Notes:
In the least shocking news of the day, Dax Kilby is officially off his rehab assignment and is back on the injured list for Tampa. Kilby played in only one rehab game in the FCL, going 0-for-2.
In the second-least shocking news of the day, George Lombard Jr. was placed on the injured list due to two sprained fingers. Sprains can be tricky. I don’t know why I am reading headlines about how Yankees fans are “relieved” by the news. I hope it’s a 1-2 week issue. But sprains can linger, and hitting is hard enough without dealing with injured fingers. Add in that the Yankees will likely play on the side of caution, and this could take a little while. We’ll see.
The proposal to ban high school players from being drafted while cutting the draft by several rounds is an attempt to shift more player development to the colleges, which will save owners money. It would make the college game better, in theory, though it would mean fewer roster spots for recruits who aren’t blue chippers. The international draft, which the owners have wanted for a while, isn’t a bad idea. I don’t think it is necessary, however.
This could be the owners throwing a bargaining chip on the table. That is, they will be “willing” to drop this if the players concede something else. We are months away from an agreement, so expect more insane ideas from both sides. Some are destined to stick, however.
Scranton (35-35) (Lost to Columbus, 7-5)
C Austin Wells: 2-for-5, 2 HR (2), 3 RBI, 2 R
Wells hardly missed any time, so he’ll be back soon. That is amplified by the fact that he already played a full game behind the plate.
2B Marco Luciano: 1-for-3, R, BB
SS Oswaldo Cabrera: 2-for-4, 2B (10), R, SB (6)
Cabrera got off to a very slow start (probably due to his injury), but has been steady for a while. Overall, his triple slash is .245/.312/.359 in 256 PA.
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 1-for-3, RBI, BB, 2 K
Fernandez was hitting well before a brief stint on the injured list. Since coming back, he is 6-for-35 with one RBI and zero extra-base hits.
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-3, BB
3B Jonathan Ornelas: 1-for-4, SB (7)
DH Payton Henry: 0-for-3, R, BB
CF Duke Ellis: 2-for-4, SB (28), CS (3)
LF Kenedy Corona: 0-for-2, BB
PH Ernesto Martinez Jr.: 0-for-1
RHP Alexander Cornielle (L, 0-1): 4 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 2 HR
Cornielle’s Scranton debut. He’s a 24-year-old depth guy who had a nice season in the Brewers’ organization last year (3.81 ERA in 137 innings with a 135/71 K/BB). Yes, walks were an issue, which is probably why they let him walk via minor league free agency.
RHP Zach Messinger: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
2.82 ERA (38.1 IP, 24 H, 14 R, 12 ER, 2 HR, 17 BB, 32 K). Going back to April 28th, he has allowed one run over 24.1 innings (yes, he had one appearance where he allowed three inherited runners to score).
RHP Carlos Lagrange: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, HR
An error by Hardman didn’t help, but there isn’t much we can do to sugarcoat this performance. He was essentially a piggyback starter in his first relief appearance, so we will concentrate on his last three: 7.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 8 K. I keep saying it is a process, and it is. The process isn’t guaranteed to yield results, though.
RHP Yerry de los Santos: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Somerset (36-30) (Lost to Portland, 7-6. They scored three in the 9th but couldn’t score a fourth!)
CF Jace Avina: 2-for-3, R, BB, K
Avina has seven multi-hit efforts in his last 11 games.
PH-3B Kevin Verde: 0-for-1
RF-CF Garrett Martin: 2-for-3, 2B (13), SF, RBI, R, BB, K
Martin has a 5-game hitting streak (9-for-17; 3 doubles, 1 HR, 5 BB).
DH DJ Gladney: 0-for-4, SF, RBI, 2 K
LF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-5, RBI, R, K
Castillo has a 5-game hitting streak.
1B-RF Nicholas Torres: 1-for-5, R, 2 K
Torres is 10-for-57 in June.
3B-1B Coby Morales: 1-for-4, HR (12), 3 RBI, R, BB, 2 K
Morales has 12 home runs and 51 RBI in 62 games.
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-4
PH Miguel Palma: 0-for-1, K
2B Connor McGinnis: 0-for-3, HBP, K
SS Owen Cobb: 1-for-3, 2B (10), R, BB
RHP Jack Cebert: 4 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, HR
Since promotion: 6.87 ERA (38 IP, 48 H, 31 R, 29 ER, 11 HR, 12 BB, 49 K). A lot of home runs and strikeouts. If you were excited when the Yankees promoted him, no reason to be less excited now. Learnng curve.
