Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes
Nothing today.
Scranton (73-62; 36-25 in the second half) (Defeated Lehigh Valley, 7-3. They are tied with Rochester in the loss column in the race for the second-half title. Rochester plays this evening. Other teams in the race: Indianapolis (35-27), Worcester (34-27), and three teams with 28 losses. There are still two weeks left in the season)
LF Jarred Kelenic: 2-for-4, 3B (1), SF, 2 RBI, R
Resist the temptation of getting excited over anything Kelenic does.
SS Anthony Volpe: 1-for-5, RBI, 3 K
Volpe has a 9-game hitting streak (16-for-33).
DH J.C. Escarra: 2-for-4, R
Escarra has an 8-game hitting streak (14-for-33)
2B Marco Luciano: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 2-for-4, HR (25), 3 RBI, R
Fernandez ties his personal best for home runs in a season. He is far away from his personal best in RBI (109 in 2022).
3B Oswaldo Cabrera: 1-for-4, 2 K
Cabrera has a 7-game hitting streak (11-for-33).
1B Ernesto Martinez Jr.: 0-for-4, K
C Abrahan Gutierrez: 2-for-3, 2B (1), HR (3), RBI, 2 R, BB
With J.C. Escarra‘s demotion and the additions of Christian Bethancourt and Mitch Garver, Gutierrez’s playing time fell to zero (this is his first game in September, and he played in only two August games). So, naturally, he doubles and homers today. Try to figure this game out.
CF Duke Ellis: 1-for-2, 2B (11), R, SB (50), SAC, BB, K
Ellis’ third 50+ SB campaign (57 in 2022 and 2024)
RHP Adam Kloffenstein: (W, 4-11) 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
RHP Clarke Schmidt: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
When Luis Gil came back, we cared about velocity. When Carlos Lagrange returns, we will care about velocity. Schmidt is different because he isn’t a high-velocity guy, even as a reliever. If the Yankees feel his overall stuff is back, we’ll see him soon.
RHP Justin Topa: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
Somerset (70-62; 33-30 in the second half) (Lost a crazy game to Erie, 11-10. I just realized I didn’t erase the 17-0 Friday loss from this spot last night. My apologies for forcing you to relive that memory.)
CF Jace Avina: 1-for-5, RBI, 2 R, SB (16), K
Avina is four stolen bases shy of a 20/20/20 campaign. It is doubtful he will steal four bases next week, but anything can happen!
SS Core Jackson: 2-for-4, 2B (3), 2 RBI, R, SB (8), CS (1), HBP, K
Since promotion: .269/.342/.388 over 76 PA. The stolen base is his 40th this season.
2B Roderick Arias: 3-for-5, RBI, K
Every time I think Arias is about to go into a deep slump, he rebounds. After a little 2-for-21 slide, he is 5-for-8 in his last two games.
RF DJ Gladney: 1-for-5, R, 3 K
3B Coby Morales: 1-for-5, R, 2 K
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-5, K
PR Connor McGinnis: 0-for-0
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-4, R, BB, 3 K
DH Miguel Palma: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, K
LF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-3, 2B (5), 2 R, HBP, K
RHP Cade Smith: 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HR
5.10 ERA (120 IP, 123 H, 71 R, 68 ER, 22 HR, 50 BB, 114 K). While he has cut down on the home runs in recent starts, his overall campaign has been disappointing.
RHP Harrison Cohen: (L, 4-2) 1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
Oof.
RHP Yerry Rodriguez: 1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Trent Sellers: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Hudson Valley (65-65; 35-31 in the second half) (Concluded their season with a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to Wilmington. Wilmington won on a walk-off home run.)
SS Jackson Lovich: 2-for-5, 2B (4), RBI, R, SB (20), 2 K
Lovich has to work on the swing-and-miss, but no doubt he had a solid campaign. Between here and Tampa, he hit .287/.361/.512 over 510 plate appearances (21 doubles, 4 triples, 24 HR, 89 RBI, 86 R, 41-for-50 SB, 10.2% BB, 28.6% K). His K% after his promotion was 30.6. “Spencer Jones is doing well in MLB, and you still focus on K%?” Yes. Firstly, Jones has been fun to watch, but cutting back on the strikeouts is still needed. Secondly, Jones performing well with an extreme K% would make him a rarity.
CF Maika Niu: 1-for-3, 2B (4), RBI, R, SB (6), BB
In his first taste of professional ball, the 22-year-old Niu hit .212/.310/.400 over 100 plate appearances. He was 6-for-6 stealing bases. He was signed as an undrafted free agent (Arkansas).
1B Kyle West: 1-for-2, R, SB (20), 2 BB
West completes a 20/20 campaign. On the negative side, he struck out 29.8% of the time.
C David McCann: 1-for-4, RBI
McCann slowed down a bit, finishing at .225/.296/.506 in 98 plate appearances at this level. He did swat eight home runs, which explains the slugging percentage. Between here, the FCL, and Tampa, he played 30 games at first, 22 games at catcher, and 15 at designated hitter.
LF Dean Toigo: 1-for-4, RBI, K
Toigo, their 20th-round pick out of Arizona State, finishes at .300/.378/.400 over 90 PA. He will look to hit his first professional home run in 2027.
3B Hans Montero: 1-for-4, R, 2 SB (7), K
Montero stole 42 bases in 50 attempts between here and Tampa.
