Notes:
Ben Hess‘ month-long stint on the injured list is over. He was activated by the Somerset Patriots today. In two starts in early April, he allowed three runs on five hits over 7.2 innings with a 14/8 K/BB. He allowed five walks in 2.2 innings in his last start on April 11th.
Scranton (22-18) (Mauled Syracuse (and starter Jonah Tong), 11-3. They hit five home runs.)
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-6, RBI, 2 R
Lombard Jr. is only hitting .149 without an extra-base hit since his promotion. On the bright side, he has a 13.8% strikeout rate and a 24.6% walk rate. It’s a process.
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 1-for-5, R, 2 K
2B Marco Luciano: 2-for-3, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, K
Luciano has 11 home runs in 33 games between here and Somerset. Showing off power has never been an issue, as he has reached double digits in home runs in all seven of his campaigns (99 total). His career best is 23, set in 2025.
3B Oswaldo Cabrera: 2-for-2, HR (3), 3 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB
Cabrera’s recent offensive surge continues, as he has seven multi-hit efforts in his last 12 games. Before this stretch, he had a terrifying .445 OPS. It is now .665.
1B Seth Brown: 1-for-5, HR (6), 2 RBI, R, 3 K
DH Ernesto Martínez Jr.: 1-for-3, HR (7), RBI, R, 2 BB, K
C Payton Henry: 2-for-5, HR (4), RBI, R, K
Henry left the game due to injury in the 8th inning. On the bright side, he has hit four home runs in his last nine games.
C Ali Sanchez: 0-for-0
LF Jonathan Ornelas: 3-for-5, 2B (4), 3B (2), R, K
The depth utility guys are doing well for themselves. Ornales has three multi-hit efforts in his last four games, and is hitting .349 with a .958 OPS over 95 plate appearances.
CF Duke Ellis: 1-for-4, BB, 3 K
RHP Adam Kloffenstein: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
I don’t care who you are or what level you play at: Missing out on a win by one out when you are spotted an 11-1 lead hurts.
RHP Yovanny Cruz: (W, 5-1) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Cruz needs a clean outing, as this was his fourth straight outing where he allowed at least one run. The overall numbers are still solid: 2.60 ERA over 17.1 innings (12 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 23 K). One thing you may be noticing is that the walk rate is starting to creep up. He throws extremely hard, but the control has always been a drawback.
RHP Dylan Coleman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
7.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 9 K
RHP Zach Messinger: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
4.01 ERA (24.2 IP, 16 H, 13 R, 11 ER, 2 HR, 14 BB, 20 K)
Somerset (17-19) (Defeated Binghamton, 5-3)
LF Jace Avina: 1-for-3, HR (10), RBI, 2 R, BB, K
Avina has reached double digits in home runs in each of his five professional campaigns. In his last 14 games, he is 21-for-61 (.344) with six doubles, six home runs, 17 RBI, and 16 runs scored. He has hit safely in 13 of those 14 games.
DH Garrett Martin: 1-for-4, 2B (5), R, SB (7), K
RF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, K
3B Tyler Hardman: 2-for-4, RBI, R
Last 15 games: 24-for-58 (.414) with three doubles, six home runs, 18 RBI, and 15 runs. Overall, he is hitting .303/.380/.590 with nine home runs and 31 RBI in 35 games.
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-4, RBI, K
CF DJ Gladney: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
2B Connor McGinnis: 0-for-3, R, SB (1), HBP, K
C Abrahan Gutierrez: 2-for-4, 2B (3), K
SS Owen Cobb: 1-for-3, 2B (5), RBI, K
RHP Ben Hess: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Hess tossed 25 pitches tonight. That was likely by design.
RHP Michael Arias: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
LHP Xavier Rivas: (W, 2-2) 5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, HR
Rivas compiled four 10+ strikeout efforts in 2025, including three in his final four games. He is not a hard-throwing lefty, which can give you pause, but missing bats is missing bats. He owns a 4.94 ERA in 23.2 innings (17 H, 15 R, 13 ER, 4 HR, 14 BB, 36 K). Walks were an issue last year as well.
RHP Hayden Merda (S, 2): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
3.00 ERA (15 IP, 14 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 22 K). Entering this season, he compiled 89 walks over 149.2 innings.
Hudson Valley (18-17) (Lost to Frederick, 8-2)
SS Kaeden Kent: 0-for-4, SB (10), BB, K
Kent is down to .307. Slumps happen at every level!
DH Eric Genther: 1-for-5, 2 K
1B Kyle West: 1-for-4, RBI, 3 K
LF Wilson Rodriguez: 0-for-1, 3 BB
Rodriguez has an equal amount of walks and strikeouts (26). That comes out to a 20.9% rate, which is crazy good for walks and acceptable for strikeouts.
