Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes:
The season is officially over for RHP Ben Hess, the 2024 first-round pick who showed so much promise in 2025. Today, he was moved from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day list. This season has to go down as a mostly lost season, as he tossed only 56.2 innings over 16 starts.
The season is also over for LHP Will Brian, a reliever who was also transferred from the 7-day to the 60-day injured list.
The Yankees have signed RHP Eli Morgan to a minor league deal, joining recent signee Justin Topa. Morgan was huge for the 2024 Guardians, pitching to a 1.93 ERA over 42 innings with a 20.4% K, 6.6% BB, and 30.6% GB. As you may suspect from those numbers, he had some luck baked into that ERA, as his FIP was 3.64. He pitched in three postseason games against the Yankees, allowing one unearned run over 2.1 innings.
This season, he pitched in 16 games for the Royals, posting a 5.12 ERA (6.50 FIP) over 19.1 innings with five home runs allowed.
It will be interesting to see what happens when Cody Bellinger comes back with Ryan McMahon landing on the injured list. Will they feel compelled to keep Max Schuemann as extra infielder depth? I don’t think they should do that, so Schuemann is the obvious candidate to go back down.
Scranton (64-56; 27-19 in the second half) (Defeated Charlotte, 5-3)
2B Anthony Volpe: 1-for-3, HR (5), 2 RBI, R, CS (1), BB, 2 K
Volpe has homered in back-to-back games.
LF Cody Bellinger: 0-for-3, K
Don’t worry about him getting pulled – standard rehab procedure.
LF Kenedy Corona: 0-for-1
CF Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-3, BB
Dominguez continues to slump badly since his demotion. One has to wonder what his trade value will be this winter, whenever teams are able to talk to each other.
DH Mitch Garver: 0-for-2, R, BB, 2 K
C J.C. Escarra: 1-for-3, HR (8), 2 RBI, R, K
After homering in his first three August games, Escarra went into a slump (8-for-48). Hopefully, this breaks him out of that.
SS Oswaldo Cabrera: 1-for-3, K
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 0-for-3, K
3B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-3, HR (11), RBI, R
Finally, someone catches Garrett Martin (who hasn’t played since June 28th) in the organizational home run chase. They both have 24.
1B Ernesto Martinez Jr.: 0-for-2, 2 R, BB, K
RHP Alexander Cornielle: (W, 3-3) 5.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 5 K
For Scranton: 3.33 ERA (46 IP, 39 H, 17 R, 17 ER, 5 HR, 28 BB, 47 K)
RHP Chris Kean: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Justin Topa: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Danny Watson: (S, 3) 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Somerset (62-56; 25-24 in the second half) (Split a doubleheader against Hartford)
Game 1 (Lost, 8-1)
CF Jace Avina: 0-for-3
.246/.349/.479 in 439 PA (25 doubles, 3 triples, 19 HR, 55 RBI, 73 R, 14-for-16 SB, 12.3% BB, 24.8% K). The reduction in his strikeout rate is impressive, but he is only 9-for-55 (.164) with three doubles in August (.218 SLG).
SS Roderick Arias: 2-for-3, R
C Omar Alfonzo: 0-for-3, 2 K
RF DJ Gladney: 1-for-3
3B Coby Morales: 1-for-2, BB, K
DH Manuel Palencia: 1-for-3, R, K
LF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-3, K
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-2, BB
2B Kevin Verde: 0-for-2
RHP Dom Hamel (L, 0-1): 3.2 iP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HR
RHP Matt Keating: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Michael Arias: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Game 2 (Won, 6-0)
LF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
DH Omar Alfonzo: 1-for-4, 2B (11), RBI, R, 2 K
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-3, 2B (7), R, HBP, 2 K
Arias left the game after that HBP. Let’s home it’s precautionary! Anyway, Arias is hitting .306 with an .868 OPS since his promotion. He has five doubles in his last six games.
PR-SS Kevin Verde: 0-for-0
3B Coby Morales: 0-for-2, CS (10), BB
CF DJ Gladney: 1-for-2, SF, RBI, R
Gladney ties Jackson Lovich for the organization lead in RBI with 81.
1B Josh Moylan: 1-for-2, HR (9), 2 RBI, R, BB
Moylan hits his 22nd HR between here and Hudson Valley. Your reminder that his previous high was seven.
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-3, RBI, K
Palencia is 15-for-42 (.357) in August.
2B Connor McGinnis: 1-for-3, HR (9), RBI, R, K
RF Luis Durango: 2-for-3, CS (3)
The combined exit velocity was 22 MPH. OK, I made that up. It could still be true, however.
RHP Cade Smith: (W, 7-7) 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K
4.80 ERA (105 IP, 106 H, 58 R, 56 ER, 20 HR, 43 BB, 98 K). Last time out: 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K. Additionally, he’s allowed only two home runs in his last five starts (26 innings)
RHP Kevin Stevens: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Hudson Valley (59-57; 29-23 in second half) (Swept a doubleheader against Jersey Shore)
Game 1 (Won, 5-1)
DH Eric Genther: 1-for-3, BB
CF Jackson Lovich: 1-for-4, R
1B Kyle West: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, K
C David McCann: 1-for-3, R
At this level: 13-for-44 with a double and five home runs.
3B Hans Montero: 0-for-3, 2 K
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-3
LF Dean Toigo: 1-for-3, K
Toigo is 12-for-36 (3 doubles, 1 triple) to start his professional journey.
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 1-for-3, 2B (2), R, K
RF Willy Montero: 1-for-3, HR (1), 2 RBI, R, K
Montero launches his first High-A homer. He hit 12 in 78 games for Tampa.
