Yankees MILB 8/5: Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz Dominates
Notes:
Trade analysis links:
Jose Caballero/Camilo Doval (link)
David Bednar/Jake Bird (link)
Ryan McMahon (link)
Amed Rosario (link)
Austin Slater (link)
The Yankees promoted 2024 first-round pick Ben Hess to Somerset. The 22-year-old pitched to a 3.51 ERA and 94/33 K/BB over 66.2 innings for Hudson Valley. The Renegades have three active starters (Kyle Carr, Andrew Landry, and Cade Smith) on their roster. They will figure that out. You don’t stall a prospect’s development because of the void he will leave behind.
2025 draftees Kaeden Kent and Connor McGinnis were assigned to Hudson Valley today. In their debuts tonight, Kent played shortstop while McGinnis played second base.
The Yankees promoted C Engelth Urena to Hudson Valley. To replace him in Tampa, 19-year-old Ediel Rivera was promoted from the FCL. Urena wasn’t having a special year in Tampa (.208/.329/.331). This is likely a situation where they think Urena will start 2026 in Hudson Valley, so they want to give him a taste now.
With all this activity usually comes releases, which is the unfortunate part of the business. Somerset outfielders Jared Wegner and Cam Eden were both released today. Wegner, their 9th-round pick in 2023 (Arkansas), was hitting only .168/.262/.242 with two home runs in 47 games this season. Eden, who played in five games for the 2023 Blue Jays, was in his second year with the organization. In 26 games for Somerset, he hit .176/.247/.270. He was 6-for-9 stealing bases.
The Yankees signed RHP Kenta Maeda to a minor league deal. Signing Maeda to a 2-year, $24 million contract didn’t work out well for the Tigers, as he went 3-7 with a 6.21 ERA (5.04 FIP) over 120.1 innings. The Yankees are only on the hook for the prorated league minimum. After trading Carlos Carrasco and choosing to go with Cam Schlittler over Marcus Stroman, their pitching depth took a hit. Maeda will fill that void.
As for the demotion of Jake Bird, that’s how it goes sometimes. A few rough outings + having options + needing to find room for a returning pitcher makes that decision easier than you may think. While disappointing since he was recently acquired, the Yankees also see him as a long-term asset with enough relief depth to make this move now. We’ll see if the Yankees make any changes while he is away. Judging by his 3-game sample with the big club, it already appears as if the pitching gurus are going to ask him to emphasize his slider more. He used that pitch more than 50% of the time after he was acquired. I can’t tell you that Bird will become a worthwhile asset down the line. I can tell you that it’s impossible to know based on only three games.
Somerset, Hudson Valley, and Tampa played the Mets’ affiliates today and went 3-0.
Scranton (64-41; 26-7 in second half) (Defeated Lehigh Valley, 7-1)
2B Jorbit Vivas: 2-for-5, 2B (10), RBI, R, K
Vivas had zero extra-base hits in his last 25 games entering tonight.
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-2, 2 R, SB (11), HBP, 2 BB, K
Since promotion: 11.4% BB, 25.2% K, 11-for-12 SB. For Somerset this season, he had a 15.4% BB and 33.7% K.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-4, R, BB
C J.C. Escarra: 2-for-4, 2B (1), 3 RBI, R, BB
3B Jeimer Candelario: 1-for-4, 2B (10), 2 RBI, R, 2 K
DH Jose Rojas: 0-for-4, 3 K
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 1-for-3, 2B (10), RBI, K
De La Cruz was designated for assignment on July 31st. He cleared waivers and was outrighted to Scranton.
RF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-1
SS Braden Shewmake: 1-for-4
LF Duke Ellis: 2-for-4, R, K
Ellis’ crazy run continues. He has a 9-game hitting streak (19-for-32; .594).
