Midseason Review/New Top 30 Prospects
Notes:
The Aaron Judge news wasn’t surprising. We all know that calf issues can linger, which makes it even worse.
Rehab assignments exist for a reason. They are low-pressure and controlled. Nobody will raise an eyebrow if you don’t go all-out on a flyball or swing at a horrible pitch because your goal is to regain your timing, not take walks.
Now, for more reality: Judge’s rehab assignment would likely have been done at the time he sustained this injury. It’s hard to imagine him accepting a 7-game minor league stint. While that was the length of Roman Anthony’s stint, Judge was never accepting it. At most, he would have gone down there for the Colorado Rockies series, as he wasn’t going to miss the 9/11 game either.
I can accept that this injury is unrelated to his previous ailment, while recognizing that human beings naturally compensate when they are sick or injured.
Instead of adding Jasson Dominguez, the Yankees promoted Max Schuemann to replace Judge. In 41 games (only 87 plate appearances) earlier this season, Schuemann hit .194/.333/.361 (94 OPS+; 102 wRC+) with 2 home runs. After an impressive 22-for-24 stolen base rate between 2024 and 2025, he was only 3-for-5 with the Yankees. He draws walks and can play all over the field.
The Yankees will carry a bunch of players who can handle the outfield, but only three true outfielders.
Honestly, Dominguez hasn’t done enough in MLB for me to decry this move.
The Reds claimed Oswaldo Cabrera. Cabrera will be in Arbitration 2 next season, and will likely command a salary similar to what he is making this season ($1.2 million). I know some Yankees fans think I am peeing in their Cheerios when I suggest he will be a non-tender candidate, as well. 2027 is his final option year.
Scranton (77-68; 40-31 in the second half) (Defeated Jacksonville, 8-5)
It’s supposed to rain on Sunday, so tomorrow could be their season finale. They aren’t going to the playoffs.
DH Jarred Kelenic: 1-for-5, SB (11), 2 K
RF Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-5, 2 K
Could the news of Schuemann’s promotion dampered Dominguez’s day? It’s human nature, if so.
C J.C. Escarra: 1-for-5, R, 2 K
2B Marco Luciano: 3-for-3, 2 2B (14), RBI, 2 R, BB
Luciano’s third straight multi-hit effort (7-for-12).
1B Yanquiel Fernandez: 1-for-3, HR (27), 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
Minor league free agents tend to bounce around, so don’t be shocked if Luciano and Fernandez are playing elsewhere in 2027. The Yankees could block that by placing anyone they like on the 40-man roster, but that appears unlikely.
3B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-4, HR (14), 3 RBI, R, K
Hardman has 27 home runs between here and Somerset, joining Luciano and Fernandez with that total.
CF Duke Ellis: 2-for-4, R, 2 SB (59)
Ellis sets a new personal best for stolen bases in a season.
LF Kenedy Corona: 1-for-4, R, SB (16), 3 K
SS Connor McGinnis: 1-for-2, 2B (1), RBI, R, SB (1), 2 BB
McGinnis has a successful first Triple-A start.
LHP Xavier Rivas: 3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Rivas pitched to a 3.65 ERA with a 114/41 K/BB over 81.1 innings for Somerset. For Scranton, he posted a 10.73 ERA over 24.1 innings with a 22/24 K/BB.
RHP Adam Kloffenstein: (W, 5-11) 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Kloffenstein calmed the game down, allowing the offense to start their comeback.
Somerset (74-64; 37-32 in the second half)
Their season is over.
Hudson Valley (65-65; 35-31 in the second half)
Their season is over.
Tampa (79-52 regular season (43-20 in the second half); 3-2 in playoffs)
Their season is over.
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.