Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes:
We don’t have to worry about Giancarlo Stanton. One has to wonder if his Yankees’ career is coming to an end. Stanton has one year remaining on his deal at $15M. The Marlins are responsible for $10M of that. He also has a 2028 club option for $15M that comes with a $10M buyout. Again, the Marlins are on the hook for $10M. Anyone who thinks the Yankees’ didn’t get a sweetheart deal from the Marlins is complaining for the sake of complaining. The Stanton trade was a no-brainer. Anyway, one can argue keeping Stanton since the Yankees are only paying him $5M in 2027.
“Why is he only owed $15M?” When Stanton signed his deal with the Marlins, it was “middle” loaded. He earned $96,250,000 from 2023 through 2025. This year, that dipped to $19M.
Without Ryan Weathers, the Yankees will likely turn to Elmer Rodriguez or Brendan Beck (my guess is Rodriguez for the next start) until Max Fried is available (whenever that is). Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt are likely to come back in bullpen roles.
“Jasson Dominguez can do what Heliot Ramos is doing!”
Well, that’s a high bar to get over, right? Ramos has been the worst hitter in baseball since being acquired (I don’t know that for a fact, but if he isn’t, that other guy should freshen up his resume).He has been given an everyday role against a bunch of right-handed pitching over the last several days. That is what happens when you carry three outfielders.
When they acquired Ramos, I mentioned he wasn’t helpless against right-handed pitching. Since coming over here, he’s been helpless, however.
Will a role against LHP only improve his outcome? Nobody can say for sure. However, it is the best way to get production out of him.
With Cody Bellinger returning, the Yankees should have more versaility with their lineup.
Scranton (64-57; 27-20 in the second half) (Lost to Charlotte, 9-6)
SS Anthony Volpe: 0-for-5, R
Volpe started hot after his demotion but is in a 3-for-22 slump (he does have two home runs, however).
LF Jasson Dominguez: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, R, BB, 2 K
C Mitch Garver: 1-for-4, RBI, BB
Garver is 3-for-17 since being signed.
DH J.C. Escarra: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, K
3B Oswaldo Cabrera: 0-for-4, K
2B Marco Luciano: 0-for-4, 2 K
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 2-for-3, 2B (16), HR (21), RBI, R, BB, K
Fernandez’s personal best for home runs is 25, set in 2023.
1B Ernesto Martinez Jr.: 1-for-2, R, 2 BB
CF Duke Ellis: 2-for-3, 2 R, SB (45), BB
RHP Carson Coleman: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
The Railriders went with a bullpen game tonight. I believe this was Brendan Beck‘s spot in the rotation.
RHP Zach Messinger: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Eric Reyzelman: (L, 1-3) 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Reyzelman has a 10.96 ERA at this level.
RHP Hayden Merda: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Merda has struggled since his promotion: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 6 K
RHP Eli Morgan: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Morgan makes his Yankees’ organizational debut.
RHP Justin Topa: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Since being signed: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 1 BB, 2 K
Somerset (63-56; 26-24 in the second half) (Defeated Hartford, 9-5, in ten innings)
CF Jace Avina: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, BB
Avina is in a 1-for-28 slump.
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-5, RBI, R, SB (4), 2 K
He is hitting .321/.376/.500 in August, but it comes with 26 strikeouts.
C Omar Alfonzo: 1-for-4, 2B (12), 2 R, BB, K
He is only 8-for-66 since being acquired, but has doubled in his last two games as he hopes to finish strongly.
3B Coby Morales: 3-for-5, 2 R, K
.280/.370/.498 in 467 PA (20 doubles, 4 triples, 20 HR, 75 RBI, 71 R, 20-for-30 SB, 12.8% BB, 24.6% K). He has six 3-hit efforts this season.
LF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-5, 2B (16), 2 RBI, R
1B Josh Moylan: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 K
2B Connor McGinnis: 0-for-2, K
PH DJ Gladney: 0-for-0, R, BB
2B Kevin Verde: 0-for-2
RF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-4, RBI, R, SB (9), K
DH Luis Durango: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, R
Durango has a 6-game hitting streak (9-for-19). He’s hitting .383/.463/.447 in 18 games at this level and .340/.397/.412 in 267 plate appearances overall.
