Notes:
Good news: George Lombard Jr. hit another double tonight.
Bad news: George Lombard Jr. was injured tonight.
He was hurt trying to field a throw on a Bo Naylor stolen base attempt. He stayed in the game for the final out of the inning, but was pulled afterwards. According to Conor Foley, it appears he jammed his hand. Let’s hope it’s precautionary.
C Austin Wells started his rehab assignment tonight. The only affiliate home this week is Tampa, and they weren’t going to assign him there, so he’s with the Scranton Railriders in Columbus.
RHP Mac Heuer was placed on the injured list for Tampa. Heuer owns a 3.43 ERA over 21 innings with a 27/14 K/BB. He was the Yankees’ 8th round pick in the 2025 draft and was ranked 24th in Pipeline’s Preseason Top 30.
Someone asked me yesterday what I think about prospects like Jose Castro. My answer to all things rookie league is:
- It’s (obviously) better to be good than bad;
- Wake me up when they start performing in a full-season league.
I will say there are plenty of position prospects who are putting up incredible numbers thus far. A logjam is a good thing, and it’s up to the Yankees to weed out the prospects from the suspects. It’s hard to use a DSL prospect as a significant trade chip, though they have been traded in the past.
The DSL Yankees have a team OPS of 1.035, leading the league in average (.321) and SLG (.586). You would think that OPS is by far the highest in the league, but the Brewers Blue are right behind them at 1.009. Last season, in 56 games, the Marlins were at the top with an .826.
Even in a crazy league like this, you can’t expect a team to maintain an OPS above 1.000. Perhaps it does, however, tell us that the Yankees’ hitters should be paid close attention to.
Scranton (35-34) (Defeated Columbus, 3-1. The Railriders decided to buck today’s trend of big-time offense.)
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-1, 2B (12), CS (3), BB
Lombard Jr. has seven doubles in his last eight games.
LF Kenedy Corona: 1-for-1, SF, RBI
C Austin Wells: 0-for-3, BB, K
It feels like the clock is ticking, right? Wells has a month to show the Yankees that he has enough bat to be the everyday guy. The Yankees may look for catching help regardless. Of course, if Ali Sanchez and J.C. Escarra want to keep putting together multi-hit efforts…
C Payton Henry: 0-for-0
Henry was activated off the injured list today.
2B Marco Luciano: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 0-for-4, 2 K
LF-SS Oswaldo Cabrera: 0-for-4, K
1B Tyler Hardman: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 K
Since promotion: .253/.333/.453 in 84 PA. He is on a 5-game hitting streak that includes three straight multi-hit efforts.
DH Ernesto Martinez Jr.: 0-for-2, BB, K
3B Jonathan Ornelas: 2-for-4, 2B (11), RBI, R, 2 K
Ornelas maintains his organizational leading .324 batting average (not including rookie leagues).
CF Duke Ellis: 0-for-4, SB (27), 2 K
RHP Brendan Beck: (W, 6-2) 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K
3.23 ERA (75.1 IP, 54 H, 32 R, 27 ER, 8 HR, 24 BB, 81 K). Last four starts: 22.1 IP, 10 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 10 BB, 27 K. This was Beck’s fifth career 9-strikeout effort. He has never reached ten.
RHP Bradley Hanner: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Yovanny Cruz: (S, 2) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Cruz topped out at 101.7 MPH (six 100+ MPH pitches).
Somerset (35-29) (Lost a heartbreaker to Portland, 7-6. This is a big series in the first-half title chase. The Sea Dogs needed this win, and they are now 32-31)
LF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-4, R, BB
CF Garrett Martin: 1-for-3, R, SB (17), BB, K
1B Nicholas Torres: 0-for-4, 3 K
Torres is 13-for-59 (.220) since coming off the injured list. He was 14-for-30 (.467) before going on the injured list.
RF DJ Gladney: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
Gladney, who has a 5-game hitting streak, is 15-for-48 (.313/.377/.750) in June.
