Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes
RHP Chase Hampton has been designated for assignment. Heading into the 2024 season, the 6th-round pick out of Texas Tech was ranked 72nd by Baseball America and 92nd by Pipeline.
It wasn’t unwarranted. During his debut 2023 campaign, he pitched for Hudson Valley and Somerset, posting a 3.63 ERA (3.38 FIP) over 106.2 innings with a 33.1% K, 8.4% BB, and 32.5% GB. A 2024 MLB debut was not out of the question.
As with many pitching prospects, injuries got in the way. His 2024 campaign got off to a late start due to a flexor strain and a strained groin. He made only seven starts for 18.2 innings. Before the 2025 season, he blew out his elbow, and he required Tommy John surgery.
His comeback 2026 campaign hasn’t gone well. In 17 starts (55 innings), he has posted an 8.18 ERA (6.68 FIP) with a 21.3% K and 12.9% BB.
If he isn’t claimed, the Yankees can outright him to the minors. He hasn’t earned the right to refuse an assignment. This is the most likely outcome, though a team with 40-man roster space may decide to store him there with only a few weeks left in the season.
Scranton (73-63; 36-26 in the second half) (Lost to Rochester, 3-1. This game was played yesterday, but I didn’t report on it, so I will report on it today. Because they played on Monday, they didn’t play today. This is a huge series with two weeks to play, as Rochester holds a 1-game lead over Scranton for the second-half title. Both have 26 losses, while Indianapolis and Worcester have 27. Three other squads have 28)
CF Jarred Kelenic: 1-for-4, RBI, CS (1), 2 K
Since signing: .268/.279/.415 in 43 PA.
2B Anthony Volpe: 0-for-4, 2 K
C J.C. Escarra: 2-for-3, BB
Escarra has a 9-game hitting streak (16-for-36).
DH Marco Luciano: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
SS Oswaldo Cabrera: 1-for-4, SB (11), 3 K
Cabrera has an 8-game hitting streak (12-for-37).
3B Max Schuemann: 0-for-4, K
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4, K
LF Kenedy Corona: 0-for-2, R, SB (14), BB, K
RHP Alexander Cornielle (L, 5-4): 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
Cornielle has thrown well this year. In 19 games (18 starts), he owns a 3.10 ERA over 78.1 innings with an 81/42 K/BB. Walks have always held him back.
RHP Chris Kean: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Danny Watson: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Somerset (71-62; 34-30 in the second half) (Defeated Hartford, 7-2. Erie defeated Reading, dropping the Fightin Phils to 36-27. With five games left in the season, Somerset is (barely) hanging on in the playoff chase.)
CF Jace Avina: 3-for-5, RBI, CS (4)
Avina’s 9th 3+-hit effort this season (second this month).
SS Core Jackson: 1-for-5, R, K
Jackson is 9-for-30 in September.
DH Roderick Arias: 1-for-4, 2B (8), RBI, R, 2 K
Arias has set personal bests in doubles (26), home runs (16), RBI (81), and runs (80) this season. He will set a personal best in games played whenever he next takes the field.
RF DJ Gladney: 1-for-4, 2 K
3B Coby Morales: 1-for-4, R, K
C Manuel Palencia: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
1B Josh Moylan: 2-for-4, 2B (11), HR (15), 4 RBI, 2 R, K
Moylan’s 28th HR overall this season (he has homered and driven in four runs in two of his last three games). He leads Tyler Hardman by two in the organization’s home run race.
LF Cole Gabrielson: 3-for-4, 2 2B (7), RBI, SB (10)
2B Connor McGinnis: 0-for-3, R, HBP, 3 K
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Emergency start for Gilbert (second start in 103 games).
RHP Michael Arias: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
RHP Matt Keating: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Brady Kirtner: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
The 24-year-old was promoted here from Hudson Valley, where he posted a 5.22 ERA over 39.2 innings with a 52/28 K/BB.
RHP Huey Morrill: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Hudson Valley (65-65; 35-31 in the second half)
Their season is over.
Tampa (78-51; 43-20 in the second half) (Defeated Clearwater, 2-0, to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three semi-final series. The series shifts to Clearwater for games on Thursday and (if necessary) Friday.)
SS Dax Kilby: 0-for-3, BB
CF Yostin Pena: 2-for-3, RBI, R, SB (1), BB
Known for his crazy exit velocity numbers, tonight’s hits registered only 86 and 65.3 MPH.
RF Wilberson De Pena: 0-for-4, 2 K
LF Paul Contreras: 1-for-3, RBI, HBP
3B Anthony Potestio: 0-for-2, 2 BB
1B Tyce Armstrong: 1-for-3, BB, K
C Luis Puello: 0-for-4, 2 K
DH Luke Pettitte: 0-for-3, 2 K
2B Luis Escudero: 1-for-1, 2B (1), R, 2 SB (2), 2 BB
Escudero had an impressive regular season and kept it up in the first postseason game. He has walked more than he has struck out in all four of his minor league campaigns (142 walks, 104 strikeouts).
RHP J.T. Etheridge: (W, 1-0) 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
Etheridge comes through in a big way. One of two Yankees’ minor leaguers to reach double digits in wins this year (though it came with a 5.17 ERA), Etheridge struck out 105 batters in 71.1 innings.
RHP Antonio Gomez: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Your reminder that the minors are still about development, even in the playoffs. If it was about winning, a project like Gomez wouldn’t be inserted into a 2-0 game in the 6th. He topped out at 99.3 MPH.
LHP Jose Ledesma: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Ledesma was recently promoted to Hudson Valley, where he tossed 3.1 scoreless innings. He was probably reassigned here to get in a few more innings before the season comes to a close.
RHP Matthew Tippie: (S, 1) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
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.