Yankees MILB 8/14: Dillon Lewis’ Big Day
Notes:
Trade analysis links:
Jose Caballero/Camilo Doval (link)
David Bednar/Jake Bird (link)
Ryan McMahon (link)
Amed Rosario (link)
Austin Slater (link)
Released on August 3rd, UTIL Andrew Velazquez was re-signed today and assigned to Scranton. He didn’t sign anywhere else over the past several days.
Catcher-turned-pitcher Antonio Gomez was placed on the 7-day injured list today. Gomez, routinely hitting the high-90s and touching into the 100+ range, was (predictably) struggling with other aspects of pitching. Hopefully, this is just the Yankees shutting him down for a bit (possibly the rest of the season) and not a significant injury.
RHP Fernando Cruz and LHP Ryan Yarbrough are officially on rehab stints. When Cruz is ready, Yerry De los Santos (who has done a solid job, Wednesday night notwithstanding) is a logical demotion. Sorry to say it, but Cam Schlittler is the most logical to end up back in Scranton once Yarbrough is ready.
Scranton (68-46; 30-12 in second half) (Lost to Indianapolis, 9-6)
2B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-4, 2B (12), R, SB (11), HBP, 2 K
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-5, K
LF Spencer Jones: 1-for-5, R, 3 K
Jones has struck out 12 times in his last seven games.
DH Jose Rojas: 2-for-3, 2B (28), HR (22), 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, K
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 4-for-5, RBI
De La Cruz, known for his power that comes with little else, swats four singles tonight. It’s his first 4-hit effort at any level since May 22, 2023 (for Miami in Colorado). Interestingly, all of those hits were singles as well.
3B Jeimer Candelario: 0-for-5, 2 K
SS Braden Shewmake: 2-for-4, 3B (2), 2 R, HBP
C Rob Brantly: 1-for-4
Brantly’s first game since being signed.
CF Duke Ellis: 1-for-4, 2B (12), 2 RBI, 2 SB (24), K
July/August: 34-for-80 (.425) with 11 doubles and 21 runs. He has stolen 17 bases in 18 attempts.
LHP Ryan Yarbrough: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
He tossed 37 pitches tonight.
RHP Fernando Cruz: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Remember that the stats don’t matter during a rehab stint. He threw 14 splitters amongst his 21 pitches.
RHP Sean Boyle: (L, 7-9) 4.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Zach Messinger: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Messinger allowed both inherited runners to score.
RHP Bailey Dees: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Since promotion: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 5 K
Somerset (59-52; 24-19 in second half) (Lost to Portland, 3-2)
CF Brendan Jones: 1-for-3, BB
Since promotion: .235/.345/.428 in 223 PA
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-4, 2B (15), R, 2 K
Keep the extra-base hits coming! He has doubled in three of his last four games. His overall Somerset triple slash will not wow you (.207/.324/.347 in 349 PA), but I hope he can finish strongly.
3B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-4, RBI, R, K
.279/.348/.451 in 428 PA (15 doubles, 6 triples, 13 HR, 57 RBI, 58 R, 7.7% BB, 21.96% K). He is third in the Eastern League in hits and runs and fourth in RBI. Yes, I understand that he has been here all year, while others have not.
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-3, BB
RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-4
DH Jackson Castillo: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
Castillo is 2-for-17 since his promotion.
LF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-2, BB
C Tomas Frick: 0-for-3, K
2B Duncan Pastore: 0-for-3, K
LHP Brock Selvidge: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Selvidge needed an outing like this. For Somerset, he owns a 4.69 ERA in 48 IP (39 H, 27 R, 25 ER, 4 HR, 30 BB, 37 K). The walks are an issue (70 in 132.2 Double-A innings)
RHP Mason Vinyard: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Hayden Merda: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Merda’s chances to have a low Double-A ERA were crushed early after his promotion. However, after his ERA was 14.54 after games of July 5: 11 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 8 K
LHP Will Brian (L, 2-1): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
2.45 ERA (29.1 IP, 23 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 15 BB, 34 K)
RHP Cole Ayers: 0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
The game ended on a walk-off wild pitch.
