Yankees MILB 8/20: Spencer Jones Hits #31

Notes:

Trade analysis links:
Jose Caballero/Camilo Doval (link)
David Bednar/Jake Bird (link)
Ryan McMahon (link)
Amed Rosario (link)
Austin Slater (link)

Today was another promotion day in the system.

LHP Geoffrey Gilbert and RHP Huey Morrill, two key cogs in a dominant Hudson Valley bullpen, were promoted to Somerset. Morrill made one appearance for Somerset earlier this season.

Replacing them in Hudson Valley are right-handed pitchers Brady Kirtner and Jack Cebert. The 23-year-old Kirtner pitched to a 2.59 ERA in 30 relief appearances for Tampa. Cebert was the Yankees’ 15th-round pick in the 2025 draft out of Texas Tech (he spent three years at South Florida before transferring). While he was assigned to the FCL after the draft (paper move), he has yet to make his professional debut.

RHP Ty Boudreau was assigned to Tampa. Also out of Texas Tech, the 22-year-old Canadian was signed as an undrafted free agent. He spent most of his college years pitching for Sylvan Lake, a Canadian summer collegiate league squad.

You know the drill by now: With roster shuffling comes unfortunate releases.

The Yankees released RHP Luis Pacheco and LHP Ryan AndersonThe Yankees signed Pacheco in 2024, giving him his first taste of affiliated baseball since 2019, when he was a member of the Phillies organization.

Anderson was with the organization for a while. Drafted in the 12th round in the 2019 draft, he pitched to a 4.46 ERA in 252.1 minor league innings. He made it as high as Scranton (two games) but spent the majority of the last three seasons in Somerset.

I am not ignoring the Core Jackson story. It needs a separate blog post, which I am working on. Hopefully, I will have something to post tomorrow.  Bottom line? There’s no place for that, and using “I was stupid” as an excuse insults everyone’s intelligence.

Injury Log


Scranton (70-47; 32-14 in second half) (Lost to Buffalo, 4-1)

2B Jorbit Vivas1-for-4
Vivas is 17-for-64 (.266/.422/.313) in August. I mentioned a few weeks ago that he can settle into a role as a shuttle infielder. As someone mentioned to me, he is out of options after 2025. Hence, scratch that idea. 
1B T.J. Rumfield0-for-3, BB, K
.305/.392/.495 in 477 PA. 
CF Spencer Jones1-for-4, HR (15), RBI, R, K
This bomb went 443 feet at 111.2 MPH. At this level: 295/.368/.628. Overall: .284/.379/.610 in 390 PA (15 doubles, 31 HR, 66 RBI, 83 R, 25-for-29 SB, 12.6% BB, 31.3% K).
DH Brennen Davis0-for-4, K
Of all their minor league signings last winter, Davis was the most intriguing. Injuries have derailed his 2025 campaign (and have been a problem throughout his career). He is hitting .321/.381/.750 in 63 plate appearances at this level.
LF Jose Rojas0-for-3, SB (10), CS (1), BB, K
Rojas reaches double digits in stolen bases for the first time since 2018.
3B Jeimer Candelario0-for-4, 2 K
SS Braden Shewmake1-for-2, K
   SS Andrew Velazquez0-for-1
C Omar Martinez0-for-2, BB, K
Martinez is hitting .242/.350/.333 in 40 plate appearances since his promotion. In 92 games between three levels, he is at .227/.325/.373 in 385 plate appearances.

LHP Ryan Yarbrough (L, 0-1): 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Yarbrough was pulled after 50 pitches. He is likely close to his return.
LHP Jayvien Sandridge0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Jake Bird0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
No, I am not surprised that Allan Winans was called up instead of Bird. I think they are doing a hard reset with Bird. Additionally, it makes sense to bring up someone who can give you bulk innings.
RHP Ian Hamilton1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
Hamilton’s Triple-A ERA is an unsightly 9.64 (9.1 innings). If he is working on something, that’s fine; however, Hamilton has dropped off considerably after being one of their many bullpen surprises.
RHP Baron Stuart2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K


Somerset (61-54; 26-20 in second half) 

Their game against Hartford was postponed. They will try to play a doubleheader tomorrow.


