Yankees MILB 8/17: Ben Hess: 6 Scoreless Innings
Notes:
Trade analysis links:
Jose Caballero/Camilo Doval (link)
David Bednar/Jake Bird (link)
Ryan McMahon (link)
Amed Rosario (link)
Austin Slater (link)
SS Jackson Lovich isn’t in Scranton after all. My “gut” was telling me that it was a weird assignment, but I also know teams sometimes move players to advanced levels if they have an emergency need. Anyway, erase that from your memory – he was never assigned to Scranton and is instead in Tampa.
RHP Jonathan Loaisiga began his rehab stint today. The Yankees have three pitchers on rehab stints (Loaisiga, Ryan Yarbrough, and Fernando Cruz), which will make for interesting roster decisions in the coming days. Yesterday, I mentioned three possibilities, and they may be the three demotions: Yerry De los Santos, Cam Schlittler, and Brent Headrick. We’ll cross that bridge and all that jazz.
Scranton (70-47; 32-13 in second half) (Defeated Indianapolis, 7-5)
The Railriders end the week with a 1-game lead over Syracuse for the second-half title. Indianapolis had a chance to get into the mix, but needed to do more than split the 6-game series.
3B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-3, R, BB
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, HR (15), 3 RBI, R
.308/.393/.499 in 473 PA (30 doubles, 1 triple, 15 HR, 82 RBI, 73 R, 4-for-6 SB, 11.4% BB, 16.5% K). Can he reach 100 RBI? The Triple-A schedule is longer than other levels, so it’s possible. So far, one minor leaguer has reached that plateau: Ryan Ward (LAD) has 105. He’s the “professional minor league hitter” I have mentioned many times this season.
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, 2B (7), R, K
Jones has hit safely in five of his last seven games. He’s only 6-for-31 during this timeframe, but we are looking for any little sign that he is starting to break out of his malaise.
2B Jose Rojas: 1-for-3, 2B (30), RBI, R, BB, K
Speaking of 100 RBI, it is Rojas who leads the Yankees’ organization with 84.
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 2-for-4, 3B (1), R, 2 K
De La Cruz has four multi-hit efforts in his last five games.
DH Jeimer Candelario: 1-for-3, 2B (13), SF, 2 RBI, R, K
SS Braden Shewmake: 1-for-4, RBI, K
C Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, R, 3 K
LF Duke Ellis: 1-for-3, SB (26)
Ellis has calmed down a tad, but he is 20-for-46 (.435) in August with a perfect 10-for-10 stolen base rate. Your reminder that he hit .390 in July.
RHP Erick Leal: (W, 8-9) 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Baseball is a funny game: Indianapolis crushed Leal on Tuesday (4 IP, 7 H, 6 R)
RHP Jonathan Loaisiga: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Fernando Cruz: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
His two rehab appearances haven’t gone well statistically – but as long as he is healthy…
RHP Scott Effross (S, 2): 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Somerset (61-53; 26-20 in second half) (Defeated Portland, 4-3, in ten innings)
Hartford has fallen off considerably, giving Somerset a comfortable lead in the second-half race (4.5 games). This is a big week for the race, as Somerset and Hartford begin a 6-game series on Tuesday. Portland is 5.5 games behind.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-4, R, BB, 3 K
As stated on the YES broadcast, Lombard Jr. has been good after a slow start here. It is important to note that he was still a teenager when he was promoted here. Patience.
CF Jace Avina: 0-for-4, 3 K
RF Brendan Jones: 1-for-4, 2B (8), RBI, CS (4), 2 K
I think Jones has a good chance to become a Major League player. What role that is (and for which team) is to be determined.
3B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-4, 2 K
PR-2B Duncan Pastore: 0-for-0, R
1B Tyler Hardman: 2-for-3, 2B (20), R, BB, K
LF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-3, HR (1), 3 RBI, R, BB
Castillo’s first Double-A home run was a big one – a 3-run blast in the top of the 10th.
C Tomas Frick: 0-for-2, 2 BB
DH Coby Morales: 0-for-4, 3 K
2B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-4, 2 K
RHP Ben Hess: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K
After allowing six runs over nine innings in his first two Somerset starts, Hess shows us why he was last year’s first-round selection. Overall, he has 109 strikeouts in 81.2 innings.
