Yankees MILB 9/25: The End
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.
MLB Pipeline released its Top 50 International Prospects list for 2026. While nothing is official until it is, the Yankees are heavily favored to sign shortstop Wandy Asigen (ranked #2), a 16-year-old left-handed bat out of the Dominican Republic. For now, the talk is that he has the tools to stick at shortstop. We’ll see if that continues as he grows.
This is my final daily report for 2025. Overall, it was a fun season filled with some progress in the system (especially with pitchers, which is the Yankees’ specialty.) That said, other organizations saw value in our positional prospects at the deadline, which is encouraging.
It was also fun due to my lack of time on Twitter. I think the last time I posted on Twitter was sometime around Opening Day. Gosh, if you are still on Xwitter and find it to be exasperating, why continue? I had more fun on a small Discord channel, occasional posting on BlueSky, and reading some interactions on Reddit (though I didn’t correspond much as I posted all my reports there – sorry!). Instead of fighting through blue checks who say nothing interesting with 100 replies all saying the same thing, I found peace in simply…ignoring it.
Anyway, now that I am off my soapbox, thank you to everyone for reading this report. Believe it or not, and maybe this was due to Reddit engagement, the views on this report went up despite zero posting on Xwitter. That makes me feel good, even if it makes me only pennies at a time.
As for the off-season, I will post occasionally. I will write a recap and update my “Where are they now?” post, at the very least. Usually when I reach this point, I take a break just to recharge.
Again, thank you very much – I appreciate everyone who reads it, whether you agree or disagree with my opinions. My favorite prospect saying is that “Anyone who says they are great at projecting prospects is lying.” I include myself in that assessment.
Scranton (Lost to Jacksonville, 7-4. Jacksonville wins the series, 2-1, to take the International League title. They will play Las Vegas (in Las Vegas!) for the Triple-A Championship on Saturday.)
Scranton made this interesting in the top of the 9th. Down 7-0, they scored four runs and brought the lead run to the plate. That batter was one of their best hitters this year – Jose Rojas. It just wasn’t meant to be.
2B Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 BB, K
Acquired alongside Victor Gonzalez (bust) for Trey Sweeney (who is having a miserable .197/.255/.293 campaign for the Tigers, which landed him in the minors for awhile), Vivas filled in for a handful of games at the MLB level. As stated many times, he will be out of options next spring.
C J.C. Escarra: 1-for-4, RBI, BB, K
His future with the Yankees is unknown. The Yankees can easily go into 2026 with Austin Wells as the primary catcher and Ben Rice as the primary first baseman who also backs up Wells. Regardless, he was a feel-good story for the 2025 Yankees.
PR Ismael Munguia: 0-for-0
DH Jose Rojas: 1-for-5, 2B (1), R, 2 K
Rojas did his job as a productive veteran bat for the Railriders. Could he come back? Sure. He played here for most of 2024 as well before opting out.
CF Spencer Jones: 2-for-3, R, BB
In the regular season, between Somerset and Scranton, Jones hit .274/.362/.571 (153 wRC+) with 23 doubles, 1 triple, 35 HR, 80 RBI, 102 runs, 29 stolen bases (35 attempts) and an 11.5% BB/35.4% K. He had an increase in fly balls (38.8%; 29.2% in 2024). The negatives continue to be the strikeouts and swinging strike percentage. This season, his swinging strike percentage was 19.2%, a career high. This measures how often a batter swings and misses pitches in the strike zone. The only qualified player in the Yankees’ organization with a higher swinging strike percentage was Christofer Reyes, a 17-year-old in the DSL. Those trends do not work in his favor, no matter how impressive the triple slash and speed is. Jones either needs to cut down a bit on the negatives or show the world he is as unicorny (my word) as a unicorn can get.
“Did his back injury impact him?” The answer to that is … tricky. He missed time towards the end of July due to a back issue. The first thing we can say is that if his back, at 24 years old, is causing him issues that impact his play months later, that’s a red flag – right? Backs don’t tend to get better. If it was a minor injury and they were playing it cautious, then it’s not an excuse. We can talk in circles on that one.
Jones is talented, nobody can deny that. But will he be able to tap into that talent? We usually have some idea as a prospect reaches Double-A and Triple-A. Yet, I still find myself torn. We may get some indication based on how the Yankees treat their outfield this winter.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, RBI
Rumfield had a solid campaign, though he slowed down late. In 138 games (587 PA), he hit .285/.378/.447 (122 wRC+) with 16 home runs. There is no role for him with the Yankees. Even if Ben Rice didn’t break out, I bet they would have looked for a different first baseman for 2026. He deserves an opportunity.
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
3B Jeimer Candelario: 0-for-3, RBI, R, BB, K
SS Braden Shewmake: 1-for-2
PR-SS Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-2, 2 K
LF Duke Ellis: 1-for-4, K
RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (L, 0-1): 0.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
A tough night for Rodriguez-Cruz, but don’t let that cloud your judgement. He was spectacular this season.
RHP Joel Kuhnel: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Sean Boyle: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Boyle was the other option to start tonight. I have no problem going with the more inexperienced Rodriguez-Cruz, as the minor leagues are about development and they felt he could use another start before the season ended.
LHP Jayvien Sandridge: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Ian Hamilton: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Brent Headrick: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Headrick will likely be a “break glass in case of emergency” guy this postseason.
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.