Yankees MILB 5/9: Roderick Arias: 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R

News:

RHP Nick Burdi is heading to Tampa to join the Yankees, while Ron Marinaccio (who has pitched well) was sent back down to Scranton. Marinaccio was on a similar shuttle in 2022, seemingly sent down at moments when he was pitching well. His 2023 season was not up to par, but he has bounced back in 2024.

Scranton (25-10) (Came back to beat Rochester, 14-12. They were down 12-6 in this game)

CF Greg Allen: 2-for-5, 2 RS, BB, K
3B Caleb Durbin: 2-for-6, RBI, RS, CS (2), 2 K
Durbin has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games and is a tad shy of .300 (.299). He has 12 multi-hit games (35 games played). What is there to criticize?
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, RS, BB
Rumfield has hit safely in eight of his last nine games and is 11-for-30 in May.
LF Everson Pereira: 0-for-3, 2 RS, HBP, BB
DH Jose Rojas: 3-for-3, 2B (8), HR (6), 3 RBI, 4 RS, BB
The veteran has provided some offensive depth, swatting six home runs and driving in 22 in 27 games.
C Luis Torrens: 0-for-4, RS, BB, 2 K
SS Jeter Downs: 2-for-5, 3B (2), HR (5), 5 RBI, 2 RS, K
Downs is hitting .258 with a .857 OPS (4 doubles, 2 triples, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 20 R, 10 BB, 24 K)
2B Josh VanMeter: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 HBP, K
RF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-2, RBI, SB (15), BB
I am not sure why Lockridge left the game.
  RF Oscar Gonzalez: 1-for-2, RS

LHP Tanner Tully: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
RHP Art Warren: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Alex Mauricio: (W, 2-0)  1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
1.69 ERA (17 IP, 13 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 21 K)

Somerset (14-15) (Defeated Altoona, 7-4. It’s been a tough year for Altoona (7-24), so it is a good opportunity for Somerset to get over .500)

DH Spencer Jones: 1-for-3, 2 BB
.241/.318/.392 in 88 PA (4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 11 R, 10.2% BB, 29.5% K, 5-for-8 SB)
1B Ben Rice: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, BB
.255/.383/.481 in 129 PA (3 doubles, 7 HR, 13 RBI, 20 R, 14.7% BB, 22.9% K)
C Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-4, BB, K
Ramirez is in a 4-for-24 slide, though he does have eight walks during that stretch.
SS Ben Cowles: 1-for-4, RBI, HBP
Cowles made Altoona pay for intentionally walking Ramirez by notching an RBI single. He is hitting .333/.413/.552 in 121 PA (10 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 16 R, 10.7% BB, 16.5% K)
RF Grant Richardson: 0-for-5, K
3B Jordan Groshans: 1-for-3, 2 RS, 2 BB
CF Elijah Dunham: 3-for-5, 2B (5), RBI, 2 RS
.250/.360/.484 in 75 PA. 
2B Anthony Seigler: 2-for-4, 2B (7), RBI, RS
LF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-2, 2 RS, 2 BB, K

RHP Blane Abeyta: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
RHP Carlos Gomez: (W, 2-0)  2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
0.63 ERA (14.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 11 K). Walks have always been his bugaboo.
RHP Jack Neely (S, 4): 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Neely was recently listed as a future closer prospect by MLB.com. He is a fastball/slider pitcher (the slider is his bread-and-butter) who stands at 6’8″. How can he possibly be a fun at-bat?  Season: 1.72 ERA (15.2 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 23 K). If you want to find a flaw, he has allowed ten homers in 82 IP over the past two years. 

Hudson Valley (14-13) (Lost to Aberdeen, 9-2)

2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-4, 3B (2), RBI, RS
.212/.361/.409 in 83 PA. Walks have been his calling card but he also has seven extra-base hits (3 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR).
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K
Serna owns an 8-game hitting streak. After games of 4/27, he was hitting .148/.304/.279.  He is now hitting .242/.345/.455.
LF Jace Avina: 1-for-3, BB, 2 K
C Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-4, K
Rodriguez has 11 multi-hit games (25 games played) and is hitting .333/.394/.556.  This was his 50th game at High-A going back to last season. In those games, he is hitting .344/.430/.545. Incredible hitting.
1B Omar Martinez: 0-for-4, K
3B Josh Moylan: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-3, SB (4), BB, 2 K
DH Kiko Romero: 0-for-3, CS (1), BB, 2 K
RF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-2, RS, BB, 2 K

RHP Jackson Fristoe: (L, 0-1) 4.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, HR
5.79 ERA (14 IP, 13 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 1 HR, 12 BB, 14 K)
RHP Mason Vinyard: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Steven Fulgencio: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
LHP Joel Valdez: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Tampa (10-21) (Lost to Clearwater, 5-4)

LF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-3, 2 RS, CS (1), BB
Castillo seems to like the leadoff spot (5-for-15, double, HR, 8 BB)
SS Roderick Arias: 2-for-4, 3B (3), 2 RBI, 2 RS
.209/.356/.355 in 135 PA (4 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 17 R, 17% BB, 35.6% K). He is on a mini 4-game hitting streak (5-for-13, 6 walks, 3 strikeouts)
3B Dylan Jasso: 2-for-3, RBI, HBP, K
.303/.403/.523 in 129 PA (10 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 18 R, 12.4% BB, 27.1% K). He is on a 6-game hitting streak (12-for-25, 10 RBI)  and is 16-for-38 (.421) with three homers and 14 RBI in May. 
CF Willy Montero: 1-for-3, SF, RBI
2B Hans Montero: 2-for-4
Montero is 7-for-26 since his promotion.
1B Coby Morales: 0-for-4, K
DH Manuel Palencia: 0-for-4, 2 K
C Edinson Duran: 1-for-4, K
  PR Dayro Perez: 0-for-0
RF Daury Arias: 0-for-4, 2 K

LHP Allen Facundo: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
RHP Jordy Luciano: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Yoljeldriz Diaz: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Osiel Rodriguez: (L, 0-1) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
2.70 ERA (13.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 HR, 7 BB, 14 K)

FCL (2-2) (Mauled the Phillies, 10-3 in a 7-inning game. The Yankees scored 8 runs in the 4th inning)

(Remember, I do not list out the entire lineup for the FCL/DSL games)

C Edgleen Perez: 2-for-3, 2 2B (2), 4 RBI, RS, BB
Perez (17 years old) ranked #14 on the preseason Fangraphs’ Yankees list. A strong season here could land him a full-season league at 18. The Yankees have a fun catching pipeline…
1B Josue Gonzalez: 1-for-1, HR (2), RBI, 2 RS, 2 BB
…a pipeline that includes Gonzalez, who has homered in back-to-back games.
3B Abrahan Ramirez: 3-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, RS
The 19-year-old hit .319 in 60 DSL games with a homer, 31 RBI, 19.9% BB, and 16.1% K. He is listed as a shortstop on his player card but has never played there professionally. They likely signed him as one but converted him instantly. He has time at 2B (primary)/3B/LF/RF (6 innings).
2B Gabriel Terrero: 2-for-4, RS, SB (1)
Terrero compiled two hits in the 4th inning.
DH Kelvin Espino: 1-for-2, 2B (1), 2 RS, BB

RHP Josh Tiedemann: 2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
“Wait! The Yankees have two players named Josh Tiedemann?” The answer is no as Tiedemann is a 2-way player who is 3-for-6 with a pair of walks as a designated hitter. He was considered the top third baseman to come out of an Arizona High School last year, but the Yankees aren’t yet having him focus on that. In high school, he supposedly was throwing in the low 90s. That seems to be the minimum to get your foot in the door nowadays.
RHP Hansel Rosario (W, 1-0): 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Chris Kean: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K. I assume he will be among the first promotions from here when space opens up in Tampa.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/8: Everson Pereira Walks it Off

News:

Nothing.

Scranton (24-10) (Walked it off against Rochester, 5-3. Scranton compiled ten walks but couldn’t do much with the baserunners. In the end, however, it didn’t matter)

2B Caleb Durbin: 2-for-5, 2B (13), RBI, 2 RS, K
His double in the 9th tied the game. Slugging percentage, by year: 2021: .304 (17 games); 2022: .372; 2023: .427; 2024: .461.  
RF Everson Pereira: 1-for-4, HR (9), 2 RBI, RS, BB, K
Pereira hit a walk-off 2-run homer with one out in the 9th. He has 17 homers in 66 Triple-A games and 61 in 263 games from 2021-2024.
1B Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-0, 4 BB
Narvaez compiles his second career 4-BB game. Drawing walks is a part of his game (.362 career OBP)
DH Oscar Gonzalez: 0-for-2, K
  PH-DH T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-2
It’s too early to tell, but maybe his 17 HR in 86 games last year will not be the norm. That said, he hit .222 while hitting those home runs while he is hitting .314 in 2024 – an interesting storyline to follow.
C Luis Torrens: 0-for-3, RBI, BB, 2 K
3B Jeter Downs: 0-for-3, RBI, BB
CF Greg Allen: 0-for-3, CS (1), BB, K
SS Kevin Smith: 0-for-3, BB
LF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-3, 2 RS, SB (14), BB, K
.213/.352/.280 in 91 PA (5 doubles, 10 RBI, 15 R, 14-for-15 SB).