Hudson Valley (69-42; 31-16 second half)

Their doubleheader against Jersey Shore was postponed. It’s been raining down here all day. They will attempt a doubleheader tomorrow. As of now, the second game hasn’t been rescheduled.


Tampa (55-59; 19-30 in the second half) (Swept Ft. Myers in a doubleheader)

Game 1 (Won, 15-4)

SS Dax Kilby2-for-4, 2B (2), 2 R, SB (3), BB
Kilby is 6-for-17, including back-to-back multi-hit efforts, since his 0-for-9 start.
3B Roderick Arias0-for-4, R, SB (29), BB, 2 K
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-5, RBI, R, K
CF Marshall Toole4-for-5, RBI, 3 R, 4 SB (42)
Toole sets personal bests for hits and stolen bases in a game. I guess he was too tired to play in Game 2. His numbers: .307/.408/.491 in 333 PA (13 doubles, 12 triples, 5 HR, 45 RBI, 59 R, 42-for-47 SB, 13.8% BB, 20.4% K). He is the first Yankees’ minor leaguer to clear 40 stolen bases since Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez in 2023. I never claimed it was long ago.  As for 50 stolen bases, that wasn’t long ago either: Anthony Volpe stole exactly 50 in 2022.
1B Jackson Lovich3-for-4, 2B (2), 3B (1), 2 RBI, 4 R, SB (1), BB
Lovich follows up his 4-hit debut with a 3-hit effort.
DH Richie Bonomolo Jr.: 1-for-3, 2B (2), 2 R, 2 BB
RF Willy Montero3-for-4, 5 RBI, R
Montero’s second career 5-RBI effort (2022).
LF Eric Genther2-for-3, HR (1), 3 RBI, R, HBP, BB
Genther’s first professional home run. He joins Kaeden Kent in the “Home runs by 2025 draftees” club (technically, Genther was an undrafted free agent).
C Ediel Rivera0-for-4, BB, K

RHP Sunayro Martina4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 1 K
Martina maxed at 94.3 MPH (generated six whiffs on 18 swings against his 4-seamer). He heavily features his fastball and curve.
RHP Jackson Fristoe (W, 5-2): 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Fristoe reached 96.6 with his 4-seam fastball today.
RHP Jordarlin Mendoza1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Mendoza looks like a sinker/slider type (84% of his pitches today). He generated three whiffs with the slider.

Game 2 (Won, 4-0)

DH Dax Kilby0-for-2, 2 SB (5), CS (1), 2 BB
Methinks Kilby is starting to settle into being a professional baseball player. If there weren’t questions about his ability to stick at shortstop, he likely goes earlier in the draft – but those questions exist, so it could come down to whether his bat can “carry” at a less demanding defensive position. Reports are favorable.
SS Roderick Arias2-for-4, CS (9)
2B Enmanuel Tejeda1-for-3, R, BB
Tejeda is on an 8-game hitting streak that features eight 1-hit efforts (8-for-32; 4 BB, 2 K). 
CF Willy Montero0-for-3, BB, K
1B Jackson Lovich1-for-4, RBI, SB (2), 2 K
You mean he wasn’t going to be able to keep up a 7-for-8 pace?  I guess he will accept 8-for-12.
3B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek0-for-2, R, 2 SB (3), 2 BB, K
9-for-36 with five walks. 
RF Richie Bonomolo Jr.: 1-for-2, 2 R, SB (3), BB
The Yankees drafted a Richie and signed an undrafted Robbie in July. These sound like kids who were hanging out playing stickball in the 1970s.
C Josue Gonzalez0-for-3
LF Hans Montero: 2-for-2, 2B (11), 3B (1), 2 RBI, SB (18), BB

RHP Ty Boudreau1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Boudreau’s professional debut. He reached 94 MPH with his 4-seam fastball. He also featured a curve, slider, and change-up.
RHP Mariano Salomon: (W, 1-4)  4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Since promotion: 4.71 ERA (28.2 IP, 26 H, 16 R, 15 ER, 5 HR, 9 BB, 24 K)
RHP Cole Zaffiro1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
His first appearance since July 26th.
RHP Gus Hughes1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K


FCL (28-30)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (24-32)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (31-25)

Their season is over.



category : Minor League Reports, Yankees

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