Yankees MILB 7/10: Griffin Herring Dominates
Notes:
If you didn’t enjoy RHP Cam Schlittler‘s MLB debut, it’s time for a new hobby. Like Luis Gil, his ability to overpower hitters stands out.
Is he rough around the edges? Of course. His control and command are a work in progress, and he is still refining his secondary pitches (beyond his MLB-ready slider/sweeper).
However, throwing 98-100 MPH can mask some flaws. He did enough to earn more starts, and it isn’t like the Yankees have many other options until Gil is ready.
Scranton (49-37) (Defeated Buffalo, 11-7)
C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-5, RBI, K
Rodriguez has a 6-game hitting streak.
RF Spencer Jones: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 SB (6)
Jones is unconscious. He is hitting .386 (17-for-44) since his promotion (3 doubles, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 14 R, 6-for-6 SB, 8 BB, 15 K). Those 15 K have come in 54 PA (27.8%, which is a solid number for him). Overall, in 60 games, he has 21 homers, 43 RBI, 56 runs, and 16 stolen bases in 18 attempts.
CF Everson Pereira: 0-for-1, 2 R, 2 SB (8), 4 BB
Pereira, who set a personal best for walks in a game, loves to swing but has six walks in his last two games. Go figure.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-4, 2B (21), SF, 3 RBI, R
Rumfield is up to .295 thanks to four multi-hit efforts in his last five games (10-for-21 with 10 RBI).
3B Jeimer Candelario: 1-for-5, 2 K
His first hit since being signed (1-for-12).
2B Nicky Lopez: 3-for-4, RBI, R, SB (1), BB
DH Jose Rojas: 1-for-5, R, K
SS Andrew Velazquez: 1-for-3, 2 R, SB (21), HBP, BB
LF Duke Ellis: 0-for-4, R, SB (10), BB, K
RHP Brendan Beck: 3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
Beck has reached a bump in the road after an incredible start (12.1 IP, 15 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 2 BB, 9 K in last three starts). Beck is up to 72.2 innings between here and Somerset after not pitching at all in 2024 (only 34 innings in 2023). My point is that fatigue/dead arm could be setting in.
RHP Baron Stuart: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Kervin Castro: (W, 4-0) 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
1.96 ERA (23 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 29 K)
RHP Zach Messinger: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Harrison Cohen (S, 3): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Somerset (44-39) (Outpitched past New Hampshire, 1-0)
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-4, RBI, K
Lombard Jr.’s RBI single in the 8th provides the only run.
C Rafael Flores: 0-for-3, K
DH Roc Riggio: 0-for-3, K
3B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3, 2 K
CF Brendan Jones: 0-for-2, BB, K
Since promotion: .248/.325/.416 in 117 PA (7 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 15 R, 5-for-6 SB, 11.1% BB, 19.7% K). After going 0-for-3 on June 26th, he was hitting .203/.256/.319.
1B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-3, K
LF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3, 3 K
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-2, R, BB, 2 K
2B Max Burt: 2-for-3, SB (9), K
RHP Trent Sellers: 5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 6 K
3.56 ERA (65.2 IP, 47 H, 29 R, 26 ER, 6 HR, 33 BB, 79 K). Last three starts: 15 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 9 BB, 19 K. Undrafted hidden gem? Maybe.
RHP Bailey Dees (W, 5-4): 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
As a reliever: 8 games, 2.37 ERA (19 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 19 K). In case you don’t know, Dees was a reliever until the Yankees tried him as a starter in 2024 and the first several weeks in 2025.
RHP Indigo Diaz (S, 2): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Hudson Valley (50-32) (Defeated Asheville, 7-2)
DH Jace Avina: 0-for-2, R, 2 HBP, BB, K
He hit four home runs the previous two nights and was hit by two pitches tonight. Coincidence? I think not!