RHP Clayton Beeter: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, HR
2.89 ERA (28 IP, 17 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 1 HR, 16 BB, 41 K)
RHP Cody Morris: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
1.50 ERA (18 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 23 K)
RHP Phil Bickford (W, 2-0): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.92 ERA (12.1 IP, 13 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 16 K). With Nick Burdi and Tommy Kahnle on rehab stints, slots in the Yankees’ bullpen are about to become tight. They do have nice veteran depth to tap into whenever needed.

Somerset (13-15) (Fell asleep against Altoona, 3-0)

CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-4, 2 K
Jones is 2-for-26 with 11 strikeouts in May and his slugging percentage has dipped under .400 (.395). I am not concerned but, if you listened to some of the “experts,” they said Jones needs time. He’ll get it going again.
1B Ben Rice: 0-for-3, SB (5), BB
Rice has “sneaky” stolen base ability (21-for-25 in his career) but that won’t be his calling card!
DH Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-4, 2 K
SS Ben Cowles: 2-for-3, BB
.337/.414/.564 in 116 PA with an 11.2% BB and 16.4% K. His .388 BABIP is high, but his career mark is .368 in 1,046 PA.
C J.C. Escarra: 0-for-4, K
3B Jordan Groshans: 0-for-2, BB
LF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-2, CS (3), BB, 2 K
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-3, 2B (6), SB (3)
RF Aaron Palensky: 0-f0r-3, 2 K

RHP Trystan Vrieling: (L, 2-3): 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
3.34 ERA (35 IP, 26 H, 15 R, 13 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 35 K). This is your reminder that Vrieling was shipped straight to Double-A to make his professional debut. Sometimes, you want to give an advanced kid some time in the lower minors to get his feet wet. The Yankees didn’t deem that necessary. It seems like the correct call.
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
In 14 innings between here and Hudson Valley, Pestana has allowed two hits with a 19/6 K/BB. Is the move to the bullpen unlocking something? So far, the results are encouraging.
RHP Luis Velasquez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Hudson Valley (14-12) (Lost to Aberdeen, 6-5)

2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, 2 RS, BB
Riggio led off the game with a home run.
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-5, 2 RBI, K
Serna increases his hitting streak to 7.
RF Jace Avina: 1-for-4, 2B (6), RS, K
Avina has eight extra-base hits in 16 games. 76 of his 153 career hits have gone for extra bases. Having nearly 50% of your hits go for extra bases seems like a high rate, no?
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-4, 2B (5), RBI
Rodriguez is hitting .328 with a .948 OPS. He is hitting .316 in 209 career games while playing several positions, including catcher. I will once again say that performance matters.
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
DH Josh Moylan: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-4, 3 K
1B Kiko Romero: 1-for-2, HR (3), RBI, 2 RS, 2 BB
LF Kyle Battle: 1-for-4, 2 K

RHP Baron Stuart: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
4.50 ERA (18 IP, 20 H, 10 R, 9 ER,0 HR, 10 BB, 12 K). 
RHP Trent Sellers: (L, 3-1)  0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R,0 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
RHP Matt Keating: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
4.32 ERA (16.2 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 20 K)
RHP Cole Ayers: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
1.69 ERA (16 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 21 K)

Tampa (10-20) (Outlasted Clearwater, 9-8)

2B-SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-3, RBI, RS, 2 SB (7), 2 BB
Arias has holes in his game but can impact games. Can we remember that he is only 19 and nobody knows exactly where his career is going?
SS Oswald Peraza: 0-for-2, RS, BB, K
I wouldn’t worry about him being pulled – it is his second rehab game (first in the field). It is how the Yankees typically do things.
   2B Dayro Perez: 0-for-2, K
DH Tyler Hardman: 3-for-5, 2 2B (2), HR (1), 4 RBI, 2 RS, CS (1), K
If you kept Hardman down here for 50 games, he might just hit 35 home runs. That said, he is swinging the bat well in the early days of his rehab stint.
1B Dylan Jasso: 3-for-5, 2B (10), RBI, RS, 2 K
Jasso has 13 RBI in eight May games and is hitting .292 with a .911 OPS.  Furthermore, he has a 5-game hitting streak that features three multi-hit efforts. Would they consider an early promotion to Hudson Valley? If he keeps this up, do they have a choice?
CF Willy Montero: 1-for-5, RS, K
3B Hans Montero: 2-for-4, 2B (1), 3B (1), RS, BB, 2 K
Montero’s first career multi-extra-base hit game.
RF Coby Morales: 3-for-5, RBI, RS, SB (7), K
Morales has five multi-hit games and 10 RBI in May (eight games played). During this stretch, he has improved his triple slash from .195/.333/.208 to .269/.375/.324.
C Tomas Frick: 2-for-4, 2 2B (5), 2 RBI, RS, K
Frick increases his season-long on-base streak to 14 (12 games feature at least one hit)
LF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K

RHP Tommy Kahnle: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Kahnle maxed out at 95.5 MPH. His signature changeup resulted in two whiffs (as did his slider)
RHP Cade Smith: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
I wonder if a starter being asked to follow a rehabbing pitcher throws them off. I have no data to support any theory, and Smith’s first inning of work was scoreless so it could just be a tough night. Season: 2.77 ERA (26 IP, 16 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 38 K)
RHP Aaron Nixon: (W, 1-0) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Nixon’s first professional win – congrats!
RHP Ocean Gabonia: (S, 1) 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

FCL (1-2)

Scheduled day off.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/7: A Big Day for Agustin Ramirez

News:

The following players are on the FCL 7-day injured list (according to the roster page):
OF Brando Mayea
RHP Carlos Lagrange
LHP Henry Lalane

Essentially, three of their top Rookie League prospects are hurt. That’s not what you want to see.

If you are wondering about his whereabouts, infielder Rougned Odor is also on the 7-day injured list. For now, he will have to strike out in his sleep.

Scranton (23-10) (Lost to Rochester, 8-5)

2B Caleb Durbin: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, RS, SB (15), HBP
.293/.417/.455 in 152 PA (12 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 23 R, 15.1% BB, 9.9% K, 15-for-16 SB). He has been a nightmare for opposing pitchers and defenses.
CF Everson Pereira: 0-for-4, BB, K
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, 2B (8), RBI, HBP, K
Rumfield has 8 doubles in 18 games since his promotion. 
C Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-4, RS, BB, 3 K
DH Jose Rojas: 1-for-4, BB, K
RF Oscar Gonzalez: 2-for-4, RS, K
Gonzalez is 6-for-20 since returning from his rehab stint (also went 6-for-20 on the rehab stint)
3B Josh VanMeter: 0-for-4, K
SS Jeter Downs: 1-for-3, 2B (4), SF, RBI, RS
.259/.340/.481 in 95 PA.
LF Luis Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2 2B (5), RS, K

RHP Will Warren: (L, 3-1) 6 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
Warren’s first rough outing since Opening Day. He allowed four runs without recording an out in the first and had trouble settling in. Season: 4.86 ERA (33.1 IP, 28 H, 20 R, 18 ER, 8 HR, 10 BB, 36 K)
RHP Nick Burdi: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
You can’t ask for much more in his first rehab appearance. He averaged 98 MPH (peaked at 98.8) with his fastball and threw his full slider/fastball/sinker combination. I assume he will be back in New York soon enough.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
LHP Clayton Andrews: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K

Somerset (13-14) (Knocked down Altoona, 8-1)

CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, 2B (4), RS, SB (5), BB
.250/.316/.417 in 79 PA. Jones has 60 stolen bases in 159 career games (15 caught stealing; 80%)
DH Agustin Ramirez: 3-for-3, 2B (2), HR (10), 3 RBI, 3 RS, SB (6), 2 BB
Ramirez gets the OPS over 1.000 (.258/.405/.618). This is the second time he reached base five times in a game this season and his BB% (18.9%) is better than his K% (18.0%). Flaws in his offensive game are difficult to find.
C Ben Rice: 0-for-5, 2 K
.263/.387/.505 in 120 PA. He is 5-for-18 with three walks in five May games but is looking for his first extra-base hit.
SS Ben Cowles: 0-for-5, 2 K
Not a good day for those named “Ben,” but their bright days outshine their darker ones in 2024.
1B J.C. Escarra: 1-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 RS, HBP
3B Jordan Groshans: 2-for-5, 2B (1), RBI, K
LF Grant Richardson: 2-for-4, 2 2B (10), RS, K
.308/.375/.513 in 88 PA. He is tied with Cowles for the Eastern League lead in doubles and is 9th in average. The fun thing is that this is a continuation of what he did in 15 games at this level in 2023. When I combine the numbers, he is hitting .321/.396/.565 with 11 doubles, 7 homers, 25 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 36 Double-A games.
RF Jared Wegner: 1-for-4, RS, 3 K
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-2, 2 BB