DH Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-3, SB (26), BB, K
A member of my preseason Top 30 (but not midseason), Tejeda struggled after his promotion. Additionally, the lack of playing shortstop since 2022 (two games in 2024) limits his utility potential.
2B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 1-for-3, 2B (3), SF, RBI, R, K
He finishes the season tied with Lovich for the organization lead in runs (86), but he struggled after being promoted here. Between Tampa and Hudson Valley, he stole 44 bases in 54 attempts.
RF Willy Montero: 0-for-4, 2 K
RHP Luis Serna: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, HR
I wasn’t sure if Serna would get another start, but happy he did. He ends his campaign with a 4.32 ERA over 118.1 innings (101 H, 66 R, 57 ER, 12 HR, 40 BB, 140 K). The 140 strikeouts tie him with Brendan Beck (I don’t include MLB numbers) for second in the organization behind Allen Facundo (148). Obviously, Beck has a few more starts in his season.
RHP Wilmy Sanchez: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Andrew Landry: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Landry had a strong finish to his season, allowing four earned runs in 21.2 innings from July through September.
RHP Hansel Rincon (L, 2-5): 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
Tampa (78-51; 43-20 in the second half) (Completed a remarkable regular season (especially the second half) with a 4-3 win over Dunedin. The playoffs start on Tuesday, with Tampa playing first-half champion Clearwater. It’s a 3-game series (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) with the first game in Tampa and the final two in Clearwater. On the other side of the bracket, second-half champion Daytona takes on first-half champion Jupiter.)
SS Dax Kilby: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
Kilby hasn’t been compiling the hits lately (6-for-32), but the walks have kept him afloat. During this stretch, he has walked an incredible 17 times. Overall, in 32 games for Tampa, he compiled a solid .261/.448/.435 triple slash. Hudson Valley is calling his name.
CF Yostin Pena: 1-for-4, HR (6), RBI, R
Pena is losing his touch, as the home run was hit only at 101.3 MPH. Anyway, regardless of what I or anyone else thinks, Pena’s final numbers between here and the DSL are unbelievable. In 61 games, he hit .354/.431/.608 in 282 PA (11 doubles, 4 triples, 14 HR, 80 RBI, 75 R, 37-for-42 SB, 11.7% BB, 14.2% K). I erred when I excluded him in my midseason Top 30. The Yankees’ Top 30, in my mind, is rather “shallow,” so not including a kid putting up these insane numbers while playing a premium position was stupid. That said, I am not quite on the train that he has ascended to “one of the top 20-25 prospects in baseball” status. Will the Yankees aggressively place him in Hudson Valley to begin 2027?
DH Paul Contreras: 1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, R
Contreras hit .283/.392/.433 with a pair of home runs in 72 plate appearances in his debut campaign. He was their 4th-round pick out of Cal State – Fullerton.
C Bear Harrison: 0-for-4, 2 K
3B Anthony Potestio: 1-for-2, HR (5), RBI, R, BB, K
I don’t put much stock in college kids at this level, but a player can hurt his career by not performing here.. He hit .333/.513/.684 in 80 plate appearances with 19 walks and 14 strikeouts. That’s how you don’t hurt your career.
1B Tyce Armstrong: 0-for-3, K
Armstrong hit .310/.407/.634 in 86 PA. He drove home 23 runs and scored 20 in 21 games. Tampa’s second-half surge has many heroes, with the 2026 draftees playing a big role in getting them this far.
2B Luis Escudero: 2-for-2, R, SB (14), BB
The Yankees promoted the 20-year-old from the FCL, and he didn’t look back, hitting .288/.455/.556 over 202 plate appearances, hitting ten home runs while stealing 14 bases. One year ago, in the FCL, his triple slash was .212/.333/.314. Baseball!
RF Brando Mayea: 1-for-3, 2B (10), RBI, K
The bonus baby put himself somewhere on the prospect map by hitting .262/.342/.383 in 316 PA. It wasn’t a great season for the 20-year-old, but it was a necessary one as most of his prospect shine has worn off.
LF Diego Castellanos: 0-for-3, K
RHP Anthony Mena: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
Mena will likely not pitch until the championship series (he could go on Friday). After his promotion, he pitched well: 1.65 ERA over 16.1 innings with a 10/2 K/BB.
RHP Jason Krieger: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Krieger, who featured a 4-pitch mix, including a 4-seamer averaging 94.2 MPH, is the first pitcher from the 2026 draft class to make his professional debut. It is not uncommon for organizations to shut down pitchers after the draft. Anyway, the 6’5″ 21-year-old was their 17th-round pick out of Maine. Two MLB players with ties to the University of Maine have compiled 20+ bWAR: Jeremy Pena and Bill Swift. Seven others made appearances in MLB. Mark Sweeney put together a 1,218-game career, hitting .254/.347/.387 (92 OPS+). He also went 5-for-14 in the postseason. However, because he was primarily a pinch-hitter, he was “only” worth 1.7 bWAR.
RHP Brennan Stuprich: (W, 3-2) 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
LHP Pedro Rodriguez: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
RHP Jordarlin Mendoza: (S, 3) 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
He was asked to get one out seven times this season, which could indicate they were trying to simplify things for him given his control issues. The hard-throwing sinkerballer didn’t have a great season by any stretch of the imagination (8.05 ERA over 38 innings with a 49/27 K/BB and six home runs allowed). Still, his arm is so electric that the Yankees probably want to continue investing time in him.
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.