Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes:
The Yankees have had one of the worst offenses in baseball for over a month now. You might think I am exaggerating, but it’s the truth. It’s brutal to watch, especially since they continue making fundamental mistakes. This has gone on for so long, that it makes one believe that fundamental baseball isn’t a focus. These are not isolated incidents of incompetence. They define the Aaron Boone era.
I was watching the Somerset game on YES. More on that in the boxscore below. The announcers made a point we should all consider this time of year: Players close to Rule 5 eligibility are players to watch this weekend into Monday. Players eligible this winter include OF Garrett Martin, RHP Carlos Lagrange, LHP Kyle Carr, RHP Chris Kean, RHP Eric Reyzelman (was eligible in 2025), 1B/3B Coby Morales, OF Jackson Castillo, OF Jace Avina (was eligible in 2025), RHP Cade Smith, LHP Brock Selvidge (was eligible in 2025), IF Roderick Arias, LHP Allen Facundo (was eligible in 2025), LHP Franyer Herrera, LHP Henry Lalane (was eligible in 2025), and C Engelth Urena,
Yes, OF Wilberson De Pena and SS Dax Kilby were out of the Tampa lineup tonight. Most of the time, these are routine off days. But people on social media will run with anything, then get people to think they are actually “insiders” when one of their 52,421 “scoops” happens.
Scranton (56-46; 19-9 in the second half) (Defeated Iowa, 11-0. Former Yankees’ prospect Kevin Alcantara (Anthony Rizzo deal) is hitting .271 with 17 home runs and a .920 OPS this season. However, he still strikes out a lot (31.0%). His profile isn’t too different from Spencer Jones‘ profile)
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-5, R, CS (5), BB, K
One thing Lombard has to work on is the basestealing, as he is only 9-for-14 (64.3%) since his promotion. Is that enough to keep him down if he is ready? No. Anyway, when Scranton scores 11 runs, you don’t expect an 0-for out of Lombard. Baseball!
DH J.C. Escarra: 2-for-5, RBI
2B Marco Luciano: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB, K
3B Oswaldo Cabrera: 3-for-5, RBI, R
Cabrera, who is hitting .292 for Scranton, has 27 multi-hit efforts this season.
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 0-for-5, RBI, 2 K
1B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-5, RBI, R
C Christian Bethancourt: 3-for-4, 2 HR (13), 4 RBI, 3 R, BB
Bethancourt makes his organizational debut. He gets some revenge on Iowa (Cubs), as he hit 11 home runs for them this season. As for the Yankees, the 34-year-old provides depth but can easily replace Ali Sanchez on the MLB roster. He hasn’t played in MLB since 2024, but he’s always been strong at controlling the running game while providing some home run pop (which does not = “He’s a good hitter”)
CF Kenedy Corona: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 R, CS (5), HBP, BB
LF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-4, 2 R, BB
RHP Alexander Cornielle: (W, 2-2) 5.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
RHP Rafael Montero: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
LHP Will Brian: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Jake Bird: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Bird can protect 11-run leads.
Somerset (52-47; 15-14 in the second half) (Defeated Richmond, 4-2. It wasn’t an offensive clinic, but timely basestealing and a big home run from a substitute were all they needed)
2B Connor McGinnis: 0-for-4, K
CF Jace Avina: 0-for-3, SB (11), BB, K
3B Coby Morales: 0-for-4, 2 K
LF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-3, R, SB (11), BB
One fun thing about watching a minor league game on television is that you get to see the spectacular plays. Castillo robbed a home run tonight.
C Miguel Palma: 0-for-3
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-3, 2 K
DH Tomas Frick: 1-for-3, 2B (2), RBI, R
RF Luis Durango: 1-for-2, R, 3 SB (3), BB
Durango drew a walk and decided to steal three bases to score a run. He has a unique stance, complete with a Rod Carew-like choke-up on the bat. I can see one of those AI-generated sites picking up my sentence and writing a “Rod Carew-like Prospect is the next big thing for the Yankees!”. Anyway, he also pulled off a softball-style drag bunt. Exciting little player with absolutely no power. Does that make him a legitimate MLB prospect? Of course not. But I would love to see him make it. Between here, Hudson Valley, and Tampa, he is 36-for-45 stealing bases (80%).