RHP Bailey Dees (W, 2-2): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
4.55 ERA (29.2 IP, 26 H, 15 R, 15 ER, 5 HR, 15 BB, 31 K). Since allowing 8 runs in 3.1 innings in his 2024 debut: 2.39 ERA (26.1 IP, 21 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 10 BB, 28 K)
RHP Yorlin Calderon: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
LHP Josh Maciejewski: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Kevin Stevens: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Hudson Valley (14-11) (Lost to Aberdeen, 4-3)

2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-4, SB (4), K
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-4, 2B (6), RS, SB (2), K
Serna now owns a 6-game hitting streak (13-for-29; 4 doubles, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 3 K)
CF Jace Avina: 1-for-4, 2B (5), 3 K
Avina has five doubles and two home runs in 15 games. 
C Jesus Rodriguez: 3-for-4, 2 HR (5), 3 RBI, 2 RS
Rodriguez’s second career 2-HR game and third 3+ hit game this season (10th multi-hit game). He is at .330 with a .956 OPS and has five HR in 23 games (13 HR in 185 games entering 2024).
DH Omar Martinez: 0-for-3, BB, K
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-3, BB
LF Nelson Medina: 2-for-4, K
Medina has three multi-hit games in his last four games played.
3B Kiko Romero: 0-for-3, K
RF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3

RHP Cam Schlittler: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
1.04 ERA (26 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 3 HR, 11 BB, 33 K). An impressive start to his 2024 campaign…
LHP Ben Shields: (L, 1-1)  2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
The typically reliable Shields has his first tough outing in his short career. It happens. Season: 2.41 ERA (18.2 IP, 12 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 22 K)
RHP Huey Morrill: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Tampa (9-20) (Split a doubleheader with Clearwater)

Game 1 (Won, 8-2)

CF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-3, HR (1), RBI, 3 RS, 2 SB (6), BB
DH Oswald Peraza: 2-for-3, HR (1), RBI, 2 RS, SB (1), BB
This is one way to show the organization that you are healthy…
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-2, 2 CS (5), 2 BB, K
3B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-4, 2 RBI
LF Willy Montero: 1-for-3, RBI, RS, BB, K
2B Hans Montero: 1-for-3, K
1B Coby Morales: 2-for-3, RBI, RS, CS (1)
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-2, HR (1), 2 RBI, RS, BB
Frick, who has reached base in all 13 of his games, launches his first professional home run.
RF Daury Arias: 0-for-3

RHP Luis Serna: (W, 1-2)  5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
6.97 ERA (20.2 IP, 20 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 24 K).  Serna had a 2.2 IP/7 H/8 R start in April which he is trying to overcome.
RHP Montana Semmel: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
1.80 ERA (15 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 12 K)
RHP Kris Bow: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Bow threw one sinker at 97.2 MPH.

Game 2 (Lost, 4-3)

CF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-1, RBI, SB (7), 3 BB, K
Castillo’s solid doubleheader brings his triple slash up to .184/.344/.347 in 61 PA. He owns a 19.7% BB and 27.9% K. The 21-year-old was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
DH Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4, 3 K
Before his injury last year, Hardman hit an incredible 26 homers in 77 games for Somerset. He is here on a rehab stint.
3B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-4, RS, K
Jasso is 11-for-30 (.367) in May with 3 doubles, 3 HR, 12 RBI, and 7 runs scored.
RF Willy Montero: 2-for-3, 2B (5), RS, BB
.184/.243/.235 in 107 PA. His start was so slow (.095/.208/.143 in his first seven games) that recovery has been a long process. In May, he is 6-for-24 with a pair of doubles, three walks, and four strikeouts.
SS Hans Montero: 0-for-3, 2 K
1B Coby Morales: 0-for-2, BB, 2 K
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-3, 2B (4), 2 RBI, RS
.278/.322/.352 in 59 PA. Contact is his forte (11.9% K rate) and he has a .301 career average. He is looking for that elusive first career homer (he has played in 120 games).
LF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-2, BB, K
2B Dayro Perez: 0-for-2, BB, K

RHP Gabriel Barbosa: (L, 0-4) 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
4.94 ERA (27.1 IP, 28 H, 15 R, 15 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 28 K). Overall, his pitching is better than his record would indicate. He generates a lot of ground balls (54.4% entering tonight) and hasn’t allowed a homer.
RHP Cade Austin: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

FCL (1-2) (Lost to the FCL Phillies, 4-3, in a 7-inning game. Yeah, even on days where they don’t play doubleheaders, games might be limited to seven innings)

C Josue Gonzalez hit the squad’s first home run of 2024. The 20-year-old is off to a 4-for-9 start with a double and homer…
DH Josh Tiedemann compiled a pair of hits, giving him his first multi-hit game…
CF Fidel Montero went 1-for-2 with a walk, run scored, and two stolen bases. After stealing 40 bases in 59 games in 2023 (my goodness), he is 3-for-3 in three games in 2024…

RHP Danny Flatt, in his professional debut: 4 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. The 19-year-old was their 14th-round pick in 2023 (South Carolina High School)

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/5: Dylan Jasso Continues to Rake

News:

I don’t tour the minor league rosters often, but sometimes I will see something that sticks out to me.

This evening, I noticed that RHP Brendan Beck is now on the full-season injured list for Somerset. Since being drafted in 2021, Beck has logged 34 innings, all in 2023. I ranked him #24 on my preseason Top 30 list.

When he was drafted out of Stanford, many thought he was polished enough to get to the majors in a hurry. However, injuries have held him back. He will be 26 years old in 2025 and is unlikely (as in 0.000000001% chance) to be protected in the upcoming Rule 5.

Scranton (23-9) (Defeated Jacksonville, 5-2, to sweep the 6-game series. They own a 5-game lead over 18-14 Buffalo)

3B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4, RBI, SB (14), BB, K
Durbin’s hitting streak reaches 10 as his triple slash reads .286/.411/.454 with 14 stolen bases in 15 attempts. He is second in the International League in doubles and stolen bases.
RF Everson Pereira: 1-for-4, RBI, RS, BB, K
.263/.336/.542 in 131 PA. His SLG is 19th in the International League, which serves as a reminder about how crazy the offensive environment continues to be.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 3-for-4, 2B (7), RS, CS (1), BB, K
Rumfield is 7-for-20 in May with a pair of doubles and a home run. Between here and Somerset, he is hitting .313/.385/.458.
C Carlos Narvaez: 2-for-5, 2 RBI
I guess he is riding the high of his brief MLB stay, as he is 5-for-15 with seven RBI since being sent back down.
DH Jose Rojas: 1-for-5, HR (5), RBI, RS
Rojas is a Triple-A “three outcomes” guy who is hitting .190/.352/.452 with seven doubles and five home runs
2B Josh VanMeter: 1-for-4, K
CF Greg Allen: 2-for-2, 2B (2), RS, SAC, HBP
Allen is hitting .194/.370/.417 in 47 plate appearances.
SS Kevin Smith: 2-for-4, RS
LF Luis Gonzalez: 1-for-4

RHP Yoendrys Gomez: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 4 K
Gomez tossed 61 pitches today. He owns a 3.66 ERA in 19.2 IP (15 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 3 HR, 12 BB, 24 K). I am still not entirely sure what the game plan is.
RHP Cody Morris (W, 1-0): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Alex Mauricio (S, 1): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
1.76 ERA (15.1 IP, 13 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 18 K). He continues to miss bats while avoiding walks. Keep it up, kid!

Somerset (12-14)

Their game against New Hampshire was postponed.

Hudson Valley (14-10)

Their game against Wilmington was postponed.

