Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes:
Two more pitchers from the Pipeline preseason Top 30 were placed on the injured list today. Eight of the 30 prospects are currently on the injured list, seven of whom are pitchers. Kaeden Kent is the lone non-pitcher.
Jack Cebert, who tossed five scoreless innings last night, and Thatcher Hurd are the two pitchers. Hurd was throwing well until a rough appearance last time out.
As for promotions and draftee placements, some will come eventually. Kent debuted for Hudson Valley on 8/5/25. Core Jackson made his debut on 8/7/25. Typically, position players are more likely to debut than pitchers. As for FCL standouts like Wilberson De Pena, a lot goes into that. They could keep him at the complex for further instruction, simulated games, etc. It’s fruitless to try to figure out how they will handle these players.
MLB Trade Rumors posted this afternoon that the Yankees are showing interest in CJ Abrams. To say that Abrams is a bat-first shortstop is an understatement. He is one of the worst defensive shortstops in baseball, but he carries a .287/.360/.543 triple slash. Naysayers would say that he could regress to his normal offensive output, but that’s not a fun way to live.
How often are hamstring injuries minor enough to keep a player off the injured list? 5%? Cody Bellinger missing significant time would be devastating. Depending on severity, it could move outfielder to the top of the trade deadline list. I don’t think Spencer Jones has done enough to hand a full-time outfield job to him.
Scranton (52-46; 15-9 in the second half) (Lost to Syracuse, 8-1, for the second night in a row)
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-3, R, 2 BB, 2 K
Lombard Jr. increases his hitting streak to 17 (15 with Scranton). He is now hitting .263/.404/.430 in 225 PA since his promotion (crazy that the OBP has risen above .400). The Yankees could be holding back so he retains his rookie eligibility in 2027. However, we don’t even know if the bonuses for having the Rookie of the Year will stay intact in the next CBA. Same goes for service time rules.
C J.C. Escarra: 1-for-4, K
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-2, 2 HBP, 2 K
I am sure the Yankees weren’t happy to see 2 HBP, given he is the most likely replacement for Bellinger.
2B Marco Luciano: 1-for-4, RBI, K
.280/.379/.472 since his promotion.
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 0-for-3, BB
3B Oswaldo Cabrera: 1-for-3, K
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4, 2 K
DH Ernesto Martinez Jr.: 0-for-4, K
LF Duke Ellis: 0-for-4, 2 K
RHP Alexander Cornielle: (L, 1-2) 2.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
The stat line isn’t perfect, but Reyzelman was humming tonight, maxing at 98.7. I still have hope for him, even with the Triple-A struggles.
RHP Rafael Montero: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Kervin Castro: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Bradley Hanner: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
2.22 ERA (44.2 IP, 34 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 1 HR, 18 BB, 53 K). 40-man roster space is precious, so it stands out when a team blocks someone from opting out of their minor league deal. Pitch usage, entering tonight: 4-seamer: 47.3%; cutter: 15.8%; sinker: 12.6%; slider: 24.2%; splitter: 0.1%.
RHP Zach Messinger: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
Somerset (49-46; 12-13 in the second half) (Defeated New Hampshire, 9-4)
2B Connor McGinnis: 0-for-6, 2 K
Oof.
RF Jace Avina: 1-for-5, 3B (3), 2 R, BB, 2 K
.267/.356/.534 in 351 PA. The extra-base hits continue to pile up.
3B Coby Morales: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
CF DJ Gladney: 3-for-5, 2B (18), HR (18), 3 RBI, 3 R, SB (16), K
Gladney has some “loud” skills in his profile. As stated many times, one of those loud skills is strikeouts (33.99%). He is one home run away from matching his career best (2022, 2023).
DH Jackson Castillo: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 R, SB (10), BB, K
Castillo is 55-for-63 stealing bases in his career (87.3%).
LF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-4, 2B (3), RBI, R, 2 K
1B Josh Moylan: 1-for-4, SF, 2 RBI
C Tomas Frick: 3-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, R, BB
The organizational catcher contributes tonight.
SS Owen Cobb: 2-for-3, CI
PH-SS Kevin Verde: 1-for-1
RHP Chase Hampton: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
RHP Huey Morrill: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
Morrill was activated off the injured list today (made five rehab appearances in the FCL). Last season, he compiled an impressive 0.76 ERA over 42.2 innings for Hudson Valley/Somerset (only three games for Somerset). Amongst pitchers who tossed 40+ innings, his ERA was 4th in minor league baseball.
RHP Hayden Merda: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Merda can get his fastball into the mid-to-upper 90s with some movement, and complements it with a “gyro” slider that has plenty of swing-and-miss. In one video I saw, it registered as a cutter, but that is no cutter. Anyway, the Yankees converted him to a full-time reliever in 2025, and it’s paying dividends in 2026, as his strikeout rate is way up. He will be 27 at the beginning of the 2027 season, but that doesn’t bother me with relief prospects.
