Yankees MILB 9/23: Scranton Wins Game 1
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.
Pipeline announced its 2025 Double-A All-Star teams.
No current Yankees’ prospect was on the list. C Rafael Flores was listed for Somerset, since he spent most of his time with the Patriots. Flores is now on the Pirates roster and entered tonight 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles in his MLB career.
If you are wondering about Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz or Carlos Lagrange, I suppose they were considered “tweeners” who didn’t put in enough work in either High-A or Double-A to qualify for either All-Star team.
As for George Lombard Jr., there’s a difference between being a top prospect and someone who put together an All-Star season. It’s hard to argue for him as a Double-A All-Star.
Speaking of Rodriguez-Cruz, he was named the Yankees’ Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America. If I had a vote, I would have voted for him as well.
One more Rodriguez-Cruz note: If you trust Andy Martino, the Orioles asked the Yankees for Rodriguez-Cruz in exchange for Charlie Morton. The Yankees laughed in their faces (at least they should have), and Baltimore ended up shipping him to Detroit for a minor league reliever. As you likely know by now, Morton was ultimately released by the Tigers.
There is nothing wrong with aiming high, but a ridiculous ask should always end with a laugh and a declaration of “No further discussion, since you aren’t taking this seriously.”
Scranton (Defeated Jacksonville, 5-4 (10 innings), to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 series. Game 2 is tomorrow. The Tacoma-Las Vegas series starts tonight (10:05 PM ET).
In case you are wondering, they still do the “runner on second base” thing in extra innings during minor league playoff games. I do not have an issue with that.
Former Yankees prospect (and a fan favorite amongst Yankees’ prospect followers) Jared Serna plays for Jacksonville. The once promising prospect had an awful 2025 campaign (.224/.310/.279 in 111 games). Serna was a part of the package that went to the Marlins for Jazz Chisholm Jr. In case you are wondering how the biggest piece in the package is doing, Agustin Ramirez is hitting .234/.291/.424 (94 wRC+; 21 home runs) with bad (awful) defense. His fWAR is 0.1.
2B Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-4, BB
PR Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-0, R
C J.C. Escarra: 1-for-4, RBI, BB
Escarra drove home the winning run in the top of the 10th.
LF-RF Bryan De La Cruz: 0-for-5, 3 K
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, R, HBP, BB, 3 K
When the top four hitters go 1-for-16, you don’t expect to win.
RF Jose Rojas: 1-for-4, R, K
LF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-1
DH Brennen Davis: 1-for-5, 2B (1), 2 K
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, R, K
Rumfield’s 3-run home run turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead.
3B Jeimer Candelario: 2-for-4, HR (1), RBI, R, K
Candelario and Rumfield went back-to-back in the 4th inning.
SS Braden Shewmake: 2-for-3, 2 2B (2), HBP
RHP Brendan Beck: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Including this postseason start, Beck ends the season with 136 innings. He was able to get through an entire season without any injury setbacks.
RHP Kervin Castro: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Yerry De los Santos: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
LHP Brent Headrick: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Joel Kuhnel : 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
The bullpen was good tonight, but Kuhnel couldn’t hold a 4-2 lead in the 9th.
LHP Jayvien Sandridge: (W, 1-0) 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Ian Hamilton: (S, 1) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
That’s how you close out a game!
Somerset (73-65; 38-31 in the second half; lost in the first round of the playoffs)
Their season is over.
Hudson Valley (79-50; 41-24 in the 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.