Yankees MILB 4/16: Enmanuel Tejeda: 3 Hits, 2 SB

News:

LHP Josh Maciejewski cleared waivers and was outrighted back to Scranton. I believe the rule is that teams get one chance to outright you after you clear waivers. After that, a player can elect free agency if they get through waivers a second time.

Scranton (10-5) (Lost to Lehigh Valley, 7-1)

CF Brandon Lockridge:  0-for-5, K
2B-SS Caleb Durbin: 0-for-4, RS, BB, K
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-3, BB, K
Triple-A debut for Rumfield. He was 9-for-28 with a double, six walks, and four strikeouts for Somerset. While he didn’t hit for average in Somerset last season (.219), he had a power surge (17 HR in 82 games). So far this season, the power hasn’t shown up but the average is there.
C-3B Carlos Narvaez: 2-for-3, BB
Last four games: 6-for-16 with two doubles and a homer.
RF Jose Rojas: 2-for-3, 2B (4), BB
SS Jeter Downs: 0-for-2, HBP
  C Josh Breaux: 0-for-1
3B-2B Josh VanMeter: 0-for-4, K
DH Jordan Groshans: 0-for-3, BB
LF Luis Gonzalez: 0-for-4, K

LHP Tanner Tully: 2.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Alex Mauricio: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
6.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 11 K. One has to love the number of walks! He touched 95.1 MPH with his 4-seamer tonight.
RHP McKinley Moore: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
Moore throws very hard (topped out at 99.7, averaged 97.7). The problem? Control. He has 90 walks in 133.2 minor league innings (200 strikeouts). The Yankees claimed him off waivers from the Phillies over the winter (he made his big league debut last year). One of those arms you hope you can unlock.
RHP Phil Bickford: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Cody Morris: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 K

Somerset (4-6) (Lost to Hartford, 5-1)

CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
The results don’t matter yet – the good news is that he is back on the field.
C Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
Did you expect him to keep up with his 95 HR pace?
DH Ben Rice: 0-for-4, K
He is down to .179 (7-for-39) with four walks and 12 strikeouts. He had an 18.7% K rate last season. Thus far this year, it is 27.9%. He’ll likely snap out of it soon enough…
LF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-4, 3B (1), RS, K
3B J.C. Escarra: 3-for-4, 2B (3), RBI, K
SS Ben Cowles: 1-for-3, 2B (6), BB, K
His average falls to an unacceptable .412.
RF Jared Wegner: 1-for-4, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-3
1B Spencer Henson: 0-for-3, K

LHP Brock Selvidge: (L, 0-1) 5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
It’s a better effort this time around. Selvidge’s error contributed to the unearned runs.
RHP Luis Velasquez: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
RHP Tanner Myatt: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K. Impressive start to the 2024 campaign for Myatt, who once had some prospect buzz attached to him.

Hudson Valley (6-3) (Scored two in the 9th to beat Aberdeen, 3-2)

2B Roc Riggio: 0-for-4, BB, 3 K
SS Jared Serna: 0-for-4, RBI, BB
Tied the game with an RBI walk in the 9th.
DH Omar Martinez: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 BB, K
Won the game with an RBI walk in the 9th.
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-4
.303/.343/.424 in 35 PA.
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K
LF Garrett Martin: 1-for-3, 3B (1), RBI, HBP, K
RF Anthony Hall: 0-for-3, BB, K
C Rafael Flores: 0-for-2, CS (1), 2 BB, K
CF Nelson Medina: 1-for-2, RS, SB (2), BB, HBP, K

RHP Baron Stuart: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Stuart’s 2024 debut. In 2023, he pitched to a 4.47 ERA between here and Tampa with an 85/46 K/BB over 100.2 IP. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Pittsburgh.
LHP Ben Shields: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 4 K
RHP Leonardo Pestana: (W, 1-0) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Tampa (2-8) (Lost to St. Lucie, 11-3. Tampa isn’t having a perfect start to 2024. They have scored 32 runs and allowed 71 runs. It’s a young roster that you hope improves as the season moves along)

SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-5, RS, 3 K
Lombard Jr. has reached base safely in ten straight games to start the season.
DH Enmanuel Tejeda: 3-for-5, RBI, RS, 2 SB (7), K
12-for-35 (.343) with six RBI and five runs scored. He is 7-for-9 stealing bases.
2B Roderick Arias: 1-for-4, SB (2), BB, 2 K
8-for-40
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-2, RBI, SB (1), 2 BB
LF Coby Morales: 1-for-4, RBI, K
CF Willy Montero: 0-for-4, 2 K
4-for-34
RF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
C Edinson Duran: 1-for-3, BB, 2 K
3B Brenny Escanio: 1-for-4, 3B (1), RS, K

RHP Gabriel Barbosa: (L, 0-2) 4.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Art Warren: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Warren’s first action since 2022. The 31-year-old has 71 games of big league experience, pitching to a 4.19 ERA in 62.1 innings for the Mariners and Reds between 2019-2022. He is a sinker/slider/changeup type.
RHP Cade Austin: 1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Steven Fulgencio: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 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 4/14: Josh Breaux: 2 HR, 5 RBI

News:

Nothing.

Scranton (10-4) (Held off Norfolk, 6-5, to complete the 6-game sweep. Even without Jackson Holliday, this lineup is dangerous. Scranton has held them to 17 runs in six games)

CF Brandon Lockridge: 2-for-4, 2B (4), BB, K
.310/.524/.448 in 42 PA (4 doubles, 6 RBI, 9 R, 13 BB, 7 K, 11-for-12 SB)
SS-LF Caleb Durbin: 1-for-5, SB (9), K
.340/.455/.547 in 66 PA (6 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 15 RBI, 8 R, 11 BB, 4 K, 9-for-9 SB)
LF Everson Pereira: 0-for-2, 2 K
  PH-3B Jordan Groshans: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 K
I am not sure why Pereira was pulled from the game.
DH Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-5, 4 K
1B Jose Rojas: 0-for-2, RS, 3 BB
2B-SS Jeter Downs: 0-for-3, RS, 2 BB, 2 K
RF Luis Gonzalez: 2-for-5, RS, SB (2), K
C Josh Breaux: 3-for-5, 2 HR (2), 5 RBI, 2 RS
One of his HR traveled 430 feet at 109.5 MPH. The five RBI ties his personal best (July 10th, 2021). This is the fifth multi-HR game in his career.
3B-2B Josh VanMeter: 2-for-4, RS, K

LHP Edgar Barclay: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
One of the quirks of the 6-game series they have in the minors is that sometimes a starter has to face the same team twice. That happened with Barclay, who was also the Tuesday starter.
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: (W, 2-0)  1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Yorlin Calderon: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Calderon is holding his own at this level.
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
LHP Anthony Misiewicz (S, 2): 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Somerset (4-5) (Lost a crazy one to New Hampshire, 13-9. They were down 13-4 and tried to mount a comeback but it was too steep of a climb)

C Ben Rice: 0-for-5, 2 K
The start of the season has been a slog for Rice, who is 7-for-35 (only one extra-base hit (HR)) with a 28.2% K. 
DH Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-1, 3 RS, 2 SB (2), 3 BB, HBP
A productive day in a different way. His flyout in the 8th cost him his 7-game hitting streak.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-5, RBI, 2 RS
CF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-5, 2B (2), RBI, 2 K
SS Ben Cowles: 2-for-4, 3B (1), 3 RBI, RS, BB
.419/.514/.613 in 37 PA. He has hit safely in eight of nine games (two walks in the hitless game)
LF Jared Wegner: 1-for-5, 3B (2), RBI, RS, K
Four of Wegner’s seven hits have gone for extra bases (2 triples, 2 HR). In his debut season last year, 11 of his 22 hits went for extra bases (7 doubles, 4 HR).
RF Grant Richardson: 2-for-4, 2 2B (4), RBI, RS, SB (1), HBP
The 24-year-old continues to display the raw power. He also can steal bases, as evidenced by his 46-for-52 (88.5%) rate.
2B Aaron Palensky: 2-for-4, RBI
3B Max Burt: 0-for-2
  3B J.C. Escarra: 1-for-1, RS, HBP

