Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes:
The Yankees have allowed a few minor league veterans to opt out of their contracts this year.
Don’t add Bradley Hanner to the list as he was added to the 40-man roster today. Might he be the 27th man for tomorrow’s doubleheader? I know many would opt for Yovanny Cruz for that role. To make room, Aaron Judge was moved to the 60-day injured list. No, this isn’t meaningful as the retroactive date stays the same (May 31st). Time flies – Judge has been out that long already?
The 27-year-old has pitched well for Scranton, posting a 1.99 ERA (2.65 FIP) with a 29.6% K, 9.5% BB, and 33.3% GB. He features a 4-seamer, slider, cutter, and sinker. The Yankees have increased his usage of his fastball and cutter compared to last year (when he was in the Cleveland organization), while stripping away his changeup entirely. Whether changing his pitch mix has turned around his career, who knows?
The Twins selected him in the 21st round of the 2019 draft out of Patrick Henry Community College. The Baseball-Reference database lists eight players who attended that school, none of whom have made it to a Major League roster. The only other active player who attended that school is Magnus Ellerts, a reliever in the Guardians’ organization.
Scranton (49-43; 12-6 in the second half)
Their game against Worcester was postponed due to rain. No makeup day is listed, but they could play two tomorrow.
Somerset (45-44; 8-12 in the second half) (Lost to Portland, 11-0. This won’t be replayed on Patriots Classics)
LF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
CF Jace Avina: 0-for-4, 2 K
His 7-game hitting streak is snapped.
3B Coby Morales: 1-for-3, BB, K
RF DJ Gladney: 0-for-4, 3 K
2B Connor McGinnis: 0-for-4, 2 K
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-3, 2B (1), K
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-3, K
DH Manuel Palencia: 1-for-3, 2 K
SS Owen Cobb: 0-for-3
RHP Chase Hampton: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, HR
At this level: 7.29 ERA (21 IP, 23 H, 18 R, 17 ER, 2 HR, 19 BB, 20 K). I would love to see progress by the end of the season, but he may have lost what he once had.
RHP Kelly Austin: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Hayden Merda: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
3.74 ERA (33.2 IP, 24 H, 15 R, 14 ER, 4 HR, 15 BB, 57 K). His strikeout rate is 40.4%.
RHP Luis Velasquez: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Kevin Stevens: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Trent Sellers: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
4.88 ERA (59 IP, 59 H, 40 R, 32 ER, 38 BB, 82 K). As a reliever: 1.96 ERA (18.1 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 12 BB, 31 K).
Hudson Valley (41-45; 11-11 in the second half)
Their game against Brooklyn was postponed due to rain. They will play two tomorrow.
Tampa (52-37) (Defeated Bradenton, 6-1; 17-6 in the second half)
SS Jackson Lovich: 0-for-4, 2 K
1B Hans Montero: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
C Luis Puello: 1-for-3, 2 R, SB (6), BB
DH David McCann: 1-for-4, 3B (2), RBI, 2 K
3B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 SB (29), BB
Martin-Grudzielanek is tied for third in stolen bases within the organization (behind Duke Ellis (37) and Luis Durango (34)).
RF Willy Montero: 1-for-4, R, SB (16), 2 K
LF Brando Mayea: 2-for-4, HR (3), 4 RBI, R
Mayea, who set a personal best for RBI in a game, has been in the organization for four years. He has hit three home runs in three of those campaigns. Can he set a new personal record?
2B Luis Escudero: 0-for-2, K
Escudero, hitting .288 with a 1.130 OPS in 23 games at this level, was activated off the injured list today. When he was promoted, he had seven home runs in 133 Rookie League games. He has six for Tampa.
2B Christofer Reyes: 0-for-1, BB, K
CF Isael Arias: 0-for-2, BB
RHP Wyatt Parliament: (W, 1-2) 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, HR
Parliament earns his first professional win.
RHP Greysen Carter: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3
Carter hit 99.9 MPH twice (averaged 98). We can round that up, right? Anyway, Carter threw his cutter 10 MPH slower than his 4-seamer/sinker mix, which is a good thing. Entering tonight, he owned a massive 67.5% GB, which is second in minor league baseball behind veteran Brendon Little (among pitchers with 30+ innings). His prospect status is tied to throwing strikes.