Hudson Valley (67-41; 29-15 second half) (Destroyed Aberdeen, 10-1. If this team goes on a run to make the playoffs, the lineup accomplishing it is essentially Dillon Lewis, 2025 draftees, and kids recently promoted from Tampa.)
CF Dillon Lewis: 3-for-5, 2 2B (10), HR (11), 5 RBI, R, K
Lewis joins Spencer Jones in the organization’s 20/20 club (20 HR, 22 SB between here and Tampa). He has three 3-hit performances in his last seven games, and he is hitting .251/.321/.479 in 241 PA since his promotion. Overall, he is hitting .251/.322/.478 in 436 PA with 19 doubles, 5 triples, 20 HR, 74 RBI, 61 R, and 22 stolen bases in 24 attempts. He owned a high K% in Low-A, but has dropped it considerably at the higher level. He is a legit prospect to watch as he marches towards Somerset.
DH Engelth Urena: 0-for-3, BB
PH-DH Edison Vivas: 0-for-1
Vivas (19) has played in only 30 games in his 3-year minor league career. This was his first plate appearance in 2025.
3B Juan Matheus: 1-for-4, 2B (4), 2 R, BB, K
Matheus has 27 doubles and 37 stolen bases in 102 games between here and Tampa. The 21-year-old switch-hitter has played only third base since his promotion, but has experience at second base and shortstop as well.
SS Core Jackson: 2-for-4, 3B (1), RBI, 2 R, SB (1), BB
Jackson is making his hits count, as he has three doubles and a triple in his first seven professional games.
1B Tyler Wilson: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, BB
Wilson is 6-for-18 with a double in five games since his promotion.
RF Cam Troyer: 1-for-3, R, BB
Troyer is 4-for-17 with three walks and two strikeouts in his first five professional games.
LF Robbie Burnett: 1-for-3, R, BB
Burnett is only 2-for-13, but he has walked five times in five games.
2B Connor McGinnis: 0-for-3, RBI, R, BB, K
McGinnis is 2-for-17 to begin his professional journey.
C John Cristino: 2-for-4, 2B (2), 2 R, 2 K
LHP Kyle Carr (W, 6-6): 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
His strong season continues: 2.19 ERA in 107 innings (74 H, 35 R, 26 ER, 6 HR, 44 BB, 91 K). If you don’t include the traded Griffin Herring, he is second in the organization in ERA (behind Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz). He ranks 10th among all non-rookie league pitchers in that category.
RHP Matt Keating: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
2.93 ERA (40 IP, 30 H, 16 R, 13 ER, 1 HR, 17 BB, 46 K). Keating owns a 3.54 ERA in 67 games (109.1 innings) over the past two seasons at this level. Move him up!
RHP Carson Coleman: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
If it feels like Coleman is on a never-ending rehab assignment, I get it. The rehab clock likely reset at some point (he had a large gap of inactivity during this rehab stint). Does it matter? Not really as he isn’t on the 40-man roster and will likely just be assigned to Scranton when they think he is ready.
RHP Bryce Warrecker: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
2.08 ERA (47.2 IP, 29 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 2 HR, 11 BB, 50 K). He’s allowed some hits recently, and that is likely his BABIP normalizing (it’s now .241)
Tampa (52-57; 16-28 in the second half) (Split a doubleheader against Aberdeen)
Game 1 (Won, 4-1)
SS Dax Kilby: 1-for-3, R, SB (1)
Kilby, their first-round pick, earns his first professional hit and stolen base.
DH Roderick Arias: 1-for-2, R, CS (8), BB, K
1B Kyle West: 0-for-3, 2 K
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-3, RBI, R
CF Marshall Toole: 2-for-3, 3B (12), RBI, CS (5)
Toole’s 12 triples are the most in the organization since Hoy Park hit 12 in 2016. Up next is Jose Pirela, who swatted 13 in 2010. Going back 20 years, the high-water mark is 15, set by Dustin Fowler in 2016. He didn’t play in Game 2, so his stat line reads .300/.403/.483 in 315 plate appearances. He is the only Florida State League qualifier who is hitting .300 or better.
3B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 1-for-3, RBI
A little 4-game hitting streak for the 20th-round pick.
RF Wilson Rodriguez: 1-for-2, CS (2)
LF Richie Bonomolo Jr.: 0-for-1, SB (2), HBP, K
I will assume he left the game due to the HBP.
