Notes:
I mentioned that the Yankees were the favorites for RHP Chien-Fan Lai. Today, they signed the Taiwanese teenager who already throws in the mid-90s. While the signing bonus has not yet been disclosed, it will be the highest bonus the Yankees have given out this year.
The Yankees have a little history with Taiwanese players. Their most notable signing was Chien-Ming Wang in 2000. They also signed infielder Fu Lin Kuo in 2009. Now 35, Kuo peaked at High-A Tampa in 2013. After not playing in 2014, he showed up in the Chinese Professional League in 2015, where he continues to play today.
Back to Lai: This is a good signing. The Yankees had money to spend, and he is more polished than the typical international teenage pitcher.
Scranton (38-37) (Defeated Indianapolis, 7-2. Former Yankees’ prospect Keiner Delgado is one step away from the majors. The switch-hitting infielder has played 12 games here, going 11-for-43 with seven walks and six strikeouts.)
3B Oswaldo Cabrera: 3-for-6, 2 RBI, R, 2 K
Cabrera’s 6th consecutive multi-hit effort (15-for-29).
2B Marco Luciano: 2-for-4, R, SB (3), BB, K
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K
Fernandez has a 6-game hitting streak (7-for-24; 2 doubles, 3 HR)
CF Garrett Martin: 3-for-5, HR (2), 4 RBI, R, SB (1), 2 K
The home run was a bomb: 443 feet at 111.6 MPH. Martin has homered in back-to-back games and has 23 home runs, 59 RBI, and 18 stolen bases in 66 games between here and Somerset.
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-5, 3 K
DH Ernesto Martinez Jr.: 0-for-2, R, SB (5), 3 BB, K
SS Jonathan Ornelas: 0-for-4, R, HBP, 2 K
C Payton Henry: 0-for-4, R, HBP, K
LF Duke Ellis: 1-for-4, RBI, R, BB, K
RHP Alexander Cornielle: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
RHP Zach Messinger: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 0 K
RHP Carson Coleman: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Yovanny Cruz: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Cruz hit 100.5 MPH, but had competition from Antwone Kelly, who reached 101.3 MPH for Indianapolis. Velocity isn’t everything, as Kelly allowed four runs in three innings.
RHP Bradley Hanner: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Somerset (37-33) (Lost to New Hampshire, 4-0)
LF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-3, SB (5), BB
At least someone showed up tonight. He is hitting .271/.356/.404 in 233 PA and is now 50-for-58 (86.2%) stealing bases in his 287-game career.
CF Jace Avina: 0-for-4, K
RF DJ Gladney: 1-for-3, BB, K
DH Nicholas Torres: 1-for-4
3B Coby Morales: 0-for-4, K
C Tomas Frick: 0-for-3
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-2, BB, K
Moylan was promoted here today. Moylan played in 269 games for Hudson Valley, compiling a .232/.338/.392 triple slash.
SS Owen Cobb: 0-for-3, SB (10), 2 K
2B Connor McGinnis: 0-for-3, K
RHP Cade Smith: (L, 4-4) 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, HR
Of course, the only run he allows would be a home run. He owns a 4.94 ERA in 58.1 innings (60 H, 33 R, 32 ER, 14 HR (!!), 27 BB, 59 K)
RHP Chris Kean: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
3.45 ERA (31.1 IP, 23 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 6 HR, 16 BB, 37 K)
RHP Tony Rossi: 1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
A rare ineffective appearance for Rossi.
Hudson Valley (32-36) (Lost to Bowling Green, 5-4. Bowling Green is an affiliate of the Rays. Last September, the Yankees sent outfielder Marshall Toole to the Rays to complete the Jose Caballero trade. So far, he is hitting .260/.393/.385 in 120 PA at this level with 17 stolen bases in 20 attempts. He struggled mightily in Low-A to begin the season (he didn’t play until April 26th), but has played well since his promotion.)
3B Kaeden Kent: 1-for-4, R
SS Core Jackson: 1-for-4, 2 K
DH Eric Genther: 0-for-4, RBI, R, K
1B Kyle West: 2-for-4, HR (13), 2 RBI, R, K
West’s 2-run blast gave Hudson Valley the lead in the 8th. It didn’t last, though.
RF Wilson Rodriguez: 2-for-3, R, BB
2B Roderick Arias: 1-for-4, SB (19), 2 K
Arias is 22-for-65 (.338) in June.
C Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3, SF, RBI
.207/.333/.393 in 177 PA.
CF Camden Troyer: 0-for-4, K
LF Luis Durango: 2-for-4, 2B (3), SB (4)
Durango is hitting .353 (12-for-34) at this level.
RHP Bryce Cunningham: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Cunningham threw 80 pitches tonight. Last three outings: 16.1 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 12 K.
RHP Hansel Rincon: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Rincon’s 7th straight scoreless appearance (8.2 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 15 K). Impressive.
RHP Brandon Decker: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
3.10 ERA (29 IP, 24 H, 12 R, 10 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 34 K)
RHP Aaron Nixon: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Brady Kirtner: (L, 1-3) 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Whomp whomp
Tampa (37-33) (Defeated Dunedin, 3-1)
3B Jackson Lovich: 0-for-4, K
CF Brando Mayea: 0-for-4
DH Luis Puello: 0-for-4, K
Puello left the game early a few days ago but was back in the lineup tonight.
