretch?
3B Jose Colmenares: 2-for-4, 2B (11), RBI, R, BB
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-5, 2B (1), 3 RBI, R, 2 K
This was a 1-0 game in the 8th inning, when Palencia cleared the bases with a double.
RF Luis Durango: 1-for-4, R, K
2B Duncan Pastore: 1-for-3, BB, K
RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz: (W, 6-4) 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 8 K
2.26 ERA (83.2 IP, 52 H, 27 R, 21 ER, 1 HR, 37 BB, 99 K). Will the 21-year-old finish the season in Somerset? Possible. This is the second time this season that he tossed seven shutout innings. He has two other starts where he pitched 6.1 shutout frames. By the way, he tossed 89.2 innings in 2024.
RHP Jordany Ventura: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Tyrone Yulie: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Tampa (43-35) (Lost a doubleheader to Clearwater)
Game 1 (Lost, 6-3. This was the conclusion of Thursday’s game.)
CF Brian Sanchez: 1-for-5, R, K
C Engelth Urena: 1-for-5, 2B (12), 3 K
SS Roderick Arias: 2-for-5, HR (5), 2 RBI, R, 2 K
Arias has homered three times in his last two games.
3B Juan Matheus: 3-for-4, 2B (17), SB (30)
Matheus leads the Yankees’ organization in stolen bases. This is his 19th multi-hit game this year.
RF Wilson Rodriguez: 0-for-4
Rodriguez’s Low-A debut.
LF Austin Green: 0-for-3, R, BB, 3 K
1B Hans Montero: 1-for-4
RF Marshall Toole: 1-for-3, 3B (8), RBI, BB
Toole is among the minor league leaders in triples (only Raudi Rodriguez (LAA) has reached double digits).
2B Owen Cobb: 1-for-3, BB
Cobb’s first game since June 13th. He is hitting .333/.389/.538 in 110 plate appearances while playing second base, shortstop, and third base.
LHP Xavier Rivas: 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, HR
Not the way he wanted to follow up his 13-strikeout effort. That’s the way it goes.
RHP Mariano Salomon (L, 0-1): 3.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Salomon’s Low-A debut. We get some Savant data now. He featured a four-pitch mix that includes a 4-seamer, change, slider, and curve. He didn’t throw hard (max: 89.5 MPH).
RHP Michael Arias: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Arias averaged 96.1 MPH with his sinker (max: 97.3), if you are wondering why the Yankees acquired him. He is here on a rehab stint.
Game 2 (Lost, 4-2, in six innings. More rain wiped out the 7th inning)
C Edgleen Perez: 0-for-3
CF Brian Sanchez: 0-for-3
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-2, R, BB, K
DH Engelth Urena: 0-for-3, R
3B Juan Matheus: 1-for-3, 2B (18), RBI, K
Matheus has yet to homer, but he has 18 doubles and 34 RBI to go with his 30 stolen bases in 73 games. He hit five homers (all in the FCL) in 54 games last year but was only 12-for-19 stealing bases.
LF Wilson Rodriguez: 1-for-2, SB (1), BB
Rodriguez’s first Low-A hit.
RF Marshall Toole: 1-for-1, 2 BB
.299/.403/.471 in 221 PA (10 doubles, 8 triples, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 42 R, 26-for-28 SB, 14.5% BB, 19.9% K).
2B Owen Cobb: 0-for-2, BB, 2 K
1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3, 2 K
RHP Andrew Landry: 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
4.20 ERA (64.1 IP, 70 H, 39 R, 30 ER, 4 HR, 26 BB, 63 K)
RHP Justin Lange: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Lange’s rehab is over, and he was assigned here.
RHP Jackson Fristoe: (L, 3-2) 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Cole Zaffiro: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
FCL (20-24) (Tried to play two games against the Phillies. They completed one of them)
Game 1 (Lost, 4-1)
SS Dexters Peralta: 2-for-3, 2B (3)
DH Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-2, BB, K
The first rehab game for Tejeda, one of my favorite under-the-radar prospects. Before his injury in 2024, Tejeda hit .326/.371/.408 in 203 plate appearances. In those 48 games, he stole 26 bases in 30 attempts. I think there is utility upside with this kid, who is on the smaller side of the ledger (5’9″).