RHP Brendan Beck: (W, 4-1) 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, HR
At this level: 4.35 ERA (39.1 IP, 33 H, 19 R, 19 ER, 9 HR, 10 BB, 34 K). Overall, Beck has tossed 93.2 innings between here and Somerset (Due to injuries, he pitched only 34 career innings before 2025, all in 2023.)
RHP Scott Effross: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
LHP Jayvien Sandridge: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Kervin Castro: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Somerset (56-47; 21-13 in second half) (Defeated Binghamton, 3-2. This was a battle between two pitchers who have shown off strikeout stuff this year. Binghamton starter Jonah Tong is the minor league leader in strikeouts. Somerset starter Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz entered the day 10th. Neither starter allowed a run.)
CF Brendan Jones: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
Since promotion: .247/.352/.457 in 193 PA (7 doubles, 3 triples, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 30 R, 10-for-13 SB, 14.5% BB, 19.2% K). Overall, he has 33 stolen bases in 40 attempts.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-4, SB (16), 2 K
Since promotion: .203/.320/.327 in 316 PA (12 doubles, 3 triples, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 46 R, 16-for-19 SB, 12.7% BB, 25% K). Remember when some on social media were clamoring for him to make the roster out of spring training? Pepperidge Farm remembers.
3B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3, BB, K
.283/.348/.467 in 399 PA (15 doubles, 6 triples, 13 HR, 54 RBI, 55 R, 0-for-2 SB, 7.5% BB, 21.3% K).
DH Jace Avina: 1-for-4, 2B (4), 2 K
Since promotion: .228/.353/.404 in 68 PA. He has four doubles and a pair of home runs.
RF Garrett Martin: 1-for-3, CS (3), BB, 2 K
1B Tyler Hardman: 2-for-4, R, 2 K
LF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
C Tomas Frick: 2-for-3
Since promotion: 7-for-22 (.318) with a double and a home run.
2B Max Burt: 0-for-1, R, SAC, BB, K
RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (W, 2-1): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K
Since promotion: 1.73 ERA (26 IP, 17 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 23 K). Overall: 2.13 ERA (109.2 IP, 69 H, 35 R, 26 ER, 2 HR, 43 BB, 122 K). Strikeouts, ground balls, keeping the ball in the ballpark. Three things you love to see.
RHP Indigo Diaz: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Danny Watson (S, 5): 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
6.23 ERA (39 IP, 49 H, 28 R, 27 ER, 6 HR, 7 BB, 41 K). Watson’s BABIP is high (.384). He has not allowed a walk in his last 26.2 innings (25 strikeouts)
Hudson Valley (62-38; 24-12 second half) (Defeated Brooklyn, 4-2)
CF Dillon Lewis: 1-for-4, HR (10), 2 RBI, R
Lewis has homered in back-to-back games and has five homers in his last 15 games. He is one home run away from a 20/20 campaign.
SS Kaeden Kent: 0-for-4, K
Kent’s professional debut. As a 21-year-old college bat (chosen in the third round), it isn’t a shock that they moved him straight to this level.
C Engelth Urena: 1-for-4
Urena’s High-A debut.
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-3, HBP
2B Connor McGinnis: 0-for-3, BB, K
McGinnis’s professional debut. The Yankees drafted the 22-year-old left-handed bat in the 10th round out of Houston.
LF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-4, R
DH Josh Moylan: 1-for-3, HR (6), 2 RBI, R, K
Moylan has homered in back-to-back games.
3B Alexander Vargas: 0-for-2, BB, K
RF Anthony Hall: 2-for-3, 2B (7), R
RHP Cade Smith: 3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Smith tossed 61 pitches tonight as he continues to build himself back up.
RHP Carson Coleman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
2.59 ERA (31.1 IP, 23 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 2 HR, 14 BB, 45 K)
RHP Ocean Gabonia: (W, 5-2) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Gabonia got off to a rough start (4 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 4 ER in April) but has been solid since, allowing only six earned runs in 24.2 IP (2.19 ERA).
