Notes:
I didn’t mention it yesterday, but the FCL plays a different schedule than everyone else. Instead of every Monday off, they tend to take every Sunday off. I typically do not write up a Monday report that is “FCL only” unless something special occurs. Maybe I will tomorrow since the season just started.
As you noticed in yesterday’s report, everyone who played was an international signing. There are recent draftees on the FCL roster, but it is mostly a league for players who have conquered the DSL.
As for United States-based players, RHP Tommy O’Rourke was added to the FCL full-season injured list. Signed as an undrafted free agent last year out of Vanderbilt (a good school to target for non-drafted signings!), O’Rourke has yet to make his professional debut. He pitched in 70 collegiate games with Stanford and Vanderbilt, 68 of which came out of the bullpen. He also spent some time in the Cape Cod League.
RHP Thatcher Hurd, their third-round pick in 2024, is a “buzz” prospect who has yet to take the hill professionally. The good news is that he is listed as active on the FCL roster.
In old Yankees’ affiliate news, it appears the Trenton Thunder will be back as an affiliated team in High-A. They would replace Rome (Braves), though they wouldn’t become the Braves’ affiliate. This is not set in stone, but the probability is high. Before the Yankees, Trenton was the home of the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. The team has been in the unaffiliated Draft League since the Yankees dropped them for Somerset.
Scranton (18-14) (Defeated Buffalo, 7-1)
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-2, R, HBP, BB
Since promotion: 4-for-17 without an extra-base hit. As for YES saying he is “3-for-10,” that was two days ago. Can’t expect the graphics team to keep up, right? It’s not like we have real-time statistics nowadays. Or perhaps they want the 3-for-10 to stand out so they don’t have to say he is 1-for-7 since then.
CF Spencer Jones: 2-for-4, 2 HR (10), 5 RBI, 2 R
What a bomb. Jones’ first HR traveled 422 feet at 117.4 MPH. The grand slam was hit a measly 406 feet at 111.1 MPH. You can’t compare Triple-A to MLB, but it is fun to say that the first smash would be the third-hardest hit ball in Major League Baseball this season. O’Neil Cruz has the hardest hit ball (119 MPH). In case you are wondering, three players (former Yankees’ prospect Kevin Alcantara, James Tibbs III, and Caleb Bonemer) entered today with 11 home runs, the most in minor league baseball. Only Bonemer (White Sox) plays below the Triple-A level. He is a 20-year-old in High-A. Jones is hitting .261/.366/.586 with 37 RBI in 31 games.
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 0-for-4
3B Oswaldo Cabrera: 2-for-4, R, K
Cabrera has four multi-hit efforts in his last five games.
1B Seth Brown: 1-for-3, HR (4), 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
C Payton Henry: 1-for-3, R, BB, K
Henry’s first game since 4/28.
DH Ali Sanchez: 0-for-4
2B Jonathan Ornelas: 0-for-2, R, BB, K
LF Duke Ellis: 0-for-2, SB (12), BB
RHP Danny Watson: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Watson’s first career start (after 169 relief appearances). Season: 4.40 ERA (14.1 IP, 14 H, 10 R, 7 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 18 K)
RHP Zach Messinger: (W, 3-0) 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
5.12 ERA (19.1 IP, 15 H, 13 R, 11 ER, 2 HR, 12 BB, 14 K).
RHP Dylan Coleman: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Rafael Montero: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Kervin Castro: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Bradley Hanner: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Somerset (12-14) (Destroyed BY Portland, 11-4. Is the increased offense in this league alarming? No. It just changes how we should view it. The default setting in this league has always been pitcher-friendly. So far this year, the script has flipped)
LF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-4, RBI, K
Castillo starts his campaign with a 9-game hitting streak (15-for-33 (.455); 2 doubles, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB, 5 K).
SS Anthony Volpe: 0-for-4
With the clock striking midnight on his rehab stint, it appears more and more likely that Volpe will stay in the minors. Jose Caballero entered today with 0.8 fWAR, which is ~ a 4.0 fWAR pace over 162 games. He trails only Ben Rice, Aaron Judge, and Cody Bellinger. You have to ride the wave.
CF Jace Avina: 1-for-4, 2B (5), R, SB (2), 3 K
12 of Avina’s 18 hits have gone for extra bases.
RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-4, 2 K
2B Marco Luciano: 1-for-3, HR (8), RBI, R, SB (3), BB, K
.307/.386/.648 in 101 PA. His BABIP is elevated (.373), but his start is still impressive.
1B Coby Morales: 0-for-4, 2 K
3B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-4, HR (7), RBI, R, 2 K
Hardman has a 6-game hitting streak (3-game HR streak).
RF Kenedy Corona: 0-for-3, K
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-3, R, K
RHP Chase Chaney: (L, 1-2) 5 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
RHP Michael Arias: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
3.27 ERA (11 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 21 K). Yes, he is becoming a viable MLB prospect again.
RHP Matt Keating: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Chris Kean: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
3.18 ERA (11.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 HR, 3 BB, 16 K)
Hudson Valley (14-12) (Lost to Jersey Shore, 7-6. The bottom of the order tried their best to win this one…)
3B Kaeden Kent: 1-for-5, RBI, R, K
Kent has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games. He started the season 7-for-31 (.226) and has been on fire since (today doesn’t qualify as “on fire,” before anyone corrects me)
SS Core Jackson: 1-for-4, 2B (5), BB, K
DH Kyle West: 0-for-5, K
C Eric Genther: 0-for-5, K
LF Wilson Rodriguez: 1-for-5, R, 2 K
1B Josh Moylan: 2-for-4, R
CF Camden Troyer: 2-for-4, HR (3), 3 RBI, R
Troyer has homered in back-to-back games.
2B Connor McGinnis: 1-for-4, HR (1), RBI, R, 2 K
His first professional home run (31st game).
RF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-1, R, SB (6), 2 BB, HBP
LHP Franyer Herrera: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, HR
4.12 ERA (19.2 IP, 17 H, 12 R, 9 ER, 5 HR, 12 BB, 23 K)
RHP Jackson Fristoe: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Hansel Rincon (L, 0-2): 0.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
This performance earned him a “hold” in the boxscore.
RHP Chris Veach: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Veach allowed both inherited runners to score.
LHP Tanner Bauman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Tampa (12-15) (Lost to St. Lucie, 7-6)
LF Luis Durango: 1-for-5, RBI, SB (4), CS (1), K
Durango has started his season with a 5-game hitting streak
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-3, SB (9), HBP, BB, K
.258/.412/.427 in 115 PA.
CF Brando Mayea: 0-for-5, R, 3 K
DH Engelth Urena: 1-for-4, 2B (4), RBI, SB (4), BB, 2 K
.179/.330/.256 in 97 PA. The lack of extra-base hits is the most alarming part of his game. He’s still young, catchers tend to develop late, blah blah blah. I still want to see some of that power.
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 1-for-3, R, 2 BB
RF Willy Montero: 2-for-4, RBI, SB (5), 2 K
C Ediel Rivera: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, R, K
1B Hans Montero: 0-for-3, R, BB, 2 K
3B Kevin Verde: 1-for-4, 2B (1), 2 RBI, R, 2 K
LHP Henry Lalane: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
54 pitches (33 strikes).
LHP Jose Ledesma: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
3.27 ERA (11 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 9 BB, 15 K)
RHP Jordarlin Mendoza: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Matthew Tippie: (L, 2-2) 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Jose Martinez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
1.88 ERA (14.1 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 14 K)
FCL Yankees (1-0)
Day off.