RHP Blane Abeyta: (L, 0-2) 4 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 K
LHP Clay Aguilar: 2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 HR, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Jack Neely: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
4.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K

Hudson Valley (5-3) (Split a doubleheader with Rome)

Game 1 (Lost, 5-4, in eight (extra) innings)

SS Roc Riggio: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, RS
2B Jared Serna: 0-for-4, RS, K
DH Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, 2 K
C Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-4, RBI
His 2-run throwing error was costly but his offense keeps ticking (three multi-hit games in six games played)
1B Josh Moylan: 2-for-4, RBI, K
5-for-18.
RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-4, 2 K
LF Anthony Hall: 1-for-2, RS, BB, K
3B Alexander Vargas: 1-for-3, 3B (1), RBI, RS
Vargas hit seven triples in 2019 and six triples in 2023.
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-3, 2 K

LHP Kyle Carr: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 2 K
Both runs scored on a pickoff attempt error by Rodriguez. Anyway, Carr played with fire all day and eventually, an error burned him (the error occurred when Valdez was in the game). He kept the runs off the board by inducing grounders. 
LHP Jose Valdez: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
5.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K. Valdez pitched here last year and struggled, so we’ll see if he can right the ship and get to Somerset in 2024.
RHP Luis Arejula (L, 0-1): 0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Arejula’s 2024 debut comes with the built-in runner at second base. The 22-year-old has mostly been in the rookie leagues since 2021, though he did make seven appearances with Low-A Tampa last season. 

Game 2 (Won, 6-3)

2B Roc Riggio: 2-for-2, 3B (1), RBI, RS, SB (1), 2 BB
5-for-17 (2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 RBI, 3 R, 5 BB, 3 K, 1-for-1 SB). He has 29 walks in 122 career PA (23.8%)
SS Jared Serna: 0-for-2, 2 SF, 2 RBI
Productive outs!
C Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, RS
9-for-29 (.310/.941 OPS) with a triple and two home runs.
DH Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-3, RS, BB
CF Anthony Hall: 0-for-3, BB, K
LF Garrett Martin: 1-for-3, 2B (3), RS, SB (2), HBP
1B Rafael Flores: 1-for-3, 2B (3), RBI, RS, BB, K
3B Kiko Romero: 1-for-3, RBI, RS
RF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3, BB, K

RHP Cam Schlittler: (W, 2-0)  5 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 5 K
11 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 12 K
RHP Cole Ayers: (S, 1)  2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K

Tampa (2-7) (Lost to Dunedin, 11-4)

DH George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-4, BB
Lombard has reached base safely in all nine games this season (at least one walk in eight games). In his short career, he has reached base safely in 21 of his 22 games (24 of 25 if I include the 2023 playoffs).
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-3, RS, SB (1), BB, K
.194/.293/.417 in 41 PA (3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB, 20 K, 1-for-2 SB). There is a lot of “raw ability” in that stat line. You love the extra-base hits while not loving the 48.8% K rate. We must be patient and not be so quick in placing him in the 2026 Yankees lineup.
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 2-for-3, RS, 2 SB (5), BB, K
Tejeda is 9-for-30 with five RBI and five stolen bases in seven attempts.
3B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K
CF Willy Montero: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, K
LF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB
RF Daury Arias: 0-for-4, K

RHP Josh Grosz (L, 0-2): 2.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Grosz goes after hitters with a sinker/slider combo. His first two starts haven’t been great but this is just the beginning, not the end.
LHP Brady Rose: 4.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Professional debut for the 23-year-old. He was their 12th-round pick in the 2023 draft out of Dallas Baptist. Today, he featured a 4-pitch mix (4-seamer (38%), slider (30%), sinker (21%), and change (11%). 
RHP Yoljeldriz Diaz: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Dayro Perez: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Brenny Escanio: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Tampa was out of pitchers, which is why Perez/Escanio were used (they are typically infielders)

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 4/13: Agustin Ramirez: 6th HR in 7 Games

News:

LHP Josh Maciejewski was designated for assignment by the Yankees. He threw a scoreless inning in his MLB debut a few nights ago.

Unfortunately, this is how baseball works. However, it isn’t all bad for him. If someone claims him, he sticks to a 40-man roster. If not, he goes to Scranton for depth.

The Yankees added Kevin Smith to the MLB roster today. Smith, who replaces the injured Jon Berti, is a .173/.215/.301 career hitter in 333 plate appearances. He is mostly a shortstop/third baseman.

So far this season, the Yankees haven’t shown much faith in Oswaldo Cabrera against LHP. That will need to change as they can’t count on Smith or Jahmai Jones to provide anything offensively. While there is talk that DJ LeMahieu may be back soon, we’ll believe that when he is on the field.

Scranton (9-4) (Defeated Norfolk, 3-0. Even without Jackson Holliday, this lineup is dangerous. Scranton has held them to 12 runs in five games. The Railriders are 5-0 in those games)

CF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-3, CS (1), BB, K
DH Caleb Durbin: 0-for-4
Durbin has run into a little slump (2-for-16).  His strikeout rate has fallen below 5% (4.9).
LF Everson Pereira: 0-for-4, 4 K
Pereira has been hitting better lately but has an unsightly 36.2% K.
C Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
Power and walks define his offensive game.
1B Jose Rojas: 1-for-2, 2 BB, K
SS Jeter Downs: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K
11-for-34 (.324). 
RF Luis Gonzalez: 1-for-4, 3 K
3B Jordan Groshans: 0-for-4
2B Josh VanMeter: 1-for-3, HR (2), RBI, RS, 2 K

RHP Clayton Beeter: (W, 1-0)  5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K
An impressive night for Beeter. The Yankees could have gone with him over Cody Poteet but they likely want Beeter to work down here. There is nothing wrong with that. Once again, he was primarily 4-seam (66%)-slider (28%) while mixing in a handful of changeups. He peaked at 95.7 MPH.
RHP Matt Givin: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
The Yankees signed Givin to a minor league contract last August. This is the 24-year-old’s organizational debut (he never pitched above High-A while in the Marlins organization).
RHP Jake Cousins (S, 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Somerset (4-4) (Swept a doubleheader up in New Hampshire)

Game 1 (Won, 10-2)

DH Spencer Jones: 2-for-3, 2B (1), RBI, 3 RS, BB
Jones finally makes his 2024 debut. One of the Yankees’ top prospects (he could be #1 based on who you ask), Jones went 8-for-18 with two doubles and a homer during spring training.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-4, RBI, RS
7-for-23 (.304) with a double, six walks, and four strikeouts.
SS Ben Cowles: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB, K
C J.C. Escarra: 0-for-2, SF, 2 RBI, BB
CF Grant Richardson: 0-for-4
RF Jared Wegner: 1-for-4, HR (2), 3 RBI, RS, K
Back-to-back games with a home run.
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-4, RS, K
LF Aaron Palensky: 2-for-3, 2 2B (3), RS, BB, K
5-for-17 with three doubles, five walks, and five strikeouts.
3B Max Burt: 1-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, 2 RS, SB (1), K
Burt reached double digits in home runs and stolen bases in 2022 and 2023.