3B Coby Morales: 2-for-4, RBI, R
Morales has a 5-game hitting streak (7-for-21)
C Miguel Palma: 1-for-4, K
2B Connor McGinnis: 1-for-4, HR (1, grand slam), 5 RBI, R
Voted “Least Likely to hit a grand slam,” McGinnis launches his second career home run (57th game).
SS Owen Cobb: 0-for-4, 3 K
DH Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-4, CS (1), 2 K
RHP Cade Smith: 6 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 2 HR
5.33 ERA (52.1 IP, 55 H, 32 R, 31 ER, 13 HR, 25 BB, 52 K). Entering tonight, his HR/FB was a ridiculous 23.9%. It is fair to be both concerned about the home runs he is allowing and to conclude that some of it is random variance that should normalize. In case you are wondering, Nathan Eovaldi has the worst MLB number this year (20.5%).
RHP Trent Sellers: (L, 3-2) 2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, HR
Going for the old school save, he couldn’t get the final out.
Hudson Valley (30-33) (Knocked out Rome, 14-5. Eight Renegades hitters had at least one extra-base hit, including seven home runs.)
2B Kaeden Kent: 3-for-5, 2B (17), 2 R, BB
Kent is back over .300 (.303) and has eight 3+-hit efforts this season. This is his fourth consecutive multi-hit effort.
SS Core Jackson: 1-for-4, HR (7), 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 SB (17), 2 BB
Jackson is hitting .250 with an .833 OPS. He has homered in back-to-back games.
DH Eric Genther: 0-for-3, 2 R, SB (4), HBP, 2 BB, K
1B Kyle West: 2-for-5, HR (11), 4 RBI, R
West drove home three runs in 11 games in 2025. He has six 3+-RBI games in 2026.
RF Wilson Rodriguez: 1-for-4, HR (5), 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
Rodriguez has three home runs in his last seven games as his June power surge continues (.648 SLG).
3B Roderick Arias: 1-for-4, HR (5), SF, 3 RBI, R
Arias’ recent raking continues. He is on a 9-game hitting streak that includes four doubles and three home runs. In June, he is 16-for-46 (.348).
C Josue Gonzalez: 1-for-5, 2B (6), 2 K
LF Josh Moylan: 3-for-5, 2 HR (13), 2 RBI, 2 R, K
Moylan’s second multi-HR game this season.
CF Camden Troyer: 2-for-4, HR (7), RBI, R, BB
Troyer hadn’t homered since May 26th. Instead of power, he’s been patient this month (12 walks in 12 games).
RHP Bryce Cunningham: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
4.73 ERA (32.1 IP, 23 H, 18 R, 17 ER, 5 HR, 17 BB, 36 K). This is back-to-back strong efforts for Cunningham (6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K last time out).
RHP Aaron Nixon: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Brandon Decker: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Hansel Rincon: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Rincon has lowered his ERA to 3.80. He has six straight scoreless appearances.
Tampa (35-29) (Cruised past Ft. Myers, 15-9)
SS Jackson Lovich: 3-for-5, HR (12), 4 RBI, 2 R, 2 SB (16)
.299/.375/.553 in 224 PA. He is on a 5-game hitting streak (9-for-27). Most importantly, tonight’s home run is his first extra-base hit in June.
3B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 1-for-5, K
2B Hans Montero: 0-for-3, R, SB (16), HBP, BB, 2 K
CF Willy Montero: 1-for-5, 3B (2), 3 K
RF JoJo Jackson: 2-for-4, 3 R, BB
LF Luis Puello: 4-for-4, 3 HR (6), 7 RBI, 5 R, BB
One of Puello’s home runs was a grand slam. This is his first career 4-hit and multi-HR effort, and he sets a new personal best for RBI and runs in a game. The 20-year-old C/LF has four doubles, two triples, and six home runs in 25 games since his promotion (also hit a double and a pair of home runs in the FCL).
DH Engelth Urena: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K
C Ediel Rivera: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 SB (3)
1B David McCann: 1-for-3, 3B (1), 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, 2 K
Not often you see four catchers at the bottom of the lineup.