CF Willy Montero: 2-for-3, BB
I assume Montero’s rehab stint is nearly over.
C Ediel Rivera: 1-for-3, K
RF JoJo Jackson: 1-for-1
Good news: Jackson earns his first hit during his rehab stint. Bad news: He was immediately lifted for a pinch-runner.
3B Santiago Gomez: 0-for-3
They cleared the logjam in Low-A by returning Gomez here. While he hit only .170/.310/.255 in 15 Low-A games, he did steal nine bases in ten attempts and started playing better towards the end. It’s a numbers game.
RHP Omar Gonzalez (L, 1-3): 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
4.30 ERA (37.2 IP, 24 H, 18 R, 18 ER, 5 HR, 22 BB, 39 K)
Game 2 (Tied, 1-1, in the bottom of the 8th. This game was suspended. I don’t see a date for conclusion as the FCL is off on Sundays)
LF Gabriel Lara: 1-for-2, 2B (5), K
PH-LF Santiago Gomez: 1-for-1, CS (2)
Lara hadn’t played in a while, so that is likely why he wasn’t going to play the full game.
RF Luis Puello: 1-for-3, R, SB (3)
2B Gabriel Terrero: 1-for-3, RBI, SB (6), K
RHP Edinzo Marquez: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
The 20-year-old is pitching well: 2.66 ERA (44 IP, 36 H, 18 R, 13 ER, 4 HR, 16 BB, 34 K)
DSL Yankees (11-14) (Lost to the DSL Tigers 1, 8-7)
SS Mani Cedeno: 1-for-4, 2 R, BB, K
Cedeno has a little 4-game hitting streak going (4-for-15 with a pair of doubles and four runs).
CF Francisco Vilorio: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 R, BB
3B Richard Matic: 2-for-3, 3B (1), 2 RBI, CS (3), 2 BB
What a difference a year makes, as Matic is up to .313/.432/.594 in 84 PA (7 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 18 R). I don’t always like when prospects repeat levels, but he was 16 when he tried to conquer this place last year (.196/.333/.248). He will get to the FCL in 2026.
DH Justin Capellan: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, R, K
LF Estivenzon Montero: 2-for-5, 2B (1), 2 RBI, 3 K
.308/.384/.462 in 73 PA (1 double, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 8 R)
RHP Hector Moreno: 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
The 17-year-old has struggled with control (understatement). Look at his numbers at your own risk.
RHP Anthony Mena: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR
DSL Bombers (11-13) (Defeated DSL Colorado, 8-7)
SS Stiven Marinez: 1-for-2, RBI, R, 2 SB (12), CS (3), BB
Marinez is a year older than Mani Cedeno, and perhaps that is why his performance has been better. He is hitting .262/.466/.328 in 88 PA with 23 walks (26.1% – ridiculous. I love the DSL) and 16 strikeouts.
DH Queni Pineda: 1-for-1, 2B (4), RBI, 2 R, 3 BB
.288/.475/.407 in 80 PA. His OPS was .872 in 2024, so he has conquered this place.
CF Ruben Castillo: 0-for-3, BB
2B Christofer Reyes: 2-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, R, SB (15)
Reyes has three 2-hit games in his last four games played, raising his small sample triple slash from .156/.255/.178 to .232/.333/.321.
LF Jose Castro: 1-for-3, HR (2), RBI, R, CS (1), BB
The 19-year-old has only played in seven games and is making the most of it with his double and two homers.
RF David Carrera: 2-for-3, R, BB
The 18-year-old has declined from his 2024 campaign. Hopefully, he finishes strong.
1B Remy Veldhuisen: 4-for-4, 2B (2), RBI, R, 2 SB (3)
His first career 4-hit effort (6th multi-hit game this season)
LHP Andre Avila: 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
Avila calmed down a game that was high-scoring early. He allowed his squad to chip away and eventually win the game.
RHP Chaury Gomez (W, 1-0): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K