Yankees MILB 8/30: Brendan Beck Strikes out 9
Notes:
Trade analysis links:
Jose Caballero/Camilo Doval (link)
David Bednar/Jake Bird (link)
Ryan McMahon (link)
Amed Rosario (link)
Austin Slater (link)
A question I received last night was about Hans Montero and Willy Montero and their prospect status.
Hans is one of the most expensive players in the system. He cost $1.7M and was handed the organization’s highest signing bonus in 2021. Montero was signed as a shortstop but hasn’t played there in 2025 (only two starts there in 2024). It’s never a good thing when an organization takes a player away from a premium position. Can he still make it as a multi-position player? I don’t rule anything out for a player as young as he is. He is hitting better in Tampa this year than he did last, but is still repeating the same level.
Willy doesn’t have the big bonus attached to him. Last night, I mentioned that power isn’t his thing (he hit his first home run of the season). That is the issue because Montero’s power was often cited as one of his better attributes. In 2023, as an 18-year-old, he put his name on the map with a .331/.389/.436 campaign for the FCL squad. His stint in Low-A Tampa hasn’t been kind. Entering tonight, in 159 games, he was hitting .253/.314/.353 with 28 doubles and 8 home runs for Tampa.
A third Montero (Fidel Montero) was a mid-range international signing who lasted four seasons in the organization (2021-2024) before being released. The White Sox signed him and turned him into a pitcher.
A new Montero has also entered the chat. Estivenzon Montero is an 18-year-old outfielder with a .268/.375/.451 line in 77 DSL games. We should see him in the FCL in 2026.
That’s the Montero Update you never asked for.
Scranton (77-51; 39-17 in second half) (Lost to Syracuse, 2-0. Syracuse is now four games back in the second-half title race.)
2B Jorbit Vivas: 2-for-3, BB
It’s been an interesting month for Vivas, who is drawing walks (21; .392 OBP) but has shown little power (four doubles; .290 SLG). Unless he is about to go on a strikeout binge, he is likely to end his Scranton campaign with more walks (he has 57) than strikeouts (38). While he didn’t hit much in his first taste of MLB, his strikeout rate was reasonable (19.7%).
C J.C. Escarra: 0-for-3, BB
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
Jones is hitting .278/.347/.582 in 222 plate appearances for Scranton. There is no hiding that he hasn’t been good in August (.178/.250/.308 with 45 strikeouts and nine walks. His strikeout rate this month is 37.5%).
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-4, 2 K
Rumfield is down to .290/.380/.465 in 518 PA. A solid season, obviously – just not quite where he was earlier this month.
DH Jose Rojas: 0-for-4, K
3B Jeimer Candelario: 1-for-3, BB, K
SS Braden Shewmake: 0-for-4, 2 K
RF Ismael Munguia: 1-for-3, K
LF Duke Ellis: 0-for-2, BB, 2 K
RHP Brendan Beck (L, 7-2): 7 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, HR
This is what you call a tough-luck loss. Beck, who pitched seven innings for the first time in his career, owns a 4.26 ERA in 61.1 innings since his promotion (47 H, 29 R, 29 ER, 12 HR, 17 BB, 53 K) and owns a 105/29 K/BB over 115.2 innings overall. As stated many times, Beck doesn’t throw hard for a modern pitcher (he can dial it up into the 93-94 range). If he can stay healthy, a bottom-of-the-rotation innings eater is somewhere he can settle in.
LHP Jayvien Sandridge: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Harrison Cohen: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
A rare hiccup for Cohen.
Somerset (64-61; 29-27 in second half) (Lost to Binghamton, 2-1)
Hartford lost to Portland, so both teams are 1.5 games behind Somerset in the race for a playoff berth.
Somerset’s season ends on September 14th.
2B George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
The batting average isn’t there this month, but he has shown off some pop (6 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR) and patience (19 walks).
3B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-4, 2 K
Jasso has hit safely in eight of his last nine games.