LF Logan Maxwell: 0-for-1, R, SB (9), BB
I am not sure why he left the game. There was an injury delay in the top of the 5th, but he didn’t bat in that inning.
LF Gabriel Lara: 0-for-2, K
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 2-for-3, SF, RBI, R, SB (23)
.280/.380/.449 in 279 PA (11 doubles, 1 triple, 9 HR, 32 RBI, 49 R, 23-for-29 SB, 11.8% BB, 23.3% K). He has 46 starts at shortstop, ten at third base, and seven at second base.
RF Willy Montero: 1-for-4, 2B (14), R, 2 K
1B Hans Montero: 1-for-3, 2B (13), 2 RBI, SB (16), 2 K
C Engelth Urena: 0-for-3, K
2B Luis Escudero: 0-for-2, SB (4), BB, 2 K
LHP Justin West: (W, 3-3) 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
5.81 ERA (57.1 IP, 67 H, 40 R, 37 ER, 9 HR, 20 BB, 69 K).
RHP Kevin Stevens: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Greysen Carter: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K
After showing signs of being over his “walk-itis,” Carter has allowed seven walks over his last 6.2 innings. Tonight also represents his second consecutive appearance without a strikeout. On the plus side, he didn’t allow a run despite the walks tonight.
RHP Matthew Tippie (S, 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
FCL Yankees (19-19) (Lost to the Tigers, 10-6)
3B Richard Matic: 2-for-4, HR (4), 2 RBI, 2 R, K
Since losing his long on-base streak, he has three consecutive multi-hit efforts (6-for-14; 1 double, 1 HR).
CF Wilberson De Pena: 1-for-1, 2B (13), 2 R, 2 SB (16), 3 BB
Would you want to pitch to him after yesterday’s 6-for-7 day? De Pena leads the league in doubles (13), home runs (11), and RBI (46). He is second in SLG (.687) and OPS (1.104).
DH Queni Pineda: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
2B Leni Done: 0-for-3, RBI, R, SB (21), BB, K
Done is 5th in the FCL in stolen bases (the leader has 26).
LF Jose Castro: 1-for-2, 2B (2), 2 RBI, CS (7), HBP
RF Francisco Vilorio: 0-for-3, K
SS Dexters Peralta: 0-for-3
C Justin Capellan: 1-for-3, 2B (6), R, K
1B Christofer Reyes: 0-for-3
RHP Huey Morrill: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
The 26-year-old Morrill begins his rehab assignment (his last appearance was August 21, 2025). A two-way player for Oklahoma State, the Yankees have exclusively used him as a pitcher. Last year, he posted a 0.76 ERA in 36 games (47.2 innings) with only 18 hits allowed and a 42/17 K/BB for Somerset.
RHP Jerson Alejandro: 1 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Sunayro Martina (L, 1-2): 0.2 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Rafael Arias: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Edinzo Marquez: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Brian Arias: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
DSL Yankees (10-7) (Defeated the DSL Cardinals, 11-3. While other teams are seeing a dip in their OPS, the Yankees are still over 1.000 (1.026). The last time I updated this, the Brewers Blue were also over 1.000. They are now at .920)
DH Isaias Castillo: 0-for-2, RBI, 2 R, SB (7), 2 BB, 2 K
SS Stiven Marinez: 1-for-5, 3B (4), RBI, R, K
CF Yostin Pena: 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 SB (9), K
2B Juan Torres: 2-for-3, 2B (9), HR (4), 4 RBI, 2 R, BB
Torres is an offensive machine. He is hitting .382/.449/.721 in 78 PA (9 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 19 R, 8-for-10 SB, 8.97% BB, 8.97% K). He has hit safely in nine of his last ten games.
1B Cesar Lopez: 1-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
Lopez won’t be 18 until January. He has a 9-game hitting streak (15-for-33; 1 double, 1 triple, 2 HR).
C Juan Martinez: 1-for-3, SB (5), K
Martinez is 15-for-33 (.455).
LF Manuel Aguilar: 1-for-4, 2B (3), 3 K
The 16-year-old is certainly holding his own (8-for-22; 3 doubles, 1 HR, 3-for-3 SB, 9 BB, 12 K). Yes, the 35.3% K rate isn’t ideal, but he has time to bring that down.
LHP Fredy Penuelas: 3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
After posting a 10.23 ERA in 22 innings during his 2025 debut campaign, he owns a 0.60 ERA in 15 innings this season (12 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 22 K)
RHP Angel Salazar (W, 1-0): 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
RHP Luis Ilarraza: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
RHP Varis Villarreal: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
It’s not often I post every pitcher from a DSL game, as there is usually an ugly line or five. Today, they all did well.
DSL Bombers (7-9) (Lost to the DSL Tigers 2, 12-5. I probably won’t be posting all the pitchers in this one)
SS Mani Cedeno: 1-for-5, 2B (7), R, 2 K
11 extra-base hits in 49 games as a 16-year-old last year. 9 extra-base hits in 16 games as a 17-year-old this year. One year of maturity can make a difference.
2B Carlos Bello: 2-for-4, 2 2B (4), R, SB (9), K
Bello is 11-for-33 since a 1-for-21 start.
C Alessandro Rodriguez: 0-for-3, RBI, R, SB (2), BB, K
RF David Carrera: 1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, R, K
DH Poly Ojeda: 0-for-1, R, 2 BB