Yankees MILB 8/11: Mani Cedeno Homers
Notes:
Trade analysis links:
Jose Caballero/Camilo Doval (link)
David Bednar/Jake Bird (link)
Ryan McMahon (link)
Amed Rosario (link)
Austin Slater (link)
MLB Pipeline posted their August update, which includes the 2025 draftees.
The Yankees placed four prospects on their Top 100, headlined by SS George Lombard Jr. (25th). Also making the list: RHP Carlos Lagrange (82), RHP Cam Schlittler (91), and OF Spencer Jones (92). Jones is an addition after their “trade deadline” update.
As for their Top 30, up next is RHP Bryce Cunningham. Their second-round pick in 2024 is ranked higher than their first-round pick (Ben Hess is 7th). Sandwiched between the two is another right-handed pitcher: Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. 2025 first-rounder Dax Kilby is 8th. Other 2025 draftees on the list are 2B/SS Kaeden Kent (13th), LHP Pico Kohn (15th), and SS Core Jackson (18th). All have appeared in my report except for Kohn, who was their 4th-round pick out of Alabama. You haven’t seen him yet because drafted pitchers don’t make same-season debuts at nearly the same rate as position players. SS Roderick Arias took an expected tumble, as he is down to 21st. Debuting teenage shortstops Mani Cedeno (22nd) and Stiven Marinez (30th) are likely where they should be at this stage in their careers. Marinez has outperformed Cedeno, but Cedeno is younger and entered the season with more prospect “shine.”
In recent times, their prospect list has included a decent number of catchers. With the trades of Rafael Flores, Jesus Rodriguez, and Edgleen Perez, they no longer have a catcher in the Top 30. You can make a case for Engelth Urena, but it’s not a massive snub. It’s hard to find any prospect whom I would label as an obvious snub.
I have no issues with the list. We can nitpick with rankings and whether their 35th-ranked prospect should be included over their 29th-ranked prospect. When you get down to that level, there is a list of several prospects to choose from, and it becomes a matter of personal preference. Would I place Rodriguez-Cruz over Cunningham? Probably, but we are talking about one spot in the rankings.
Scranton (67-44; 29-10 in second half)
Day off.
Right now, the second-half title is a two-horse race between Scranton and Syracuse, who are 29-10. They have one series left (August 26-31 in Scranton). Indianapolis has fallen off the pace (24-15) but can get back into it this week, as they play Scranton.
Somerset (58-50; 23-16 in second half)
Day off.
Somerset is 1.5 games up on Hartford in the race for the second-half title. Binghamton is ahead of both, but that is irrelevant since they won the first-half title.
Hudson Valley (65-40; 27-14 second half)
Day off.
At 65-40, the Renegades are having a fantastic season – one that can easily end without a playoff berth. Unfortunately for them, Brooklyn won the first-half tiebreaker over Greensboro. That’s important, as Greensboro is 31-11 in the second half. That would be irrelevant if they won the first half, but that’s how it goes.
Tampa (48-56; 12-27 in the second half)
Day off.
FCL (28-30)
Their season is over.
In case you are wondering, the DSL ends on August 19th. The Yankees have no shot at the playoffs. The Bombers still have a chance to make it into the 16-team field.
DSL Yankees (22-28) (Lost to the DSL Rockies, 9-8)
CF Francisco Vilorio: 1-for-4, 2B (9), 2 R, BB
SS Mani Cedeno: 3-for-5, 2B (5), 3B (3), HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 R, K
Cedeno falls a single short of the cycle. He is hitting .188/.379/.299 in 201 plate appearances but has started to show some pop in August (6-for-24 with two doubles, a triple, and two home runs).
2B Carlos Bello: 0-for-5, R, SB (13)
3B Richard Matic: 1-for-3, HR (5), 2 RBI, 2 R, SB (11), 2 BB
.343/.495/.579 in 188 PA. In his debut campaign, he hit .196/.333/.248 in 186 PA. He spent most of last season as a 16-year-old.
C Justin Capellan: 3-for-5, 2 RBI
41 games last year: .242/.365/.359 with a homer and 25 RBI. 41 games this year: .266/.380/.468 with six home runs and 36 RBI. He turned 19 on July 18th.
RF Estivenzon Montero: 1-for-5, RBI, K
.284/.378/.520 in 172 PA with eight home runs and 29 RBI.
DH Isaias Castillo: 0-for-5, 3 K
LF Wilberson De Pena: 1-for-4, 2 K
1B Diego Flores: 2-for-4, R, SB
RHP Manuel Cruz: 3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Emanuel Vargas: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
RHP Varis Villarreal (L, 4-3): 2.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, HR
DSL Bombers (26-24) (Lost to the DSL Nationals, 5-4. I say they still have a shot at the 16-team DSL Cup tournament, but hope is fading. They have fallen to 25th. That said, the team ranked 16th is 28-22. It will take a hot week and jumping over a bunch of teams, but it isn’t impossible.)
I am not sure why Stiven Marinez didn’t play, especially since they were off yesterday. Hopefully, it’s still just a routine day off.
CF Ruben Castillo: 0-for-4, BB, K
2B Christofer Reyes: 1-for-5, CS (5)
LF Jose Castro: 0-for-1, R, SB (14), 3 BB
2B Juan Torres: 2-for-4, SB (12)
Marinez has outperformed Cedeno, but Torres is outperforming both. The 17-year-old is hitting .338/.383/.482 in 154 PA in his debut campaign. Should he be somewhere in the Top 30? I wouldn’t argue against it.
C Carlos Villarroel: 1-for-4, CS (4)
DH David Carrera: 0-for-2, R, 2 BBRic
SS Leni Done: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 SB (14), BB, K
With the presence of Marinez, Done doesn’t get much time at shortstop. The 18-year-old has played well in his debut campaign: .275/.403/.443 in 159 PA with four homers and 26 RBI.
1B Remy Veldhuisen: 1-for-3, RBI, BB
RF Angel Ventura: 0-for-3, RBI, BB
RHP Alexander Almonte: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, HR
Almonte (18) has been consistent since making his professional debut last year: 3.48 ERA in 19 starts (72.1 IP, 62 H, 40 R, 28 ER, 5 HR, 32 BB, 69 K).
RHP Cesar Acosta (L, 1-5): 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K