Yankees MILB 5/3: George Lombard Jr. is Scorching

Notes:

Will the Yankees dodge a bullet with Clarke Schmidt? “Soreness in the side” is scary, but I hope so.

The Yankees lack rotation depth. This should not come as a surprise to people who read these reports. The Triple-A rotation consists of prospects Zach Messinger and Sean Boyle, along with veterans Allan Winans, Brandon Leibrandt, Erick Leal, and Jake Woodford.

Winans is on the 40-man roster and would seemingly have a leg up. In 2025, the right-hander has a whopping strikeout rate of 42.9%. Even though it’s Triple-A, it’s considerably higher than any previous season at any level. He has yet to allow an earned run in 14 innings.

Fangraphs labeled Messinger as a “depth starter” in its annual prospects report. He has an innings-eater profile, including 150 for Somerset in 2024 (6th most in minor league baseball). He hasn’t pitched well for Scranton thus far (6.48 ERA/5.18 FIP in 25 innings). Boyle has tossed three strong starts and three less-than-ideal starts. Woodford has 89 games (25 starts) of MLB experience, posting a 4.88 ERA (4.94 FIP) and 15.2% K rate.

If I don’t sound enthusiastic, that is a good observation. Their 6th starter depth is not ideal. Hence, it is imperative that Schmidt feels better when he wakes up on Sunday.

LHP Edgar Barclay was placed on the injured list for Somerset.

Injury Log

Scranton (15-16) (Lost to Syracuse, 8-2)

CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-5
LF Everson Pereira: 1-for-4, HR (6), RBI, R, K
Pereira has three home runs in his last two games (5 HR in his last 8 games)
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, 2 K
C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-3, BB
Rodriguez has an 8-game hitting streak (15-for-31).  Since his promotion, he has more walks (13) than strikeouts (10).
DH Dominic Smith: 1-for-3, HR (2), RBI, R, BB, K
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 1-for-4, 2 K
His first hit as a member of the Yankees’ organization.
3B Jose Rojas: 1-for-4
2B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K
SS Andrew Velazquez: 1-for-3, BB, K

RHP Erick Leal (L, 1-3): 0.2 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
3.95 ERA (13.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 HR, 10 BB, 18 K). He did a nice job settling the game down.
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2.63 ERA (13.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 16 K). This is his longest career outing.
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Wilking Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
1.50 ERA (12 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 18 K)
LHP Grant Richardson: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
The outfielder makes his first career pitching appearance.

Somerset (11-15) (Lost to Richmond, 4-1)

3B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3, CS (2), BB, 2 K
LF Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, 3 K
.228/.372/.554 in 113 PA (3 doubles, 9 HR, 16 RBI, 20 R, 6-for-7 SB, 17.7% BB, 36.3% K).  Even if Jones is a viable MLB player, games like tonight will be relatively common.  You take the good with the bad.
DH Rafael Flores: 0-for-3, K
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-3, K
2B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-3, 2 K
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3, 2 K
RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-3
SS Alexander Vargas: 1-for-3, 2B (6), R
Vargas breaks up the no-hitter with one out in the 9th.  He is hitting .270/.338/.397 in 71 PA.
C Antonio Gomez: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, BB
Gomez’s first Double-A RBI.

RHP Trent Sellers (L, 0-1): 4.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, HR
3.91 ERA (23 IP, 14 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 11 BB, 31 K). The undrafted free agent out of Oregon State (2023) has pitched well enough to get on the radar. 
RHP Indigo Diaz: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Luis Pacheco: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K

Hudson Valley (18-8) (Walked it off against Jersey Shore, 5-4)

RF Jace Avina: 2-for-3, 2 2B (6), 2 R, HBP, BB, K
.329/.467/.439 in 105 PA (6 doubles, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 18 R, 2-for-3 SB, 16.2% BB, 23.8% K). Avina has reached base safely in 24 of 25 games this season. He was ejected after his first AB in the only game where he hasn’t reached base.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 3-for-5, 2 2B (8), 2 RBI, 2 R
.329/.495/.488 in 111 PA (8 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 22 R, 11-for-13 SB, 20.7% BB, 19.8% K). Lombard Jr. has six doubles in his last seven games and is starting to make his case for a promotion. No, I am not there yet. However, last I checked, my vote doesn’t count.
CF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, BB
3B Parks Harber: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, K
1B Coby Morales: 2-for-5, 2B (2), RBI, R, K
Morales’ double with one out in the 9th tied the game (brought home Lombard Jr.)
DH Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, 2B (4), BB
Martinez has a 5-game hitting streak (6-for-18).
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-4, BB, 4 K
2B Brenny Escanio: 2-for-4, RBI, CI, K
Escanio with the walk-off single with one out in the 9th.
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-4, 2 K

