Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes:
While the Spotrac log still shows Tyce Armstrong without a signing bonus, the Yankees’ transactions tracker shows him as assigned to the FCL. Hence, the Yankees have signed all their draft picks.
The FCL assignments aren’t meaningful, as they have to place these players somewhere. The season ends on Thursday, and none of them are guaranteed to play. Could they get at-bats in Tampa? Yes. Several draftees last year ended their seasons in Tampa. A few (ie, Kaeden Kent and Core Jackson) started their careers in Hudson Valley.
The Yankees will start Max Fried in tomorrow’s doubleheader instead of giving him a second rehab start. Is there some risk to this move? Sure. A rehab appearance is not the same as an MLB start. During a rehab appearance, there’s no pitch clock, for example. I will trust the veteran’s judgment while recognizing that professional athletes’ assessments of their health are not always reliable.
Scranton (51-43; 14-6 in the second half) (Knocked off Syracuse, 13-5)
SS George Lombard Jr.: 2-for-5, RBI, 2 R, 2 K
Lombard Jr. has a 14-game hitting streak (12 with Scranton) and has three straight multi-hit efforts since being activated by the Railriders.
C J.C. Escarra: 2-for-3, 2B (6), RBI, 3 R, 2 BB
Escarra is 19-for-54 (.352) with seven walks and only four strikeouts since his demotion.
2B Marco Luciano: 3-for-4, 2B (10), RBI, 2 R, BB
On June 25th, Luciano was hitting .220/.339/.297 at this level. He is now hitting .285/.379/.490.
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 1-for-5, 2B (11), 2 RBI, 2 K
3B Oswaldo Cabrera: 0-for-1, SF, RBI, 2 BB
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4, SF, RBI
DH Ernesto Martinez Jr.: 1-for-5, HR (16), RBI, R
LF Kenedy Corona: 2-for-2, 3 R, CS (3), 2 BB
CF Duke Ellis: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
RHP Elmer Rodriguez: (W, 6-3) 5 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
In his first appearance since July 10th, Rodriguez tossed four hitless innings before running into trouble in the 5th. He owns a 3.03 ERA in 71.1 innings (55 H, 29 R, 24 ER, 5 HR, 38 BB, 70 K).
RHP Carson Coleman: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
4.50 ERA (34 IP, 26 H, 18 R, 17 ER, 2 HR, 19 BB, 34 K)
RHP Yerry de los Santos: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Rafael Montero: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Montero allowed two inherited runners to score. He has not impressed, but there is never anything wrong with minor league contracts to see if someone has anything left to offer.
RHP Danny Watson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Somerset (45-45; 8-13 in the second half)
Their game against New Hampshire was postponed. They will try their best to play two on Thursday.
Hudson Valley (43-45; 13-11 in the second half)
Their game against Wilmington was postponed. They wll try their darnest to play two on Thursday.
Tampa (53-38; 18-7 in the second half) (Lost to Palm Beach, 4-3)
SS Jackson Lovich: 1-for-3, RBI, BB
After a tough June, Lovich is hitting better in July (.283/.317/.567). With the influx of draft talent + potential FCL promotions, Lovich could see himself moving to Hudson Valley.
1B Hans Montero: 0-for-4
DH Luis Puello: 0-for-4, K
3B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 3-for-4, 2B (16), 2 R, K
His 8th 3-hit performance this season (first since June 12th). He’s hitting .265/.376/.414 in 367 PA and is 31-for-38 stealing bases.
LF Willy Montero: 2-for-4, R, 2 K
Montero has a 6-game hitting streak (11-for-23). He’s going the aggressive route this month, as he has yet to draw a walk after walking 13 times in June.
2B Luis Escudero: 0-for-3
2B Christofer Reyes: 0-for-0, BB
CF Brando Mayea: 1-for-3, BB, K
RF Gabriel Lara: 0-for-3, RBI, BB
C Ediel Rivera: 0-for-3, K
RHP Thatcher Hurd: (L, 1-4) 2.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
Hurd has been sizzling lately, but tonight was not his night.
