Yankees MILB 9/2: Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz: 6 Shutout Innings
Notes:
Trade analysis links:
Jose Caballero/Camilo Doval (link)
David Bednar/Jake Bird (link)
Ryan McMahon (link)
Amed Rosario (link)
Austin Slater (link)
Nothing to report. Maybe they move someone from Hudson Valley to Somerset for the final week of the Double-A season, but, for the most part, I wouldn’t expect newsworthy items over the final few weeks.
Scranton (78-52; 40-18 in second half) (Outlasted Worcester, 8-7. The Railriders were down, 5-0, entering the top of the 6th. A 7-run 7th inning was the key to the comeback.)
Syracuse lost, so Scranton owns a 4-game lead over the Mets for the second-half crown. Toledo also lost, so they are five games out. The season ends on September 21.
LF Austin Slater: 1-for-3, R, BB, 2 K
Slater still has yet to play a full game in the field. For now, J.C. Escarra is with the big club.
PH-LF Ismael Munguia: 1-for-1, 2B (11)
2B Jorbit Vivas: 2-for-5, 2B (15), 3 RBI, R, K
Vivas has five 3-RBI efforts this season.
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-5, 2B (10), 2 RBI, 4 K
A big 2-run double in the middle of his four-strikeout night.
DH Brennen Davis: 1-for-4, RBI, R, HBP, 2 K
PR-DH Duke Ellis: 0-for-0
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-5, K
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 1-for-4, R, K
3B Jeimer Candelario: 1-for-3, RBI, R, BB, K
C Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, R, K
SS Braden Shewmake: 1-for-4, 3B (4), RBI, R, K
RHP Sean Boyle: 4 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 2 HR
RHP Jake Bird: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Wilking Rodriguez: (W, 2-1) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
3.80 ERA (21.1 IP, 16 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 3 HR, 20 BB, 31 K)
RHP Harrison Cohen: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
At this level: 1.88 ERA (24 IP, 12 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 13 BB, 24 K)
RHP Kervin Castro: (S, 4) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Somerset (65-62; 30-28 in second half) (Shut down New Hampshire, 1-0)
Hartford (0.5 games back) and Portland (1.5 games back) also won.
Somerset’s season ends on September 14th.
CF Brendan Jones: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, K
Jones has a 14.9% walk rate since his promotion.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 2-for-4, 2B (19), RBI, SB (20), K
With two outs in the bottom of the 8th, Jones drew a walk, followed by a Lombard Jr. double to score the game’s only run.
LF Jace Avina: 0-for-4, 2 K
DH Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-3
RF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-3
Castillo has a big extra-inning home run on his Double-A resume, but it has otherwise been a struggle (7-for-49; 1 double, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, 4 BB, 14 K)
3B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-3, K
C Manuel Palencia: 0-for-3, K
2B Duncan Pastore: 1-for-3
RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K
For Somerset: 2.81 ERA (51.1 IP, 38 H, 19 R, 16 ER, 2 HR, 16 BB, 59 K). Overall, the 22-year-old owns a 2.47 ERA in 135 innings (90 H, 46 R, 37 ER, 3 HR, 53 BB, 158 K). Rodriguez-Cruz slowed down in his previous three starts (11 runs in 13.1 innings, though the strikeout rate was still strong), so it is nice to see him bounce back tonight.
RHP Baron Stuart (W, 1-2): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Carson Coleman (S, 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Not the most important number ever, but Coleman is 26-for-30 (86.7%) converting saves in his minor league career.
Hudson Valley (76-48; 38-22 second half) (Shut down Greensboro, 4-0)
I missed a half-game somewhere. Instead of pulling within two games of Greensboro’s lead, Hudson Valley is now 2.5 games out with five games to go. Does it matter? No. They will still need to go 4-1 the rest of the week to take the second-half championship.
3B Juan Matheus: 1-for-4, RBI, CS (2), BB, K
At this level: .239/.356/.352 in 104 PA (14.4% BB; 19.2% K).
CF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-4
2B Core Jackson: 0-for-3, BB, K
SS Kaeden Kent: 1-for-4, R
C Engelth Urena: 2-for-4, 2B (3), RBI, R
As noted previously, Urena has been struggling since his promotion. This is his first multi-hit game as a member of the Renegades. Let’s see if he can finish off the season with a little hot streak.
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, K
RF Camden Troyer: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
DH Connor McGinnis: 1-for-3, RBI, BB, 2 K
8-for-44 (.182) with six walks and 14 strikeouts.
LF Luis Durango: 1-for-2, SAC, BB
RHP Brandon Decker: (W, 2-1) 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K
4.39 ERA (26.2 IP, 22 H, 14 R, 13 ER, 1 HR, 12 BB, 34 K). A clutch performance by the 23-year-old.
RHP Brady Kirtner: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Matt Keating: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2.68 ERA (47 IP, 34 H, 17 R, 14 ER, 1 HR, 25 BB, 56 K)
RHP Tony Rossi: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
For Hudson Valley: 2.45 ERA (36.2 IP, 15 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 0 HR, 24 BB, 51 K).
Tampa (60-62; 24-33 in the second half) (Lost to Clearwater, 6-5, in ten innings)
This officially eliminates them from the second-half title chase. The season ends on Sunday.
SS Dax Kilby: 2-for-4, 3B (2), RBI, 2 R, 2 SB (12), 2 BB
Kilby has caught on quickly to Low-A. The 18-year-old is hitting .333 (18-for-54) with a pair of doubles and triples to go along with his 12-for-13 stolen base rate. Additionally, he has more walks (10) than strikeouts (6) and has multiple hits in seven of his last nine games. Will he start 2026 in High-A? I doubt it, but a quick promotion is possible.
3B Roderick Arias: 0-for-5, RBI, BB, K
2025 will likely be remembered as a lost season for Arias. It may also end his prospect status.
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-4, RBI, R, BB
CF Marshall Toole: 1-for-5, RBI, SB (43), K
I hope he can maintain his .300 average in the final week. He has some cushion (.307). He is 43-for-49 stealing bases.
LF Eric Genther: 1-for-2, 2B (4), 2 BB
DH Richie Bonomolo Jr.: 1-for-3, 2B (4), RBI, SB (5), 2 BB, K
Bonomolo tied the game in the top of the 9th with a walk.
RF Willy Montero: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
1B Hans Montero: 0-for-5, 3 K
C Josue Gonzalez: 1-for-3, R, SB (13)
PH Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 0-for-1
C Ediel Rivera: 0-for-0, HBP
RHP Edinzo Marquez: 4 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 0 K
RHP Josh Tiedemann: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K
RHP Cole Zaffiro: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Jordarlin Mendoza: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Mendoza has some life on his fastball, reaching 97.2 MPH (averaged 95.6). He also flashed an impressive sinker that reached 96 MPH.
RHP Chris Veach: (L, 2-4) 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
FCL (28-30)
Their season is over.
DSL Yankees (24-32)
Their season is over.
DSL Bombers (31-25)
Their season is over.