Tampa (8-19) (Outlasted Dunedin, 15-7)

LF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-3, 2 RS, SB (4), 3 BB, K
Castillo is 6-for-6 stealing bases in his short career.
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-4, RBI, RS, 2 BB, 2 K
.188/.328/.327 in 122 PA (4 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 14 R, 15.6% BB, 38.5% K, 5-for-8 SB. A series of ups and downs thus far, which I expected)
  2B Dayro Perez: 0-for-0
3B Dylan Jasso: 3-for-5, 2B (9), 3 RBI, 3 RS, BB, 2 K
.280/.393/.527 in 112 PA (9 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 16 R, 16 BB, 31 K). Jasso is 9-for-22 in May with three doubles, three home runs, and 10 runs batted in. He leads the Florida State League in doubles and is second in RBI.
CF Willy Montero: 1-for-5, 3 RS, BB, K
2B-SS Hans Montero: 1-for-4, 2 RS, 2 BB, 2 K
Montero has enough ability to be included on the list of solid middle infield prospects in the lower levels. That doesn’t put him in the Lombard Jr./Arias range, but you should have him on your watch list.
1B Coby Morales: 3-for-5, HR (1), SF, 6 RBI, RS, K
.245/.359/.306 in 117 plate appearances (3 doubles, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 12 R, 14 BB, 34 K, 6-for-6 SB). This is a career-best performance (only his 36th game)
DH Tomas Frick: 2-for-4, RBI, BB, 2 K
.341/.471/.415 in 51 PA. He is 23 years old but is in his debut season. He won’t make a list of top Yankees’ catching prospects, but if he can develop into a backup-capable guy, that would be a win.
C Manuel Palencia: 2-for-4, SF, RBI, RS
The 21-year-old is hitting .275/.321/.333 in 56 PA.
RF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-3, 2 RS, 2 BB

RHP Ryan Harvey:  4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
It’s a strong bounce-back after his 1.2 IP/5 H/6 R outing last time.
RHP Jordy Luciano: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
LHP Brady Rose (W, 1-1): 2.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
This isn’t likely how he envisioned his first professional win to go, but it still counts. Congrats!
RHP Aaron Nixon: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
2.51 ERA (14.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 13 BB, 17 K)
RHP Osiel Rodriguez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2.25 ERA (12 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 HR, 7 BB, 13 K)

FCL (0-1)

Scheduled day off.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/4: Zach Messinger: 5.2 Hitless Innings

News:

RHP Chase Hampton was transferred to the 60-day injured list today. This is unfortunate for a pitcher many thought could give the team some innings in 2024. We don’t know the reason for the transfer, though you instantly fear Tommy John Surgery.

Scranton (22-9) (Outlasted Jacksonville, 10-9. The Railriders crushed five home runs today. As you may suspect, they are at the top of their division and have one of the best (but not the best) winning percentages in the minor leagues)

LF Greg Allen: 1-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 RS, SB (5), BB
Allen is disruptive. You don’t want him starting often in MLB, but he provides a speed/defense combo that can be useful. Players like him were amongst the most screwed by MLB limiting September rosters.
RF Everson Pereira: 2-for-5, 2B (7), HR (8), 2 RBI, RS, K
Pereira’s homer was hit at 101.4 MPH. He is hitting .263/.333/.553 in 126 PA. 16 of his 30 hits have gone for extra bases (7 doubles, 1 triple, 8 HR). He has 16 homers in 63 Triple-A games.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-4, RS, BB, K
C Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-5, HR (3), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
DH Oscar Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2B (1), HR (1), RBI, RS, BB, K
As long as he is healthy, I like the depth he provides the organization. He is a LF/RF, but the Yankees have given him a pair of starts at first base in Scranton (his only two career games there).
3B Luis Torrens: 2-for-4, RS, CS (1), K
   3B Caleb Durbin: 0-for-0
It is rare to see a minor league manager go the defensive substitution route but in a crazy game like this, I guess you don’t want a catcher at third base in the 9th!
SS Jeter Downs: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K
2B Kevin Smith: 1-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, RS, 3 K
CF Brandon Lockridge: 2-for-4, 2B (5), RS, SB (13), K
.208/.345/.278 in 87 PA (5 doubles, 10 RBI, 13 R, 13-for-14 SB). 

RHP Cody Poteet: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HR
3.33 ERA (24.1 IP, 17 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 3 HR, 6 BB, 25 K). He has pitched very well, so we’ll toss this one.
RHP Duane Underwood Jr. (W, 2-0): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
1.76 ERA (15.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 HR, 6 BB, 17 K)
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Art Warren: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
The 31-year-old had strikeout chops before his injury (29.5% K rate in 65 MLB games).
RHP Phil Bickford (S, 2): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Somerset (12-14) (Outpitched New Hampshire, 2-0. Somerset didn’t have a hit entering the 7th inning. New Hampshire didn’t earn a hit until the 6th inning)

DH Spencer Jones: 0-for-4, 2 K
.250/.311/.412 in 74 PA. He is in a 1-for-22 slump but he’s too good for that to continue for much longer (uh oh, why did I have to say that?)
C Ben Rice: 0-for-3, SB (4), CI
.277/.404/.532 in 115 PA. Rice is 20-for-24 stealing bases in his career.
SS Ben Cowles: 2-for-4, RS
Cowles broke up the New Hampshire no-hitter in the 7th. This is his 9th multi-hit effort (25th game). He is hitting .344/.421/.591 in 107 PA. How long can he maintain an OPS > 1.000?
CF Grant Richardson: 1-for-3, RS, BB, K
.297/.369/.486 in 84 PA (8 doubles, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 11 R, 5-for-6 SB, 8.3% BB, 22.6% K). He had a 31.1% K rate in 61 PA here last year. He’s having a solid season and he has more power to tap into.
3B J.C. Escarra: 0-for-3, 2 K
LF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-3, 2B (4), 2 RBI, K
8 of Dunham’s 13 hits have gone for extra bases.
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-2, SB (4), HBP, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-3, 2 K
1B Spencer Henson: 0-for-3, 2 K
Henson’s first game since 4/19.

RHP Zach Messinger: 5.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K
Messinger threw 91 pitches today. This performance drops his ERA to 4.28 (33.2 IP, 25 H, 22 R, 16 ER, 4 HR, 13 BB, 37 K). 
LHP Ryan Anderson: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Leonardo Pestana: (W, 1-0) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
So far, Pestana is taking to a relief role. That would be par for the course with the Yankees if he developed into an MLB-quality bullpen arm.
RHP Jack Neely: (S, 3) 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
2.03 ERA (13.1 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 20 K)

Hudson Valley (14-10)

Their game against Wilmington was postponed.

Tampa (7-19) (Lost to Dunedin, 6-5)

CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-5, 2B (3), RS, SB (3), K
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-3, RBI, RS, SB (5), 2 BB, 2 K
Arias made up for a big error in the 6th by drawing an important walk in the 7th. Tampa couldn’t hold the lead though…
3B Dylan Jasso: 2-for-4, 2 HR (4), 3 RBI, 2 RS
Jasso had zero HR in his first 18 games this season and one in his first 39 professional games. He has four in his last six games. Baseball!
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-4, K
2B Hans Montero: 1-for-4, RS, 2 K
Montero’s first Low-A hit. Congrats!
C Tomas Frick: 0-for-3, HBP
Frick has started his career with an 11-game on-base streak.
LF Tayler Aguilar: 1-for-2 HBP, BB
DH Manuel Palencia: 1-for-4, RBI
RF Daury Arias: 0-for-4, 2 K

RHP Josh Grosz: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 12 K, 2 HR
Grosz struck out the first two hitters in the 6th before Dunedin took advantage of a costly error. Grosz generated 19 whiffs (10 with the slider, six with the 4-seamer) in his most impressive professional performance. Last two starts: 10.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 17 K. This is the 21-year-old’s debut season.
RHP Cade Austin: (L, 0-2)  2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR

FCL (0-1) (Lost to the FCL Tigers, 5-4, in ten innings)

I will do a full lineup today, but that is not how I will treat the FCL throughout the season. I will instead highlight anything interesting that happens.

RF Wilson Rodriguez: 2-for-5, RBI, RS, 2 K
Rodriguez was drafted in the 17th round in the 2023 draft out of Puerto Rico. The 19-year-old went 9-for-41 (.220/.360/.430) in last year’s debut season, hitting a pair of home runs.
C Edgleen Perez: 0-for-2, HBP, K
I don’t know why he was lifted, but the HBP is likely a clue. Only 17 years old, Perez hit .259/.389/.317 in 39 DSL games in 2023.
   3B Abrahan Ramirez: 0-for-2
The 19-year-old left-handed bat hit .311/.471/.379 in the DSL in 2023.
1B-C Josue Gonzalez: 3-for-5, 2B (1), RBI, K
The 20-year-old had a big season in the DSL last year. That earned him a shot at this level, which is all he can ask for. 
CF Fidel Montero: 0-for-4, BB, 3 K
All I want to happen is for Willy (Tampa), Hans (Tampa), and Fidel Montero to make it to MLB simultaneously!
LF Joel Mendez: 1-for-4, 2B (1), BB, K
Mendez is 21. He went 29-for-99 (.292/.363/.424) at this level in 2023.
3B-1B Luis Ogando: 1-for-4, RS, K
Ogando hit .352/.446/.541 in 148 DSL plate appearances in 2023. He is 20 years old.
DH Josh Tiedemann: 1-for-2, RS, 2 BB
The other 2023 draftee besides Rodriguez in today’s lineup was Tiedemann, the Yankees’ 13th-round pick out of an Arizona high school. The 19-year-old went 1-for-9 in his professional debut last year.
2B Gabriel Terrero: 0-for-4, RBI, BB, 3 K
The 18-year-old hit .299/.407/.533 in 37 games in his debut season (DSL) last year. He clubbed seven home runs, drove home 27,  and stole 14 bases in 20 attempts.
SS Juan Matheus: 1-fot-5, 3B (1), RS, CS (1), K
After hitting .252/.442/.472 in 45 DSL games in 2022, he only played in ten games in 2023 (he was on the 60-day injured list for most of the season).

