Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes:
MLB Pipeline hasn’t updated their list after the trades of Kaeden Kent and Henry Lalane. We should see updates tomorrow.
The Yankees have released several prospects. This is not surprising this time of year, though it’s a tough day for those impacted.
RHP Aaron Nixon
LHP Tanner Bauman
C Tomas Frick
C John Cristino
SS Christofer Reyes
OF Isael Arias
LHP Parker Seay
It wasn’t long ago that I joked about how many “Arias” are in the Yankees’ system. They have released two of them in the last two days.
Seay was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2024, but didn’t pitch until this season. In 26 games for Tampa, he compiled a 3.73 ERA over 31.1 innings with a 45/23 K/BB.
Nixon was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State in 2023. In two seasons for Tampa, he compiled a 5.51 ERA over 78.1 innings.
Taken in the 9th round in 2024 out of Auburn, Bauman made it as high as Double-A in a 1-game cameo. For Hudson Valley this season, the 24-year-old pitched to a 4.62 ERA over 25.1 innings with a 31/15 K/BB.
Frick and Cristino were organizational catchers. Frick was selected in the 15th round in the 2023 draft out of North Carolina. In 19 games for Somerset this season, he hit .241/.308/.328 with a home run. Cristino was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Towson in 2025. His claim to fame is that he hit three home runs in a game earlier this season. Of course, he did that in the FCL as a 26-year-old.
Reyes was a $100,000 international signing in 2024. Only 18 years old, he ascended to Tampa this year (likely because they needed a body and nothing else), where he went 7-for-34. He has stolen 55 bases in 73 attempts in 120 career games.
Arias was also signed in 2024. The outfielder, who signed for $125,000, hasn’t been able to develop a hit tool. Like Reyes, he is fast (51 stolen bases in 134 career games), but you need to do more than that to stick.
The signing bonuses are notable but not extreme. Neither Reyes nor Arias was considered a top prospect. They were somewhere in the mid-range territory. Sometimes, they work out. Most of the time, they don’t.
Scranton (59-46; 22-9 in the second half)
Day off.
Somerset (53-49; 16-16 in the second half)
Day off.
Hudson Valley (47-53; 17-19 in the second half)
Day off.
Tampa (59-42; 24-11 in the second half)
Day off.
FCL Yankees (29-29)
Their season is over.
DSL Yankees (25-18) (Destroyed the DSL Rockies, 12-0)
CF Isaias Castillo: 1-for-4, R, SB (24), K
SS Stiven Marinez: 0-for-4, 2 R, SB (30), BB
2B Juan Torres: 3-for-3, 2 2B (21), HR (6), 3 RBI, 3 R, SB (21), BB
Big day for Torres, who entered the game in a slump. He has six 3-hit efforts this season and is hitting .358/.441/.618 in 196 PA. He owns a 10.2% BB after compiling a 3.5% rate in 2025. He will be in the FCL to begin 2027.
LF-CF Luis Cruz: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, BB
Cruz’s organizational debut after being acquired as part of the Camilo Doval deal.
C Juan Martinez: 1-for-5, 2 RBI, R
.355/.450/.458 in 129 PA. Bring him up to New York!
1B Cesar Lopez: 1-for-4, HR (4), RBI, 2 R, BB
.300/.448/.450 in 154 PA. If not Martinez, bring up Lopez (he’s also a catcher)!
DH Poly Ojeda: 2-for-5, RBI, R, K
.315/.472/.522 in 123 PA. If not Martinez or Lopez…ok, you get it.
RF Stalen Ramirez: 1-for-4, 3B (1), 2 RBI, K
.282/.395/.437 in 86 PA. You guessed it: Another listed catcher who had a nice day in the DSL. Bring them all up! How perfect is it for my sarcasm when four DSL catchers have big days when the Yankees went quiet on trade deadline day?
RHP Hector Moreno: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 8 K
The 18-year-old has struggled during his 2-year career. Nice to see him have a good game.
LHP Fredy Penuelas (W, 6-0): 4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K
1.84 ERA (44 IP, 30 H, 13 R, 9 ER, 2 HR, 17 BB, 52 K). A solid campaign for the 19-year-old. He has earned a bunch of wins as a piggyback guy since starters rarely go five.
DSL Bombers (20-24) (Lost to DSL Colorado, 14-3)
CF Ruben Castillo: 1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, R
Castillo has homered in back-to-back games.
C Alessandro Rodriguez: 2-for-3
.308/.459/.430 in 148 PA. Make that five catchers.
1B Alfred Ciriaco: 2-for-3, HR (2), RBI, R