RHP Bailey Dees: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 6 K
Bees tosses 81 pitches in his second start of the season. He is converting from the bullpen, so it’s a process.
RHP Kevin Stevens (W, 1-0): 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

Game 2 (Won, 3-1)

DH Ben Rice: 1-for-4
.233/.324/.333 in 34 PA. He hit a leadoff HR on Opening Day and hasn’t homered since. Is that a problem? No. It’s the quirks of baseball.
C Agustin Ramirez: 2-for-4, HR (6), RBI, RS
He has homered in six of his seven games this season (and has a 7-game hitting streak that is eight if you go back to 2023). He is hitting .290/.333/.871 in 33 PA.
3B Ben Cowles: 2-for-3, 2B (4), 2 RS, HBP
Cowles is hitting .407/.500/.556 in 32 PA. He has hit safely in seven of his eight games.
RF J.C. Escarra: 1-for-4, 2B (2), RBI, K
Catcher in Game 1, RF in Game 2. That is how a player can keep himself employed.
CF Grant Richardson: 0-for-4, 4 K
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 K
LF Jared Wegner: 1-for-3, SB (2)
Wegner had a solid senior season for Arkansas (.312/.457/.674 with 15 home runs), enough for the Yankees to draft him. While he did play a little CF in college, he likely sticks to the corner OF spots in the pros.
1B Spencer Henson: 0-for-3
Like Jones, this is Henson’s 2024 debut. Last season, for Hudson Valley, the 26-year-old hit .252/.327/.453 with 14 home runs in 339 plate appearances. 
SS Max Burt: 0-for-2, BB, K

RHP Trystan Vrieling: (W, 2-0) 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
First two professional starts: 11 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 12 K. Is he this year’s Drew Thorpe? Way too early for that, but you have to be encouraged when a kid is thrown straight into the Double-A fire without any other minor league experience and performs.
RHP Carlos Gomez (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (4-2) (Defeated Rome, 3-0)

2B Jared Serna: 1-for-5, RS, K
.263/.391/.579 in 23 PA with four walks and three strikeouts. 
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-4
I have mentioned his versatility in the past. In his six starts this year, he has played third base three times, catcher twice, and left field once. Last year, he played the same positions along with time at first base.
DH Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, 3B (1), RBI, K
7-for-21 with a triple, home run, two walks, and four strikeouts. There is nice catching depth in the system.
RF Garrett Martin: 1-for-3, RS, SB (1), HBP
Martin’s first professional stolen base.
C Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, RS, K
7-for-20 with two doubles and a homer. He will split time between catching and first base.
1B Kiko Romero: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-4, RBI, K
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-4, 4 K
LF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3, BB, K

RHP Sebastian Keane: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K
Keane was used primarily as a reliever during his 2023 debut season. However, he had plenty of experience as a starter in college. They didn’t push him beyond 72 pitches, but this effort was impressive.
RHP Trent Sellers (W, 2-0): 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 12 K. I would consider this a nice start to his career.
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert (S, 2): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Tampa (2-6) (Defeated Dunedin, 8-7, in ten innings)

SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 SB (5), 2 BB, 3 K
Lombard Jr. has a silly 35% BB rate. Small sample sizes rule. The single was a 107.2 MPH bullet that brought in the winning run in the 10th.
DH Roderick Arias: 2-for-5, 2 2B (3), RS, CS (2), 2 K
Arias is hitting .212 with a .752 OPS. Five of his seven hits have gone for extra bases (3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR). 
3B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-2, RS, 3 BB
7-for-21 with six walks. Many undrafted free agents are on the older side, but Jasso is only 21.
1B Coby Morales: 0-for-4, BB, K
CF Willy Montero: 1-for-5, RBI, 2 K
Montero was second to teammate John Cruz (no longer in the system) with his 43 RBI in the FCL last year. He is off to a slow start here (3-for-26).
RF Daury Arias: 0-for-4, RS, BB, 2 K
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, RS, BB, K
  PR Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-0, RS
LF Tayler Aguilar: 1-for-2, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 RS, SB (2), 3 BB, K
It has been a frustrating few years for Aguilar, so it’s nice to see him put up this effort.
2B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-4, RS, BB, K

RHP Ryan Harvey: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Harvey spent time on the injured list late last season, so I assume they are bringing him back slowly.
RHP Kris Bow: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
The results aren’t what he wants, but he did touch 97 MPH (he averaged 94). He has control issues (understatement) that he will need to clean up.
RHP Osiel Rodriguez: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 K
You can work with someone who flashes mid-90s 4-seamers and sinkers (he featured a 5-pitch mix tonight).
RHP Aaron Nixon: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K
RHP Huey Morrill: (W, 2-0)  1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 4/12: Agustin Ramirez Hits 5th HR in 6 Games

News:

Nada.

Scranton (8-4) (Defeated Norfolk, 6-4. Even without Jackson Holliday, this lineup is dangerous. Scranton has held them to 12 runs in four games. The Railriders are 4-0 in those games)

CF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-5, 2 RS, SB (11), K
Lockridge leads minor league baseball with his 11 stolen bases.
2B Caleb Durbin: 2-for-5, 2B (6), RBI, SB (8)
.386 (17-for-44, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 15 RBI, 8 R, 11 BB, 3 K, 8-for-8 SB)
DH Everson Pereira: 2-for-4, HR (4), RBI, 2 RS, SB (2), BB
And, just like that, he is hitting .244 with a .926 OPS. That’s what four solid games (5-for-15, 1 double, 2 HR, 3 BB) will do for you early in the season.
C Carlos Narvaez: 3-for-5, 2 2B (3), 2 RBI, 2 RS
Hopefully, this is the start of a hot streak.
RF Jose Rojas: 2-for-4, 2 2B (3), 2 RBI, 2 K
1B Luis Torrens: 0-for-4, 2 K
SS Jeter Downs: 2-for-4, 2B (1), SB (2), K
10-for-30 with a double, triple, and two home runs. The odds are long but this is fun.
LF Luis Gonzalez: 0-for-1, 2 BB, K
3B Jordan Groshans: 1-for-4, 2 K

RHP Will Warren: (W, 1-0) 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 HR, 2 BB, 8 K
Warren allowed a pair of homers in the first inning but settled down from there. He reached 95.8 with his sinker and 95.3 with his 4-seamer. His sinker didn’t generate a whiff, but his slider and 4-seamer did. It will take a while for his stat line to look normal, given his rough Opening Day start in Buffalo: 8.68 ERA (9.1 IP, 10 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 4 HR, 7 BB, 13 K)
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
De Los Santos needed a clean outing and he got it. He loves his sinker (71% usage tonight)
RHP Phil Bickford: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 10 K

Somerset (2-3) (Lost to New Hampshire, 10-8. They imploded in this one (7-1 lead))

C Ben Rice: 1-for-4, RS, BB
DH Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-5, HR (5), 2 RBI, RS
Ramirez has five homers in six games. He is at .259/.310/.815 in 29 PA (5 HR, 12 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, 6 K). A young catcher displaying this power at an advanced level grabs your attention.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-5
LF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-4, HR (1), RBI, RS
It would be nice if Dunham were able to get back on track…
SS Ben Cowles:  2-for-4, RS, K
CF Grant Richardson: 2-for-4, 2B (2), HR (1), 2 RBI, RS
Richardson has displayed pop in the minors, as seen by his .450 career slugging percentage (846 PA). He hit 18 HR in 92 games between Hudson Valley and Somerset last year.
2B Aaron Palensky: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RS
RF Jared Wegner: 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 RS
Last year’s 9th-round pick hit four HR in 24 games in his debut season, including a pair in 19 games for High-A Hudson Valley.
3B Max Burt: 1-for-4

RHP Zach Messinger: 6.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 1 BB, 8 K
They stretched him into the 7th (92 pitches) and he hit a wall – that is a part of development. He was pitching well until that point.
LHP Ryan Anderson: (L, 0-1) 1.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Hudson Valley (3-2) (Split a doubleheader against Rome)

Game 1 (Lost, 3-2, in eight (extra) innings)