RHP Austin Breedlove: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
FCL Yankees (29-26) (Swept a doubleheader against the FCL Tigers. The Yankees have played well down the stretch, but they are eliminated from playoff contention. The season ends on Thursday, so we’ll see which players make their way to Tampa.)
Game 1 (Won, 10-6. This was the conclusion of yesterday’s game)
3B Richard Matic: 0-for-3, R, HBP, 2 K
SS Dax Kilby: 0-for-1, R, BB, K
The fact that he didn’t play in Game 2 will make people nervous. The Yankees have a protocol with rehabbing players, and it could be that. However, we will get no answers tomorrow since the FCL is off.
2B Diego Flores: 1-for-2, 2B (2), R
LF Wilberson De Pena: 2-for-4, 2B (19), 3 RBI, SB (20), 2 K
C Queni Pineda: 2-for-4, 3B (1), HR (8), RBI, 2 R, K
CF Jose Castro: 1-for-3, 2B (3), RBI, R, CS (9)
DH Francisco Vilorio: 2-for-2, 2B (6), 2 R, BB
2B-SS Dexters Peralta: 1-for-3, HR (12), 3 RBI, R, K
RF Estivenzon Montero: 2-for-3, 2B (7), HR (3), 2 RBI, R, K
1B Justin Capellan: 0-for-3, K
RHP Chalniel Arias: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Mack Estrada: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Jorge Luna: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Jerson Alejandro: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Brian Hendry (W, 1-0): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
The 26-year-old was assigned here after his rehab stint. I am not sure why, as he has a 0.48 ERA in 18.2 innings for Hudson Valley.
RHP Rafael Arias: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Game 2 (Won, 6-2. The Yankees stole 12 bases. This team can hit, as they lead the FCL in home runs by 22 and are second in runs scored behind the Rays. The issue is the pitching. The FCL is a hitters’ league, but their 6.18 team ERA ranks 11th out of 15 teams. Yes, a 6.18 ERA is not the worst.)
3B Richard Matic: 2-for-4, 2B (15), RBI, 2 R, K
Matic is second behind (you guessed it) De Pena in the FCL in doubles. He leads the FCL with 60 runs scored.
RF Wilberson De Pena: 2-for-3, RBI, R, HBP, 2 SB (22), CS (7)
If he isn’t in Tampa when the FCL season concludes, I will be shocked. He is hitting .352/.409/.685 (19 doubles, 2 triples, 16 HR, 65 RBI, 44 R, 22-for-29 SB) in 235 PA. Additionally, he owns a 7.2% BB and 19.6% K. I don’t wish to jinx him, but the Triple Crown appears likely. His .352 average leads by 26 points over Hector Campusano; he has four more home runs than teammate Dexters Peralta and the Tigers’ Cristian Perez, and 21 more RBI than the Twins’ Jhomnardo Reyes.
DH Queni Pineda: 0-for-2, 3 SB (15), HBP, BB, 2 K
.268/.404/.448 in 228 PA.
CF Jose Castro: 1-for-4, RBI, R, 2 SB (29)
Castro is tied with teammate Leni Done for the league lead in stolen bases. As for Done, while he is listed as active, he hasn’t played since July 14th.
LF Francisco Vilorio: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 SB (7), CS (1), BB, K
SS Dexters Peralta: 0-for-3, R, 2 K
.220/.352/.492 in 216 PA. You love the power, but that 35.6% strikeout rate is a deal breaker.
C Justin Capellan: 2-for-3, 2 2B (12), RBI, K
2B Diego Flores: 0-for-2, R, 3 SB (4), HBP
1B Carlos Rondon: 0-for-3, 2 K
RHP Manuel Cruz: 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, HR
RHP Huey Morrill: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Enixon Sanchez (W, 3-2): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
DSL Yankees (21-12)
Day off. They play again on Monday.
DSL Bombers (15-19)
Day off. They play again on Monday.