CF Dillon Lewis: 1-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 K
RF Coby Morales: 1-for-5, RBI, R, SB (14), K
CF Jackson Castillo: 4-for-4, HR (4), RBI, 2 R, 3 SB (17)
Castillo, who earned his first career 4-hit game, is 12-for-28 in July and is up to .250/.345/.346 in 325 PA (13 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, 40 RBI, 38 R, 17-for-18 SB, 11.7% BB, 20% K). He was hitting .221/.318/.303 after going 0-for-4 on June 27th.
SS Alexander Vargas: 1-for-2, SF, RBI, R, HBP, 2 SB (10)
Vargas has an 18-game on-base streak (at least one hit in 17 of those games).
3B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, 2 K
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-3, BB, K
C Manuel Palencia: 2-for-4, RBI, R
Since promotion: 7-for-30 (.233) with a double and four RBI.
2B Duncan Pastore: 2-for-3, R, BB, K
LHP Griffin Herring: (W, 3-1) 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K
At this level: 2.21 ERA (40.2 IP, 31 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 1 HR, 16 BB, 38 K). Overall, he is up to 85.1 innings with a 96/32 K/BB. In his last outing, he also went 7 innings, giving up one run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts. A trip to Somerset is possible.
RHP Huey Morrill: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Between here and Somerset: 0.55 ERA (32.2 IP, 13 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 11 BB, 23 K).
RHP Bryce Warrecker: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
0.75 ERA (36 IP, 15 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 38 K). If you want me to nitpick, he struck out a lot of hitters in April/May (29 in 21.2 IP) and not so many since (9 in 14.1 innings).
Tampa (45-37) (Defeated Lakeland, 6-5)
DH Edgleen Perez: 1-for-3, R, 2 BB
Does it ever surprise you how hitters suddenly figure out a level? Again, the power isn’t there yet – but his approach is amazing and he is starting to earn some hits on top of the walks (63 in 72 games). The minor league leader in walks entering tonight was Ryan Jackson (SD) with 66 in 79 games.
SS Roderick Arias: 2-for-3, 2B (12), R, 2 BB
Arias is closing in on .200 (.196). He hasn’t cleared that hurdle all season.
C Engelth Urena: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, R, BB, 2 K
Urena has four 2-RBI games in his last nine games played (zero RBI in the other five games – baseball!)
CF Willy Montero: 2-for-5, RBI, 2 K
3B Juan Matheus: 0-for-3, SB (31), 2 BB, K
RF Wilson Rodriguez: 2-for-5, 2B (1), R, SB (2)
Since promotion: 6-for-21 (1 double, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 6 R, 2-for-2 SB, 4 BB, 1 K).
1B Hans Montero: 0-for-5, 3 K
LF Marshall Toole: 3-for-5, 2B (12), 3B (10), 2 RBI, R, K
Toole walks it off with an RBI single in the 9th. He is hitting .313/.417/.505 in 235 PA and is on a 9-game hitting streak (14-for-31; 2 doubles, 4 triples, 7 RBI, 7 R, 8 BB). Given the type of player Toole is, I sense he could become a favorite amongst prospect watchers. He is the first Yankees’ prospect to reach double digits in triples since Jorge Mateo hit 11 in 2017.
2B Owen Cobb: 1-for-4, 2B (7), RBI, K
LHP Xavier Rivas: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 7 K, 2 HR
Since promotion: 4.11 ERA (30.2 IP, 24 H, 16 R, 14 ER, 4 HR, 19 BB, 38 K).
RHP Gus Hughes: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Chris Veach: (W, 2-1) 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
FCL (24-24) (Defeated the FCL Tigers, 13-12, in ten innings. The Yankees blew a 12-5 lead in the 9th (yikes), but a win is a win. This game deserves a full boxscore)
SS Dexters Peralta: 3-for-5, SF, RBI, R, CS (3), K
It’s going to be a tough climb for Peralta, who was hitting .101/.212/.112 at the end of June. He is now hitting .143/.238/.171.
3B Enmanuel Tejeda: 2-for-2, 2B (2), BB
Tejeda is 4-for-10 on his rehab stint.
3B Kevin Verde: 1-for-2, SF, RBI
C Ediel Rivera: 2-for-4, 3 R, BB
.242/.340/.355 in 147 PA. He had a solid May and a rough June. Thus far, in July, he is 6-for-21 with a pair of doubles.