RHP Kelly Austin: 2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
3.95 ERA (27.1 IP, 24 H, 12 R, 12 ER, 3 HR, 9 BB, 29 K). Austin, who was acquired from the Astros for Caleb Ferguson, has put up good numbers for the Yankees.
RHP Tony Rossi: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Harrison Cohen: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Hudson Valley (30-34)
Their game against Rome was cancelled due to rain from the remnants of Arthur. It will not be made up.
Tampa (35-31) (Lost to Ft. Myers, 16-5)
DH Jackson Lovich: 1-for-4, 2B (11), R, CS (5), BB, 2 K
Lovich has two extra-base hits in his last three games after a 12-game dry spell.
CF Brando Mayea: 0-for-1, BB
The bonus baby was activated off the injured list today. He hasn’t had a very good season (.207/.296/.306; 29.6% K in 125 PA).
CF Willy Montero: 1-for-2, 2B (11)
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 1-for-4, HR (9), 2 RBI, R, 2 K
Martin-Grudzielanek is hitting .280/.379/.458 in 264 PA. He was hitting only .130 on April 22nd.
2B Hans Montero: 0-for-4, 2 K
RF JoJo Jackson: 2-for-4, R, CS (6)
Jackson has three straight multi-hit efforts (five in his last seven games). Before this stretch, he was hitting .236/.383/.340. He is now hitting .274/.403/.387.
LF Logan Maxwell: 0-for-2, SB (8), 2 BB, K
Maxwell is 8-for-9 stealing bases in 23 games for Tampa.
C David McCann: 1-for-4, R, K
1B Austin Green: 0-for-4, RBI, 2 K
2B Luis Escudero: 2-for-3, 2B (4), RBI, R
The 20-year-old is hitting well in a small sample size (11-for-40; .275/.434/.525 with more walks (12) than strikeouts (10)).
RHP Wyatt Parliament (L, 0-1): 4.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
RHP J.T. Etheridge: 2.1 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HR
There are some days when you wish you had stayed in bed. Hs ERA spiked from 3.73 to 5.61.
RHP Jordarlin Mendoza: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
Mendoza maxed out at 99.1 MPH.
LHP Parker Seay: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
FCL Yankees (18-15) (Split two games against the Phillies)
Game 1 (Lost, 7-4, in the conclusion of the game from Tuesday)
3B Richard Matic: 1-for-4, HR (3), RBI, R, 2 K
Now his 33-game on-base streak is official.
DH Queni Pineda: 0-for-4, 3 K
2B Leni Done: 0-for-3, R, 2 SB (19), BB, K
CF Jose Castro: 2-for-4, HR (5), RBI, 2 R, K
Castro, who has a 17-game on-base streak, homers for the second game in a row.
RF Francisco Vilorio: 1-for-4, 2 K
SS Dexters Peralta: 2-for-4, 2B (4), 3B (3), RBI, 2 K
This was the start of his good day…
LF Estivenzon Montero: 0-for-1, K
LF Wilberson De Pena: 0-for-3, SB (14)
C Justin Capellan: 0-for-3, 2 K
1B Christofer Reyes: 0-for-3, K
RHP Brian Hendry: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
Hendry is on a rehab assignment.
RHP Stanly Alcantara: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, HR
RHP Anthony Mena (L, 0-1): 1.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Marco Manzano: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Manzano has 22 strikeouts in 11 innings (14 walks, which is why he has a 7.34 ERA)
Game 2 (Won, 10-4)
3B Richard Matic: 2-for-4, 2 2B (11), 3 R, BB, K
Matic has a 34-game on-base streak. He is hitting .323/.452/.496 in 157 PA (17.2% BB; 17.8% K). He has scored 42 runs this season and 105 in 126 career games. Yes, he has a 34-game streak even though they have officially played 33 games. I explained it yesterday: They have a suspended game waiting to be resumed. However, if it never resumes, it is an official game so it will be a tie. Hence, the stats already count.
C Queni Pineda: 1-for-3, 2B (4), RBI, 2 R, BB, 2 K
C Diego Flores: 0-for-0
2B Leni Done: 3-for-3, HR (4), 2 RBI, R, 2 CS (6)
.331/.430/.524 in 149 PA. He has four 3-hit efforts in his last eight games.