LHP Pico Kohn: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
52 pitches/40 strikes. Kohn owns a 1.20 ERA over 15 IP (9 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 7 BB, 16 K). I have said it before: Kohn likely gets to Double-A in 2026 if not for his long-term injury. It is what it is.
RHP Jack Sokol (W, 2-4): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
3.50 ERA (36 IP, 39 H, 24 R, 14 ER, 3 HR, 14 BB, 34 K).
RHP Brandon Decker: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
RHP Hansel Rincon (S, 2): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Game 2 (Won, 2-0)
C Eric Genther: 0-for-3, BB
DH Jackson Lovich: 0-for-2, R, SB (13), 2 BB
Lovich has stolen 13 bases in 20 games since his promotion.
1B Kyle West: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, BB, K
CF Maika Niu: 1-for-4, R, K
3B Hans Montero: 2-for-3, 2 SB (3)
Montero has 38 stolen bases in 46 tries between here and Tampa.
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-3, 2B (9), RBI
LF Robbie Burnett: 1-for-2, SB (6), BB, K
SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 0-for-3, SB (8), K
Martin-Grudzielanek is up to 42 stolen bases in 50 attempts between here and Tampa.
RF Camden Troyer: 0-for-2, BB
RHP Luis Serna: (W, 6-5) 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
4.15 ERA (104 IP, 87 H, 57 R, 48 ER, 10 HR, 34 BB, 121 K). One thing I love to see from a young pitcher is how they rebound from a disaster. On August 1st, Serna allowed eight runs in only 0.2 innings. Since then: 15.2 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 17 K.
RHP Brady Kirtner: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Andrew Landry (S, 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Tampa (67-49; 32-18 in the second half) (Defeated Daytona Beach, 9-3. Their offense is humming)
CF Yostin Pena: 0-for-5, K
I guess the Yankees will need to put the monument order on hold.
C Luis Puello: 1-for-4, R, HBP, 2 K
SS Anthony Potestio: 1-for-2, 2B (3), SF, RBI, R, SB (3), BB
Potestio has enjoyed his nine professional games: 12-for-29 (.414/.589/.793; 3 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 8 R, 3-for-3 SB, 11 BB, 4 K)
DH Luke Pettitte: 1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, R, K
Pettitte has homered twice in three professional games. College kids excelling at this level isn’t unexpected, but Pettitte is a special case, given his relative inexperience as a hitter.
LF Diego Castellanos: 1-for-4, R, K
1B Tyce Armstrong: 1-for-3, 2B (3), 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, K
Like Potestio, Armstrong is off to a solid professional start. In 13 games, he is hitting .267/.386/.467 (3 doubles, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 14 R, 1-for-1 SB, 10 BB, 14 K)
2B Blake Cyr: 1-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, R, 2 K
Cyr launches his first professional home run. Cyr launched 17 home runs in 60 games as a freshman at the University of Miami, but couldn’t quite build off that. As a senior, however, he did hit 14 home runs in 56 games for the University of Florida.
RF Brando Mayea: 1-for-4, HR (8), 2 RBI, R, 2 K
Mayea has at least one hit in 20 straight starts (6-game hitting streak). He has homered in back-to-back contests and six of his home runs have come in July and August (32 games). A few things that are overlooked: He is still only 20 and, when healthy, he has shown some offensive chops. He hit .282/.376/.393 in 93 rookie league games.
3B Luis Escudero: 2-for-4, R, K
Escudero is in the middle of a 6-game hittng streak. Every game during the streak has featured multiple hits (14-for-25). Like Mayea, he’s only 20.
RHP J.T. Etheridge (W, 8-3): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Etheridge has his share of solid outings this year, but has let a few games snowball on him. It adds up to a 6.12 ERA over 60.1 innings (61 H, 46 R, 41 ER, 6 HR, 34 BB, 89 K). His K% is 31.0%.
LHP Jose Ledesma: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
At the end of May, Ledesma had a 5.82 ERA. Since: 21.2 IP, 12 H, 5 R. 4 ER. 9 BB, 25 K.
RHP Greysen Carter: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Jordarlin Mendoza: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
August: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K. If he ever figures out the control thing…
FCL Yankees (29-29)
Their season is over.
DSL Yankees (33-21 regular season; 0-2 in pool play) (Lost to DSL Colorado, 6-2. The Yankees, whose high-powered offense didn’t show up the last two days, are officially eliminated from the tournament. Furthermore, the DSL Tigers 2 are also 0-2 and eliminated. Hence, they cancelled tomorrow’s game. The season is over)
CF Isaias Castillo: 0-for-3, SB (1), HBP, BB, K
Castillo will find his way to the FCL in 2027. He’s rough around the edges, but showed off an impressive power/speed combination in 2026.
LF Luis Cruz: 0-for-3, HBP, BB
SS Stiven Marinez: 1-for-4, HR (1), RBI, R, HBP, 2 K
Nice to see Marinez end his season with a home run. He hit eight of them during his .315/.444/.545 regular-season campaign. He will go to the FCL in 2027.
2B Juan Torres: 0-for-5, 3 K
Torres, their most consistent performer this year, doesn’t earn a hit in the two tournament games.
RF Alfiery Matos: 1-for-3, R, BB, K
1B Stalen Ramirez: 1-for-3, BB
DH Manuel Aguilar: 1-for-4, 2B (1), 2 K
Recently turned 17, Aguilar hit .266/.442/.443 in 104 regular-season plate appearances.
C Cesar Lopez: 0-for-2, RBI, BB, K
3B Abrahan Pichardo: 0-for-3, BB, K
RHP Yunior Jerez (L, 0-1): 5.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Braulio Jaquez: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
DSL Bombers (25-29-1)
Their season is over.