Yankees MILB 7/6: Spencer Jones Launches a Bomb
Notes:
The Yankees traded veteran catcher Alex Jackson to the Orioles for international bonus pool money. Yesterday, the Yankees released Ronaldo Hernandez. Their catching depth has taken a (minor) hit, but they are comfortable with Ben Rice. Their Scranton depth now consists of Jesus Rodriguez and Edinson Duran, a 22-year-old who has appeared in three games this season. Rafael Flores and Omar Martinez provide additional depth in Somerset. It wouldn’t be shocking if they look around for a veteran depth piece. Is Erik Kratz available?
Jackson probably had another opt-out coming up. He already opted out twice, only to come back (likely for more money). Teams don’t typically hold back veterans if an opportunity presents itself. It’s the same thing that happened with Luis Torrens last year.
For Scranton, he hit .226/.308/.463 (101 wRC+) with ten homers and 34 RBI in 44 games. Providing offense in the minors has never been an issue for Jackson. The majors? It’s hard to find a worse stat line than his .132/.224/.232 (29 wRC+) line in 340 plate appearances. To put it in perspective, Oswald Peraza has a 42 wRC+ this season.
Scranton (46-37) (Defeated Lehigh Valley, 9-6)
3B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-3, 2 R, CI, BB, K
C Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-4, R, SB (11), HBP, K
Rodriguez may be coming out of his funk, as he is 6-for-20 with five walks in July. He is hitting .315/.412/.407 at this level.
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, HR (4), SF, 4 RBI, K
This wasn’t a garden variety homer, as Jones hit it 445 feet at 113.4 MPH. Wow. He is up to 20 HR in 57 games between Somerset/Scranton. The minor league leaders entering today are Ryan Ward (27 years old; LAA) and Bob Seymour (26; TB), who have hit 22 in considerably more games.
LF Everson Pereira: 0-for-3, R, SB (6), 2 BB, K
Known for his power, Pereira shows off some plate discipline and speed today. He is hitting .262/.350/.514 in 246 PA (7 doubles, 1 triple, 15 HR, 45 RBI, 52 R, 6-for-7 SB). He has stolen as many as 21 bases in a season, but that was three years ago.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 3-for-4, 2 2B (20), 2 RBI, R, BB
.294/.378/.476 in 315 PA. He has back-to-back 3-hit efforts (six 3+ hit efforts this season). I point out that Rumfield wasn’t chosen in the Rule 5 draft last year. While true, that doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of interest. Most teams go into the Rule 5 looking for bullpen help or versatility. Rumfield offers neither.
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 2-for-4, 2B (7), HR (9), SF, 3 RBI, R
De La Cruz has six doubles and nine homers in 47 games for Scranton. He has added a 6-for-6 stolen base rate, but his entire game is the ability to swat extra-base hits.
DH Jose Rojas: 1-for-4, BB, K
2B Nicky Lopez: 0-for-4, K
SS Andrew Velazquez: 1-for-3, 2 R, SB (19), HBP
RHP Erick Leal: (W, 4-7) 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR
From 1-7 to 4-7. He isn’t viable in MLB, but nice to see the veteran get on a little roll and provide some Triple-A innings.
RHP Kervin Castro: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Castro’s first appearance since May 18th. The 26-year-old owns a 2.08 ERA in 21.2 IP (8 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 26 K). He hasn’t pitched in MLB since 2022. In 2021, he allowed one run (unearned) in 13.1 innings. The next year, he allowed 14 runs in 12.1 innings.
RHP Baron Stuart: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
Double-A is the toughest level to conquer. That doesn’t mean Triple-A is “easy”.
RHP Zach Messinger: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
Somerset (42-39) (Defeated Reading, 4-2)
3B George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-3, 2B (8), R, HBP, K
Lombard Jr. has four doubles in his last 11 games. Because he is having trouble getting on base lately, the stolen bases have disappeared (one in his last 15 games). My level of concern remains extremely low.
2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-2, HBP, BB
At this level: .286/.353/.590 in 116 PA. He’s hitting during his first taste at this level. Encouraging.
DH Rafael Flores: 0-for-4, RBI
.285/.345/.495 in 342 PA (23 doubles, 14 HR, 54 RBI, 44 R, 5-for-5 SB, 8.5% BB, 26% K). Will they move him up to Scranton during tomorrow’s off day? I wouldn’t discount it. He is up to 615 Double-A plate appearances (.280/.351/.505; 37 doubles, 29 HR, 87 RBI)
C Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, R, K
LF Brendan Jones: 1-for-4, R, K
We have seen a few signs of life from Jones (mostly from his 4-hit game, however), though he hasn’t “broken out” yet at this level.
