Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes:
Cam Schlittler deserves MVP votes, folks.
Scranton (75-66; 38-29 in the second half) (Lost to Rochester, 6-4. Current records: Rochester (41-28), Indianapolis (40-29), Scranton (38-29), Syracuse (38-30), Worcester (37-30). Scranton faces Jacksonville at home next week)
CF Jarred Kelenic: 0-for-3, 2 BB, K
LF Max Schuemann: 1-for-5, 2 K
Schuemann struck out with the bases loaded and two outs in the 9th.
C J.C. Escarra: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K
2B Marco Luciano: 0-for-4, 4 K
DH Yanquiel Fernandez: 1-for-4, R, K
SS Oswaldo Cabrera: 3-for-4, 2 HR (19), 3 RBI, 2 R, K
Cabrera has three multi-home run games this season.
3B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4
1B Ernesto Martinez Jr.: 1-for-4, K
PR Duke Ellis: 0-for-0
RF Kenedy Corona: 0-for-3, R, SB (15), BB
RHP Alexander Cornielle: 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Cornielle has been one of their best pitchers down the stretch. He was taken out after only 49 pitches, so the plan wasn’t for him to go deep unless he was injured.
RHP Justin Topa: (L, 1-2) 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Eli Morgan: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Travis MacGregor: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
MacGregor owns a 0.66 ERA at this level.
RHP Hayden Merda: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Reyzelman has six straight scoreless appearances (9.1 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 7 K).
Somerset (74-64; 37-32 in the second half) (Lost to Hartford, 5-3)
You have to win a half to make the playoffs. Somerset’s 74-64 mark was the best full-season record in their division.
CF Jace Avina: 2-for-4, R, BB, 2 K
This concludes a solid year for Avina. He hit .254/.350/.467 over 532 PA (29 doubles, 3 triples, 21 HR, 68 RBI, 85 R, 16-for-22 SB, 11.5% BB, 23.7% K). I like that strikeout percentage, even if it isn’t *ideal*. It was 25.1% in 2025. I say this is it for him – it is possible they promote him to Scranton for a week, though it feels unlikely
SS Core Jackson: 1-for-5
Jackson hit .269/.330/.409 in 103 PA after his promotion. Between here and Hudson Valley, he compiled 22 doubles, 14 home runs, and 41 stolen bases. He opened up my eyes this season. I have mentioned his off-field issues many times over the last two years. Has he grown from it? That’s for people not named Tom Kosensky to determine.
3B Roderick Arias: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, R, SB (9), K
Where does Arias fit into this organization’s puzzle? Will he be selected in the Rule 5 if he isn’t protected? Has he done enough to make the Yankees consider protecting him? The forgotten bonus baby (by most of the public, not people who follow prospects!) decided to put up a .267/.349/.435 triple slash with 16 home runs over 547 plate appearances between here and Hudson Valley. This was his first season at both levels, so he wasn’t repeating anything. He is no longer a shortstop, though he received some reps there this year. So his offense would have to carry at third base, assuming he can play the position. He’s done enough to make me intrigued, though I likely still wouldn’t rank him in my Top 30 next spring.
1B Josh Moylan: 1-for-3, BB, K
Moylan falls a home run short of 30.
RF DJ Gladney: 0-for-3, 3 K
Gladney was signed as a minor league free agent and had a good season (24 doubles, 23 homers, 21 stolen bases). Unless they are added to the 40-man roster, most minor league free agents move on the next year. That’s just the wway it goes.
DH Jackson Castillo: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
Castillo had a good start after coming off the injured list, but struggled to maintain it.
2B Connor McGinnis: 1-for-4, 2 K
C Miguel Palma: 0-for-3, RBI, BB, K
LF Luis Durango: 1-for-4, R, SB (10)
Everyone’s favorite slapper (after Caitlin Lowe) ends the season with a .320/.377/.386 triple slash over 291 PA. He had 46 stolen bases in 58 attempts.
RHP Michael Arias: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Somerset ended the season with a bullpen game, though Arias gave them a little length, thanks to needing only 28 pitches to earn eight outs.
RHP Brady Kirtner: (L, 0-1) 0.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Chris Veach: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Veach was nearly unhittable in Hudson Valley. For Somerset, he held his own: 3.29 ERA over 13.2 innings with a 14/6 K/BB. He missed over two months due to injury.
RHP Matt Keating: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Yerry Rodriguez: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Signed as a minor league free agent, the 28-year-old was injured for much of the season and didn’t get into any kind of groove when he came back.
RHP Trent Sellers: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Sellers made 31 appearances this season, 11 of which were starts. In 79.1 innings, he posted a 4.54 ERA with a 28.5% K and 13.6% BB.
RHP Tony Rossi: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
Rossi had a long stretch of homerless appearances to start his career. It isn’t surprising that he allowed a few once he got to Somerset (three in 34.1 innings). Overall, between here and Hudson Valley, he posted a 2.22 ERA over 52.2 innings with only 32 hits allowed (.172 BAA), 33.6% K, and 6.6% BB. He is an interesting relief prospect.
Hudson Valley (65-65; 35-31 in the second half)
Their season is over.
Tampa (79-51 regular season (43-20 in the second half); 2-1 in playoffs) (Lost to Jupiter, 9-1. Jupiter takes a 1-0 series lead. The series moves to Jupiter for Game 2 on Tuesday.)
SS Dax Kilby: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
He is a few years away, but Kilby has legitimate lead-off hitter *potential*. Entering today, he owned an impressive 8.7% swinging strike at this level to go along with his 25.3% BB. While that walk rate will fall (duh), he has room to improve even more with the swinging strike.
CF Yostin Pena: 1-for-4, K
Pena is 5-for-11 in the postseason.
RF Wilberson De Pena: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
3B Anthony Potestio: 0-for-3, BB, K
1B Tyce Armstrong: 0-for-3, BB, K
C Bear Harrison: 0-for-2, HBP, K
DH Luke Pettitte: 0-for-3, K
Andy would never do this in the playoffs (unless it was Game 6 against Arizona…sorry)
LF Brando Mayea: 0-for-3, 2 K
2B Luis Escudero: 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI, R
Escudero’s 2026 power surge continues.
LHP Justin West: 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
I mentioned after his last start that West had a solid campaign down here. He kept it up by tossing a gem in Game 1 today.
RHP Antonio Gomez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Gomez reached 98.3 MPH.
RHP Jose Martinez: (L, 0-1) 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
LHP Jose Ledesma: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Josh Tiedemann: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Jordarlin Mendoza: 0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
Minor league pitching coordinators and coaches earn their paychecks with pitchers like Mendoza. It is worth it when a few pitchers like him pan out.
RHP Anthony Mena: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 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.