Yankees MILB 9/16: Strong Effort by Ben Hess
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.
The Single-A All-Star teams were announced today (no game is played). Two Tampa Tarpons made the list: OF Marshall Toole and RHP Chris Veach.
I highlighted Toole throughout the season. He hit .305/.406/.479 (148 wRC+) with 14 doubles, 13 triples, five home runs, 48 RBI, and 66 runs scored over 372 plate appearances. He was also a terror on the basepaths, stealing 44 bases in 50 attempts. He was a 15th-round pick in the 2024 draft out of Wofford. As you probably suspect, Wofford isn’t a haven for future MLB players. Shortstop Don Buddin compiled a 711-game career that spanned stops in Boston, Houston, and Detroit. His best attribute was drawing walks (14.8%; .358 OBP). On the hill, RHP John Boozer compiled a 171-game career for the Phillies. He saved 15 games while flashing a 4.09 ERA over 394.1 innings.
Veach pitched in 43 games for the Tarpons. In 57 innings, he had a 2.53 ERA (3.53 FIP) with a 30.5% K and 11.8% BB. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 2024.
Neither is in the organizational Top 30 (Pipeline). Keep proving the “experts” wrong, kids!
Scranton (84-58; 46-24 in second half) (Defeated Buffalo, 3-1)
Syracuse leads Lehigh Valley, 4-3, in the 8th. A win keeps them three back with five to play. A loss pushes them four games back.
2B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-4, SB (12), BB
C J.C. Escarra: 1-for-4, SB (1), CS (1), HBP, 2 K
LF Jose Rojas: 0-for-5, 2 K
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
Jones’ 10-game hitting streak is snapped (he extends his on-base streak to 18)
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, HR (16), RBI, R, K
It looked like Rumfield was going to shatter his best home run mark (17 in 2023). However, this is his first home run since August 17th (23 straight games without a home run).
DH Brennen Davis: 0-for-4, 3 K
3B Jeimer Candelario: 1-for-4, 2B (16), R, 3 K
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 2-for-2, RBI, R, 2 BB
PR-RF Duke Ellis: 0-for-0, SB (34)
SS Braden Shewmake: 3-for-4, 2B (11), RBI, 2 SB (15)
Shewmake will spend the entire 2025 campaign on the 40-man roster (if they release him tomorrow, my apologies to his family).
RHP Allan Winans: (W, 12-1) 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
1.63 ERA (99.1 IP, 75 H, 21 R, 18 ER, 4 HR, 27 BB, 105 K). Winans didn’t show much in his cups of coffee with the Yankees, but he has been a key cog in the Scranton rotation.
RHP Yerry De los Santos: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Jayvien Sandridge: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Brent Headrick: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Jake Bird: (S, 1) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Since I am looking for silver linings, Bird recorded a strikeout with two outs and the bases loaded in the 8th. He followed that up with an easy 9th to secure the win.
Somerset (Lost to Binghamton, 3-1, in Game 1 of a 3-game series. They will try to extend their season on Thursday night, as the series shifts to Binghamton for the final two games. I don’t know who will start, but Carlos Lagrange will be rested.)
CF Brendan Jones: 2-for-3, 2B (1), R, BB, K
Jones continues to do leadoff-hitter things.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-4, SB (1), K
Anyone disappointed in the 20-year-old’s Double-A performance should be reminded that his wRC+ was 111. The Eastern League is not a fun place for hitters. A .215/.337/.358 triple slash is more impressive than you think, especially for a 20-year-old trying the level for the first time.
RF Jace Avina: 0-for-4
3B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-4, RBI
The Eastern League’s RBI champion knocks in Somerset’s only run tonight.
1B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-4
RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-4, 3 K
DH Jackson Castillo: 2-for-4
Castillo picked up the pace late in the season. Good to see it continue tonight.
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-4
Palencia grinded out a 10-pitch AB with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, but it resulted in an out.
2B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-2, BB
RHP Ben Hess: (L, 0-1) 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
A solid effort by Hess, who threw 103.1 innings in the regular season (3.22 ERA (2.50 FIP); 33.0% K, 10.9% BB, 41.3% GB).
RHP Huey Morrill: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Morrill was activated off the Development List today, while LHP Will Brian was placed on the list. Your reminder that Morrill pitched to a 0.76 ERA in 47.2 regular-season innings and is heading off to the Arizona Fall League.
RHP Indigo Diaz: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Baron Stuart: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Danny Watson: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Watson’s solid second-half pitching (2.23 ERA in 32.1 IP with an incredible 30/1 K/BB) continues into the playoffs.
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.