RHP Jose Martinez: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Jose Rodriguez: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
2.58 ERA (38.1 IP, 21 H, 14 R, 11 ER, 2 HR, 23 BB, 52 K). His strikeout percentage is 32.7%.
RHP Austin Breedlove: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
FCL Yankees (29-28) (Lost a doubleheader to the FCL Phillies. They will need to win on Thursday to finish the season above .500)
Game 1 (Lost, 10-4)
SS Dax Kilby: 0-for-3
The rehab stint will be short, but if he is healthy, he will move to Tampa.
2B Diego Flores: 0-for-0, CS (1), BB
3B Richard Matic: 2-for-5, 2 2B (17), R, SB (15), K
DH Wilberson De Pena: 2-for-5, RBI, R, SB (23), K
C Queni Pineda: 0-for-1, R, CS (4), 3 BB
CF Jose Castro: 2-for-4, 2B (4), RBI, R
LF Francisco Vilorio: 1-for-3, 2B (7), 2 RBI, HBP, K
2B-SS Dexters Peralta: 0-for-4, 3 K
RF Estivenzon Montero: 0-for-3, SB (6), BB, 2 K
1B Justin Capellan: 0-for-4
RHP Anthony Mena: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
No injury concerns – this game started yesterday, but was suspended after one inning.
RHP Edinzo Marquez (L, 2-2): 3 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
RHP Alexander Almonte: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 1 K
Almonte entered the season as one of their most intriguing rookie league arms but has struggled badly.
LHP Marco Manzano: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
RHP Brian Arias: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Game 2 (Lost, 10-6)
3B Richard Matic: 0-for-4, K
.283/.396/.443 in 260 PA. With one game left, he is 10-for-57 in July and hasn’t homered since June 23rd.
CF Wilberson De Pena: 3-for-4, 2B (20), RBI, R, K
De Pena has a 5-game hitting streak, where is an insane 12-for-20 (3 doubles, 1 HR, 9 RBI). He has 80 hits in 55 games.
DH Queni Pineda: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
.262/.407/.439 in 236 PA. Pineda’s offense in the rookie leagues has been fine, including 102 walks in 494 PA. He’s done enough to earn a shot in a full-season league, and that is all you can ask for.
RF Jose Castro: 4-for-4, 2B (5), RBI, 2 R, SB (30)
Castro is hitting .325/.481/.553 in 162 PA. He has a 6-game hitting streak (11-for-21). The biggest negative is that he is 20. He missed a full year of development time in 2024 and is dominating in his first year in the FCL. Let’s see what happens in Tampa.
LF Francisco Vilorio: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, R, BB, K
SS Dexters Peralta: 2-for-3, 2B (5), RBI
C Justin Capellan: 1-for-3, R
2B Diego Flores: 1-for-2, RBI, BB, K
1B Carlos Rondon: 0-for-3, 3 K
RHP Danny Flatt (L, 0-2): 2.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
RHP Jorge Luna: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Stanly Alcantara: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Sunayro Martina: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
DSL Yankees (22-13) (Lost to the DSL Rockies, 7-4)
DH Isaias Castillo: 1-for-5, HR (11), 2 RBI, R, 3 K
.312/.417/.659 in 163 PA (11 doubles, 2 triples, 11 HR, 32 RBI, 50 R, 16-for-18 SB, 13.5% BB, 30.1% K). The home runs are nice, the strikeouts not so much.
SS Stiven Marinez: 1-for-4, 3B (5), CS (4), BB, 3 K
CF Yostin Pena: 1-for-3, R, SB (24), BB
Pena has a 5-game hitting streak (11-for-20).
2B Juan Torres: 1-for-4, 2B (18), RBI, R, K
LHP Luis Rodriguez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
DSL Bombers (15-21) (Lost to DSL Colorado, 7-5)
CF Ruben Castillo: 1-for-3, R, HBP, BB, K
DH Dariel Santana: 1-for-4, R, SB (19), BB, 2 K
2B Carlos Bello: 0-for-4, SB (20), HBP, K
SS Germayhoni Beltre: 2-for-5, R, SB (14)
.235/.388/.294 in 129 PA. He is 14-for-16 stealing bases and has more walks (23) than strikeouts (17). Beltre’s signing bonus was $100,000.
1B Edgar Jimenez: 1-for-4, 3B (1), RBI
RF Alfred Ciriaco: 2-for-4, HR (1), RBI, R, K
The 19-year-old launches his first professional home run (36th game)
RHP Higor Requena: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K