Notes:
So far, the news has been rather boring.
Scranton (7-3) (Defeated Durham, 7-6. They scored three runs in the bottom of the 8th on two balks and a sacrifice fly. Whatever works!)
CF Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-5, SB (3)
Dominguez gets a start in center field, the first time he has played the position since 2024.
SS Oswaldo Cabrera: 0-for-4, SF, RBI, 2 K
Cabrera is 6-for-36.
2B Max Schuemann: 1-for-4, R, SB (1), BB, K
LF Spencer Jones: 0-for-1, R, SB (1), 3 BB
Jones has six walks in 41 PA (14.6%). He had an 11.5% in 2025. “What about that K rate, huh huh huh?” I am giving everyone a break from that tonight.
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 1-for-3, SF, RBI, K
Fernandez has 11 RBI in ten games.
DH Seth Brown: 1-for-3, R, BB, K
1B Ernesto Martinez Jr.: 0-for-3, R, BB, 3 K
3B Paul DeJong: 1-for-3, RBI, R, BB, K
C Payton Henry: 1-for-4, 2 K
PR Duke Ellis: 0-for-0, R
C Ali Sanchez: 0-for-0
RHP Yerry de los Santos: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Before tonight, 14 of his 15 career starts occurred during his 2015 debut campaign for the DSL Pirates. I doubt this is a permanent move, but he threw well. He averaged 96 MPH with his sinker, peaking at 96.9.
RHP Zach Messinger: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Bradley Hanner: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Danny Watson: (W, 1-0) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Kervin Castro (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Somerset (1-3) (Swept in a doubleheader by Binghamton)
Game 1 (Lost, 10-3)
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-3, 2B (3), BB
Three doubles and a home run in his first three games.
LF Jace Avina: 0-for-4, 4 K
DH Garrett Martin: 1-for-1, HR (2), 2 RBI, R, HBP, BB
Martin hit the only home run across the entire organization today.
2B Marco Luciano: 0-for-1, RBI, CS (1), 2 BB
3B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-3, 2 K
1B Nicholas Torres: 0-for-2, BB, K
CF Kenedy Corona: 0-for-2, R, BB, 2 K
RF DJ Gladney: 1-for-3, R, K
C Miguel Palma: 0-for-3, 2 K
RHP Trent Sellers: (L, 0-1) 4 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, HR
A 26-year-old out of Oregon State, Sellers made 22 starts at this level last year. He compiled a 3.92 ERA over 96.1 innings with a 26.9% K and 12.1% BB.
RHP Matt Keating: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, HR
Not the 2026 (and Somerset) debut he envisioned. Pitching for Hudson Valley in 2025, he compiled a 3.89 ERA in 69.1 innings with a 27.9% K and 12.5% BB. He was the Yankees’ 9th-round pick in the 2022 draft out of USC.
RHP Chris Kean: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
The 23-year-old makes his Somerset debut after pitching to a 3.48 ERA in 41.1 innings for Hudson Valley in 2025.
RHP Michael Arias: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
The Yankees invited the 24-year-old to spring training after re-signing him to a minor league contract over the winter. He didn’t pitch well, though he did strike out six in 2.2 innings. In Somerset last year, he owned an impressive 30.2% K, but also walked batters at a 15.6% clip.
Game 2 (Lost, 2-1)
DH George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-3
Obviously, a 5-hit game is going to skew things early in the season. That said, who wouldn’t take a 7-for-15 start with three doubles, a home run, two walks, and ZERO strikeouts?
CF Jace Avina: 0-for-3, 2 K
0-for-7 with six strikeouts today. We’ll throw this one in the paper shredder.
RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-3, 2 K
2B Marco Luciano: 0-for-0
PH-LF DJ Gladney: 2-for-3, 2 2B (2), R, K
I am not sure why Luciano left the game. Gladney took advantage of the unexpected playing time.
1B-3B Coby Morales: 1-for-3
3B-2B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-2, BB
LF-1B Nicholas Torres: 0-for-3, RBI, K
The Mexican League Superstar is 3-for-10.
