Notes:
It’s too hot to write up notes. I will say that this weekend’s series against the Twins is interesting. If they can’t right the ship against the team they have treated like Little Leaguers for 165 years, what will they do? The answer is nothing, of course.
Scranton (42-41) (Defeated Norfolk, 7-3)
3B Jonathan Ornelas: 1-for-5, HR (7), RBI, R, K
A late home run was not enough to save his .300 average. He falls under .300 for the first time since the second game of the season.
C J.C. Escarra: 0-for-4, BB, K
2B Marco Luciano: 2-for-4, 2 2B (7), 2 R, BB, K
Luciano has a 6-game hitting streak that features five 2-hit games. It has raised his Triple-A batting average from .220 to .270.
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 1-for-4, HR (17), 2 RBI, R, 2 K
In case you forgot (and why would you have cared enough to remember?), Fernandez’s personal best for HR in a season is 25, set in 2023.
1B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-2, 2B (8), R, 2 BB, K
Hardman has eight doubles and five home runs in 36 games since his promotion.
LF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-4, RBI, K
CF Kenedy Corona: 1-for-3, HR (2), SF, 2 RBI, R
SS Owen Cobb: 1-for-3, CI, K
Catcher’s interference is an epidemic everywhere, not just MLB. I don’t think I have ever written “CI” as often as I have in 2026.
C Abrahan Gutierrez: 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI, R, SAC, 2 K
Gutierrez is not known for power. He hit 12 in 2022 and five in 2023, but tonight’s home run was only his second in 107 games from 2024 through 2026.
RHP Elmer Rodriguez: (W, 4-3) 6.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, HR
Decent effort by Rodriguez, who kept the walks in check. He owns a 2.93 ERA in 61.1 innings at this level. I wouldn’t worry about innings limits with Rodriguez, as he tossed 150 in 2025.
RHP Yerry de los Santos: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Bradley Hanner: (S, 3) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Somerset (41-37) (Lost to Hartford, 8-6, in ten innings. Yesterday, I brought up Griffin Herring. Today, I will focus on Roc Riggio, another piece sent to the Rockies for Ryan McMahon. Riggio is hitting .244/.344/.484 in 259 plate appearances. He has 18 doubles and 11 home runs. It shouldn’t be surprising that he has 58 starts at second base. He has one at DH and one at third base.)
RF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-4, BB
Castillo has a 5-game hitting streak. He has 38 starts in LF, 29 in CF, and 10 in RF.
CF Jace Avina: 0-for-5
3B Coby Morales: 1-for-4, R, CS (8), BB
LF DJ Gladney: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K
1B Josh Moylan: 1-for-4, 2B (4), 2 R, BB
DH Miguel Palma: 2-for-5, HR (5), 3 RBI, 2 R, K
C Manuel Palencia: 3-for-4, 2B (2), RBI, R
Neither Palma nor Palencia (both catchers) are hitting much, but they did their jobs tonight (5-for-9, double, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R)
SS Kevin Verde: 0-for-2, BB, K
PH Tomas Frick: 0-for-0, SF, RBI
2B Santiago Gomez: 0-for-0
2B-SS Connor McGinnis: 1-for-4, RBI, SB (4), K
RHP Jack Cebert: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
A series of ups and downs for Cebert since his promotion. He has pitched well in his last two starts (11.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 12 K). That brings his ERA down to 5.98 (49.2 IP, 57 H, 35 R, 33 ER, 11 HR, 15 BB, 61 K).
RHP Chase Chaney: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Ben Grable: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Since promotion: 3.38 ERA (21.1 IP, 11 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 27 K).
RHP Harrison Cohen: (L, 2-1) 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Kelly Austin: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Hudson Valley (35-41) (Defeated Wilmington, 9-7)
SS Kaeden Kent: 1-for-5, 2 RBI, SB (20)
DH Core Jackson: 2-for-4, HR (10), RBI, 2 R, 3 SB (22), BB
Jackson continues to show off more offensive tools than I thought he had. He is hitting .252/.352/.468 in 252 PA (13 doubles, 2 triples, 10 HR, 35 RBI, 36 R, 22-for-28 SB, 10.9% BB, 20.7% K). Honestly, there’s nothing to complain about.
CF Wilson Rodriguez: 2-for-4, 3B (5), 2 R, CS (5), BB
Speaking of little to complain about: Rodriguez isn’t being fooled by much at this level right now. He is 13-for-32 (.406) over his last nine games.
1B Kyle West: 1-for-4, RBI, R, BB, 2 K
3B Roderick Arias: 2-for-4, HR (9), 3 RBI, R
I don’t even know what to say at this point. Where is this offense coming from? Yes, he has the rich signing-bonus pedigree, and I have always said that his athletic ability often carries him, which could be what is happening here. However, his hot streak has gone on for long enough to take seriously. He has a 22-game on-base streak.
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 2-for-4, 2B (7), RBI, 2 R, SB (8)
There is no doubt Tejeda will make it to the upper levels of the minors (before you laugh, many international signings aren’t heard from after a season or two in the DSL). I am intrigued to see how he fares.