2B Roc Riggio: 2-for-2, 2B (2), RBI, RS, 2 BB
He added more in Game 2 (how’s that for suspense?)
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-4, RBI, CS (1)
4-for-14 (2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R, 4 BB, 2 K, 0-for-1 SB). Serna went 29-for-37 (78.4%) in the stolen base department in 2023.
C Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-4, K
6-for-18 (1 double, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 RS, 1 BB, 4 K). It is a small sample, but this kid keeps hitting. In 207 career games (854 PA), he is hitting .315/.404/.477.
DH Josh Moylan: 0-for-4, K
LF Garrett Martin: 0-for-3, RS, HBP
RF Anthony Hall: 0-for-4, 2 K
1B Rafael Flores: 0-for-4, 3 K
3B Kiko Romero: 1-for-2, BB, K
CF Nelson Medina: 1-for-2, BB

RHP Jackson Fristoe: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
It isn’t that the Yankees lack velocity in their system – but many of their prospects aren’t upper-90s fireballers. Fristoe goes against that trend, as he supposedly has been clocked as high as 101. Control is something he needs to harness.
LHP Ben Shields: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Cole Ayers (L, 0-1): 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Game 2 (Won, 1-0)

2B Roc Riggio: 0-for-1, 3 BB
Riggio reached base safely in seven of his eight plate appearances today (single, double, five walks)
RF Anthony Hall: 0-for-3, BB
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-4, 2 K
I guess he wasn’t going to hit .462 all season.
1B Josh Moylan: 1-for-3, K
DH Rafael Flores: 1-for-3, RS, K
SS Alexander Vargas: 2-for-2, 2B (1), RBI, SB (1), CS (1), BB
It’s all about the bat for Vargas. The glove is good enough to stick at SS.
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-2, SB (2), BB, 2 K
3B Beau Brewer: 1-for-3, K
LF Kyle Battle: 0-for-3, K

RHP Brian Hendry: (W, 1-0) 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K
Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State, tonight marked the 24-year-old’s professional debut. As I have often said, don’t underestimate an undrafted free agent. The draft was shortened and Hendry is on the older side of the spectrum.
RHP Matt Keating: (S, 1)  2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K

Tampa (1-6) (Lost to Dunedin, 11-2. An ugly game that featured six Tampa errors)

3B George Lombard Jr.: 2-for-4, SB (3), RS, K
.238/.529/.238 in 34 PA. That is what you call a small sample size triple slash. Lombard doesn’t have much experience at 3B, and he committed two of the errors. He has five total this season.
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-3, HBP, 2 K
.179/.281/.393 in 32 PA. 
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, K
His 6-game hitting streak to start the season is snapped.
1B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, 3 K
A solid 6-for-19 start to his campaign with a double, triple, and four RBI.
LF Coby Morales: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
CF Willy Montero: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
DH Manuel Palencia: 0-for-4
RF Daury Arias: 1-for-3, K
C Edinson Duran: 1-for-3, 2B (1), RS, K

LHP Allen Facundo: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Jordy Luciano (L, 0-2): 2.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
RHP Montana Semmel: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Steven Fulgencio: 2 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 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 4/11: Agustin Ramirez Homers Again

News:

Nada.

Scranton (7-4) (Defeated Norfolk, 4-3. Even without Jackson Holliday, this lineup is dangerous. Scranton has held them to eight runs in three games)

LF Caleb Durbin: 0-for-3, 2 BB, K
Someone asked me my thoughts on Durbin moving around the field. I am fine with it, as long as it doesn’t impact his offense.  It hasn’t thus far.  If, for any reason, he doesn’t take well to the outfield, you can end the experiment. The Yankees have been trying to develop a super-utility type for a while. Tyler Wade failed. We’ll see if Oswaldo Cabrera can keep up with his early-season hitting. Durbin is hitting .385/.519/.641 in 52 PA (5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 8 R, 11 BB (21.6%), 3 K (5.8%), 7-for-7 SB).
RF Everson Pereira:  1-for-3, 2B (2), RBI, BB, K
.220/.347/.488 in 49 PA (2 doubles, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 6 BB, 17 K, 1-for-2 SB). He’ll get that 34.7% K rate down.
C Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-4, K
.111/.390/.148 in 41 PA (1 double, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, 12 BB, 8 K). Narvaez reached double digits in home runs in 2022 and 2023 and should be able to do it again.
SS Kevin Smith: 0-for-4, 3 K
3B Jeter Downs: 2-for-4, HR (2), RBI, RS, K
8-for-26 start with a triple and two home runs (.615 SLG)
1B Jordan Groshans: 0-for-4, RS
DH Josh Breaux: 1-for-4, RS, 2 K
2B Josh VanMeter: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
CF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-3, 2B (3), 2 RBI, RS, SB (10)
Lockridge hit a 103.7 MPH double in the top of the ninth to score the two winning runs. Lockridge hasn’t played much (doesn’t qualify for rate statistics leaderboards) but his ten stolen bases lead all of minor league baseball.

RHP Yoendrys Gomez: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K
A strong 49-pitch effort for Gomez, who could see himself in the MLB bullpen at some point (if they don’t need him as a starter). That last option year is always a pivotal season for a youngster.
RHP Alex Mauricio: 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 3 K
He maxed out at 96.4 MPH. He accumulated all of his whiffs (7) with his cutter, averaging 87.9 MPH.
RHP Yorlin Calderon (W, 1-0): 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
For the second time this season, he was summoned to Scranton to fill in some innings. He was awesome today, using his low-90s sinker while mixing sliders, curves, and changeups. Sometimes, players who bounce around aren’t considered prospects as they continuously float around, providing depth or innings. Calderon is not a top prospect but he isn’t a throwaway by any stretch.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Jake Cousins (S, 1): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
When he was in MLB, Cousins looked like a garden variety reliever (which is useful!). We’ll see if they can develop more out of him.

Somerset (2-3) (Lost to New Hampshire, 6-3)

DH Ben Rice: 1-for-5, RS, K
5-for-22 (1 HR, 1 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, 9 K, 2-for-2 SB). 
C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-4, HR (4), 2 RBI,RS, BB
Ramirez has four homers in five games. If you are wondering about a promotion, he played 56 games in Single-A last year before being promoted to High-A, where he only played 27 games before getting to Somerset. Tonight was his 36th game at this level. He is a catcher, so build that into your development equation but the Yankees were aggressive in 2023. He will dictate his ascension.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-3, RS, BB, K
CF Elijah Dunham: 2-for-4, 2B (1), SB (1)
3B Ben Cowles: 1-for-2, 2 SB (2), 2 BB, K
7-for-18 (3 doubles, 3 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 2-for2 SB)
LF Aaron Palensky: 1-for-3, RBI, SB (1), BB, K
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-4, 2 K
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-4, 3 K
SS Max Burt: 0-for-4, 2 K

LHP Brock Selvidge: 4 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
2024 debut for the 21-year-old. A third-round pick in 2022 (out of high school), Selvidge started to generate some buzz last season. He reduced his walk rate to 6.5% (25.5% K) while tossing 127.2 innings. As for tonight, I guess his command wasn’t great and his defense wasn’t always solid behind him. It’s good enough for his first Double-A start as it is something he can build on.
RHP Danny Watson: (L, 0-1)  1.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
These games happen. This is the first time Watson has allowed 3+ runs in a game since 2022 (he allowed two runs only three times in 45 games last year).
RHP Jack Neely: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Neely, who stands 6’8″, struck out 100 batters in 66.1 innings last season.
RHP Tanner Myatt: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
The Patriots’ pitchers struck out four hitters in the 7th inning.

Hudson Valley (2-1)

Their doubleheader at Rome was postponed. They have yet to play a game in this series.

They will try to play a pair of doubleheaders – one on Friday and one on Sunday. One of the six games will not be played. I don’t know if they will schedule it for when Rome visits Hudson Valley or if it is gone forever.