C Manuel Palencia: 0-for-2, K
SS Owen Cobb: 0-for-2, K
Cobb’s Somerset debut. He hit well in Tampa last year (.310/.363/.488 in 40 games). After being promoted to Hudson Valley, he played in nine games, going 2-for-18. He also spent time on the injured list.
RHP Chase Chaney: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Chaney (26) was signed to a minor league deal in December. His value is in his ability to eat minor league innings, as he tossed 371 innings between 2023 and 2025.
RHP Kelly Austin: (L, 0-1) 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
The Yankees acquired the 25-year-old from the Astros for Caleb Ferguson in July 2024.
Hudson Valley (2-2) (Lost to Wilmington, 8-3. Hudson Valley pitchers walked 13 batters)
SS Core Jackson: 0-for-4, K
2B Kaeden Kent: 1-for-3, R, BB
1B Kyle West: 1-for-4, 2B (2), 2 RBI, R, 2 K
C Eric Genther: 2-for-4, 2B (1), RBI
Genther also had a pair of costly passed balls. There will be a learning curve with him.
3B Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, 2 K
RF Wilson Rodriguez: 0-for-3, BB, K
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-4, 4 K
LF Connor McGinnis: 1-for-4, K
The 23-year-old played 17 games here last year, hitting .196/.297/.250 with a double and triple. He was their 10th-round pick in the 2025 draft out of Houston. This is his professional debut in the outfield (played 14 games at second base and three at designated hitter last year).
CF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-3, R, 2 SB (3)
RHP Brandon Decker: 3.2 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
The 23-year-old was their 19th-round pick in the 2024 draft out of Oakland. Between Tampa and Hudson Valley last year, he made 25 appearances (17 starts), compiling a 3.61 ERA in 84.2 innings with a 92/42 K/BB.
RHP Jackson Fristoe: (L, 0-1) 0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
Not to rub salt in the wound, but he allowed two inherited runners to score.
RHP Hansel Rincon: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K
RHP Baron Stuart: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
RHP Ben Grable: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Last year’s 11th-round pick has seven strikeouts in 2.2 innings to begin his professional career.
RHP Duncan Pastore: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Pastore’s 2026 debut comes on the hill (he is a position player). He has yet to allow a run in his “pitching” career (2.2 innings).
Tampa (1-4) (Defeated Clearwater, 3-2)
CF Brando Mayea: 0-for-5, 4 K
A rough 3-for-23 start with eight strikeouts. Yes, he deserves time to adjust to the new level.
3B Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-4, 2 K
A rough 1-for-15 start for Tejeda. Known for his ability to make contact, he has struck out seven times. Probably sample size noise.
C Engelth Urena: 0-for-2, SB (2), 2 BB, K
LF Logan Maxwell: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 1-for-3, R, HBP, K
RF Willy Montero: 1-for-4, 2 K
DH JoJo Jackson: 2-for-3, 2B (2), R, SB (3), CS (1), BB, K
Jackson is off to a 6-for-15 start. Drafted in the 17th round in 2024 out of Georgia State, Jackson only played in six games last year due to injury.
1B Austin Green: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
2B Hans Montero: 1-for-4, SB (2), K
LHP Allen Facundo: (W, 1-0) 5.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Facundo raised some eyebrows in 2025 when he started pumping 100+ MPH fastballs. It was to the point where some fans were shocked that he was exposed in the Rule 5 draft. Tonight’s performance was dominant, though he wasn’t hitting 100 (averaged 94.3; maxed out at 96.8). His slider generated eight whiffs on 13 swings. Many think his future role is out of the bullpen.
RHP Greysen Carter: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 0 K
“Teach this kid some control before he kills somebody.” He hit 99.1 MPH tonight (averaged 96.8).
RHP Josh Tiedemann: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
LHP Jose Ledesma (S, 1): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
An adventure in the 9th inning, and the game ended on a putout at the plate (with the bases loaded) when a pitch got by Urena. But a win is a win!