RHP Bryce Cunningham: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
2.10 ERA (30 IP, 23 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 34 K). Cunningham is cruising, as he hasn’t allowed an earned run (one unearned run) in his last three starts (19 IP). This is how you earn a spot in Double-A.
RHP Tony Rossi: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Between here and Tampa: 10.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 17 K. He’s 25, so moving him up another level could be in the cards soon.
RHP Chris Kean: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Sebastian Keane: (W, 2-0)  0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Tampa (10-16) (Destroyed Fort Myers, 12-5)

C Edgleen Perez: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, K
.179/.364/.194 in 88 PA. Perez owns a .409 career OBP with more walks (94) than strikeouts (88). It will be interesting to see how his career blossoms as he matures.
CF Brian Sanchez: 0-for-4, SB (5), 2 K
DH Engelth Urena: 1-for-4, 2 R, 2 K
.183/.337/.317 in 104 PA. 
LF Dillon Lewis: 3-for-4, 2 HR (3), 6 RBI, 3 R, BB
Lewis improves his triple slash from .159/.233/.244 to .186/.263/.337 in one day.  He sets personal bests for hits, homers, and RBI.
SS Juan Matheus: 1-for-5, 2 RBI, K
RF Tyler Wilson: 3-for-5, RBI, SB (7), K
.239/.343/.250 in 102 PA. 
1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-4, CS (1), K
2B Hans Montero: 2-for-3, 2B (1), 3 R, SB (3), BB, K
.229/.327/.313 in 55 PA.
3B Owen Cobb: 2-for-3, HR (1), RBI, 2 R, BB
Cobb’s first professional home run (21st game)!  Congrats!

RHP Greysen Carter (W, 1-2): 5 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 2 K
“Somebody teach this kid some control before he kills somebody!” Carter is a fun project for someone whose job it is to work with projects. We are just along for the ride.
RHP Jackson Fristoe: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Brady Kirtner: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
1.69 ERA (16 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 14 K)

FCL (0-1) (Lost to the Tigers, 3-1. Another “modern” aspect of the FCL is that the Yankees will play the same teams constantly. Tigers, Phillies, Blue Jays. They play in a 4-team division. It’s essentially a drawn-out round robin.)

It’s Opening Day so I will give you the full lineup:

CF Brando Mayea: 0-for-3, CS (1), BB, 3 K
Mayea was their buzzy millionaire signing a few years back. The 19-year-old showed discipline last year (.281/.370/.326), but no power (2 doubles, 2 triples). He is repeating this level, which I don’t like to see. You don’t give out big bonuses, hoping the player will languish in mid-season leagues for several years. Hopefully, he will break out and get to Low-A later.
2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-2, RBI
First rehab game for Riggio, who hit .221/.349/.397 in 480 plate appearances for Hudson Valley in 2024.
  2B Luis Escudero: 0-for-1, SB (1), BB
LF Luis Durango: 0-for-3, CS (1), 2 K
First rehab game for Durango. As stated yesterday, the Yankees chose him in the Triple-A phase of the 2024 Rule 5 draft (from Cleveland).
   LF Gabriel Lara: 0-for-0, BB
Known for elite speed, Lara showed offensive chops in his 2023 debut season in the DSL (.267/.401/.411 with 18 stolen bases). However, he flattened out at this level in 2024 (.202/.322/.250; 14 stolen bases). That said, he only struck out 13% of the time and had a crazy low BABIP for someone with his speed reputation (.231). I am watching him for a breakout.
C Manuel Palencia: 0-for-4
The 22-year-old may be an organizational floater. I keep rooting for him to put one over the fence (0 HR in 134 career games).
RF Isael Arias: 0-for-2, SB (1), 2 BB
In his 2024 debut campaign in the DSL, he hit .246/.379/.325 with a 10-for-11 stolen base rate.
DH Ediel Rivera: 1-for-3, BB
“Who is this guy?” There are always a few in the crowd whom I don’t recognize. However, there is a good reason for that: This is the 19-year-old’s professional debut. The Yankees signed him out of Puerto Rico last July. He is listed as a catcher.
1B Luis Puello: 0-for-4, 3 K
The 19-year-old spent his first two professional seasons in the DSL. He didn’t fare well in 2023 but bounced back to hit .361/.439/.516 in 37 games last year.
3B Santiago Gomez: 1-for-4, R, SB (1), 2 K
Gomez is 21 and spending his 4th season in the DSL/FCL. He has significant time at 2B/SS/3B.
SS Kevin Verde: 0-for-3, BB
The 19-year-old’s FCL debut. He didn’t do much hitting in the DSL.