RHP Angel Benitez: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
The 20-year-old stands 6’7″. In the DSL last year (his debut season), he pitched to a 1.06 ERA in 17 innings with a 24/7 K/BB.
RHP Omar Gonzalez: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Gonzalez was likely one of the youngest players in professional baseball in 2022 when he compiled a 0.44 ERA in 20.1 innings in the DSL. He was 16 years old when he made his debut on June 11th. He only tossed 11 innings in 2023.
RHP Chris Kean: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
The 21-year-old was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Louisiana-Monroe last year. This is his professional debut. He stands a mere 6’5″, making him a backup point guard for the Yankees Pitching Trees rec basketball league.
RHP Mason Vinyard: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Vinyard pitched in 24 games for Hudson Valley last season, compiling a 2.97 ERA. He is here on a rehab assignment.
RHP Hansel Rosario: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Control has been Rosario’s issue in his brief career. Let’s see if this is the start of turning the corner.
RHP Alejandro Gomez (L, 0-1): 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Now 21, he spent 2021-2023 in the DSL. 

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/3: Ben Rice Reaches Base 4 Times

News:

C Josh Breaux has been added to the Development List. Essentially, the Development List is…what you think it is. A place where organizations place players for help in their development. Breaux is no longer a young prospect, so you can wonder what they are trying to develop (could be as simple as first base reps outside of doing it during a game). Breaux can do everything he typically does and continues to get paid. However, he cannot play in games.

Players on the Development List do not count towards Scranton’s roster. They do count against the organization’s overall roster.  An organization is “only” allowed to have 180 players in their minor league systems (this does not include the Dominican Summer League (DSL)). Breaux still counts against that while not counting against Scranton’s roster limit.

There will be a quiz on this topic next week.

IF Enmanuel Tejeda, hitting .330 after back-to-back 4-hit nights, was placed on the 7-day injured list for Tampa. They replaced him on the roster with IF Hans Montero, a $1.7 million bonus baby signed in 2021. At ages 17-18. Montero struggled in the DSL. At 19, he had a good year in the FCL, hitting .257/.419/.404 (127 wRC+) in 234 plate appearances with 5 HR, 23 RBI, 41 runs, and 17 stolen bases.

Scranton (21-9) (Defeated Jacksonville, 7-2)

SS Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4, 2B (12), 2 RS, HBP
Durbin is on a 9-game hitting streak (12-for-37; .324) and is up to .287/.411/.461 in 142 PA (12 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 22 R, 22 BB (15.5%), 14 K (9.9%), 13-for-14 SB (92.9%).
DH Everson Pereira: 0-for-5, 4 K
.257/.331/.523 in 121 PA (6 doubles, 1 triple, 7 HR, 19 RBI, 20 R, 9 BB, 46 K (38.0%), 3-for-5 SB). He owned a 27.8% K rate for Scranton in 2023. A 10.2% increase is not what anyone wants to see, including trade partners.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-5, 2B (6), HR (2), RBI, RS, K
Rumfield is at .300/.338/.500 in 65 PA since his promotion (6 doubles, 2 HR, 12 RBI).
C Carlos Narvaez: 2-for-4, 2B (5), 3 RBI, BB, K
Narvaez got a taste of MLB life (and now has their health insurance plan).
3B Jose Rojas: 1-for-4, HR (4), RBI, RS
2B Josh VanMeter: 1-for-3, 2B (5), RS, BB, K
LF Greg Allen: 0-for-3, RS, SB (4), BB, 2 K
RF Luis Gonzalez: 1-for-3, RBI, RS, SB (3), BB
CF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-4, RBI, RS, K

LHP Edgar Barclay (W, 3-1): 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Barclay allowed a pair of runs in the first inning but settled in from there. Season: 3.07 ERA (29.1 IP, 24 H, 13 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 16 BB, 32 K)
LHP Clayton Andrews: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Somerset (11-14) (Defeated New Hampshire, 4-3)

CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-5, 4 K
Jones’ strikeout rate has ticked above 30% (31.4) thanks to ten strikeouts in his last 19 plate appearances. He will have swing-and-miss in his game – it’s just the nature of the beast. This also shows you to calm down a bit – there’s still development time needed. He is hitting .266/.329/.438 in 70 plate appearances.
1B Ben Rice: 2-for-3, RBI, RS, SB (3), 2 BB
Rice’s hitting streak reaches 7 (10-for-27; 2 doubles, 2 HR, 8 walks). He is hitting .286/.414/.549 and does not belong here. 
C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-2, SB (5), 2 BB, K
Ramirez has five walks in his last two games and 19 walks in 23 games. He is hitting .233/.377/.558 in 106 PA.
SS Ben Cowles: 1-for-4, RBI
.337/.417/.596 in 103 PA (10 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 15 R, 12 BB, 17 K, 3-for-3 SB). He hasn’t run much this season but he was 23-for-27 in that category in 2023.
3B Jordan Groshans: 1-for-3, RS, BB
DH J.C. Escarra: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB
LF Grant Richardson: 1-for-3, BB, K
Richardson is up to .296/.363/.453 in 80 PA (8 doubles, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 10 R, 6 BB, 18 K, 5-for-6 SB). He has ability – whether it becomes MLB viable is the question.
RF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-1, RBI, RS, SB (2), 2 BB, HBP
2B Alexander Vargas: 1-for-1, RBI
Vargas left the game due to injury after his RBI single (he was thrown out trying to go to second)
   2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-3, K

LHP Brock Selvidge: (W, 2-1) 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
This game was a slog for Selvidge (including his error), but he used the power of the ground ball to fight through it. Season: 1.73 ERA (26 IP, 21 H, 10 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 9 BB, 28 K).  Selvidge has allowed seven homers in 200 career innings. He should be a contender for the 2025 rotation, though we have seen Brian Cashman flip plenty of upper-level pitchers over the last few years.
RHP Carlos Gomez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
0.73 ERA (12.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 8 BB, 9 K). Throughout his career, walks have been the problem.
RHP Luis Velasquez: (S, 1) 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (14-10) (Lost to Wilmington, 13-8. GameCast had issues with this game. I know that Juan Crisp came into this game to pitch in the 9th, for example – GameCast doesn’t yet show it. UPDATE: GameCast is fixed)

RF Jace Avina: 1-for-6, 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
SS Jared Serna: 2-for-4, 2B (5), 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
Serna has 12 hits in his last five games. He has turned around his season quickly and is up to .244 with a .835 OPS. 
C Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-3, 2 RS, SB (3), 2 BB
Rodriguez is hitting .310 with a .864 OPS. 
1B Josh Moylan: 1-for-4, 2B (2), RS, BB
DH Kiko Romero: 1-for-5, RS, 3 K
CF Nelson Medina: 3-for-5, 3 RBI, RS, SB (3), K
LF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-3, RS, 2 BB, K
2B Beau Brewer: 2-for-4, RS, BB

LHP Kyle Carr: (L, 0-2)  4 IP, 9 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
This is one of those starts you toss into the wastebasket.
RHP Luis Arejula: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Cole Ayers: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
1.80 ERA (15 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 20 K)
RHP Steven Fulgencio: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Juan Crisp: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Crisp was activated today – he isn’t a pitcher, however. He is a catcher who was sitting on the Development List. He replaced C Ramon Flores on the roster, who was placed on the injured list today.

Tampa (7-18) (Lost to Dunedin, 5-2)

DH Coby Morales: 2-for-3, RBI, RS, SB (6), BB, K
Morales was the offense tonight and is now hitting .225/.355/.258 thanks to a solid start to May (5-for-12)
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, 3 K
Arias is in a 0-for-14 slump that includes eight strikeouts. I have a feeling that this is going to be a streaky season, which is fine as long as he is showing progress.
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-4, 2 K
CF Willy Montero: 0-for-4, K
3B Hans Montero: 0-for-4, K
RF Daury Arias: 0-for-4, 2 K
C Edinson Duran: 0-for-2, HBP
LF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-2, RS, BB, 2 K
2B Dayro Perez: 0-for-2, BB, K

LHP Allen Facundo: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, HR
He maxed out at 96.4 MPH (averaged 93.9) and threw mainly sliders (54%) and 4-seamers (34%) with some sinkers and change-ups mixed in. Season: 2.76 ERA (16.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 15 K). Before tonight, Facundo hadn’t allowed a home run in 90.1 career innings. In his debut season (2021), Facundo struck out 84 hitters in 48.2 IP (40.6% K rate) in the DSL. He missed all of 2022 before tossing 30.1 innings in 2023.
RHP Yoljeldriz Diaz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Kris Bow: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
3.97 ERA (11.1 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 12 K)
RHP Ocean Gabonia: (L, 0-1) 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/2: Cade Smith: 6 IP, 0 R, 11 K

News:

Nothing.