CF Isael Arias: 1-for-5, SF, 2 RBI, R, 2 SB (16), 2 K
1B John Cristino: 3-for-5, 2 RBI, R, BB, 2 K
Cristino has three multi-hit efforts in his last four games.
2B Luis Escudero: 0-for-4, SF, RBI, BB, K
Walk-off sacrifice fly.
LF Gabriel Lara: 0-for-4, R
LF-P Santiago Gomez: 0-for-1
He didn’t earn a hit, but he did something on the hill!
RF-LF Luis Puello: 2-for-4, HR (2), RBI, 3 R, K
DH Gabriel Terrero: 2-for-3, 2B (2), HR (3), 2 RBI, 3 R, SB (7), 2 BB, K
I would characterize this as a busy day! Terrero (19) is hitting .300/.360/.500 in 89 PA with three homers and 21 runs batted in.
P-RF Johan Contreras: 0-for-0
Pitcher/RF? This game went off the rails, folks.
RHP Jordarlin Mendoza: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
The 21-year-old was activated off the 60-day injured list today. His last appearance was on June 1, 2024.
RHP Jose M. Rodriguez: 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 3 K
Entering today, he walked 12 batters in 32.1 innings. Just one of those games, though he kept the damage somewhat limited. His ERA is 1.49 with a 38/18 K/BB over 36.1 innings.
RHP Chance Nolan: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Alexis Paulino: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K
As you can see, walking batters was a problem today.
LHP Pedro Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Johan Contreras: 0.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
I am not sure why Rodriguez wasn’t left in to get that final out. Contreras is not a pitcher, though he has five career appearances on the hill.
RHP Santiago Gomez (W, 2-0): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
That’s correct – the 21-year-old infielder has two wins this year. Not only did he earn the win, but he kept the ghost runner from scoring!
DSL Yankees (12-16) (Lost to DSL Miami, 6-5, in 11 innings)
SS Mani Cedeno: 0-for-4, HBP, BB, 2 K
.185/.371/.235 in 105 PA.
CF Francisco Vilorio: 1-for-5, 2B (3), 3 K
2B Carlos Bello: 1-for-6, R, K
3B Richard Matic: 1-for-4, 2B (8), HBP, K
Matic is maintaining his 1.000+ OPS (.311/.442/.568 in 95 PA; 8 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 21 R).
C Justin Capellan: 1-for-3, 2B (9), R, 2 HBP
LF Estivenzon Montero: 2-for-4, 2B (4), RBI, 2 R, BB, 2 K
Speaking of maintaining a 1.000+ OPS. Montero is hitting .347/.437/.600 in 87 PA (4 doubles, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 12 R). The 18-year-old had a nice debut season in 2024 (.242/.361/.364).
RF Angel Ventura: 2-for-5, RBI, 3 K
RHP Jhosneyker Colina: 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Colina (17) owns a 3.42 ERA in 23.2 IP (17 H, 12 R, 9 ER, 0 HR, 12 BB, 19 K)
RHP Varis Villarreal: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
DSL Bombers (14-14) (Defeated the DSL Marlins, 5-3)
SS Stiven Marinez: 1-for-2, R, 2 SB (15), BB, K
.280/.467/.347 in 105 PA (3 doubles, 1 triple, 0 HR, 9 RBI, 19 R, 15-for-19 SB, 26 BB, 23 K). If you are asking for a piece of advice (you aren’t): Don’t worry about home run totals in the DSL. Marinez is playing extremely well.
RF Jose Castro: 2-for-3, HR (3), 2 RBI, R, SB (4)
Meanwhile, Castro is 19 and in his second tour of this level. Not surprising that he would hit a few long balls.
2B Juan Torres: 1-for-2, R, SB (8), HBP
LF David Carrera: 1-for-3, R, SB (9)
1B Remy Veldhuisen: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, CS (1)
RHP Cesar Acosta: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
RHP Alexis Gonzalez (W, 2-0): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Kevin Centeno (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
The 19-year-old earns his first career save.