Tampa (1-5) (Lost to Dunedin, 3-1)

3B George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-2, 3 BB, 2 K
Lombard Jr. has reached base safely 16 times in six games (3 hits, 12 BB, 1 HBP). As someone mentioned on Twitter, you want to see more contact to see where the bat is. This is still impressive discipline for an 18-year-old.
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-3, RBI, CS (1), 2 BB, K
5-for-25 (double, triple, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB, 15 K)
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-4, SB (3), BB, K
Tejeda has a 6-game hitting streak to start his campaign. He is still looking for that first extra-base hit.
1B Coby Morales: 0-for-2, BB, 2 HBP
The painful way to improve your on-base percentage.
CF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-3, BB, HBP, 2 K
C Manuel Palencia: 0-for-4, K
RF Daury Arias: 1-for-4, 2B (1), 2 K
DH Edinson Duran: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
   PR Willy Montero: 0-for-0
LF Dayro Perez: 0-for-3, RS, SB (1), BB, 2 K
Perez put up some impressive numbers in 2021-2022 in the DSL/FCL, including 51 stolen bases in 95 games. Last year, in 50 games, he cratered. 

RHP Cade Smith: (L, 0-1) 3.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Smith threw primarily 4-seamers and sliders, topping out at 94.9 with the fastball. 
RHP Cade Austin: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 6 K
6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 12 K. That’s a nice start to his professional career.
RHP Yoljeldriz Diaz: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Tampa didn’t win but their pitchers struck out 14 batters.

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 4/10: George Lombard Jr.: 2 Hits, 2 BB

News:

Nada.

Scranton (6-4) (Defeated Norfolk, 7-3. Even without Jackson Holliday, this lineup is dangerous. Scranton has held them to five runs in two games)

3B Caleb Durbin: 0-for-4, BB
Position update: 2B: 4 games; 3B: 2; SS/LF/CF/DH: 1 each
CF Everson Pereira: 0-for-4, RS, BB, K
8-for-38 (1 double, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 BB, 16 K)
DH Jose Rojas: 0-for-2, RS, 3 BB, K
C Luis Torrens: 2-for-5, RS, 2 K
5-for-24 with a double.
SS Kevin Smith: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, SB (3), 2 K
LF Luis Gonzalez: 1-for-3, 2 RS, BB, K
1B Jordan Groshans: 3-for-5, 2 RBI, RS
8-for-26 with two doubles and four RBI. 
RF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
2B Josh VanMeter: 1-for-3, HR (1), 3 RBI, RS, K
VanMeter, known more for versatility than offense, hit the tie-breaking HR in the 8th.

LHP Tanner Tully: 2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
RHP Phil Bickford: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.: (W, 1-0)  2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Solid efforts by the three middle relievers. As I keep saying, there will be MLB time to distribute amongst some of their arms down here.
RHP Ron Marinaccio: (S, 1)  2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
He will likely be a “shuttle” guy in 2024. I wish he could refind that 2022 magic when fans complained about him being sent down during a hot stretch.

Somerset (2-2)

Their game in New Hampshire was postponed.

They will attempt to play a doubleheader on Friday.

Hudson Valley (2-1)

Their game at Rome was postponed for the second day in a row.

They will try to play a pair of doubleheaders – one on Thursday and one on Sunday. They are trying to get these games in at all costs because it is Hudson Valley’s only trip to Rome this season. Rome visits Hudson Valley in July.

Tampa (1-4) (Lost to Dunedin, 8-2)

SS George Lombard Jr.: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 BB, K
3-for-15 (2 RBI, 4 R, 9 BB, 6 K, 2-for-3 SB)
2B Roderick Arias: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RS, BB, 2 K
Even with the strikeouts, his raw ability comes out. He hit the double at 105.5 MPH. He has four hits this season: Single, double, triple, home run. It’s a 5-game cycle.
3B Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-4, K
Tejeda has started his campaign with a 5-game hitting streak (6-for-20)
1B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-2, SF, RBI, BB
5-for-15 (1 triple, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K)
CF Willy Montero: 0-for-4, K
DH Manuel Palencia: 1-for-4, K
RF Tayler Aguilar: 1-for-4, RS, SB (2), K
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-4, K
LF Daury Arias: 0-for-4

RHP Luis Serna: (L, 0-1) 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 5 K
Serna was pitching well until a difficult 5th inning. He featured six pitches and used his curve (31%) the most often. He is more of a “pitchability” prospect than one who overwhelms with velocity.
RHP Aaron Nixon: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Huey Morrill: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Montana Semmel: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 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 4/9: Everson Pereira: HR, 4 RBI

News:

Nada.

Scranton (5-4) (Shut down Norfolk, 5-2. Norfolk entered tonight with 100 runs (29 HR) and a 1.104 OPS in nine games. Life is going to become a little easier for opposing pitchers, as Jackson Holliday (the top prospect in baseball) was promoted to MLB after this game)

CF Caleb Durbin: 2-for-4, 2B (5), 2 RS
The Railriders have used Durbin at five different positions in nine games. He likely will never be known for power, but he does have 44 doubles in 852 career plate appearances. Up-to-the-second numbers: 15-for-32 (5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 8 R, 8 BB, 2 K, 7-for-7 SB)
DH Everson Pereira: 2-for-4, HR (3), 4 RBI, RS
8-for-34 (1 double, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB, 15 K, 1-for-2 SB)
1B Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-3, BB, K
3-for-23 with 12 walks and eight strikeouts.
LF Jose Rojas: 0-for-4, K
   LF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-0
C Luis Torrens: 0-for-4, 2 K
2B Kevin Smith: 0-for-4, 3 K
RF Luis Gonzalez: 1-for-3, RS, SB (1), BB, K
SS Jeter Downs: 0-for-3
3B Josh VanMeter: 1-for-3, RBI, RS, K

LHP Edgar Barclay: (W, 1-0) 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 7 K
Barclay did a nice job shutting them down. He used his 4-seam/change/curve mix to befuddle them, generating 19 swings & misses. With a revolving door of pitchers, Barclay could provide some MLB innings this year.
RHP Cody Morris: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
It would be shocking if Morris didn’t pitch for the Yankees this year. He still has options, so they won’t need to expose him to waivers if they need to send him back down.
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
The Yankees must love his sinker, but he is all over the place to start the season.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: (S, 1) 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
He saved the day.

Somerset (2-2) (Lost to New Hampshire, 8-2)

C Ben Rice: 0-for-3, SB (2), 2 BB, 3 K
4-for-17 with a homer (first AB of the season). Rice is not known for speed but he did steal 11 bases in 14 attempts last year.
DH Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
.278 (5-for-18; 3 HR, 8 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB, 6 K).
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, 2 K
RF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
SS Ben Cowles: 1-for-4, 2B (3), 2 K
6-for-16 with three doubles 
CF Grant Richardson: 0-for-4, 3 K
LF Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, SB (1), BB, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-3, SB (2), RS, BB
Seigler once had a 16 SB season (2022). It was more evidence that he wasn’t your prototypical catcher. Injuries, injuries, injuries.
3B Max Burt: 0-for-3, RS, HBP, 3 K

RHP Blane Abeyta: (L, 0-1)  4 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
On the bright side, he put up three zeroes after a 5-run first.
RHP Carlos Gomez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Luis Velasquez: 2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 3 K
Control has been an issue for Velasquez throughout his career.

Hudson Valley (2-1)

Their game in Rome was postponed. All that traveling for nothing.

They have an 11:00 AM game tomorrow followed by a doubleheader on Thursday.