DH Jose Castro: 0-for-3, R, HBP, 2 K
The painful way to extend your on-base streak to 18.
CF Francisco Vilorio: 2-for-4, 2B (1), R, K
SS Dexters Peralta: 2-for-4, HR (9), 3 RBI, R, K
Peralta hit for the cycle if you combine both games. He is hitting .265/.391/.593 in 138 PA (4 doubles, 3 triples, 9 HR, 32 RBI, 25 R, 6-for-7 SB, 14.5% BB, 34.1% K). He has moved into second place (behind De Pena) in home runs and RBI in the FCL.
LF Robbie Burnett: 0-for-2, R, HBP, BB, 2 K
RF Estivenzon Montero: 1-for-4, 2B (5), 2 K
1B Christofer Reyes: 1-for-4, RBI
RHP Jerson Alejandro: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Manuel Cruz (W, 3-1): 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
RHP Sunayro Martina: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
DSL Yankees (7-6) (Continued their offensive onslaught with a 14-7 win over DSL Miami. This team is ridiculous. They have now scored 148 runs and have a 1.048 OPS in 13 games. They average 11.38 runs per game, and that isn’t the top number in the league. The Pirates have scored 150 runs in 13 games)
CF Isaias Castillo: 0-for-4, RBI, R, BB, K
The Yankees have scored 50 runs (not a typo) in their last three games, and Castillo (who was putting up arcade numbers) is 1-for-14 in those games. Baseball!
SS Stiven Marinez: 1-for-3, RBI, 3 R, 3 SB (8), 2 BB, K
.375/.483/.708 in 58 PA. He is on a 6-game hitting streak.
RF Yostin Pena: 3-for-5, HR (5), 4 RBI, 3 R, 2 SB (6), K
Last two games: 6-for-11, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 6 R, 3-for-3 SB. He has 25 RBI in 13 games.
DH Juan Torres: 1-for-4, 2B (8), 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, 2 K
Wow! He drew a walk! The free-swinging Torres is on a 7-game hitting streak and is hitting .390/.422/.712.
LF Manuel Aguilar: 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, R, BB, 2 K
One of the youngest players in the organization launches his first home run. He is 6-for-13 with eight walks and three stolen bases to begin his career.
1B Juan Martinez: 1-for-3, 2B (3), RBI, BB
C Cesar Lopez: 3-for-4, 2B (3), R
The 17-year-old catcher is 14-for-42 (.333; 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR)
3B Abrahan Pichardo: 0-for-1, R, 4 BB
Pichardo has a sustainable 36.7% walk rate. That’s how you can have a .449 OBP despite being 3-for-30.
2B Alfred Ciriaco: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB
RHP Jhosneyker Colina: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR
Why do I get a feeling that, when I hear his first name, it won’t be quite as cool as it seems?
RHP Brandon Rodriguez (W, 1-1): 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
DSL Bombers (5-8) (Crushed the DSL Rangers Blue, 14-2. The Bombers had a terrible start but are hitting the snot out of the ball lately. They are up to 105 runs, 9th in the league)
DH Dariel Santana: 1-for-4, 3 R, 2 SB (10), BB, K
Santana is 10-for-10 stealing bases.
SS Mani Cedeno: 0-for-4, R, BB, 3 K
A hot Cedeno has been a major piece in their surge, but had a quiet day today.
RF David Carrera: 1-for-3, HR (1), 3 RBI, 3 R, BB
The old man amongst the position players (19) is hitting .317/.525/.439.
C Alessandro Rodriguez: 2-for-4, SF, 3 RBI, R, K
The 17-year-old is 13-for-35 (.371) with 11 RBI. Good luck trying to evaluate DSL catchers, but I still like to see the early-season results they are putting up.
1B Poly Ojeda: 2-for-5, RBI, R
3B Germayhoni Beltre: 2-for-3, 2B (2), RBI, R, SB (7), 2 BB, K
Beltre’s third consecutive multi-hit game.
LF Richard Meran: 2-for-5, 3B (1), 2 RBI, R, 2 K
CF Alfiery Matos: 0-for-1, 2 R, 4 SB (9), 2 HBP, BB
RHP Cesar Acosta (W, 1-1): 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
With the extreme offense, it’s nice to see a strong outing on the hill.
LHP Andre Avila: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K