Scranton (19-9) (Defeated Jacksonville, 2-0. It is their second straight shutout)

2B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4, 2B (11), SAC
Durbin has a sneaky .459 SLG (his 11 doubles are second in the International League). As for the SAC, it is rare for me to type that nowadays. It isn’t a common occurrence within the organization.
CF Everson Pereira: 1-for-4
Pereira’s hitting streak is up to 7.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, RS, 3 K
Between here and Somerset: .301/.372/.410 in 94 PA. He does have a 33.3% K rate since his promotion, so that needs to come down.
RF Oscar Gonzalez: 1-for-3, BB, K
DH Jose Rojas: 1-for-3, RS, BB
C Luis Torrens: 1-for-4, RBI, K
3B Josh VanMeter: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K
SS Jeter Downs: 0-for-3, BB
LF Luis Gonzalez: 1-for-3, BB, K

LHP Tanner Tully: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Alex Mauricio: (W, 1-0) 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.13 ERA (12.2 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 16 K). Mauricio walked 19 batters in 48.2 innings last season.  The 27-year-old is making a push to make his MLB debut in 2024. 
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda (S, 2): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
1.76 ERA (15.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 7 BB, 21 K)

Somerset (10-14) (Lost to New Hampshire, 10-9)

CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-6, RBI, SB (4), 2 K
He had a chance to be the hero with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th, but it just wasn’t meant to be.
3B Jon Berti: 1-for-4, RS, BB, 2 K
He missed last night’s game due to some back stiffness. I guess it wasn’t a big deal (says the person who has trouble moving for days when he has “back stiffness”)
C Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-2, 3 RS, 3 BB
Ramirez’s second 3-BB effort this season.
1B Ben Rice: 2-for-4, RS, HBP, K
Rice is hitting .274 with a .941 OPS.  He is on a 6-game hitting streak (8-for-21). 
SS Ben Cowles: 2-for-5, 2 2B (10), 2 RBI, RS, K
As of this writing, Cowles’ ten doubles is at the top of the Eastern League leaderboard.
DH Jared Wegner: 0-for-4, RS, SB (3), BB, 2 K
Wegner’s 13-game hitting streak is snapped.
LF Grant Richardson: 4-for-4, 2 2B (8), 4 RBI, 2 RS, SB (5), BB
Richardson’s third career 4-hit effort. He is hitting .294 with a .855 OPS (8 doubles, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 10 R, 5 BB, 17 K, 5-for-6 SB)
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
RF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, K

RHP Blane Abeyta: 5 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
LHP Josh Maciejewski: (L, 0-1) 2.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Kevin Stevens: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Jack Neely: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR

Hudson Valley (14-9) (Lost to Wilmington, 4-1)

2B Roc Riggio: 0-for-4, K
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-4, CS (3)
His streak of 3-hit efforts ends at three (the streak seemed sustainable to me!)  
CF Jace Avina: 1-for-2, 2B (4), 2 BB
.304/.439/.522 in 57 PA. Quite a start to his career in the organization. While he has primarily played CF (smart), he also has a pair of games in LF and RF.
3B-C Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-4, K
1B Omar Martinez: 0-for-3, HBP, 2 K
C Rafael Flores: 1-for-1
He left the game after he hit a single…
  PR-3B Beau Brewer: 1-for-3, K
DH Josh Moylan: 0-for-3, BB, K
RF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB, 2 K
LF Kyle Battle: 1-for-3, 2 K

RHP Sebastian Keane: (L, 1-3) 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, HR
It’s all a process. He is alternating good and not-so-good performances, so I expect a big effort next time out!
LHP Joel Valdez: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K
1.80 ERA (15 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 19 K)

Tampa (7-17) (Defeated Dunedin, 10-4)

3B Enmanuel Tejeda: 4-for-5, 2B (4), RBI, 3 RS, 2 SB (10)
Tejeda has back-to-back 4-hit efforts. He is hitting .330/.374/.402 in 108 PA (4 doubles, 1 HR, 15 RBI, 15 R, 6.5% BB, 22.2% K, 10-for-13 SB). As of this writing, he is 5th in the league in batting average
LF Coby Morales: 2-for-4, 2B (3), RBI, 3 RS, BB
.209/.340/.244 in 103 PA. 
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-3, 2 RS, BB, HBP, 2 K
.200/.327/.356 in 107 PA. 
1B Dylan Jasso: 2-for-5, 2B (8), HR (2), 4 RBI, RS, 2 K
Jasso ties his best for RBI and has five multi-hit games in his last seven games played. He is up to .263/.388/.403 in 98 PA (8 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 11 R, 15.3% BB, 27.6% K)
DH Jackson Castillo: 0-for-5, 3 K
CF Willy Montero: 1-for-5, 2B (4), 3 RBI, K
RF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-4, 3 K
C Edinson Duran: 0-for-4, 3 K
2B Dayro Perez: 1-for-4, 3B (1), RS, 2 K

RHP Cade Smith: (W, 1-1) 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 K
Smith earns his first professional win. Congrats!  He threw 43% 4-seamers, 40% sliders (12 whiffs), 9% curves, and 8% changeups.  Season: 2.11 ERA (21.1 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 10 BB, 33 K).
RHP Jordy Luciano: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Aaron Nixon: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
2.70 ERA (13.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 12 BB, 15 K)

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/1: Jared Serna Homers 3 Times

News:

IF Jon Berti‘s rehab is on pause due to a stiff back, according to Bryan Hoch.

Scranton (18-9) (Defeated Jacksonville, 5-0)

3B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-5, SB (13)
DH Everson Pereira: 2-for-4, 2 RS, SB (3), 2 K
Pereira has a 6-game hitting streak (10-for-29). He is hitting .270/.348/.560.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-3, BB
RF Oscar Gonzalez: 0-for-4, RBI, RS, SB (1), K
C Luis Torrens: 2-for-3, HR (2), 4 RBI, RS, BB
.254/.328/.424 in 67 PA.
2B Jeter Downs: 0-for-4, 2 K
SS Kevin Smith: 0-for-4, 3 K
CF Greg Allen: 1-for-3, BB, 2 K
LF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-2, RS, SB (12), 2 BB

RHP Clayton Beeter: (W, 3-1)  5.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 9 K
2.74 ERA (23 IP, 17 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 13 BB, 35 K). I advocate for Bullpen Beeter but the Yankees have their reasons for keeping him in the rotation. Is it easy to convert to the bullpen? Yes, but they wouldn’t be able to ask him to do the back-to-back days thing right away, for example. He would have to be moved carefully.
RHP Art Warren: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Cody Morris: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
1.42 ERA (12.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 7 BB, 15 K)
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Somerset (10-13) (Lost to New Hampshire, 7-0)

C Ben Rice: 1-for-3, BB
Rice has a 5-game hitting streak going (6-for-17; 2 HR, 6 BB)
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, BB, K
1B Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-4
3B Ben Cowles: 0-for-3, BB, K
Anytime you can hold Rice/Jones/Ramirez/Cowles to a 1-for-13 night, it deserves applause.
DH J.C. Escarra: 0-for-4
LF Grant Richardson: 0-for-3, K
RF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-3, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 2-for-3, 2B (5)
.241/.328/.333 in 61 PA. He has hit safely in seven of his last eight games (10-for-29)
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-3, K

RHP Trystan Vrieling: (L, 2-2) 5 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
He cruised until a 5-run fifth inning, where New Hampshire singled him to death. Season: 3.41 ERA (29 IP, 20 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 1 HR, 7 BB, 31 K)
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Impressive Double-A debut for Pestana.
RHP Yorlin Calderon: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Hudson Valley (14-8) (Defeated Wilmington, 13-10, in a crazy 11-inning affair)

2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 RS, SB (3), 4 BB
Riggio has a pesky reputation and has shown some of that. His BB/K is currently over 1.0 (15/10).
SS Jared Serna: 3-for-7, 3 HR (5), 6 RBI, 3 RS
These are his first home runs since April 7th, but he is on fire: 9-for-16 with two doubles and three home runs in his last three games. He is up to .231 with a .825 OPS (4 doubles, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 17 R, 15.5% BB, 10.3% K, 1-for-3 SB). When he gets going, it can be a sight to see. This is not his best for RBI in a game (he drove home seven on 7/14/23, a day when he hit two home runs). 
CF Jace Avina: 0-for-5, RS, HBP, 3 K
LF-C Jesus Rodriguez: 4-for-5, 2B (4), HR (3), RBI, RS, CS (3), BB
Rodriguez has a career average of over .300, but this is his first career 4-hit effort. He is up to .325 with a .899 OPS this season (4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 11 R, 7.95% BB, 14.8% K). You don’t see him near the top of Yankees prospect lists, but he performs. That should count for something.
C Omar Martinez: 2-for-4, HR (4), 2 RBI, 2 RS, 2 BB, K
Martinez is hitting .246 with a .845 OPS (1 double, 1 triple, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 8 R, 15 BB, 16 K)
   PR-LF Kyle Battle: 0-for-0, RS
1B Josh Moylan: 2-for-6, 2B (1), RBI
Moylan has back-to-back multi-hit efforts.
DH Rafael Flores: 0-for-4, BB
  PR-DH Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-0, RS, HBP
3B Kiko Romero: 2-for-5, 2B (2), RBI, BB, K
RF Nelson Medina: 0-for-5, RBI, RS, BB, 2 K