CF Brendan Jones: 1-for-4, 2B (11), R, 2 K
Jones is at .250/.357/.436 in 280 PA at this level. He had a .362 SLG for Hudson Valley.
1B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-3, 3B (4), RBI, BB, 2 K
LF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, K
SS Jake Gatewood: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
DH Coby Morales: 0-for-3, BB, K
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-4, K
RF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3, K
RHP Carlos Lagrange: (L, 5-6) 3.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 6 K
Lagrange can be an adventure at times. He owns a 3.74 ERA in 67.1 innings at this level, which is fine, as are the 89 strikeouts. The issue? 47 walks. I would place him somewhere on the 2026 depth chart but work is needed.
RHP Danny Watson: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
5.29 ERA (51 IP, 58 H, 31 R, 30 ER, 6 HR, 8 BB, 50 K). His BABIP is an elevated .356 and he continues to show off impeccable control.
RHP Indigo Diaz: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Michael Arias: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K
Hudson Valley (74-48; 36-22 second half) (Lost to Brooklyn, 5-4)
Greensboro lost and owns a 3-game lead over Hudson Valley for the second-half title. It would be nice to cut it to two games heading into next week’s season-ending series, but they definitely don’t want it to be four.
DH Dillon Lewis: 2-for-4, HR (13), RBI, R, 2 K
Lewis is hitting .242/.328/.457 at this level. Since coming up to Hudson Valley, he isn’t showing any major split advantage (.246/.321/.469 vs. RHP and .242/.346/.451 vs. LHP)
3B Juan Matheus: 1-for-4, BB, K
SS Kaeden Kent: 0-for-5, 2 K
1B Josh Moylan: 2-for-5, R, K
Moylan has three multi-hit efforts in his last four games. After a tough start to his campaign, he hit .281/.387/.422 in July and is hitting .272/.378/.420 in August.
PR Owen Cobb: 0-for-0
CF Camden Troyer: 0-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K
The 23-year-old hasn’t shown much pop in his first 15 professional games, but does have a .350 OBP.
LF Luis Durango: 0-for-4, K
2B Connor McGinnis: 2-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, 2 K
McGinnis earns his first professional extra-base hit (7-for-41).
RF Robbie Burnett: 1-for-4, RBI, K
C John Cristino: 1-for-4, 2B (3), 3 K
RHP Andrew Landry: (L, 2-4) 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
At this level: 4.58 ERA (37.1 IP, 29 H, 19 R, 19 ER, 2 HR, 23 BB, 31 K). For Tampa, he owned a 4.59 ERA in 68.2 innings.
RHP Matt Keating: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Brady Kirtner: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Tampa (60-61; 24-32 in the second half) (Defeated Bradenton, 9-4. They are making a strong run at .500)
Tampa’s season ends on September 7th.
SS Dax Kilby: 0-for-4, R, BB
Kilby has reached base safely in 11 straight games.
3B Roderick Arias: 0-for-5, K
DH Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-3, 2 R, HBP, K
CF Marshall Toole: 2-for-3, 2 R, BB
Toole is hitting .309 with a .902 OPS. Last five games: 9-for-20.
2B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 1-for-4, 2B (2), 3 RBI, R
Martin-Grudzielanek has been productive (14 RBI in 19 games). He has hit well with RISP in his brief career.
LF Richie Bonomolo Jr.: 0-for-3, RBI, R, BB
RF Willy Montero: 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB
C Ediel Rivera: 0-for-3, RBI, R, SB (5), HBP, K
1B Hans Montero: 1-for-2, HR (10), 3 RBI, R, SB (23), BB, K
Well, if Hans wants to have nights like these, he will jump back on the radar. This is his first career double-digit home run campaign.
LHP Henry Lalane: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, HR
1.88 ERA (14.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 16 K)
RHP Sunayro Martina: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HR
LHP Franyer Herrera: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Since promotion: 8.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K
RHP Ty Boudreau: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Chris Veach: 1 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.