C Josue Gonzalez: 1-for-4, 2B (8)
LF Luis Durango: 1-for-3, R, SB (7), HBP, K
RF Robbie Burnett: 1-for-2, 2B (1), SF, RBI, BB, K
LHP Allen Facundo: (W, 3-2) 6.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, HR
Watching the game on YES, there was no doubt that Facundo was battling tonight. That said, he held Wilmington to one run through six innings before a tough 7th that included two inherited runners scoring. He owns a 4.33 ERA in 54 IP since his promotion (36 H, 28 R, 26 ER, 3 HR, 36 BB, 70 K)
RHP Jack Sokol: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Luis Velasquez: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Kevin Stevens (S, 1): 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Tampa (44-34) (Scored three in the top of the ninth to push past St. Lucie, 7-5. The Tarpons have won six in a row and are 9-3 in the second half)
3B Jackson Lovich: 2-for-5, 2 R, SB (18), 2 K
Lovich is 5-for-10 to start July. He is hitting .290/.354/.532 and leads the FSL with 51 runs batted in (second in OPS – only two points behind leader Edian Espinal (Tigers)).
2B Hans Montero: 1-for-4, 2B (14), RBI, 3 R, SB (21), BB
LF Luis Puello: 1-for-5, 2B (8), RBI, R, SB (4), 2 K
Puello’s RBI double brought home Montero with the winning run. He’s only 20, can play catcher, and has hit well since his promotion (.269/.325/.497 with 29 RBI in 36 games).
RF Logan Maxwell: 0-for-5, 4 K
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 K
CF Brando Mayea: 0-for-4, BB, 4 K
C David McCann: 1-for-3, RBI, BB
1B Christofer Reyes: 1-for-4, 2 K
DH Engelth Urena: 1-for-4, 2B (12), K
“Can you spin Urena batting 9th into something positive?” No. He is hitting only .196/.342/.335 in 257 PA. His raw power hasn’t shown up consistently in full-season ball. He is up to 657 plate appearances at this level, hitting .203/.333/.331 with 26 doubles and 14 home runs. In his brief time in High-A Hudson Valley (22 games), he hit .158/.278/.197. I stress patience with catchers, but progress is still needed.
PR Isael Arias: 0-for-0, R, SB (1)
As I said when he was promoted: Speed is his game. After Urena doubled to start the 9th, Arias stole third and scored on an error.
RHP Wyatt Parliament: 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, HR
RHP J.T. Etheridge: (W, 7-1) 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K
Tampa’s good luck charm owns a 5.67 ERA in 39.2 IP (39 H, 28 R, 25 ER, 2 HR, 21 BB, 55 K)
FCL Yankees (22-22) (Lost to the Tigers, 6-4)
3B Richard Matic: 1-for-3, 3B (3), 3 RBI, BB, K
He didn’t score a run today, but he leads the FCL with 50, 11 more than second place. Matic is hitting .314/.431/.491 in 204 PA.
RF Wilberson De Pena: 1-for-4
C Queni Pineda: 0-for-3, BB, K
2B Leni Done: 0-for-3, R, SB (25)
Done is third in the FCL in stolen bases. The leader (Israfell Bautista (Rays)) has 29.
DH Jose Castro: 0-for-2, R, SB (21), BB, 2 K
Castro owns a .500 OBP and .568 SLG. He doesn’t yet qualify for rate statistic leaderboards.
CF Francisco Vilorio: 0-for-2, SB (3), HBP, 2 K
SS Dexters Peralta: 0-for-1, R, 2 BB, K
LF Estivenzon Montero: 0-for-1, R, HBP, BB, K
1B Justin Capellan: 0-for-3, K
RHP Mack Estrada: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HR
Estrada finally makes his professional debut. The 22-year-old was the Yankees’ 11th-round pick in 2024 out of Northwest Florida State JC. Obviously, he missed all this time due to injury.
RHP Huey Morrill (L, 1-1): 2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
His rehab stint continues.
RHP Danny Flatt: 3 IP, 2 H, o R, 1 BB, 2 K
DSL Yankees (13-9) (Lost to the DSL Tigers 2, 8-3. This officially pushed their team OPS under 1.000 (now .994))
CF Isaias Castillo: 0-for-5, K
Rough day today, but Castillo still leads the league in home runs (8) and runs (35).
SS Stiven Marinez: 0-for-4, R, SB (14), HBP
.289/.427/.578 in 103 PA. He is 14-for-15 stealing bases.
2B Juan Torres: 2-for-5, 2B (12), CS (3), HBP
Torres, who leads the league in doubles, has three straight multi-hit efforts (five in his last six games). He has a 15-game on-base streak (has reached base in 20 of his 21 games).
C Cesar Lopez: 1-for-4, R, SB (7), K
3B Abrahan Pichardo: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, K
1B Edgar Jimenez: 2-for-3, BB
RF Eliezer Adames: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, K
After going 5-for-43 last season, Adames is hitting .315/.422/.407 in 64 PA this season.
RHP Jhosneyker Colina: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
2.57 ERA (21 IP, 24 H, 12 R, 6 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 21 K)
DSL Bombers (10-12) (Defeated the DSL Cardinals, 5-1. This game was called with one out in the 6th inning)
SS Mani Cedeno: 1-for-3, R, 2 K
2B Carlos Bello: 1-for-3, 3B (1), RBI, R, SB (14)
Ten of his 15 hits have gone for extra bases (5 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR)
C Alessandro Rodriguez: 1-for-3, RBI, K
3B Germayhoni Beltre: 1-for-2
CF Alfiery Matos: 1-for-2, RBI, SB (15)
RF Sebastian Pinto: 1-for-2, 2B (4), R, SB (2)
RHP Cesar Acosta: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
RHP Josue Silvestre (W, 1-0): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
10.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 14 K