RHP Jackson Fristoe: 3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
5.59 ERA (9.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 HR, 10 BB, 10 K). 
RHP Trent Sellers: 3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, HR
2.20 ERA (16.1 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 23 K).
RHP Matt Keating: 3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Steven Fulgencio: (W, 1-0) 1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Fulgencio’s High-A debut.
RHP Huey Morrill (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K

Tampa (6-17) (Defeated Dunedin, 5-4)

2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 4-for-5, HR (1), 4 RBI, 2 RS, SB (8), CS (3)
Tejeda’s second career 4-hit game as he sets a new personal best for RBI. A night like this jumps his triple slash from .276/.330/.310 to .304/.353/.370. 
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-5, 2B (2), 2 K
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
3B Dylan Jasso: 2-for-4, 2B (7), K
.253/.387/.413 in 93 PA. He is a 21-year-old corner infielder.
CF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K
LF Willy Montero: 0-for-4
DH Tomas Frick: 1-for-4, 2B (3), RS, 2 K
Frick has reached base safely in all ten of his games this season (9 feature at least one hit). He is at .353/.476/.441.
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-4, RS
RF Daury Arias: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 3 K

RHP Luis Serna: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
8.62 ERA (15.2 IP, 17 H, 15 R, 15 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 21 K). A nice bounceback after his 2.2 IP/8 ER outing last time.
RHP Cade Austin: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
3.38 ERA (16 IP, 11 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 21 K)
RHP Montana Semmel (W, 2-2): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
1.93 ERA (14 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 10 K)

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 4/30: Jared Serna is Heating Up

News:

The Yankees sent IF Keiner Delgado to the Pirates to complete the trade that landed the Yankees JT Brubaker and $500,000 of International bonus pool money.

Ranked 22nd on my Yankees’ Top 30 prospects list, Delgado hit .293/.414/.485 in 49 FCL games in 2023. He scored 54 runs, drove in 31, and went 36-for-43 in the stolen base department. As I stated in his blurb, video game numbers.  Whether that performance will translate into a full-season league, we don’t know. The Yankees did not move him to Low-A Tampa to begin 2024.

There is a logjam of middle infield prospects in the system. Delgado was blocked by the Roderick Arias, George Lombard Jr., Enmanuel Tejeda trio to begin this season. I have Arias and Lombard ranked ahead of him and Tejeda one spot underneath him.

In case you forgot, Brubaker is out following Tommy John surgery last April. He could eat some innings for the Yankees in the second half of the season. The $500,000 shouldn’t be ignored, as the Yankees tend to be good in the international market. An example of that is Delgado, who signed for $100,000.

RHP Leonardo Pestana was promoted to Somerset from Hudson Valley. The 25-year-old Pestana pitched to a 1.86 ERA in 9.2 innings with a 15/5 K/BB for Hudson Valley. Typically a starter in his career, it appears he was moved to the bullpen for 2024.

OF Oscar Gonzalez is done with his rehab stint and has been assigned to Scranton.

Scranton (18-9) (Defeated Jacksonville, 7-6)

3B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4, 2B (10), RBI, RS, BB
Durbin finishes April with a .294 average and .896 OPS (10 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 20 R, 17.3% BB, 11.0% K, 12-for-13 SB). Games by position: 2B: 10; SS: 3; 3B: 4; LF: 5 (4 starts); CF: 1; DH: 2.  One has to be intrigued.
DH Everson Pereira: 2-for-4, RBI, RS, HBP, K
Pereira hits .263 with a .914 OPS in April. He finishes the month on a 5-game hitting streak that featured three multi-hit efforts.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-5, HR (1), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
Rumfield is hitting .292 with a .785 OPS since his promotion. He has three multi-hit games in his last four games played.
LF Oscar Gonzalez: 1-for-5, 2 K
RF Jose Rojas: 0-for-5, RBI
C Luis Torrens: 2-for-5, RS, K
CF Greg Allen: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
SS Jeter Downs: 2-for-4, 2B (3), 2 RS, SB (4), K
Downs impresses in his first month in the organization, hitting .294 with a .916 OPS.  He has a 6-game hitting streak going (9-for-22)
2B Josh VanMeter: 1-for-3, HR (3), 2 RBI, RS, K
  PH-2B Kevin Smith: 0-for-0, BB

RHP Will Warren: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, HR
If you told me that Warren would get his ERA under 4.00 after allowing five ER in 0.1 innings in his 2024 debut, I would have called you crazy. Yet, here we are: 3.95 ERA (27.1 IP, 20 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 6 HR, 9 BB, 33 K)
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: (W, 1-0)  1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Phil Bickford (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Somerset (10-12) (Defeated New Hampshire, 3-2)

DH Ben Rice: 1-for-3, HR (7), RBI, RS, BB, K
Rice has homered in back-to-back games and has 23 home runs in 319 Double-A plate appearances.
3B Jon Berti: 0-for-2, SB (1), 2 BB
Berti didn’t miss much time with his injury, so you have to assume he will be back in MLB soon.
   SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-0
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-4, 3 K
.320/.382/.540 in 55 PA.
C Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-4, K
.247/.370/.610 in 92 PA. As great as he has been, he is being brought down by a .200 BABIP.
SS-3B Ben Cowles: 1-for-4
Cowles extends his hitting streak to 8. He ends April at .351/.433/.623 in 90 PA (8 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 14 R, 12.2% BB, 16.7% K, 3-for-3 SB). He has 11 starts at SS, 7 starts at 3B (9 games total), and 3 starts at 2B. What more can you ask for?
1B J.C. Escarra: 0-for-2, RS, BB
LF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-3, 2B (3), RS, 2 K
.226/.317/.472 in 60 PA (3 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers)
RF Jared Wegner: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
Wegner picked the perfect time to extend his hitting streak to 13: A 2-run single in the 7th that gave Somerset the lead they wouldn’t give up. He hit .270/.352/.508 in April. He is 24 years old and this is his first taste of Double-A.
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-3, 2 K

RHP Bailey Dees: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
Last four starts: 3.10 ERA (20.1 IP, 18 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 10 BB, 24 K). I will remind you that he is converting to starting, so that line is promising.
LHP Ryan Anderson: (W, 1-1)  2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
4.82 ERA (9.1 IP, 14 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 11 K). His BABIP is .467.
RHP Carlos Gomez (S, 2): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
0.87 ERA (10.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 8 K)

Hudson Valley (13-8) (Mauled Wilmington (thanks to a 9-run 7th), 12-2)

2B Roc Riggio: 3-for-5, 2B (3), RBI, 2 RS, SB (2)
A nice return for Riggio (first game since 4/21), who compiled two hits in the 9-run 7th inning. This is his first career 3-hit game.
  2B Beau Brewer: 1-for-1
SS Jared Serna: 3-for-6, 2B (4), 2 RBI, 2 RS
Serna, who also had two hits in the 7th inning, has back-to-back 3-hit efforts. These two games have jumped his triple slash from .148/.304/.279 to .211/.344/.352. 
LF Jace Avina: 3-for-6, 2 2B (3), 2 RBI, RS, K
Avina’s second 3-hit effort this season (11 games). The 20-year-old is hitting .333/.447/.564 in 47 PA (3 doubles, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R). A strong start to his Yankees’ career.
C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-6, HR (2), 2 RBI, RS, K
If you are going to have only one hit, make it count. He ends April at .293/.354/.440 in 82 PA while playing several positions.
DH Omar Martinez: 0-for-5, K
There is always someone not invited to the party. Martinez, who has prospect buzz, hit .242/.367/.424 in 79 April plate appearances.
3B Josh Moylan: 3-for-5, 3B (1), 2 RS
Moylan hit .231/.359/.327 in 64 April plate appearances. The power has yet to show up in his brief professional career, but he is only 21 and has shown some plate discipline (15.8% BB)
1B Rafael Flores: 2-for-5, HR (2), 2 RBI, RS, K
.211/.308/.404 in 65 PA. 
CF Nelson Medina: 2-for-5, 2B (1), 2 RS, 2 K
RF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-3, 2B (3), RBI, RS, CS (1), 2 HBP

RHP Baron Stuart: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
4.61 ERA (13.2 IP, 13 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 9 K). He is a ground ball pitcher.
RHP Luis Arejula: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
LHP Ben Shields: (W, 1-0)  2..2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
0.54 ERA (16.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 20 K). Anyone who has read my stuff in the past knows that I am not patient with college pitchers – when they show a level isn’t challenging them, you move them. Perhaps it’s still a tad early for Shields, but they have to start thinking about it.
RHP Cole Ayers: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
1.38 ERA (13 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 17 K). He pitched to a 2.50 ERA and 22/6 K/BB in 18 IP at this level last year.