Tampa (1-3) (Lost to Dunedin, 6-2)

SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-1, RS, CS (1), 3 BB, HBP, K
Lombard has a perfectly normal .083 batting average with a .450 on-base percentage.
2B Roderick Arias: 0-for-5, 5 K
Arias has a triple and a homer in four games but has 12 strikeouts without a walk. Growing pains are going to happen.
DH Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-4, RS, CS (2), BB, K
5-for-16 (all singles) with four RBI and a pair of runs scored. He is 2-for-4 stealing bases. In the rookie leagues, he owned an 85/69 BB/K. We’ll see how that translates as he moves up the ladder.
LF Coby Morales: 0-for-3, RBI, BB, 2 K
1B Dylan Jasso: 3-for-4, RBI
Jasso had a pair of 3-hit games in 2023 (his debut season)
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-4, 2B (1), K
RF Willy Montero: 0-for-4, K
C Edinson Duran: 1-for-4, 2 K
3B Brenny Escanio: 1-for-4, K

RHP Gabriel Barbosa: (L, 0-1)  4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
The 22-year-old Barbosa, formerly a Rockies prospect, was selected in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He used six pitches tonight, with the curve (36%) being the most prominent. 
RHP Osiel Rodriguez: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Doesn’t it feel like Rodriguez has been around forever? The 22-year-old maxed out at 95.9 with his sinker and 95.4 with his 4-seamer. There could be something to work with, but he has to start moving.
RHP Steven Fulgencio: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
The 23-year-old didn’t pitch well in the rookie leagues over the past few years but gets a shot with Tampa. In his small professional sample size, he has generated a strong GB%. That makes sense as he came out of the bullpen throwing sinkers (maxing out at 95.8)

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 4/7: Caleb Durbin is on Fire!

News:

Spencer Jones continues to be out of action with his stiff neck. Get that man a sleep number bed and memory foam pillow.

Scranton (4-4) (Defeated Syracuse, 7-2)

2B Caleb Durbin: 2-for-2, 2 2B (4), SF, 4 RBI, RS, 2 SB (7), 2 BB
The Yankees received a player with legitimate MLB potential (perhaps as a super-utility type) for Lucas Luetge. Luetge is someone they revived after years of not pitching in MLB. He is now 13-for-28 (4 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 6 R, 8 BB, 2 K, 7-for-7 SB)
CF Everson Pereira: 0-for-4, SB (1), HBP, 4 K
Pereira is 6-for-30 with a whopping 15 strikeouts.
DH Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-1, 3 BB
Narvaez is 3-for-20 but has 11 walks.
LF Jose Rojas: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
C Luis Torrens: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RS, K
3B Kevin Smith: 1-for-3, 2 RS, HBP, K
SS Jeter Downs: 0-for-3, RS, HBP, K
6-for-19 with a triple and a homer.
RF Luis Gonzalez: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB, K
1B Jordan Groshans: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, RS, BB

RHP Cody Poteet: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 HR, 1 BB,7 K
The 29-year-old is on the 40-man roster. If you like “kitchen sink” types, you will like him. He featured six pitches today, averaging 93 with his 4-seamer and 92.1 with his sinker. He allowed two homers in the fifth inning.
RHP Phil Bickford: (W, 1-0) 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Alex Mauricio: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
Mauricio was cutter-heavy today (57% of his 37 pitches). He also featured a 4-seamer and a slider.  The 27-year-old pitched to a 3.14 ERA and 45/19 K/BB in 48.2 innings for Somerset in 2023.
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.: (S, 1)  1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Somerset (2-1) (Shut down Richmond, 8-0)

DH Ben Rice: 2-for-4, RS, SB (1), BB, 2 K
Rice is 4-for-14 with a homer.
C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-5, HR (3), 3 RBI, RS, 2 K
Ramirez has homered in three straight games to start his campaign. He is 4-for-14 with six RBI.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-1, RS, SB (1), 3 BB
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-3, RS, SB (1), BB
He has the athleticism to play an up-the-middle position. Can he stay healthy and hit a little? We’ll see.
LF Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, RS, K
CF Grant Richardson: 0-for-3, RBI, RS, BB, K
SS Ben Cowles: 3-for-4, 2B (2), 3 RBI
Cowles was their 10th-round pick in the 2021 draft (Maryland). The Yankees have played him at 2B/SS/3B (plus two outs in left field)
RF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-2, RS, BB, HBP
3B Max Burt: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K

RHP Trystan Vrieling: (W, 1-0) 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K
This is his professional debut (yes, he was thrown right into the Double-A fire). He was drafted in the third round of the 2022 draft but missed the 2023 season. He did make five starts (10.2 innings) in the Arizona Fall League.
RHP Tanner Myatt: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Health and control have been issues for the 6’7″ Myatt, who has 232 strikeouts in 194 innings. 
LHP Ryan Anderson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
The 6’6″ lefty pitched well last season (2.17 ERA in 37 games).
RHP Danny Watson: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Watson could make his MLB debut in 2024, even though he isn’t on the 40-man roster. He is a tall kid with a funky motion who pitched to a 1.58 ERA in 62.2 IP with an 82/25 K/BB in 2023.

Hudson Valley (2-1) (Shut down Bowling Green, 3-0)

2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-5, 2B (1), K
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-3, HR (2), RBI, RS, 2 BB, K
After going 28 games without a home run at this level, he has homered in back-to-back games. 
DH Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, BB, K
LF Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-4, RS, BB, K
1B Josh Moylan: 1-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K
RF Garrett Martin: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K
C Rafael Flores: 1-for-4, K
3B Alexander Vargas: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, BB
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-4, SB (1), 2 K

RHP Cam Schlittler: (W, 1-0) 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K
The 6’6″ 23-year-old was drafted in the 7th round of the 2022 draft (Northeastern). He pitched to a 4.11 ERA and 50/21 K/BB over 46 innings last year (FCL/Tampa/Hudson Valley)
LHP Ben Shields: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Signed as a non-drafted free agent, this is the 25-year-old’s professional debut. I know nothing about him beyond the fact that he pitched for George Mason in 2023. The baseball-reference linker will take you to a pitcher from the early 1900s. That Shields went 4-0 with an 8.27 ERA in his brief career.
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Gilbert was their 13th-round pick in the 2022 draft.

Tampa (1-2) (Lost to Fort Myers, 5-2)

SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-3, RS, SB (2), 2 BB
The 18-year-old is 1-for-11 but has drawn four walks and stolen a pair of bases. This is his first 2024 start at shortstop, as they switched Lombard and Arias today. We’ll see more of that.
2B Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, 3 K
Nobody said baseball is easy, teenager! He is 3-for-13 with a triple, a homer, and seven strikeouts. You should expect a mixed bag from a teenager making his full-season debut. The goal is for the good to outweigh the bad.
3B Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-4, RBI, RS, SB (2), K
Speaking of teenagers, Tejeda will play this entire year as a 19-year-old. He is 4-for-12 with four runs batted in.
LF Coby Morales: 0-for-4
1B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-4, 3B (1), RBI
CF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-2, SB (1), 2 BB, K
DH Willy Montero: 0-for-3, SB (2), BB, K
The 19-year-old is 2-for-10 with a double, two walks, and two stolen bases.
RF Tayler Aguilar: 1-for-3, 2B (1), SB (1), BB, K
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-3, BB
Drafted in the 15th round in the 2023 draft out of North Carolina, this represents his professional debut.

RHP Josh Grosz: (L, 0-1) 3.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 6 K
This is Grosz’s professional debut. The 21-year-old was drafted in the 11th round out of East Carolina. He throws a sinker/slider/change, a mix the Yankees like to work with.
RHP Yoljeldriz Diaz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
According to Savant, Gabonia used a 5-pitch mix among his 11 pitches. There could be an error in the tracking, of course. His fastball/sinker was in the lower 90s.
RHP Montana Semmel: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Semmell maxed out at 94.4 MPH, equally mixing his 4-seamer and slider. He had some long-term buzz about him when he was drafted out of high school in 2019 and is still young enough (22) to tap into that potential.

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 4/6: Omar Martinez: 4 Hits, HR

News:

No news is good news, except when it isn’t.

