Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes:
RHP Ben Hess was placed by on the injured list by the Somerset Patriots. In 16 starts covering 56.2 innings (they brought him back slowly after his first injury this year), Hess owns a 4.45 ERA (4.68 FIP) with a 25.5% K and 11.8% BB. Injuries have interfered with his second campaign, which is unfortunate for the 2024 first-round pick. Changeup specialist Sean Paul Linan was promoted from Hudson Valley to Somerset to take his place.
TWP Luke Pettitte has officially been assigned to Tampa and was the designated hitter in his professional debut. Infielder Bayram Hot was demoted to the FCL.
Scranton (62-55; 25-18 in the second half) (Lost to Charlotte, 9-8, in ten innings. Not a good night for the Railriders’ bullpen)
2B Anthony Volpe: 1-for-2, 2B (5), 3 RBI, 4 BB
Volpe reaches base five times and has hit safely in eight of nine games since his demotion.
CF Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-6, 4 K
Dominguez, who has already proven he can hit all minor league pitching, is scuffling right now. Since being demoted, he is 6-for-40 with only one extra-base hit (a home run in his first game back).
C Mitch Garver: 1-for-5, K
Garver is 2-for-8 in two games.
DH J.C. Escarra: 1-for-4, 2 R, HBP, 2 K
SS-LF Max Schuemann: 0-for-2, 2 R, 3 BB
3B-SS Oswaldo Cabrera: 1-for-4, HR (15), 2 RBI, R, SAC, K
Cabrera has five home runs in 14 August games.
LF Marco Luciano: 1-for-3, HR (10), 2 RBI, R, BB, K
Luciano has 20 home runs between here and Somerset. He set a personal best with 23 in 2025.
LF Duke Ellis: 0-for-0
PH-3B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-1, K
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 1-for-4, 2B (15), SF, RBI, R, SB (3)
1B Ernesto Martinez Jr.: 1-for-3, R, SB (11), BB
PH Christian Bethancourt: 0-for-1
RHP Elmer Rodriguez: 5 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
2.59 ERA (97.1 IP, 77 H, 33 R, 28 ER, 5 HR, 46 BB, 99 K). Charlotte did make him work (92 pitches), but he pitched well regardless.
RHP Luis Gil: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Gil maxed out at 97.8 MPH. The Yankees are preparing him for a potential bullpen role, a role that Clarke Schmidt is likely to come back in as well.
RHP Carson Coleman: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Danny Watson: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Chris Kean: (L, 1-1) 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Somerset (60-55; 23-23 in the second half) (Lost to Hartford, 6-5)
CF Jace Avina: 0-for-4, CS (2), BB, K
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-5, 2B (4), R, 4 K
I keep saying it: Most of his statistical output is surging. However, the strikeouts are still there (135 in 451 PA; 29.9%). I hate to attribute everything to luck, because that is unfair. However, the BABIP is impossible to ignore.
C Omar Alfonzo: 1-for-5, RBI, R, 2 K
RF DJ Gladney: 2-for-5, R, CS (2)
The game ended on a Gladney caught stealing.
3B Coby Morales: 2-for-2, R, SB (20), 2 BB
He is one home run away from a 20/20/20 campaign (20 doubles, 19 HR, 20 SB).
2B Connor McGinnis: 1-for-2, R, 2 BB, K
DH Manuel Palencia: 1-for-3, 2B (7), SF, 3 RBI, K
Palencia has 3 doubles, 4 home runs, and 10 RBI in nine August games. Before August: 4 doubles, 0 HR, 11 RBI in 59 games.
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-4, 2 K
LF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-4, SB (8), K
RHP Sean Paul Linan: 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR
This is Linan’s Double-A debut (he pitched in two games for the Nationals’ Triple-A squad last year).
RHP Luis Velasquez: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Kelly Austin: (L, 4-2) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
Hudson Valley (56-57; 26-23 in second half) (Defeated Jersey Shore, 10-5, in ten innings)
C Eric Genther: 2-for-6, 2B (19), 4 RBI, R, K
Genther is up to 61 RBI. He is 12-for-52 in August, but has seven extra-base hits (5 doubles, 2 HR) and 13 walks.
CF Jackson Lovich: 1-for-4, HR (3), 3 RBI, R, 2 BB, 2 K
Lovich is up to 80 RBI. I am glad I said that my level of concern was 0% when he was struggling to earn an extra-base hit at this level. He is surging now. He has a 6-game hitting streak with a triple and three home runs.
1B Kyle West: 0-for-5, R, 2 K
DH Maika Niu: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K
3B Hans Montero: 1-for-4, RBI, R, BB, 3 K
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 2-for-5, R
His solid August continues (15-for-50; .300). It doesn’t come with extra-base hits (one) but he is 10-for-11 stealing bases.
RF Dean Toigo: 3-for-5, 2 2B (3), RBI, 3 R, 2 K
Toigo has reached base safely in all eight games (seven feature at least one hit).
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 1-for-4, BB, K
LF Robbie Burnett: 1-for-3, 2B (6), RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K
LHP Franyer Herrera: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 2 K, HR
4.80 ERA (86.1 IP, 78 H, 53 R, 46 ER, 16 HR, 48 BB, 96 K)
RHP Bryce Warrecker: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Jose M. Rodriguez: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K
RHP Andrew Landry: (W, 3-3) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Thomas Balboni Jr.: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Tampa (65-48; 30-17 in the second half) (Lost to Daytona Beach, 12-11. They allowed seven runs in the top of the first, only to score six runs in the bottom half. The Tarpons couldn’t quite come all the way back, though)
SS Dax Kilby: 1-for-5, RBI, R, BB, 2 K
Kilby is on a 5-game hitting streak (9-for-23 with a triple and a home run). The first four games were multi-hit efforts.