RHP Rory Fox: 6.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 2 HR
Fox cruised through six innings, but ran into trouble in the 7th. Between here and Hudson Valley, he has tossed 111 innings and has seven starts where he compiled 6+ innings.
RHP Kelly Austin: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
August: 0.90 ERA (10 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 13 K)
RHP Tony Rossi: (W, 5-0) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Rossi’s 6th straight multi-K outing. August: 9 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 1 BB, 14 K. He’s allowed only two home runs in 46 innings this season after not allowing any in 45.1 innings during his 2025 debut campaign.
Hudson Valley (60-57; 30-23 in second half) (Defeated Jersey Shore, 2-1, in ten innings)
C Eric Genther: 1-for-5, 2B (20), R, 2 K
SS Jackson Lovich: 1-for-4, CS (2), BB, K
Lovich is 26-for-80 (.325) since his promotion. He is 13-for-15 stealing bases here and 34-for-43 overall.
1B Kyle West: 1-for-4, CI, 2 K
CF Maika Niu: 1-for-5, 2B (3), R, 2 K
Niu is 13-for-48 (.271) to start his professional career. He has three doubles, three home runs, and three stolen bases.
1B David McCann: 2-for-5
LF Dean Toigo: 0-for-2, 3 BB, 2 K
Toigo is 12-for-38 to start his professional career. He had only a pair of walks entering tonight, so he more than doubled that output.
1B Hans Montero: 0-for-2, 2 BB
2B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 0-for-4, K
RF Willy Montero: 0-for-4
LHP Allen Facundo: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K
At this level: 4.79 ERA (88.1 IP, 63 H, 49 R, 47 ER, 6 HR, 63 BB, 111 K).
RHP Jose Rodriguez: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Thomas Balboni Jr.: (W, 2-1) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Seven batters (he hit a batter), six strikeouts. That will do wonders for the K%. He has 55 strikeouts in 34.2 innings at this level. He was part of the return for Brandon Lockridge back in a 2024 trade with the Padres.
Tampa (68-49; 33-18 in the second half) (Destroyed Daytona, 11-0. While Daytona is only 54-65, their second-half record is 33-20, and they need the other division. Tampa has scored 54 runs in the first five games of this series, though they have “only” 3-2 in those games)
SS Dax Kilby: 0-for-2, RBI, 2 R, 3 BB
In 22 Tampa games, Kilby is hitting .282/.445/.435 with more walks (25) than strikeouts (22)
CF Yostin Pena: 2-for-5, 2 HR (4), 6 RBI, 2 R, K
Pena’s first career multi-HR game (today’s home runs were hit 403 feet and 389 feet). Between Tampa and the DSL, Pena has 11 doubles, 12 home runs, 76 RBI, 66 runs, and 31 stolen bases in 34 attempts.
LF Paul Contreras: 0-for-5
C Bear Harrison: 0-for-4, K
3B Anthony Potestio: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
You can do much worse than starting your career with a 10-game hitting streak (13-for-32; 12 walks, 4 strikeouts).
1B Luke Pettitte: 2-for-4, 2B (2), R
Pettitte is 6-for-16 with two doubles and two home runs.
DH Diego Castellanos: 2-for-4, 2 R, K
RF Brando Mayea: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, K
Mayea has hit safely in 21 straight starts. In 70 games, he is hitting .269/.346/.394 in 295 plate appearances. He carries a .350 BABIP (it’s .358 in 703 career plate appearances).
2B Luis Escudero: 0-for-2, 2 R, SB (11), HBP, BB, K
LHP Justin West (W, 10-3): 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K
4.25 ERA (103.2 IP, 101 H, 52 R, 49 ER, 10 HR, 30 BB, 108 K). Last year’s 18th-round pick (Louisville) has pitched well, including a 0.98 ERA in three August starts. West is a mix-and-match lefty who averaged only 90.1 MPH with his 4-seam fastball today. That said, he generated six whiffs with it in addition to seven with his slider.
RHP Jose Martinez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Matthew Tippie: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
3.00 ERA (45 IP, 32 H, 23 R, 15 ER, 4 HR, 21 BB, 57 K). Tippie has been one of the organization’s hottest relievers.
FCL Yankees (29-29)
Their season is over.
DSL Yankees (33-21 regular season; 0-2 in pool play)
Their season is over.
DSL Bombers (25-29-1)
Their season is over.