LHP Will Brian: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
At this level: 2.37 ERA (30.1 IP, 23 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 15 BB, 34 K)
RHP Hayden Merda: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Merda has impressed lately (one run allowed in last 12 innings).
RHP Kelly Austin: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Luis Pacheco: (W, 3-1) 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Mason Vinyard (S, 2): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Hudson Valley (69-42; 31-16 second half) (Avenged being no-hit yesterday by squeaking out a 1-0 win over Aberdeen today)
The Renegades are playing .622 ball this season, but the playoffs remain out of reach. Greensboro has a 3-game lead for the second-half title.
DH Dillon Lewis: 2-for-4, 2B (11), R, K
Lewis is a proud member of the 20/20/20 club (20 doubles, 20 HR, 23 stolen bases). Those numbers show you why people are intrigued by his talent.
SS Kaeden Kent: 0-for-4
Kent continues to struggle (3-for-35 with a homer). As I keep saying, I don’t worry much about what the 2025 draftees do as they get their feet wet. Next year? Yeah, more telling.
3B Juan Matheus: 0-for-3, BB, K
Since promotion: .275/.341/.475 in 44 PA (5 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBI).
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-2, SF, RBI
His 6th inning sacrifice fly was all that was needed today.
CF Camden Troyer: 1-for-3, CS (1)
Troyer is 5-for-24 with a double to begin his professional journey.
RF Luis Durango: 0-for-1, 2 SB (8), BB
RF Robbie Burnett: 0-for-1, K
LF Joe Delossantos: 0-for-2, SB (2), BB, 2 K
C John Cristino: 0-for-3, 3 K
2B Owen Cobb: 1-for-3
RHP Cade Smith: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
At this level: 2.50 ERA in 18 IP (11 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 19 K). He tossed 64 pitches today (missed most of the season to injury.)
RHP Matt Keating: (W, 3-1) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
2.79 ERA (42 IP, 30 H, 16 R, 13 ER, 1 HR, 18 BB, 49 K)
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.55 ERA (35.1 IP, 23 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 17 BB, 51 K)
RHP Bryce Warrecker (S, 4): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
2.03 ERA (48.2 IP, 29 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 51 K). As you can see, the bullpen has been a big reason for Hudson Valley’s success.
Tampa (53-59; 17-30 in the second half) (Defeated Dunedin, 7-5)
I have nothing to offer about their playoff chances, which is painfully obvious.
SS Dax Kilby: 2-for-5, 2B (1), 2 RBI, R
Kilby swats his first professional extra-base hit (also his first multi-hit game). After starting 0-for-9, he is 4-for-13.
3B Roderick Arias: 1-for-3, RBI, BB, K
DH Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-3, R, BB
Tejeda’s stroke isn’t back yet, but the walks continue to pile up (19 in 22 games at this level). He hit .310 in 43 games at this level before his injury in 2024.
CF Marshall Toole: 0-for-3, BB, K
RF Wilson Rodriguez: 0-for-3, K
I am not sure why Rodriguez left the game.
RF Eric Genther: 0-for-1
2B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
LF Willy Montero: 1-for-4, RBI, R
1B Jackson Lovich: 4-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, 3 R
Maybe they should have started him in Triple-A! This is as good as it gets for a professional debut. As stated yesterday, he is listed as a shortstop but is likely more of a player who moves around the diamond.
C Ediel Rivera: 1-for-4, RBI
LHP Allen Facundo: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
Facundo reached 97.2 MPH. A lefty throwing this hard deserves attention in prospect circles. He owns a 2.92 ERA in 24.2 innings since his promotion (20 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 27 K)
RHP Brady Kirtner: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Cade Austin: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Franyer Herrera (W,1-0): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Since promotion: 4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
RHP Chris Veach (S, 7): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.59 ERA (48.2 IP, 39 H, 22 R, 14 ER, 5 HR, 26 BB, 64 K). The 23-year-old has put together a solid debut campaign.
FCL (28-30)
Their season is over.
The DSL ends on Tuesday. Can the Bombers secure a spot in the DSL Cup Tournament with two games remaining? 13 squads have clinched, leaving three openings. The team currently in 16th position is 30-24. The Bombers are 29-25. One thing I am not factoring into my analysis is division winners (8) vs. wild-card entrants (8). I am not digging that deeply into it. Bottom line? Win Monday and Tuesday and see what happens.
DSL Yankees (23-31)
Day off.
DSL Bombers (29-25)
Day off.