CF Yostin Pena: 3-for-5, 2 R, SB (4), K
Pena has six multi-efforts in 11 games since his promotion.
RF Paul Contreras: 2-for-4, 3B (1), 2 RBI, R, BB
A few firsts tonight: First extra-base hit and multi-hit game.
C Bear Harrison: 1-for-5, RBI, R, 2 K
LF Luis Puello: 0-for-4, R, BB, 2 K
3B Anthony Potestio: 2-for-2, 3B (1), 3 R, HBP, 2 BB
He’s having fun as a professional thus far: 10-for-24 (.417) with a double, triples, and two home runs. He also has seven walks and three strikeouts.
1B Tyce Armstrong: 0-for-3, 2 SF, 2 RBI, K
Armstrong has 11 RBI in 11 games.
DH Luke Pettitte: 2-for-3, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
Pettitte’s home run went 400 feet at 109.8 MPH. He also hit an RBI single in his first professional plate appearance. Pettitte started hitting in college as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery and ended up hitting 16 home runs in 42 games for Dallas Baptist. I don’t know if there are plans to develop him as a pitcher, but we won’t be seeing him on the hill this year (his surgery was in June 2025).
2B Luis Escudero: 3-for-5, 2B (7), 2 RBI, SB (10), K
At this level: .270/.433/.540 in 164 PA. He has four straight multi-hit games (back-to-back 3-hit efforts).
RHP Sabier Marte: (L, 0-3) 1.2 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 2 HR
On April 22, 1960, Sandy Koufax allowed five runs without recording an out against the Cardinals. In other words, it happens to the best, kid.
LHP Jose Ledesma: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Antonio Gomez: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
Gomez, who has hit 100+ MPH, was only able to dial it up to 97.9 tonight.
RHP Jordarlin Mendoza: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Mendoza hit 100.2 MPH with his 4-seamer and 99.0 MPH with his sinker.
RHP Greysen Carter: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
4.18 ERA (47.1 IP, 34 H, 24 R, 22 ER, 3 HR, 40 BB, 57 K). I have said it several times this year: It’s hard to “give up” on arms like Mendoza and Carter.
RHP Jose Martinez: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
FCL Yankees (29-29)
Their season is over.
DSL Yankees (33-21) (Lost to the DSL Rockies, 9-7. Pool play for the DSL Cup starts on Thursday. The 16 teams will be divided into four groups of four, with each group winner advancing to the semi-finals, which begin on Sunday in a best-of-three format. The finals begin next Wednesday, also in a best-of-three format)
He didn’t play today, but Isaias Castillo is your DSL home run champion with 14, and also lead the league with 71 runs scored in 50 games.
CF Luis Cruz: 3-for-5, 2 RBI
Cruz ends his season with five hits in the final two games. Between here and his time in the Pirates organization, he hit .298/.433/.394 in 121 plate appearances. He struck out only ten times (8.3%).
SS Stiven Marinez: 1-for-3, 2B (8), 2 R, 2 SB (39), 2 BB
Marinez had a strong campaign, hitting .315/.444/.545 in 250 PA (8 doubles, 7 triples, 8 HR, 42 RBI, 67 R, 39-for-46 SB, 16.4% BB, 12.4% K). He finished second to Castillo in runs scored.
DH Juan Torres: 2-for-5, 2B (26), RBI, R, K
Torres was a force from the beginning. He was over .400 for a while, but finished at .385/.470/.644 in 248 PA (26 doubles, 2 triples, 8 HR, 65 RBI, 56 R, 26-for-32 SB, 11.3% BB, 7.3% K). Last season, Torres’ walk rate was 3.5%. He was the league leader in doubles and RBI and finished second to Franco Willias (Giants Black) in batting average. Willias hit .406, but he is 21 years old and this is his third season at this level.
C John Rosillo: 1-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, R, 2 K
Rosillo entered the game early for Juan Martinez. I am not sure what Martinez left the game. As for Rosillo, the 18-year-old barely played this season. He hit two home runs but only went 3-for-29 overall.
C-1B Poly Ojeda: 1-for-4, R, BB
LF Kendry Diaz: 1-for-4, RBI, R, K
3B Abrahan Pichardo: 1-for-4, RBI, R
2B Adrian Feliz: 2-for-4
RHP Freddy Lopez: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Only 17 (he doesn’t turn 18 until next March), Lopez had a tough season so it’s nice to see him finish on a strong note. He compiled a 7.33 ERA over 27 innings with a 27/27 K/BB/
DSL Bombers (25-29-1) (Defeated the DSL Mets Blue, 6-2)
CF Ruben Castillo: 1-for-4, 2B (5), RBI
Castillo was only able to play in 23 games this season, hitting .269/.437/.449 in 103 PA.
SS Germayhoni Beltre: 0-for-2, R, 2 SB (25), BB, K
1B-2B Edgar Jimenez: 2-for-3, RBI, R
3B Alfred Ciriaco: 1-for-2, 3B (1), SF, 2 RBI, R
Already 19, Ciriaco hit .333/.505/.545 in 95 PA.
RHP Osveiker Chirino: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
The 17-year-old doesn’t turn 18 until next April. He only pitched three innings in three games.
LHP Junior Tavera (W, 3-4): 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K