Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes:
I didn’t see it until I submitted my report last night, but the Yankees traded C Christian Bethancourt to the Pirates for money. The writing was on the wall for Bethancourt after the Yankees signed Mitch Garver. It wasn’t going to be easy to give at-bats to Bethancourt, Garver, and J.C. Escarra. Abrahan Gutierrez was activated from the Development List to take over #3 catcher duties.
Former Yankee Nestor Cortes Jr., who hasn’t pitched much since being included in the Devin Williams acquistion, signed with the Phillies today. Cortes has been a free agent all season.
15-year-old outfielder Wilson Gomez, a top prospect in the 2027 international class, will likely sign with the Yankees. After what happened this year, we shouldn’t assume anything. In case you are wondering what Wandy Asigen, the big prospect the Yankees needed to let go of due to doing something stupid, did for the DSL Mets this season, he hit .279/.470/.525 in 83 plate appearances. He compiled two doubles, two triples, and three home runs to go along with his 22.9% BB. That said, he struck out at a 28.9% clip. He turns 17 tomorrow.
In non-Yankees prospect news, the Mariners are calling up LHP Kade Anderson from Double-A. In 18 Double-A starts, his numbers were insane: 10-1 with a 1.01 ERA (1.78 FIP) over 93.1 innings with a 40.5% K, 3.9% BB, 0.64 WHIP, and 45.3% GB. Imagine having a starting pitcher with a 36.6% K-BB%. The MLB leader is Jacob Misiorowski, who has an insane 34%. Who is in second? Cam Schlittler, who boasts a 25.7% rate.
Normally, a 60-68 team brings up a top prospect to get his feet wet for the next season. In 2026, however, the Mariners are hoping he can help them make the playoffs as both the AL West and AL Wild Card chases are insanely…mediocre?
Since people always wonder if the Yankees “missed out” on picking a potential stud, Anderson was the #3 overall pick in 2025 out of LSU.
“Who leaves once Cody Bellinger returns?”
That is a great question. The easy move is telling Spencer Jones that he didn’t do anything wrong but, because he has options and no other candidates do, he is the odd man out. After tonight’s performance,, that would especially be cruel. The crazy move is trading Henry Lalane and Kaeden Kent, then designating Heliot Ramos for assigment a few weeks later. I don’t see it. The move that could make sense is designating Amed Rosario for assigment.
Can there be a reprieve? Yes, as a Ryan McMahon IL stint saves everyone’s job. You can go with an outfield of Bellinger/Trent Grisham/Jones with Ramos as the needed right-handed bat as the #4 outfielder.
The real issue right now is having three 1B/DH types on the roster, but Ben Rice and Luis Garcia Jr. are lineup mainstays and there is zero chance they give up on Paul Goldschmidt. This limits their versatility, even with a supersub like Jose Caballero on the roster.
Scranton (63-56; 26-19 in the second half) (Shut down Charlotte, 2-0. Due to a long rain delay, they agreed to play a 7-inning game)
2B Anthony Volpe: 1-for-3, HR (4), 2 RBI, R
Volpe has three doubles, a triple, and three homers in 11 games since his demotion.
DH Cody Bellinger: 1-for-3
Originally in the lineup as the left fielder, the Railriders thankfully moved him to designated hitter after the long rain dealy.
RF Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-3
C Mitch Garver: 0-for-2, BB, K
LF Marco Luciano: 0-for-3, K
3B Max Schuemann: 1-for-2
SS Oswaldo Cabrera: 0-for-1, R, BB
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-2, K
CF Kenedy Corona: 1-for-2, 2B (9)
RHP Adam Kloffenstein: (W, 3-9) 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K
Kloffenstein hasn’t had a great season, but this is the third time he has tossed six shutout innings (May 1st and May 31st).
RHP Hayden Merda (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
His fastball maxed out at 98.8 MPH, and his signature cutter was thrown mostly in the high-80s. I like the contrast.
Somerset (61-55; 24-23 in the second half)
Their game against Hartford was postponed due to rain. They will try to play a doubleheader tomorrow.
Hudson Valley (57-57; 27-23 in second half)
Their game against Jersey Shore was postponed due to rain. They will try to play a doubleheader tomorrow. Yay! This is always how I want to spend my Friday night (sad thing is that is true).
Tampa (66-49; 31-18 in the second half) (Lost to Daytona Beach, 12-8. This resilent bunch was down 12-1 at one point, but scored three runs in the 7th and 9th to make it interesting)
SS Dax Kilby: 1-for-4, RBI, SB (7), BB
Kilby has a 7-game hitting streak. A healthy Kilby is likely in Hudson Valley by now – could the Yankees give him some playing time there before season’s end? Certainly.
DH Paul Contreras: 1-for-4, SF, RBI, R
C Bear Harrison: 0-for-3, 2 BB
1B Luke Pettitte: 1-for-5, 2B (1), 2 RBI, 2 K
Oh, so he has one good game and now he is a cleanup hitter? Nepotism! Anyway, as I said last night, Pettitte is likely limited to designated hitter duties.
LF Luis Puello: 2-for-5, 2B (16), R, 2 K
.276/.344/.528 in 283 PA since his promotion (16 doubles, 3 triples, 14 HR, 50 RBI, 43 R, 8.8% BB, 27.9% K). He is 16-for-43 (.372; 3 doubles, 4 HR) in August.
RF Diego Castellanos: 0-for-4, R, BB, K
2B Blake Cyr: 0-for-4, K
CF Brando Mayea: 2-for-3, HR (7), RBI, 3 R, BB
Mayea has hit safely in 19 straight starts (in case you forgot: He entered a game late on August 8th, and went 0-for-1). The 20-year-old is hitting .270/.348/.387 in 287 PA.
3B Luis Escudero: 2-for-2, 2B (8), 2 RBI, 2 R, HBP, BB
A switch-hitter who is only 20, Escudero is hitting .281/.446/.555 in 42 games at this level. He has more walks (37) than strikeouts (31). This is his first taste of full-season league baseball, so that is impressive.
RHP Edinzo Marquez: (L, 1-2) 3.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Josh Tiedemann: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Danny Flatt: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
RHP Rafael Arias: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Since promotion: 4.32 ERA in 8.1 IP (5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 11 K).
FCL Yankees (29-29)
Their season is over.
DSL Yankees (33-21 regular season; 0-1 in pool play) (Lost to the DSL Reds, 7-1. Losing the first game is not ideal. They will need to win their next two games and see how everything else plays out. I don’t know what the tiebreakers are off-hand, but I assume head-to-head comes first. So, if the Reds and Yankees finish 2-1 while the other two squads go 1-2, the Reds would advance. At least that makes sense, right?)
CF Isaias Castillo: 1-for-4, 2B (1), 2 K
Yes, just like in any playoff format, DSL Cup numbers don’t count towards the regular season numbers.
LF Luis Cruz: 1-for-3, BB
SS Stiven Marinez: 0-for-4
A real prospect doesn’t choke in the DSL Cup!
3B Juan Torres: 0-for-4, K
See Marinez, Stiven.
RF Alfiery Matos: 1-for-4, 3B (1), R, K
2B Stalen Ramirez: 1-for-4, RBI
1B Jose Peralta: 2-for-4, K
RHP Jhosneyker Colina (L, 0-1): 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
The 18-year-old entered this contest on a hot streak. Last three regular season starts: 18.1 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 17 K
DSL Bombers (25-29-1)
Their season is over.