Yankees MILB 9/13: Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz Ks 7
Notes:
Trade analysis links:
Jose Caballero/Camilo Doval (link)
David Bednar/Jake Bird (link)
Ryan McMahon (link)
Amed Rosario (link)
Austin Slater (link)
Updated look at the trade deadline.
Scranton (83-57; 45-23 in second half) (Defeated Lehigh Valley, 8-5)
As stated earlier this week, the Lehigh Valley team is solid and was a legitimate threat to overtake the Railriders. Scranton needed to win a few games, and they have accomplished that. They are 6.5 games up on them with seven games left. With that threat out of the way, attention turns to Syracuse. The Mets lost today, falling four games behind Scranton.
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
Jones has a 9-game hitting streak (10-for-35; 2 doubles, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 8 R, 2 BB, 19 K). This is the first time he hasn’t struck out in a game since August 24th (16 straight games with at least one strikeout; 40 strikeouts during that stretch.)
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-3, RBI, R, BB
Rumfield is 7-for-20 in his last six games. He is hitting .285/.375/.448 in 562 plate appearances (31 doubles, 1 triple, 15 HR, 85 RBI, 83 R, 4-for-6 SB, 11.6% BB, 17.97% K)
DH J.C. Escarra: 1-for-2, SF, 2 RBI, R, BB
2B Jose Rojas: 1-for-2, HR (31), 3 RBI, R, HBP, BB
He’s a 32-year-old non-prospect, so I don’t post his numbers often. However, they are quite impressive: .297/.387/.616 in 494 PA (35 doubles, 4 triples, 31 HR, 103 RBI, 76 R, 14-for-16 SB, 12.3% BB, 20.4% K). Additionally, he has provided utility to Scranton, as he has eight starts at first base, 14 at second base, 16 at third base, 19 in left field, and 17 in right field.
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 1-for-4, HR (14), 2 RBI, R
De La Cruz surprisingly didn’t homer despite a hot August (.320/.363/.427). He is more himself in September, as this is his 4th HR this month (9-for-31).
3B Jeimer Candelario: 1-for-4, 2 K
LF Duke Ellis: 0-for-4, 2 K
Ellis was as hot as a hitter can be for a while, but is 3-for-19 in September. He is still hitting .333/.378/.478 in 214 plate appearances.
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-4, 4 K
Martinez is hitting .217/.313/.304 in 80 plate appearances since his promotion.
SS Andrew Velazquez: 2-for-4, 2B (19), 2 R, SB (25)
Velázquez opted out of his deal on August 3rd, only to re-sign on August 15th. Since returning: 13-for-42 (.310; 4 doubles, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 7 R, 2-for-3 SB).
RHP Erick Leal: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, HR
To say Leal has put together a good season would be lying (5.75 ERA). However, he has given them 123.2 innings, which is also important. Every organization needs veterans who provide Triple-A innings.
RHP Joel Kuhnel: (W, 4-1) 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Wilking Rodriguez: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Rodriguez reached 99.7 MPH with his 4-seamer and 96.3 MPH with his cutter. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Yankees re-signed him this winter.
LHP Brent Headrick: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Hopefully, everyone can stay healthy, but Headrick is a nice depth piece down here.
RHP Scott Effross (S, 3): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
If the Yankees wish to continue to employ Effross beyond 2025, 2026 is another option year. Is he useful enough as a shuttle reliever to use a 40-man roster slot going forward?
Somerset (73-64; 38-30 in the second half) (Defeated Reading, 6-2)
Their playoff series against Binghamton starts on Tuesday. It is best-of-3 with the first game in Somerset and the last two games in Binghamton.
CF Brendan Jones: 0-for-5, K
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-4, 2B (24), R, 2 K
Lombard Jr. scores his 90th run and has six doubles in 11 September games (32 doubles between Somerset and Hudson Valley overall).
RF Jace Avina: 1-for-3, R, BB
3B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-3, SF, RBI, K
Jasso takes over the Eastern League’s RBI lead with 76 (there’s no drama here – he will win the RBI crown.)
1B Tyler Hardman: 2-for-4, 3B (5), HR (20), 2 RBI, 2 R, K
Hardman is the fourth Yankees’ farmhand to reach 20+ home runs (Spencer Jones, Jose Rojas, and Dillon Lewis as the others.)
LF Garrett Martin: 3-for-4, 2B (14), HR (14), 2 RBI, 2 R, K
Martin has homered in back-to-back games (he is 13-for-34 with three home runs in September.)
C Manuel Palencia: 0-for-4, K
DH Coby Morales: 1-for-4, 2B (3), RBI
3B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-4, K
RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz: (W, 5-3) 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
Rodriguez-Cruz wins the organization’s strikeout title with 173 (Carlos Lagrange struck out 168). Only Jonah Tong (NYM) has more in all of minor league baseball (179). Final regular season stats: 26 games (25 starts), 11-7, 2.42 ERA (145 IP, 96 H, 48 R, 39 ER, 3 HR, 57 BB, 173 K). For Somerset, he pitched to a 2.64 ERA over 61.1 innings. Add him to your MLB depth chart for 2026. By the way, yes – this game was meaningless and there is a playoff game on Tuesday. In MLB, an ace-level pitcher isn’t making this start. In the minors, he is going to make this start.
RHP Kelly Austin: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
2.95 ERA (42.2 IP, 35 H, 17 R, 14 ER, 2 HR, 28 BB, 37 K).
RHP Danny Watson: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Watson ends the regular season with a 4.74 ERA (57 IP, 61 H, 31 R, 30 ER, 6 HR, 8 BB, 57 K). He tossed six scoreless innings in September (3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K). Going back to May 24th, Watson walked only one batter the rest of the season (44.2 innings). That’s insane. He also allowed zero home runs over his last 22 appearances. He is going to be an interesting Rule 5 decision this winter.
RHP Carson Coleman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Hudson Valley (79-50; 41-24 second half)
Their season is over.
Tampa (63-63; 27-34 in the second half)
Their season is over.
FCL (28-30)
Their season is over.
DSL Yankees (24-32)
Their season is over.
DSL Bombers (31-25)
Their season is over.