Tampa (5-17) (Lost to Dunedin, 2-0)

2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-4, 3 K
A slump to close out April has him down to .276/.330/.310 in 98 PA. Given his style of play, he will need to bring down that 24.5% K rate.
RF Coby Morales: 0-for-4, 3 K
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, K
.214/.327/.381 in 98 PA. His statistical profile in April shows his raw ability: Eight of his 18 hits went for extra bases. He stole four bases but was caught three times. He owned a 50% K rate at one point, so it is impressive that he dropped that to 36.7%. Overall, it’s encouraging. You have to be willing to accept some warts as he progresses.
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-4, 2 K
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-3, K
LF Willy Montero: 0-for-3, K
.162/.213/.203 in 80 PA. Baseball is a game of constant adjustments. We’ll see how he adjust.
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-3, K
Frick is hitting .367/.500/.433 in 38 PA with six walks and six strikeouts. He has reached base safely in all nine games (at least one hit in eight of them)
DH Manuel Palencia: 0-for-3, K
3B Brenny Escanio: 1-for-2, 2B (4), BB

RHP Gabriel Barbosa:(L, 0-3)  6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
Barbosa ties his personal best for strikeouts in a game. Last two starts: 12 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 17 K. He is not a major prospect as a minor league Rule 5 draftee, but you never know if/when something will click. Something had to impress the Yankees to lead them to draft him in the first place.
RHP Osiel Rodriguez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
2.45 ERA (11 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 HR, 6 BB, 12 K). If it wasn’t for those pesky home runs…

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 4/28: Cam Schlittler: 6 IP, 2 R, 7 K

News:

As expected, RHP McKinley Moore cleared waivers and was outrighted to Scranton. The arm is tempting, but it is hard for organizations to carry it on a 40-man roster.

This is why the outright rule exists. A player can only be outrighted once in their career. After that, they can refuse the outright and become a free agent. This is different from player options. An “outright” happens when you are removed from the 40-man roster and sent through waivers. If you have less than three years of service time, a team can send you to the minors without your permission. However, they can only do that once, regardless of your service time.

Scranton (17-9) (Lost to Durham, 6-2)

CF Greg Allen: 0-for-3, BB
Allen’s first game since April 6th.
  CF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-0
2B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-3, BB, K
.296/.426/.469 in 122 PA (9 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 19 R, 17.2% BB, 11.5% K, 12-for-13 SB). As of this writing, he is tied for 6th in the International League in RBI and second in stolen bases.
DH T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-4, 3 K
At this level: .279/.319/.395 in 47 PA. Overall: .296/.370/.380 in 81 PA (6 doubles, 11 RBI, 11 R, 11.1% BB, 23.5% K)
1B Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-4, 2B (4), RS, 2 K
.211/.376/.342 in 101 PA. 
3B Jeter Downs: 1-for-4, 2B (2), RS
.281/.365/.531 in 75 PA. As long as he keeps hitting, he will get playing time. He is on a 5-game hitting streak (7-for-18 with a double and two homers)
RF Jose Rojas: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, K
SS Kevin Smith: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, K
C Josh Breaux: 0-for-3, 2 K
LF Josh VanMeter: 0-for-2, BB, K

RHP Yoendrys Gomez: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HR
4.60 ERA (15.2 IP, 15 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 3 HR, 7 BB, 20 K). He has thrown 15.2 innings in five starts. The Yankees are probably building him up as a multi-inning relief type over a true starter (but if true, why is he on a starter’s schedule rather than coming out of the bullpen every 3-4 days?). Yes, I find his development plan for 2024 (his final option year) a little strange.
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
2.03 ERA (13.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 16 K). The three runs allowed are all solo homers. 
RHP Alex Mauricio: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2.79 ERA at this level (9.2 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 14 K)
LHP Clayton Andrews: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Somerset (9-12) (Lost to Reading, 6-3)

C Ben Rice: 1-for-4, HR (6), RBI, RS, 2 K
Rice led off the game with a homer. His 25.8% K rate is a tad high (it was 18.9% at this level last year) but the production has been high as well (22 HR, 57 RBI in 68 games)
3B Jon Berti: 0-for-3, 2 K
Berti began his rehab stint today.
  SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-1, K
DH Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-4, 2 K
He is hitting .260 with a 1.030 OPS (15.9% BB; 19.3% K)
SS-3B Ben Cowles: 1-for-4, HR (3), RBI, RS, K
Cowles has homered in back-to-back games and has three in his last four games. He is on a 7-game hitting streak (11-for-29, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 7 RBI). He is hitting .356 with a 1.086 OPS.  As of this writing, he leads the Eastern League in average and OBP. He is third (just ahead of Ramirez) in OPS. 
1B J.C. Escarra: 1-for-4, K
RF Jared Wegner: 1-for-3, HR (3), RBI, RS, BB, K
Wegner is on a 12-game hitting streak (14-for-45 (.311), 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR)
CF Grant Richardson: 0-for-4, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-4, 2 K
LF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-2, 2 SB (4), HBP

RHP Zach Messinger: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
5.14 ERA (28 IP, 25 H, 22 R, 16 ER, 4 HR, 10 BB, 30 K)
RHP Luis Velasquez: (L, 1-1) 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Jack Neely: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
0.82 ERA (11 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 5 BB, 17 K). A 2024 debut is not out of the question, but there can be a logjam if Tommy Kahnle, Scott Effross, and Lou Trivino return. It would be a nice problem to have.

Hudson Valley (12-8) (Doubled up Bowling Green, 6-3)

CF Jace Avina: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
.303/.439/.424 in 41 PA. I suspect they will keep the 20-year-old here all season, but a player can always force the issue.
SS Jared Serna: 3-for-4, 2B (3), RBI
Serna’s first 3-hit game of the season. He had 11 3+ hit games in 2023 (including four 4-hit games)
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-3, 2 BB
.262/.392/.459 in 74 PA. 
2B Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-4, 2B (3), RS, 2 SB (2), K
Rodriguez was 21-for-25 stealing bases in 2023, so it isn’t a foreign concept to him. He is hitting .304/.368/.420 in 76 PA and is at .314/.402/.464 in 911 career plate appearances. Rodriguez is only 22 (won’t be 23 until next April)
DH Josh Moylan: 0-for-4, RBI
1B Rafael Flores: 0-for-3, BB
3B Kiko Romero: 0-for-2, RS, HBP, BB, K
RF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-4, 2B (2), 2 RS, K
LF Kyle Battle: 2-for-2, HR (1), SF, 3 RBI, 2 RS, BB
Battle’s 7th career HR (99 games)

RHP Cam Schlittler: (W, 3-0) 6 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 2 HR
Schlittler allowed solo homers in the first and second, and that was it. Season: 1.29 ERA (21 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 3 HR, 9 BB, 26 K). He has struck out seven batters four times in his brief career, his personal best.
RHP Huey Morrill: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Joel Valdez (S, 1): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Tampa (5-16) (Lost to Lakeland, 9-3)

DH Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-4, 2 K
.289/.344/.325 in 94 PA (3 doubles, 10 RBI, 10 R, 7.4% BB, 22.3% K, 7-for-9 SB). He hit 8 home runs in 96 DSL/FCL games, but home run power is not likely to be a part of his game. Versatility, contact, and speed will be his route to MLB if he makes it.
1B Oscar Gonzalez: 1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, RS
Gonzalez is 6-for-20 with a triple and two homers during his rehab stint.
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-4
Arias has reached base safely in nine straight games. The single was hit at 107.5 MPH, his hardest-hit ball of the season. He is at .225/.340/.400 in 94 PA (4 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 10 R, 13.8% BB, 37.2% K, 4-for-7 SB). The strikeout rate continues to fall.
3B Dylan Jasso: 2-for-3, HR (1), RBI, 2 RS, BB
Jasso’s second career HR (he hit a homer and drove home 20 runs in 17 FCL games in 2023). He is hitting .254/.400/.418 in 85 PA with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 17.6% BB, and 25.9% K.
LF Coby Morales: 0-for-2, BB, HBP
CF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-4, K
C Edinson Duran: 0-for-2, BB,HBP,  K
RF Daury Arias: 1-for-3, RBI, BB
2B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-4, K

RHP Ryan Harvey: (L, 0-1)  1.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Toss it out and move on to the next.
RHP Steven Fulgencio: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
4.00 ERA (9 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 5 BB, 10 K). 
LHP Brady Rose: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
RHP Aaron Nixon: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
3.00 ERA (12 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 12 BB, 14 K). Many Yankees’ farmhands are sinker/slider-curve/change types – Nixon is your old-fashioned 4-seamer/slider type. He maxed out at 95 MPH today.
RHP Cade Austin: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!