SS Owen Cobb: 0-for-0
PH-SS Kevin Verde: 2-for-3, HR (3), 2 RBI, R, K
Verde has homered in back-to-back games. He’s only hitting .188/.233/.325 in 86 PA at this level but is 20 years old.
LHP Xavier Rivas: (W, 6-4) 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
Watching Rivas is fascinating. He is an off-speed specialist, as he fed Richmond a bunch of sliders and changeups tonight. It works for him, as he owns a 3.70 ERA over 75.1 innings (47 H, 35 R, 31 ER, 13 HR, 38 BB, 108 K). Since allowing 11 runs in 4.1 innings on May 28th: 1.24 ERA (43.2 IP, 18 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 4 HR, 19 BB, 60 K)
RHP Ben Grable: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Grable pitched as advertised. His fastball, which he threw 96-98 MPH, has life. The breaking pitch likely needs refinement, but that is what the minors are for. He’s likely not ready to contribute to an MLB bullpen, but you can see why many are excited about him.
RHP Luis Velasquez: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Trent Sellers: (S, 2) 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Hudson Valley (46-50; 16-16 in the second half) (Lost two games to Jersey Shore)
Game 1 (Lost, 2-1, in eight innings)
3B Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, 3 K
SS Jackson Lovich: 1-for-4, R, SB (1), 2 K
Lovich’s Hudson Valley debut. He hit .275/.350/.509 in 363 PA for Tampa. He stole 21 bases in 28 attempts.
C Eric Genther: 2-for-3, 2B (13), HBP, K
1B Kyle West: 1-for-4, RBI, K
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-3, HBP
RF Willy Montero: 0-for-4, 2 K
Montero’s Hudson Valley debut. He hit .278/.350/.472 in 323 PA for Tampa. He stole 18 bases in 21 attempts.
CF Camden Troyer: 1-for-3
DH Robbie Burnett: 0-for-3, K
LF Gabriel Lara: 1-for-2, HBP, K
LHP Henry Lalane: 6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HR
Since promotion: 2.87 ERA (15.2 IP, 12 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 HR, 4 BB, 17 K). Overall, he owns a 2.77 ERA over 78 innings with 52 hits allowed and a 98/26 K/BB. He will be a big name to watch on the trade market this weekend. He is one of those prospects that you don’t mind giving up when they are struggling, but now that they are figuring things out, you are nervous to trade them.
RHP Wilmy Sanchez: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Hansel Rincon (L, 1-4): 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Game 2 (Lost, 6-4)
3B Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, 4 K
Red hot entering today, Arias goes 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts. Hopefully, it’s a blip – but we all know Arias’ history by now.
SS Jackson Lovich: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 K
The Yankees have kept him mostly at shortstop, which makes sense as that is where he will gain the most value (they did give him a start in CF before his promotion). The adage is forever true: It is easier to move a shortstop prospect to other positions than it is to move players at other positions to shortstop. That is why you see teams draft many shortstops.
DH Eric Genther: 1-for-3, 2B (14), HBP
Genther continues to hit. He is hitting .273/.402/.428 over 372 PA and is 23-for-64 (.359) in July.
1B Kyle West: 0-for-3, HBP, 3 K
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
CF Willy Montero: 0-for-2, R, BB, K
RF Camden Troyer: 2-for-3, 2B (15), 2 R, K
LF Robbie Burnett: 1-for-2, RBI, BB, K
C Diomedes Hernandez: 0-for-2, RBI, BB, K
LHP Franyer Herrera: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Herrera tossed four hitless innings before running into issues in the 5th. He owns a 4.17 ERA over 73.1 IP (64 H, 41 R, 34 ER, 13 HR, 38 BB, 85 K)
RHP Bryce Warrecker: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Jackson Fristoe: (L, 2-3) 0.1 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
LHP Tanner Bauman: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Tampa (58-41; 23-10 in the second half) (Lost to Lakeland, 9-3)
CF Yostin Pena: 0-for-4, R
Pena is 4-for-14 since his promotion.