RHP Trent Sellers: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Luis Velasquez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Hudson Valley (46-47; 16-13 in the second half) (Defeated Wilmington, 6-5)
3B-SS Roderick Arias: 2-for-4, HR (12), SF, 2 RBI, R, 2 K
“If this is real, why would we want to trade him?” Simple reason: His history is spotty, and this may be his high-value point. That’s the risk in trading prospects. Maybe this is the start of a massive ascension, or maybe he’s about to crash and burn. Who knows?
SS Core Jackson: 0-for-1
Jackson was taken out of the game in the bottom of the first after a force play at second base. I have no idea what happened.
RF Diomedes Hernandez: 1-for-4, 2 K
Hernandez’s first hit since September 14, 2025.
C Eric Genther: 2-for-3, 2 BB
Genther has four multi-hit efforts in his last five games. He is 20-for-55 (.364/.472/.545) in July.
1B Kyle West: 1-for-5, R, SB (11), 2 K
RF-2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 R, SB (10), BB, K
LF Robbie Burnett: 3-for-5, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 R, SB (1), 2 K
At this level: 13-for-45 (.289; 2 doubles, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R)
DH Camden Troyer: 3-for-4, BB
CF Luis Durango: 1-for-4, HBP, SAC, K
2B-3B Santiago Gomez: 1-for-4, RBI, 3 K
RHP Luis Serna: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, HR
3.90 ERA (87.2 IP, 72 H, 46 R, 38 ER, 8 HR, 32 BB (8.7%), 102 K (27.8%)). Serna continues his solid campaign.
RHP Aaron Nixon: (W, 2-0) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Hansel Rincon: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
3.45 ERA (28.2 IP, 20 H, 15 R, 11 ER, 0 HR, 18 BB (13.7%), 48 K (36.6%)). 13 of his last 14 outings have been scoreless.
RHP Brady Kirtner: (S, 2) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Tampa (56-39; 21-8 in the second half) (Used a 5-run 9th to defeat Palm Beach, 9-4)
SS Dax Kilby: 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, R, K
Kilby launches his first professional home run. No Savant data was recorded.
3B Christofer Reyes: 0-for-1
Kilby is still in “rehab” mode even if the rehab assignment is over.
CF Jackson Lovich: 0-for-4, R, BB, 2 K
The Yankees didn’t randomly throw him in center field. This is his professional debut in the outfield, but he did play ten games in CF for the 2024 Missouri Tigers. Anyway, scouts don’t see him sticking at shortstop, so it makes sense to see if he can add the outfield to his versatility.
C Luis Puello: 2-for-5, 2B (13), 3B (3), RBI, R, SB (7), 3 K
Puello continues to swat extra-base hits (25 in 51 games at this level). This is his third consecutive multi-hit game.
3B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 1-for-4, R, BB, 3 K
RF Willy Montero: 1-for-5, HR (12), 2 RBI, R, K
After a .306/.407/.667 June, Montero is hitting .348/.375/.543 in July.
1B David McCann: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K
LF Brando Mayea: 1-for-5, R, K
2B Luis Escudero: 1-for-3, 2 SB (8), BB, K
DH Engelth Urena: 3-for-4, 2B (15), HR (7), RBI, 3 R, SB (7)
.211/.341/.366 in 296 PA. He’s had a sneaky good July (12-for-41; .293/.326/.537).
RHP Wyatt Parliament: 3 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
RHP Jose Rodriguez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
2.45 ERA (40.1 IP, 21 H, 14 R, 11 ER, 2 HR, 25 BB, 57 K)
RHP Jose Martinez: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
3.43 ERA (42 IP, 42 H, 20 R, 16 ER, 4 HR, 19 BB, 48 K)
RHP Josh Tiedemann: (W, 3-2) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
FCL Yankees (29-29)
Their season is over.
DSL Yankees (22-16)
Day off.
DSL Bombers (17-22) (Lost to the DSL Blue Jays, 12-6)
DH Ruben Castillo: 1-for-4, R, BB
2B Dariel Santana: 2-for-4, 2 R, BB, 2 K
.221/.453/.305 in 137 PA (21-for-23 SB).
C Alessandro Rodriguez: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 BB
The 17-year-old continues to perform. A few of their teenage catchers (assuming they stick behind the plate) are doing well in the DSL. Is that meaningful? As I always say, better to perform well than not.
3B Carlos Bello: 2-for-4, R, SB (23), BB
RF David Carrera: 1-for-3, HR (6), RBI, R, 2 BB, 2 K
Carrera is already 19 and has been at this level for three seasons. That experience is paying off, as he is hitting .345/.512/.571 in 164 PA. Imagine having a .512 OBP and being ranked tenth in the league.
SS Germayhoni Beltre: 1-for-3, 2B (4), SB (15), CS (4), HBP
CF Alfiery Matos: 1-for-3, R, SB (22), BB
RHP Brandy Luis: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K
The 18-year-old owns a 3.18 ERA in 17 innings with 13 walks and 11 strikeouts.
RHP Josue Silvestre: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
RHP Breidy Adames: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K