Scranton (3-4) (Lost a doubleheader to Syracuse)

Game 1 (Lost, 4-2)

RF Greg Allen: 1-for-1, RS, SB (3)
Allen left the game early.
   RF Josh VanMeter: 0-for-3
LF Caleb Durbin: 0-for-3, RS, SB (5), BB
C Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-2, SB (1), 2 BB, K
Narvaez is 3-for-19 with eight walks. That is how you turn a .158 batting average into a .393 OBP.
DH Everson Pereira: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
1B Luis Torrens: 0-for-2, RBI, BB, K
SS Kevin Smith: 0-for-1, SF, RBI, BB, K
2B Jeter Downs: 0-for-3, K
3B Jordan Groshans: 0-for-3, 2 K
CF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-2, 3 SB (7), BB, K

RHP Will Warren: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Warren didn’t pitch well in not-so-ideal Opening Day conditions. He bounced back tonight.
LHP Tanner Tully (L, 0-1): 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 3 K
Tully cleared waivers and was outrighted to Scranton, where he will eat some innings as needed.

Game 2 (Lost, 9-6, in eight innings. Remember that minor-league doubleheaders are 7-inning games. Syracuse scored five in the 7th to take the lead, only for Scranton to answer with three. However, Syracuse pulled away in the 8th).

CF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-2, RBI, RS, 2 SB (9), 2 BB
Lockridge has nine stolen bases in six games. He stole 40 in 92 games in 2023.
SS Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, K
Durbin is 11-for-26 (2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R, 6 BB, 2 K, 5-for-5 SB). So far this season, he has already played 2B/SS/3B/LF/DH. This kid has serious “fan favorite” ability because he can do so many things.
DH-1B Jose Rojas: 1-for-4, HR (3), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
The 31-year-old depth piece has three homers in five games.
RF Everson Pereira: 1-for-4, 2 K
6-for-26 (.231) with a pair of home runs. He has four walks and 11 strikeouts.
1B-2B Luis Torrens: 1-for-3, RS, BB
LF Luis Gonzalez: 0-for-4, K
3B Jeter Downs: 1-for-2, RBI, RS, BB, K
C Josh Breaux: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB, K
2B-P Josh VanMeter: 0-for-2, RS, BB, K

RHP Clayton Beeter: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 5 K
As usual, Beeter was fastball/slider-heavy. He topped out at 94.5 MPH but averaged 91.8. On a good note: He generated 12 whiffs. There’s talent here – I still wonder where that talent is best utilized.
LHP Clayton Andrews: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Yerry De Los Santos (L, 0-1): 0.1 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
De Los Santos is throwing hard (95.9 MPH sinkers). With the injuries happening with the big club, there will be opportunities for some of these relievers to shine. That can change once Tommy Kahnle/Scott Effross/Lou Trivino emerge from their injuries.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Josh VanMeter: 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
VanMeter was forced into some relief duty. It isn’t foreign to him, as he has three games of MLB experience on the hill. Those games didn’t go much better.

Somerset (1-1) (Lost to Richmond, 13-3)

C Ben Rice: 1-for-5, RS
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-3, 2B (1), BB, K
Rumfield’s HR spiked from four homers in 2021-2022 to 17 in 2023. If the power game continues to develop, he will become interesting.
DH Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
After his promotion last year, he hit two home runs in 31 games. This year? Two home runs in two games. You will hear about whether the 22-year-old can stick behind the plate. Remember this: We heard that about Austin Wells since day one. I like that Fangraphs said that he isn’t ready to be an MLB catcher YET instead of making a decisive prediction on his future position.
RF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-2, 2 K
I think many were hoping that Dunham would get some MLB at-bats last year. However, he had a tough year. I don’t know why he was pulled today.
  RF Jared Wegner: 1-for-2, 3B (1), RS
LF J.C. Escarra: 1-for-3, 2B(1), BB, K
Typically a 1B/DH, this is Escarra’s first career game in the outfield. He was signed to a minor league contract over the winter.
3B Ben Cowles: 1-for-4
CF Grant Richardson: 0-for-4, 3 K
2B Aaron Palensky: 0-for-1, 2 BB, HBP, K
Anthony Seigler at 2B yesterday…Aaron Palensky (typically an OF) today! He played one game at 2B in 2023.
SS Max Burt: 0-for-4, 2 K

RHP Bailey Dees (L, 0-1): 3.1 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 3 K
Dees is undergoing a role change, it appears. With that will come growing pains, as we saw tonight. He is listed at 6’8″, 255 pounds.
LHP Clay Aguilar: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 K
Typically reliable, Aguilar had a tough time today in his Double-A debut (he pitched four games for Scranton last year). 
RHP Kevin Stevens: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Stevens (26) was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He didn’t pitch in 2023. This is only his sixth career game.
RHP Carlos Gomez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (1-1) (Walloped Bowling Green, 14-2)

2B Jared Serna: 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI, 3 RS, 2 BB
I wrote last night about his lack of home runs since joining Hudson Valley last year. It must feel good to get that first one out of the way finally.
 PH-2B Beau Brewer: 0-for-1, K
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-6, RS, 2 K
C Omar Martinez: 4-for-5, HR (1), 2 RBI, 3 RS, BB
The left-handed hitting catcher hit .291/.367/.445 with 18 HR in 105 games for Tampa last year. He was one of the few performing prospects who did not receive a promotion, but I wouldn’t read into that. 
RF Garrett Martin: 2-for-5, 2B (1), 3 RBI, 2 RS, K
  RF Kyle Battle: 0-for-0, HBP
LF Anthony Hall: 0-for-5, RS, BB, K
DH Rafael Flores: 3-for-5, HR (1), 3 RBI, 2 RS
The 23-year-old C/1B spent the entire season here last year, hitting .259/.346/.366 with eight home runs.
1B Kiko Romero: 1-for-4, RBI, RS, SB (1), HBP, 2 K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-4, RBI, BB
Vargas has the glove to stick at SS. However, the bat has yet to develop.
CF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-5, RBI, RS, SB (1), K
Gabrielson was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023. MLB shortened the draft a few years ago, so talented kids will slip through. 

LHP Kyle Carr: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Carr (21) is receiving a lot of buzz. This represented the professional debut for the 21-year-old, who was drafted in the third round in the 2023 draft out of Palomar College.
RHP Trent Sellers: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
Professional debut for the 24-year-old Sellers, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023. In 15 starts for Oregon State, he posted a 4.86 ERA and 106/32 K/BB over 74 innings. It looks like he continued the strikeout tradition tonight.
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
LHP Joel Valdez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Tampa (1-1) (Lost to Fort Myers, 6-4)

2B George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-4, 3B (1), RS, K
A homer and triple in his first two games? We’ll take it.
3B Enmanuel Tejeda: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, SB (1)
This looks like it will be the infield configuration early. It is smart, as Arias should play a lot at SS. It should change as players eventually move around levels. Plus, there will be off days, DH days, etc. Back to Tejeda: He stole 24 bases in 30 attempts in the FCL last year.
LF Coby Morales: 1-for-4, RS, 3 K
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
CF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, RS, K
DH Willy Montero: 0-for-3, RBI, SB (1), BB, K
Montero was productive last season, but only stole five bases. In 2022, he stole 16 in 53 games.
RF Daury Arias: 0-for-4, RBI, 2 K
The toolsy Arias didn’t perform well here last season (.217/.335/.318 with six home runs)
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-3, 2B (1), RS, BB, K
The 21-year-old played ten games at this level in 2023 (11-for-35). 

RHP Ryan Harvey: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
The 23-year-old was the Yankees 11th round pick in the 2022 draft. He pitched to a 3.94 ERA with a 48/22 K/BB ratio over 45.2 innings last year (his debut year).
LHP Allen Facundo: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Fucando threw one of his 4-seamers 96.1 MPH. His sinker? Maxed at 97.4. That will get my attention, as will the 127 strikeouts in 80.2 career innings.
RHP Jordy Luciano (L, 0-1): 2.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Throughout his brief career, the 22-year-old’s issue has been control. 
RHP Kris Bow: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
The Yankees drafted Bow in the 14th round of the 2022 draft. He is a sinker/slider type, who threw one sinker 94.8 MPH tonight. Control has been an issue in his short career.