RHP Tony Rossi (S, 6): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
At this level: 2.00 ERA (27 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 HR, 18 BB, 34 K)
Tampa (48-51; 12-22 in the second half) (Held off St. Lucie, 5-4)
3B Juan Matheus: 3-for-5, 2B (23), 2 RBI, 2 R
Matheus, who is on an 8-game hitting streak (13-for-35), has 24 multi-hit efforts in 2025, including six 3+-hit games.
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-5, 2 K
SS Roderick Arias: 3-for-5, 2 RBI, K
Arias is once again knocking on the .200 door (.197/.312/.302). It’s a number he hasn’t reached once this season.
LF Willy Montero: 2-for-5, 2 K
Montero is hitting .291/.317/.354 in 82 plate appearances.
RF Wilson Rodriguez: 2-for-4, 2 K
C Ediel Rivera: 0-for-4, 2 K
Rivera’s Low-A debut. The 19-year-old hit .229/.346/.346 in 185 FCL plate appearances. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Puerto Rico in 2024.
1B Tyler Wilson: 2-for-3, 2B (9), R, BB
CF Marshall Toole: 1-for-4, R, 3 K
DH Josue Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2B (8), R, K
LHP Henry Lalane: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Lalane tossed 45 pitches tonight, showing off incredible efficiency. He maxed out at 95 MPH, which is an encouraging sign (I don’t have full StatCast data, as Tampa doesn’t have that technology in their temporary home.)
RHP Jack Sokol: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
3.44 ERA (36.2 IP, 36 H, 21 R, 14 ER, 2 HR, 19 BB, 30 K)
RHP Cade Austin: (W, 5-1) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
2.79 ERA (42 IP, 35 H, 20 R, 13 ER, 4 HR, 18 BB, 44 K). He is up to 88.1 innings at this level after being drafted in the 19th round in the 2023 draft out of South Carolina.
RHP Chris Veach: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Jackson Fristoe (S, 2): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
FCL (28-30)
Their season is over.
DSL Yankees (20-26) (Lost to the DSL Cardinals, 10-2)
CF Francisco Vilorio: 1-for-4, BB
Vilorio is off to a slow August start (3-for-17) after a strong July (.309/.378/.420).
SS Mani Cedeno: 0-for-4, R, SB (20), BB, K
2B Carlos Bello: 3-for-4, 2B (7), RBI, R, K
Bello, a 17-year-old in his debut season, has three 3+-hit efforts.
3B Richard Matic: 0-for-2, HBP, BB, K
C Justin Capellan: 1-for-4, K
DH Isaias Castillo: 0-for-2, SB (11), 2 BB, K
RHP Jose Vargas: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
3.86 ERA (11.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 8 K). Vargas is 17 years old.
DSL Bombers (25-21) (Defeated DSL Colorado, 7-3)
SS Stiven Marinez: 2-for-5, R, K
.259/.413/.343 in 184 PA (7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 34 R, 20-for-26 SB, 20.1% BB, 23.4% K). To me, he’s done enough to get to the FCL in 2026.
2B Christofer Reyes: 2-for-3, 2B (6), R, 2 SB (24), CS (4), 2 BB, K
.252/.336/.330 in 131 PA
LF David Carrera: 2-for-3, SF, RBI, R, CS (6)
DH Richard Meran: 0-for-2, CS (5), 2 BB, K
3B Leni Done: 1-for-3, HR (3), 2 RBI, R, SB (11), CS (3), BB
.263/.392/.424 in 143 PA (8 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 28 R, 11-for-14 SB)
RF Angel Ventura: 1-for-4, 3B (2), R, 3 K
C Carlos Rondon: 2-for-4, RBI, R, K
RHP Diego Carrillo (W, 4-0): 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
3.60 ERA (30 IP, 24 H, 14 R, 12 ER, 4 HR, 13 BB, 23 K)
RHP Christopher Vasquez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K