3B Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, 2 K
Arias had an 8-game hitting streak going at one point, but the overall results remain consistent with his disappointing career. He is hitting .215/.325/.290 in 126 PA. He has always shown the ability to draw some walks, but it’s offset by everything else in his profile.
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-4, K
Tejeda’s 28-game on-base streak is snapped.
C Josue Gonzalez: 1-for-4
CF Camden Troyer: 1-for-4, 2B (6), 2 K
Troyer has a 5-game hitting streak (6-for-17).
LF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-1, 2B (3), 2 R, 2 SB (8), HBP, 2 BB
Gabrielson is hitting .318 with more walks (12) than strikeouts (6). He owns a 10.2% strikeout rate over 59 plate appearances.
LHP Allen Facundo: (L, 0-2) 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Since promotion: 5.65 ERA (14.1 IP, 9 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 19 K). Overall, he owns a 44/18 K/BB over 29.1 innings.
RHP Tanner Bauman: 1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Thomas Balboni Jr.: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Wilmy Sanchez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Since being acquired: 8 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 7 BB, 6 K
Tampa (18-18) (Defeated Dunedin, 5-4)
3B Jackson Lovich: 2-for-3, 2 HR (6), 2 RBI, 3 R, SB (7), BB
Lovich, who compiled his first multi-HR game, has a 10-game hitting streak (16-for-41; 2 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs). The second home run, hit 401 feet at 107 MPH, was the game-winner in the bottom of the 8th. Overall, he is hitting .290/.377/.570 and is a candidate to move up to Hudson Valley.
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 0-for-4, K
1B Hans Montero: 1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, R, K
Zero home runs in his first 29 games. He has now homered in back-to-back games. Baseball!
DH Luis Puello: 1-for-3, 3B (1), 2 K
Puello fills in the “triples” and “home runs” columns in his first two Tampa games.
LF Willy Montero: 0-for-3, K
C Ediel Rivera: 0-for-3, 3 K
CF Luis Durango: 0-for-3, 2 K
RF Gabriel Lara: 1-for-3, 2B (1), R, SB (1)
2B Santiago Gomez: 0-for-3, RBI
RHP Chase Hampton: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Hampton tosses 48 pitches in his second rehab appearance. He generated an impressive nine whiffs, four each with his 4-seam fastball and cutter, and one with his sweeper. His spin rates are looking strong.
LHP Parker Seay: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
3.14 ERA (14.1 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 7 BB, 21 K). I mentioned it earlier in the season: Seay doesn’t generate outs by throwing hard. Tonight, he averaged 87.4 MPH with his 4-seam fastball.
RHP J.T. Etheridge: (W, 3-0) 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
4.91 ERA (14.2 IP, 13 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 23 K). He topped out at 96.2 MPH.
RHP Matthew Tippie (S, 1): 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Tippie’s first career save.
FCL Yankees (6-3) (Tripled up the Phillies, 15-5. 15 runs on 12 hits, ten walks, four errors, and a hit by pitch. Rookie leagues can be messy at times)
3B Richard Matic: 0-for-1, 3 R, 2 SB (6), 4 BB, K
My goodness. Matic owns a 16.9% BB rate in 420 career plate appearances. He is listed at 6’2″, 220 pounds, and is only 18. His size could keep him away from third base long term, but we will cross that bridge much later. He has probably reached the stage where other organizations see him as a deal sweetener, as well.
CF Wilberson De Pena: 3-for-4, HR (2), 5 RBI, R, SB (3), BB, K
Speaking of lottery tickets, the 19-year-old acquired for Oswald Peraza is off to a strong start. In eight games, he is hitting .406/.471/.781 (4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 14 RBI). While this game was impressive, it isn’t even his best effort this year. He went 4-for-5 with a triple, a home run, and six RBI on May 7th.
DH Queni Pineda: 1-for-5, 3 K
2B Leni Done: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, R, BB, K
LF Jose Castro: 2-for-3, 3B (1), HR (2), 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 SB (8), CS (3), 2 BB, K
.308/.550/.615 in 40 ridiculous plate appearances. He is already 20, but this is his first taste of the FCL.
C Justin Capellan: 1-for-5, HR (2), RBI, R, 2 K
SS Dexters Peralta: 1-for-4, HR (3), RBI, 2 R, BB, 3 K
Peralta hit five home runs in 88 games in 2024 and 2025. This year, he has three in nine games.
RF Estivenzon Montero: 3-for-5, 2 2B (2), RBI, 3 R, SB (1), K
C John Cristino: 1-for-2, RBI, R, CS (1), HBP, BB
RHP Blake Gillespie (W, 2-0): 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
RHP Sunayro Martina: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Martina was born in the Netherlands and signed to a minor league deal in 2022. He is 22 years old.
RHP Austin Breedlove: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K