Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes:
LHP Kyle Carr joins RHP Mac Heuer, IF Kaeden Kent, SS Dax Kilby, LHP Pico Kohn, RHP Carlos Lagrange, and LHP Brock Selvidge on the injured list. These seven are singled out because they were on the Pipeline Preseason Top 30 list. At least in the case of Kilby, he’s on a rehab assignment.
OF Garrett Martin, who was a home run machine earlier this season, was transferred from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list for Scranton. In 326 plate appearances between Somerset and Scranton, he is hitting .270/.337/.570 with 24 home runs and 64 RBI. Despite being out for a while now, he still leads Yankees’ minor leaguers in home runs (Tyler Hardman is next with 22).
I have seen the trade proposals floating around for Mason Miller. Miller has team control and is one of the top relief pitchers in the game. Don’t insult anyone’s intelligence by throwing ten mediocre prospects into a package, hoping the Padres will bite. Whoever acquires Miller will likely have to endure some prospect pain. For the Yankees, of course the Padres will ask about George Lombard Jr. Failing that, it’s going to require arms like Carlos Lagrange (if medical reports are encouraging) and Elmer Rodriguez. Beyond that, it comes down to the deal sweeteners. As I stated previously, it doesn’t make sense for the Yankees to take on a bad contract to lower prospect cost. The bad contracts on the Padres are of no use to the Yankees.
Scranton (51-44; 14-7 in the second half) (Lost to Syracuse, 5-4)
SS George Lombard Jr.: 3-for-4, 2 2B (15), R, BB, K
Lombard Jr. has four straight multi-hit games since being activated. He has a 15-game hitting streak (13 with Scranton) overall and his Triple-A OPS is up to .832.
C J.C. Escarra: 0-for-5, R, K
2B Marco Luciano: 2-for-4, RBI, BB, K
I have mentioned many times that Luciano was once a top prospect, He was as high as #12 on the Baseball America list, #13 on the Pipeline list, and #8 on the Baseball Prospectus list. He was still a Top 50 prospect on many lists in 2024. Additionally, he made an appearance in the 2021 Futures’ Game. However, MLB hasn’t been kind to him, as he hit .217/.286/.304 in 41 games for the Giants in 2023 and 2024. The reason why he keeps getting chances is because of his past prospect profile, but can things click out of nowhere? Of course.
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 1-for-5, 2B (12), RBI, R, K
3B Oswaldo Cabrera: 1-for-4, 2B (13), RBI, BB, K
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-2, CS (1), HBP, BB, K
DH Ernesto Martinez Jr.: 0-for-3, R, BB, 2 K
LF Kenedy Corona: 0-for-3, CS (4), BB, 2 K
CF Duke Ellis: 3-for-4, RBI, CS (5), K
RHP Dom Hamel: 3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, HR
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Jake Bird: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Bradley Hanner: (L, 4-2) 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Yovanny Cruz: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Cruz allowed two inherited runners to score. That said, he hit 101.4 MPH (averaged 100.4!) tonight.
RHP Chris Kean: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Somerset (45-46; 8-13 in the second half) (Lost to New Hampshire, 7-4)
LF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-5
RF Jace Avina: 3-for-5, 2B (21), RBI, SB (9), K
Maybe this is the spark Avina needs to get going. His overall numbers are still solid (.270/.352/.529; 21 doubles, 2 triples, 17 HR, 50 RBI)
3B Coby Morales: 2-for-5, 3B (2), R, SB (14), K
.276/.357/.498 in 359 PA (18 doubles, 2 triples, 16 HR, 64 RBI, 54 R, 14-for-22 SB, 11.4% BB, 26.7% K). Morales (24) has hit well this season. If he can play third base even semi-regularly, that would increase his value. But I don’t believe we are witnessing TJ Rumfield 2.0. Rumfield never struck out at the rate Morales does.
CF DJ Gladney: 1-for-4, HR (16), RBI, R, BB, K
Gladney is three home runs away from matching his personal best.
2B Connor McGinnis: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
DH Miguel Palma: 0-for-5, 2 K
1B Josh Moylan: 2-for-3, HR (4), RBI, R, BB, K
Moylan hadn’t homered since hitting two on June 30th. His 17 home runs between here and Hudson Valley are by far his personal best.
C Manuel Palencia: 2-for-3, R, BB, K
SS Owen Cobb: 0-for-3
PH Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-0, BB
SS Kevin Verde: 0-for-0
RHP Cade Smith: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR
4.90 ERA (79 IP, 86 H, 44 R, 43 ER, 18 HR, 33 BB, 75 K). He has allowed at least one home run in six straight starts (13 of 15 starts). It’s crazy.
RHP Tony Rossi: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HR
Oh no! Rossi finally allows his first professional home run (it happened in his second inning of work, so he started his career with 77.2 homerless innings).