LF Eric Genther: 0-for-0
C Josue Gonzalez: 1-for-2, R, SB (9)
RHP Jose M. Martinez (W, 2-1): 5.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K
Since promotion: 2.97 ERA (15.2 IP, 12 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 10 BB, 11 K). The 21-year-old also pitched well in the FCL this season.
RHP Cade Austin: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
Game 2 (Lost, 16-7)
3B-2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, R
Tejeda is on a 4-game RBI streak. He is 13-for-59 (2 doubles, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 12 R, 18 BB, 8 K)
SS Roderick Arias: 2-for-4, 2B (17), RBI, R, 2 K
Arias has a 5-game hitting streak (16-for-50 with five doubles in August).
DH Kyle West: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, R, K
West has three multi-hit efforts in his last five games. He is hitting .257 in his first ten professional games.
3B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 0-for-0
LF Willy Montero: 1-for-4
CF Wilson Rodriguez: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
RF Eric Genther: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
1B Josue Gonzalez: 1-for-2, R, HBP
C Ediel Rivera: 1-for-3, RBI, R, K
Rivera is 5-for-22 since his promotion.
2B-P Hans Montero: 0-for-1, R, 2 BB
RHP Edinzo Marquez (L, 0-2): 2.2 IP, 9 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
We’ll pretend tonight didn’t happen.
RHP Jack Sokol: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Brady Kirtner: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Kirtner was activated off the injured list today. He owns a 2.61 ERA in 41.1 IP (27 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 2 HR, 20 BB, 47 K)
LHP Franyer Herrera: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Herrera’s Low-A debut. The 20-year-old was a consistent rookie league performer, pitching to a 2.23 ERA in 96.2 innings with a 116/34 K/BB. He threw a lot of sinkers tonight (65%), averaging 93.9 MPH while maxing out at 95.8. That works. He also threw a slider and a change.
RHP Hans Montero: 0.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
The 21-year-old utility player won’t be a 2-way star.
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 (22-30) (Lost to the DSL Tigers, 8-7)
CF Francisco Vilorio: 1-for-4, 2B (10), R, K
How often do “top” prospects stay in the DSL for multiple campaigns? I am sure I can find examples of MLB players who did it, especially position players who started at 16 or 17 and pitchers who stayed at this level even longer. In other words, I am not downgrading Vilorio much for spending two years here.
SS Mani Cedeno: 0-for-3, R, BB, 3 K
The most worrisome part of Cedeno’s debut campaign is the 35.4% strikeout rate. Contact skills *can* be developed, but it is something that can linger with prospects. He turned 17 years old today, so time is on his side.
C Justin Capellan: 1-for-2, RBI, 2 R, SB (16), 2 BB
DH Estivenzon Montero: 2-for-3, RBI, R, CS (4), HBP
RF Wilberson De Pena: 0-for-2, R, SB (8), CS (2), BB
De Pena is 2-for-19 with a 3-for-4 SB rate since being acquired for Oswald Peraza.
RHP Rafael Arias: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
DSL Bombers (28-24) (Defeated the DSL Rangers Blue, 7-1 in a 5-inning game. The Bombers are tied for 19th in the league standings. The team ranked 16th is currently 29-23. They are very much in it.)
SS Stiven Marinez: 1-for-2, 2 R, SB (22), BB, K
Marinez’s time away lasted two games. He is on a 9-game hitting streak (15-for-35) and is hitting .276/.425/.378. I would be disappointed if he isn’t in the Opening Day lineup for the FCL squad in 2026.
CF Ruben Castillo: 1-for-3, 3B (5), 2 RBI, R
The 17-year-old has shown some extra-base power (8 doubles, 5 triples, 3 HR) and speed (20-for-29 SB).
LF Jose Castro: 0-for-2, 2 RBI, R, 2 SB (16), BB
1B Remy Veldhuisen: 1-for-2, HR (1), RBI, R, K
Veldhuisen, who is already 20, launches his first professional home run. Congrats!
DH Angel Ventura: 0-for-0, 2 R, SB (19), 2 BB
LHP Kevin Centeno: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
LHP Ronald Tejada (W, 2-3): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K