RHP Trystan Vrieling: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
First rehab start. The Yankees threw him into the Double-A fire in his 2024 debut season. He responded by going 13-7 with a 4.58 ERA in 147.1 IP. He finished strongly (1.57 ERA in August, 3.12 ERA in September).  I assume he will be back in Somerset once his rehab is complete.
RHP Sunayro Martina (L, 0-1): 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Martina struggled in 19 innings here last year (8.53 ERA), though he did strike out 23 batters.
RHP Stanly Alcantara: 2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
FCL debut. He will want to forget his 2024 season (34 walks in 18.2 innings).

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 5/2: Spencer Jones Goes Yard

Notes:

With Jazz Chisholm Jr. out until early-to-mid June or longer, the opportunity is there for Jorbit Vivas to make an impression. I won’t ignore the fact that it will eventually open a spot for DJ LeMahieu. Beyond that, your depth is Braden Shewmake (activated off the IL today and on the 40-man), Jake Gatewood, and Andrew Velazquez. If anyone dares to ask about George Lombard Jr., it’s grounds for me to block you from reading my website.

Given his absurdly low K% in Triple-A, it was funny that Vivas struck out in his first plate appearance. Baseball!

Clayton Beeter is in Scranton to continue his rehab. He isn’t far away.

Many players were activated on the FCL roster for tomorrow’s opener. I won’t get into that. Of note, 2B Roc Riggio and RHP Trystan Vrieling will begin rehab assignments. OF Luis Durango, chosen in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 out of Cleveland, will also start a rehab assignment. The 22-year-old hit .250/.344/.311 in 153 plate appearances for Low-A Lynchburg last season. He was an impressive 21-for-22 stealing bases. 21 stolen bases in 41 games? Nice.

Injury Log

Scranton (15-15) (Lost to Syracuse, 6-3)

SS Braden Shewmake: 0-for-3, 2 K
  PH-SS Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-1, K
No worries about Shewmake. It is his first game back, so they didn’t allow him to play a full game.
DH Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-4, 2B (3), K
Rodriguez is 14-for-28 (.500) during his 7-game hitting streak. He continues to play C/DH for Scranton. They haven’t deployed him at his other positions (mainly 3B and 1B, though he has a little LF (24 games) and 2B (3) experience).
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, R, 2 K
C Alex Jackson: 1-for-4, 2B (2), R, K
Jackson, not known for his offense (especially in MLB), has a 6-game hitting streak.
   C Ronaldo Hernandez: 0-for-0
RF Dominic Smith: 2-for-4, 2B (5), 2 RBI, R
LF Bryan De La Cruz: 0-for-3, BB, K
De La Cruz makes his Yankees’ organizational debut.
3B Jose Rojas: 0-for-3, BB, K
2B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-4, RBI, 2 K
CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-3, K

LHP Brandon Leibrandt: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Leibrandt was activated off the injured list today.
RHP McKinley Moore: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Clayton Beeter: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Beeter topped out at 97.4 MPH (averaged 95.7).  He threw ten sliders and nine 4-seam fastballs.
RHP Geoff Hartlieb: (L, 2-2)  0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
LHP Rob Zastryzny: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Somerset (11-14) (Lost to Richmond, 8-7, in 10 innings)

1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-6, 2 K
Jasso has been on fire recently. Throw this game out and start over tomorrow.
2B DJ LeMahieu: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
I am not an idiot. If LeMahieu is healthy (BIG IF), Vivas’s stay in the Bronx could be short. That isn’t what I want. It is what I expect.
  PH-2B Jose Colmenares: 2-for-2, 2B (1)
Colmenares earns his first Double-A hits (0-for-15 entering tonight)
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, HR (9), 2 RBI, R, 2 BB, 2 K
Jones leads the Eastern League with 9 home runs and 20 runs scored.  The next highest home run total (as of this writing) is 6.
C Rafael Flores: 1-for-6, 2B (8), K
Flores is tied for the Eastern League lead with 21 RBI.
DH Tyler Hardman: 1-for-5, R, 2 K
RF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-2, 2 R, HBP, 2 BB, K
Get on base any way you can…
3B Alexander Vargas: 3-for-4, 3B (1), 2 RBI, BB, K
Vargas hit six triples in 2023 and 2024. This triple came in the 9th, narrowing a 7-4 deficit to 7-6.
LF Jared Wegner: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, K
His RBI single in the top of the 9th tied the game at 7.
SS Max Burt: 1-for-4, R, SB (3), BB, K