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-4, 2 K
1B Tyler Hardman: 2-for-4, 2B (15), HR (12), 2 RBI, R, SB (8), K
.216/.257/.435 in 245 PA (15 doubles, 12 HR, 36 RBI, 28 R, 8-for-9 SB, 5.3% BB, 31.8% K)
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-4, 3 K
SS Max Burt: 0-for-2, SB (8), HBP, 2 K
RHP Trystan Vrieling: (W, 1-2) 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, HR
Vrieling tossed 72 pitches today, so they are close to letting him fully stretch out. He is up to 41 innings since coming back from injury.
RHP Cole Ayers: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Bailey Dees: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
As a reliever: 2.76 ERA (16.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 17 K).
RHP Danny Watson (S, 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
I remember dreaming of Dees/Watson/Jack Neely as three tall right-handed relievers in the pen. Season: 6.90 ERA (30 IP, 35 H, 23 R, 23 ER, 6 HR, 7 BB, 34 K). Watson, who stands 6’7″, was having a big year in 2023 before an injury ended his campaign. He hasn’t been the same since, though he’s had some solid outings lately.
Hudson Valley (47-32) (Defeated Brooklyn, 2-1. Thank goodness for tomorrow’s offday, as the bullpen was worked today!)
CF Jace Avina: 1-for-4, R, K
RF Dillon Lewis: 1-for-4, HR (5), 2 RBI, R, K
Lewis has 14 HR in 75 games between here and Tampa. He is only hitting .185/.242/.370 since his promotion, with ten extra-base hits (22 hits overall)
DH Coby Morales: 1-for-4, 3 K
LF Jackson Castillo: 3-for-4, 2B (13)
Castillo is heating up. He is 12-for-30 in his last eight games, raising his triple slash from .221/.318/.303 to .241/.334/.328.
SS Alexander Vargas: 1-for-3, SB (8), HBP, K
Vargas’ hitting streak reaches an impressive 15.
3B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-4, K
1B Josh Moylan: 1-for-4, K
2B Brenny Escanio: 2-for-4
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-3, 2B (8),
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
About a month ago, I bragged about their pitching logjam. Today, they used a reliever to start. Sue me. Season: 2.59 ERA (24.1 IP, 19 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 11 BB, 36 K). This was his first professional start (made five starts for Clemson in 2022)
RHP Bryce Warrecker (W, 1-0): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
0.77 ERA (35 IP, 15 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 38 K). He is having a ridiculous season. Yes, I see the low BABIP – it’s almost impossible to be this good without a low BABIP!
RHP Chris Kean: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Huey Morrill: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
0.31 ERA (28.1 IP, 11 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 21 K). The Warrecker/Morrill duo has been lights out.
RHP Matt Keating: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Tony Rossi (S, 3): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
The easiest kind of save. He owns a 0.99 ERA between here and Tampa (27.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 11 BB, 35 K)
Tampa (43-36) (Lost a crazy game against Clearwater, 14-9)
C Edgleen Perez: 3-for-4, 2 BB
Reaching base five times works, even if it didn’t lead to a win. He is hitting .225/.383/.253 in 316 PA and has five multi-hit efforts in his last nine games. The Yankees haven’t wavered all season, even when he was struggling mightily early. It’s paying off.
LF Brian Sanchez: 1-for-6, RBI, R, K
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-5, RBI, R, 2 K
DH Engelth Urena: 0-for-3, 2 BB, K
3B Juan Matheus: 1-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, R, BB, K
Known more for speed than pop (10th HR in 183 career games), Matheus hits his first HR since July 13, 2024.
RF Wilson Rodriguez: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, K
1B-2B Hans Montero: 3-for-5, 2 2B (8), HR (8), 3 RBI, 2 R, K
Eight total bases make for a strong afternoon. He is hitting .250/.338/.410 in 229 PA (8 doubles, 8 HR, 32 RBI, 32 R, 15-for-19 SB) and is on an 8-game hitting streak (10-for-33). His personal best for stolen bases is 17, set in 2023.
CF Marshall Toole: 2-for-3, 3B (9), RBI, R, CS (3), 2 BB, K
Fun fact: Toole is the first Yankees’ farmhand to hit 9 triples since Everson Pereira in 2022. The last Yankees prospect to reach ten? Jorge Mateo, who hit 11 in 2017. Toole’s season: .305/.412/.484 in 226 PA (10 doubles, 9 triples, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 43 R, 26-for-29 SB).
2B Austin Green: 1-for-3, K
1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-1, R, BB, K
RHP Brandon Decker: (L, 1-2) 2.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
A little misstep in his transition to starting. He owns a 3.10 ERA in 40.2 IP (37 H, 21 R, 14 ER, 1 HR, 19 BB, 38 K).
RHP Jack Sokol: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Brady Kirtner: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Chris Veach: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Sean Hermann: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
1.43 ERA (37.2 IP, 20 H, 13 R, 6 ER, 26 BB, 30 K)
RHP Gus Hughes: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
FCL (20-24)
Day off.
DSL Yankees (11-14)
Day off.
DSL Bombers (11-13)
Day off.