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 2-for-4, 2 2B (19), RBI, K
Martin-Grudzielanek has a 6-game hitting streak (11-for-21; 3 doubles, 1 triple). He has raised his average 17 points (.261 to .278) during this streak.
3B Hans Montero: 1-for-3, 2B (17), BB
C Luis Puello: 0-for-3, 2 K
DH David McCann: 1-for-3, 2 K
2B Luis Escudero: 0-for-2, R, HBP
1B Engelth Urena: 0-for-3, 2 K
LF Brando Mayea: 1-for-3, R
Mayea owns a 10-game hitting streak (12-for-38; .316)
RF Isael Arias: 0-for-3, K
RHP J.T. Etheridge (L, 7-3): 4 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, HR
RHP Greysen Carter: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
3.92 ERA (41.1 IP, 28 H, 22 R, 18 ER, 2 HR, 37 BB, 47 K)
RHP Josh Tiedemann: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
LHP Jose Ledesma: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
FCL Yankees (29-29)
Their season is over.
DSL Yankees (24-17) (Lost to the DSL Giants Orange, 7-6)
CF Isaias Castillo: 1-for-3, 2B (13), R, BB, 2 K
C Juan Martinez: 1-for-3, 2B (9), RBI, R, CS (2), BB
The 18-year-old continues to hit (.374/.467/.485 in 120 PA). He has more walks (18) than strikeouts (12) and has thrown in a 16-for-18 stolen base rate for good measure.
SS Stiven Marinez: 1-for-2, HR (6), 2 RBI, R, CS (5), 2 BB, K
.309/.450/.526 in 191 PA. It’s nice to see the home run, as the power he displayed in June didn’t move forward in July. However, he still has put together a strong month.
2B Juan Torres: 0-for-4, RBI, K
DH Manuel Aguilar: 2-for-2, 2B (6), 3B (1), R, CS (2), BB
Aguilar, who turns 17 on Saturday, has played well as a 16-year-old. In 21 games, he is hitting .293/.494/.483 (6 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run)
3B Abrahan Pichardo: 0-for-1, SF, RBI, R, BB
RHP Jhosneyker Colina: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
DSL Bombers (19-23) (Mauled the DSL Mets Blue, 13-2. By the way, while listed as active, Mani Cedeno has not played since July 11th)
Amidst all the turmoil this winter, the Yankees lost SS Wandy Asigen to the Mets. Asigen plays for the other Mets DSL squad (Mets Orange) and has played in 19 games, hitting .275/.448/.471 with a pair of home runs and four stolen bases.
CF Ruben Castillo: 2-for-5, 2B (2), RBI, R, SB (4), K
Castillo has a 5-game hitting streak (8-for-22)
2B Dariel Santana: 0-for-3, R, SB (22), 2 BB, 2 K
C Alessandro Rodriguez: 0-for-1, 2 R, 3 BB
3B Carlos Bello: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, K
RF David Carrera: 3-for-3, 2 2B (9), 3B (2), 4 RBI, 3 R, BB
Carrera is having a huge campaign, but it’s his third year here. He is hitting .346/.520/.591 in 177 PA.
SS Germayhoni Beltre: 3-for-4, 2B (6), 2 RBI, 2 R, SB (17), K
.264/.416/.339 in 154 PA. Beltre is only 17 (born on January 8th)
LF Sebastian Pinto: 1-for-4, RBI, 3 K
1B Alfred Ciriaco: 1-for-1, RBI, 2 R, 2 HBP, BB
RHP Cesar Acosta: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 10 K
I don’t remember the last time a Yankees’ DSL pitcher had a 10+ strikeout effort. Acosta had a pair of 8-strikeout efforts (back-to-back) earlier this season.
RHP Diego Carrillo (W, 2-2): 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K