RHP Baron Stuart: 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
RHP Danny Watson: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, HR
RHP Mason Vinyard: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
LHP Ryan Anderson: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Anderson, typically a consistent bullpen arm, has struggled this year. This was a needed appearance.
RHP Harrison Cohen: (L, 0-2)  0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (17-8) (Defeated Jersey Shore, 9-1)

CF Brendan Jones: 0-for-4, R, BB
SS George Lombard Jr.: 2-for-5, 2B (6), 3 RBI, R, 2 K
His 3-run double in the 7th turned a tight 4-1 game into a 7-1 game. All six of his doubles have come in his last 14 games. He is hitting .312/.491/.455 in 106 PA. I don’t mind throwing “cold water” on a prospect to give people a reality check. With Lombard Jr., the faucet is shut off. I have nothing to offer you as a “weakness.”  We’ll see what happens in the upper minors.
LF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-4, RBI, BB, K
RF Jace Avina: 1-for-3, R, SB (2), BB, K
.316/.450/.405 in 100 PA. Avina isn’t much of a basestealer (20-for-28 in 279 career games)
3B Parks Harber: 0-for-4, K
DH Coby Morales: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, R, 2 K
C Omar Martinez: 2-for-3, 2B (3), RBI, 2 R, BB
.244/.337/.317 in 95 PA. Let’s hope he is starting to turn the corner.
1B Josh Moylan: 2-for-4, R
2B Brenny Escanio: 1-for-3, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 R, SB (5), BB, K
A nice night for Escanio, who does his job as an organizational utility guy. He offers speed and infield defense, but the bat lags.

RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz: (W, 3-1) 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
What, he couldn’t repeat his 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K performance? Bust!  Season: 2.25 ERA (28 IP, 14 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 0 HR, 9 BB, 35 K). Impressive.
RHP Bryce Warrecker: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
0.93 ERA (9.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 HR, 2 BB, 15 K). Warrecker, who stands an impressive 6’8″, allowed 30 walks in 65.1 innings during his debut 2024 season. If something clicks with his control/command, his prospect status goes up either as a starter or a reliever.
RHP Tyrone Yulie: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
3.38 ERA (10.2 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 6 BB, 14 K). Not a bad start to his first full season as a reliever.

Tampa (9-16) (Lost to Bradenton, 9-2. They are quickly falling out of the first-half title race)

DH Edgleen Perez: 0-for-4, K
CF Brian Sanchez: 1-for-3, 2B (8), R, BB
Sanchez leads the Florida State League with his 8 doubles (as of this writing).
C Engelth Urena: 1-for-3, SF, RBI, SB (4), K
2B Austin Green: 0-for-4, 2 K
RF Tyler Wilson: 0-for-4, K
SS Juan Matheus: 1-for-4, 2B (6), R, 3 K
1B Josue Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2 2B (4)
On April 17th, he was hitting .067/.216/.100. Now, he is hitting .153/.268/.220 (7-for-29 with three doubles and four walks since his low point). He isn’t “hot” – he is playing better.
LF Marshall Toole: 2-for-4, RBI, SB (5), 2 K
.286/.375/.306 in 56 PA (1 double, 4 RBI, 7 R, 5-for-5 SB, 12.5% BB, 26.8% K). Poole has four multi-hit efforts in his last seven games.
3B Hans Montero: 0-for-3, K

LHP Tanner Bauman (L, 0-2): 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
7.91 ERA (19.1 IP, 20 H, 18 R, 17 ER, 0 HR, 21 BB, 16 K). Some first-year prospects jump out of the gate like Griffin Herring, some have initial struggles like Bauman, and some are between those extremes.  N
RHP Gus Hughes: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
His name is Alexander David Hughes. I would love to know the story behind “Gus.”
RHP Brandon Decker: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
2.31 ERA (11.2 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 5 BB, 14 K)
RHP Jack Sokol: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
9 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 8 K

FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 5/1: Griffin Herring Ks 11

Notes:

The Yankees claimed OF Bryan De La Cruz off waivers from the Braves. In a corresponding move, Giancarlo Stanton was moved to the 60-day IL.

De La Cruz is a one-dimensional power hitter. In 2024, with the Marlins and Pirates, he hit .233/.271/.384 with 21 home runs in 622 plate appearances. This year, the power hasn’t shown up in a small sample size, as he didn’t homer in 50 PA for the Braves. De La Cruz is meh defensively, rating strongly with his arm but not with his range.  He has experience at all three outfield positions. Speed-wise, he rates out fine on Baseball Savant and is 15-for-19 (78.9%) stealing bases in his career.