RHP Michael Arias: (L, 2-1) 1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
Allowing grand slams in the 8th inning of a tied game is typically not a winning strategy.
Hudson Valley (44-45; 14-11 in the second half) (Defeated Wilmington, 6-3)
3B Roderick Arias: 1-for-5, RBI, R, K
Arias is hitting .269/.355/.442 in 349 PA. He is 18-for-54 (.333) with 20 RBI in July. This is after hitting .367/.416/.633 in June. Has he raised his profile enough to be a potential deal sweetener over the next few weeks?
SS Core Jackson: 2-for-4, 2B (16), 3B (3), SF, RBI, R, SB (28)
.254/.357/.473 in 314 PA. He is 5-f0r-8 with two doubles, a triple, and a home run in his last two games.
DH Eric Genther: 3-for-5, 2 RBI, R, K
Genther has quietly put together a solid campaign, hitting .262/.391/.411 in 344 PA. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Rhode Island, Genther has started 42 games behind the plate. In college, he only caught two games, both during his 2022 freshman campaign. It’s a smart way to add some catching depth to your organization if he becomes adequate over time. He has six passed balls and has been successful catching only 8.3% of basestealers.
1B Kyle West: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-4, K
C Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3, BB, K
LF Robbie Burnett: 1-for-4, HR (1), RBI, R, K
RF Camden Troyer: 1-for-3, R, BB
CF Luis Durango: 1-for-4, R, SB (17)
Durango is 17-for-19 stealing bases since his promotion and 35-for-43 in 54 games overall.
LHP Henry Lalane: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, HR
First two Hudson Valley starts: 9.1 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 12 K. He allowed only one home run in 62.1 innings for Tampa. Baseball!
RHP Brady Kirtner (W, 3-3): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
LHP Tanner Bauman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Hansel Rincon: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
3.54 ERA (28 IP, 19 H, 15 R, 11 ER, 0 HR, 17 BB, 46 K (36.2%)). He has beenespecially dominant over the last two months, striking out 24 hitters in 11.2 innings.
RHP Jack Sokol (S, 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2.89 ERA (28 IP, 28 H, 15 R, 9 ER, 2 HR, 2 HR, 12 BB, 28 K)
Tampa (54-38; 19-7 in the second half) (Defeated Palm Beach, 3-2)
SS Jackson Lovich: 0-for-1, R, CS (7), HBP, 2 BB
.281/.358/.530 in 344 PA. “Has his K% improved as the season has progressed?” April: 31.6%; May: 24.7%; June: 27.7%; July: 28.2%.
2B Hans Montero: 1-for-4, CS (6), 2 K
C Luis Puello: 1-for-3, CS (4), BB, K
3B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 0-for-4, RBI, SB (32)
1B David McCann: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
LF Willy Montero: 2-for-4, HR (11), RBI, R
Montero has a 7-game hitting streak (13-for-27; 2 HR).
CF Brando Mayea: 1-for-3, RBI, BB
Mayea has a 5-game hitting streak (6-for-18).
DH Engelth Urena: 1-for-3, CS (4), BB, K
RF Gabriel Lara: 0-for-2, BB
RHP Ty Boudreau: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
2.94 ERA (79.2 IP, 54 H, 32 R, 26 ER, 6 HR, 29 BB, 92 K). The 23-year-old out ot Texas Tech pitched five innings at this level in 2025.
RHP Greysen Carter: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
3.99 ERA (38.1 IP, 26 H, 21 R, 17 ER, 2 HR, 32 BB, 44 K). Last year’s BB%: 24.5%. This year’s: 18.5%. Progress, but obviously not ideal.
RHP Josh Tiedemann (W, 2-2): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
FCL Yankees (29-28)
Day off.
DSL Yankees (22-14) (Lost to the DSL Phillies, 10-2. The typically powerful Yankees’ offense compiled only four hits. Maybe they were thrown off by having to play on a Wednesday.)
RF Yostin Pena: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 SB (26), BB, K
Pena has a 6-game hitting streak and is hitting .384/.467/.667 in 169 PA. His insane season includes 57 RBI, 56 R, a 26-for-29 stolen base rate and more walks (24) than strikeouts (23).
DH Juan Torres: 1-for-2, 3 SB (20), HBP
.387/.461/.648 in 166 PA. Last season, he hit .359/.406/.516 in 170 PA. Suffice to say, he isn’t having trouble with DSL pitching.
1B Poly Ojeda: 0-for-2, CS (4), 2 BB
3B Abrahan Pichardo: 2-for-3, SB (9), BB
The 17-year-old hasn’t done much hitting (12-for-70), so he needed an effort like this.
RHP Dariel Chalas: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Only 17 years old, Chalas has allowed seven runs in seven innings during his debut campaign.
RHP Luis Ilarraza: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
DSL Bombers (15-21)
Day off.