LHP Justin West: (W, 2-3) 5 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 3 HR
RHP Jose Rodriguez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2.03 ERA (26.2 IP, 13 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 1 HR, 19 BB, 37 K)
LHP Parker Seay: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Josh Tiedemann: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
FCL Yankees (17-14) (Lead the Phillies, 2-0, in the third inning. This game was suspended, and they will try to complete it on 6/18. Eight batters came to the plate, with two hitting home runs and the other six striking out.)
3B Richard Matic: 1-for-1, HR (3), RBI, R
Matic hits a lead-off blast. It will extend his on-base streak to 32.
DH Queni Pineda: 0-for-1, K
2B Leni Done: 0-for-1, K
CF Jose Castro: 1-for-1, HR (6), RBI, R
Castro, who has a 17-game on-base streak, homers for the second game in a row.
RF Francisco Vilorio: 0-for-1, K
SS Dexters Peralta: 0-for-1, K
LF Estivenzon Montero: 0-for-1, K
C Justin Capellan: 0-for-1, K
1B Christofer Reyes: 0-for-0
RHP Brian Hendry: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
RHP Stanly Alcantara: 0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
DSL Yankees (6-6) (Destroyed the Twins, 25-11. 25 runs, 19 hits, 12 walks, 3 HBP, 2 reached by error)
CF Isaias Castillo: 1-for-6, 2B (7), R, BB, K
When you saw 25 runs, you probably thought Castillo went 7-for-7 with four home runs. Plot twist! He is hitting .358/.443/.925.
SS Stiven Marinez: 3-for-7, 2 RBI, 3 R, SB (5), K
Marinez has a 5-game hitting streak (9-for-23; 1 double, 2 triples, 3 HR)
CF Yostin Pena: 3-for-6, HR (4), 6 RBI, 3 R, SB (3), BB, K
Pena has 21 RBI in 12 games
2B Juan Torres: 2-for-6, 2B (7), HR (3), 3 RBI, 3 R, SB (7), HBP, K
Did you really expect Torres to be among the 12 walks? He is hitting .400/.424/.727 (one walk in 59 PA)
RF Manuel Aguilar: 1-for-2, RBI, 4 R, 2 SB (3), 4 BB, K
The 16-year-old (17 on August 1st) is 4-for-9 with seven walks.
C Juan Martinez: 1-for-1, RBI, BB
C Edgar Jimenez: 1-for-2, 2B (2), RBI, 4 R, 3 BB
1B Cesar Lopez: 3-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 R, SB (2), BB, K
3B Alfred Ciriaco: 2-for-4, SF, 4 RBI, 2 R, HBP, K
LF Eliezer Adames: 2-for-5, 2B (1), 2 RBI, 3 R, SB (5), BB, 2 K
RHP Luis Ilarraza (W, 1-0): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K
DSL Bombers (4-8) (Destroyed the Marlins, 14-4)
2B Dariel Santana: 2-for-5, 3B (1), RBI, 2 R, SB (8), BB
6-for-32 but with 13 walks and an 8-for-8 stolen base rate. The Yankees have consistently placed him at the top of the lineup since his debut.
SS Mani Cedeno: 2-for-5, 2B (6), SF, 4 RBI, R, 3 K
Cedeno is 9-for-18 with 11 RBI in his last four games.
3B Carlos Bello: 1-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 SB (7)
RF David Carrera: 2-for-3, 3 R, 3 BB
DH Alessandro Rodriguez: 2-for-5, 2B (3), 2 RBI, R
C Poly Ojeda: 1-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, R
Ojeda, 17, launches his first professional home run (4th game).
1B Stalen Ramirez: 2-for-3, 2B (2), R, CS (1), 2 BB
LF Sebastian Pinto: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, R, HBP, BB, K
CF Alfiery Matos: 2-for-4, 2 R, BB, K
LHP Junior Tavera (W, 1-2): 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 K
Tavera sets a new personal best for strikeouts in a game.
RHP Yerison Mendez: 3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
The 16-year-old owns a 2.89 ERA over 9.1 innings.