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 4/5: Roderick Arias Homers in Tampa Debut

News:

OF Spencer Jones was scratched from tonight’s lineup in Somerset due to a stiff neck.

The Yankees signed veteran infielder Rougned Odor to a minor league deal with a July 1st opt-out.  Odor hit .202/.286/.379 in 102 games for the 2021 Yankees. I never thought I would need to relive those days.

His calling card is the home run (178 home runs in 4,424 plate appearances) but his MLB value is limited. I am not a fan, but minor-league depth is always welcome. I doubt he is going to take time away from Caleb Durbin. He will likely rotate with the other non-prospect veterans.

Scranton (3-2) (Doubled up Syracuse, 8-4)

LF Greg Allen: 0-for-3, RS, 2 BB, K
2B Caleb Durbin: 2-for-2, HR (1), 3 RBI, 3 RS, 2 SB (4), 3 BB
If Durbin adds extra-base hit power to his profile, he could become more than a hypothetical to start the 2024 season as the Yankees’ second baseman. It is too early to go that far, but he is off to an incredible start (10-for-19, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R, 5 BB, 1 K, 4-for-4 SB)
C Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-2, RBI, RS, 3 BB, K
CF Everson Pereira: 0-for-4, HBP, 2 K
1B Jose Rojas: 1-for-4, HR (2), 4 RBI, RS, BB, K
3B Luis Torrens: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
I have nothing against Torrens (who is typically a catcher), but this is why Odor has room to get some playing time without upsetting the apple cart. 
SS Kevin Smith: 0-for-3, 2 SB (2), 2 BB, 2 K
DH Jordan Groshans: 1-for-3, RS, BB, K
RF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB, K

RHP Yoendrys Gomez: 3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HR
This is a big season for Gomez, who is out of options in 2025. Unless they trade him, we should see him in MLB this year.
RHP Phil Bickford: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
Bickford was recently signed to add more pitching depth.
RHP Cody Morris: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
LHP Josh Maciejewski: (W, 1-0) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
RHP Ron Marinaccio: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Marinaccio is on the 40-man, but the Yankees chose to bring up Dennis Santana instead. Some of the shine may be off, but he can still work his way back.

Somerset (1-0) (Defeated Richmond, 5-4)

DH Ben Rice: 1-for-5, HR (1), RBI, RS, 3 K
Rice homers in his first at-bat of the season. While he is in Double-A (for now), there is a possibility that he will make his debut this season. He is eligible for the Rule 5 this winter.
C Agustin Ramirez: 2-for-5, HR (1), RBI, RS
Ramirez, who jumped from Tampa to Hudson Valley to Somerset last season (impressive for anyone, but especially for a catcher) went back-to-back with Rice to start the game. 
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-3, BB
Rumfield underwent a power spike in 2023.
SS Ben Cowles: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RS, K
Cowles received some playing time in the Arizona Fall League. He hit .290/.405/.551 in 20 games with four homers.
CF Grant Richardson: 3-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, RS, K
Richardson’s ability to play CF adds to his value. He went 18-for-53 with five home runs and five stolen bases in his first taste of Double-A in 2023.
LF Aaron Palensky: 1-for-4, RS, 2 K
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-2, 2 BB
Seigler, once a promising catching prospect, makes his 14th career start at second base.
RF Jared Wegner: 1-for-3, BB
3B Max Burt: 1-for-2, 2B (1), RBI, 2 BB
The 27-year-old Burt has served as a utility player for Somerset over the last four seasons (he played some for Trenton in 2019, as well!). Sometimes when a player hangs around this long, you feel that the Yankees see something beyond just playing ability. 

RHP Zach Messinger:  5.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, HR
Messinger, who is better than his career record, has a solid 2024 debut. His main issue is walks, something that can be fixed. He is relatively new to starting games.
RHP Luis Velasquez (W, 1-0): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
In 2023, Velasquez pitched to a 1.74 ERA in 62 innings with a 77/33 K/BB. He pitched for Tampa and Hudson Valley.
RHP Jack Neely (S, 1): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Neely is tall (6’8″) and has an opportunity to make his MLB debut in 2024.

Hudson Valley (0-1) (Lost to Bowling Green, 6-1)

2B Roc Riggio: 0-for-4, 2 K
Riggio (left-handed bat drafted in the 4th round last year) is an emotional gamer. He is the type of player you love if he is on your side but may annoy fans on the other side. 
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-4, K
Serna isn’t big but has shown pop in his minor-league career. He is still looking for his first High-A homer (123 plate appearances). He hit 19 while in Tampa last season.
DH Omar Martinez: 1-for-4
C Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-4, HR (1), RBI, RS
Rodriguez was my favorite under-the-radar prospect to follow last year. He played C/1B/3B/LF and maintained solid offense (.310/.399/.450 in 460 plate appearances). He was the only player in the system to hit over .300 (amongst those with 350+ PA). Ben Rice and Everson Pereira also hit over .300 if I drop that to 300+ plate appearances.
1B Josh Moylan: 1-for-4, 2 K
Moylan, out of East Carolina, was a highly sought-after undrafted free agent last year.
LF Garrett Martin: 1-for-3, HBP, K
RF Anthony Hall: 0-for-4, 4 K
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-3, 2 K
3B Kiko Romero: 1-for-3, 2 K

RHP Sebastian Keane: (L, 0-1) 1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Keane has a rough first outing, but no big deal. Move on to the next one!
RHP Yorlin Calderon: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
His stint in Scranton was a “we need an arm” thing.
RHP Matt Keating: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Cole Ayers: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K

Tampa (1-0) (Defeated Fort Myers, 4-2)

2B George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 RS, SB (1), BB, 2 K
Lombard was their first-round pick in the 2023 draft. This is not his Low-A debut (.273/.415/.303 in a small sample size last year). 
SS Roderick Arias: 2-for-5, HR (1), 2 RBI, RS, 3 K
Arias, who has superstar potential (we’ll see) struck out in his first two Low-A plate appearances before turning his night around in a hurry. His homer broke a 2-2 tie in the 7th.
3B Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-4, RBI, CS (1), 3 K
Like Lombard and Arias, Tejeda can play shortstop. In the FCL, he hit .307/.465/.458 in 50 games.
LF Coby Morales: 1-for-4, SB (1), 3 K
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-2, BB, HBP
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-4, 3B (1), 2 K
Castillo is a 20-year-old who went undrafted last year. 
RF Willy Montero: 2-for-4, 2B (1), K
Montero drove in 43 runs in 47 games in the FCL last season.
DH Brenny Escanio: 0-for-4
C Edinson Duran: 0-for-3, RS, BB
The 21-year-old Duran hit .314/.405/.457 in 32 FCL games last year. This is not his full-season debut as he went 0-for-2 in a random game for Scranton. 

RHP Cade Smith: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K
Smith is a 21-year-old drafted in the 6th round in the 2023 draft out of Mississippi State. This was his professional debut, so it is understandable if he was amped. I don’t even care about the walks – I like those strikeouts. BaseballSavant registered six pitches (4-seam, slider, curve, sinker, change, cutter). However, the cutter only registered once, which might be an error. Impressively, he generated six whiffs on his 18 sliders (ten swings). 
RHP Cade Austin: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Austin is a 22-year-old drafted out of South Carolina in the 19th round of the 2023 draft. This was his professional debut, as well. The Yankees tend to develop these types of pitchers so I wouldn’t dismiss him based on draft position.
RHP Hueston Morrill (Huey Morrill on baseball reference): (W, 1-0) 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Morrill was signed in 2022 out of Oklahoma State. He was a two-way player for the Cowboys (SS was his other position),
RHP Aaron Nixon: (S, 1) 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
You guessed it – this is the 22-year-old’s professional debut. He went undrafted out of Mississippi State.

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!