My take:  The Yankees are looking for right-handed pop, so adding De La Cruz as a depth piece makes sense. It’s a zero-risk move. As a prospect guy, I hope Everson Pereira is above him on the depth chart, but nothing wrong with depth chart competition.

RHP Huey Morrill was promoted from Hudson Valley to Somerset. Morrill owned a 0.93 ERA in seven games for Hudson Valley with a 6/4 K/BB over 9.2 innings.

The FCL season starts on Saturday. I cover the FCL/DSL for those new to this report, but not as extensively as the other levels. For example, you won’t get daily lineups except on (maybe) Opening Day.

Infielder DJ LeMahieu is scheduled to resume his rehab stint on Friday.

Injury Log

Scranton (15-14) (Outslugged Syracuse, 19-8. The Railriders compiled 23 hits, with eight hitters accomplishing multi-hit efforts.)

CF Ismael Munguia: 3-for-5, RBI, 3 R, SB (7), BB
.255/.373/.382 in 128 PA
DH Everson Pereira: 2-for-5, 2 HR (5), 3 RBI, 3 R, BB, K
Pereira tends to go on home run binges from time to time.  This is his 10th career multi-home run game (including a 3-HR effort on September 5, 2021)
1B T.J. Rumfield: 4-for-5, RBI, 3 R, BB
.272/.387/.489. He has broken free of his 1-for-24 slump.
C Jesus Rodriguez: 3-for-6, 3 R
Rodriguez has five multi-hit games in 14 contests since his promotion, including three 3-hit games. For Scranton, he is hitting .388/.500/.490 and, during his 6-game hitting streak, he is 13-for-24.  Red hot.
RF Dominic Smith: 2-for-6, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 K
3B Jose Rojas: 3-for-6, 3 HR (6), 8 RBI, 3 R
Rojas’s first career 3-HR game. He also set a new personal record for RBI in a game.
2B Jake Gatewood: 3-for-6, RBI, 2 K
Gatewood is 7-for-28 with a homer and 7 RBI since his promotion.
LF Grant Richardson: 2-for-4, 2 2B (4), RBI, R, 2 BB, K
SS Andrew Velazquez: 1-for-6, R, K

RHP Zach Messinger: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
6.48 ERA (25 IP, 30 H, 18 R, 18 ER, 3 HR, 15 BB, 23 K)
RHP Kervin Castro: (W, 3-0)  1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
1.10 ERA (16.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 19 K)
RHP Colten Brewer: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Wilking Rodriguez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Somerset (11-13) (Lost to Richmond, 5-1)

3B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3, BB, K
DH Spencer Jones: 1-for-3, SB (6), BB, K
.235/.375/.553 in 104 PA. Overall, in Double-A, his triple slash is .256/.342/.461 in 163 games with 34 doubles, 6 triples, 28 HR, 102 RBI, 101 runs, and 39 stolen bases in 52 attempts.
C Rafael Flores: 1-for-4, 2 K
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4, 3 K
LF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-2, 2B (4), R, SB (9), 2 BB
2B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-3, BB, K
CF Garrett Martin: 1-for-3, 2B (4), BB
Martin has seven walks in his last three games and four extra-base hits (2 doubles, 2 HR) in his last five games. Before this run, his triple slash was .174/.333/.348. Now, it is .210/.388/.468.
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, 2 K
SS Alexander Vargas: 1-for-3, RBI, K

RHP Cam Schlittler: (L, 2-2) 5 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
2.33 ERA (27 IP, 22 H, 12 R, 7 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 29 K).  He hadn’t allowed more than one earned run in a start this season (allowed 6 runs, but only one earned, on 4/17)
RHP Cole Ayers: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Huey Morrill: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Morrill’s Double-A debut.

Hudson Valley (16-8) (Lost to Jersey Shore, 9-2)

RF Brendan Jones: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, BB
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-4, BB, K
There goes the .500 OBP! Bust!  Lombard has reached base safely in 21 of 22 games and has drawn a walk in five straight contests.
CF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, R, BB, 2 K
LF Jace Avina: 0-for-3, HBP, 2 K
His insane 8-game hitting streak, where he averaged two hits per game, is over.
3B Parks Harber: 1-for-4, K
Harber is 5-for-12 since his promotion 
1B Coby Morales: 0-for-3, RBI, BB, K
C Omar Martinez: 2-for-3, R, BB
.228/.319/.291 in 91 PA. The lack of power (2 doubles, 1 HR) is the most surprising thing in his profile (15 doubles, 13 HR, .404 SLG in 104 games here last year)
DH Josh Moylan: 0-for-3, BB, K
2B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-2, 2 BB

RHP Josh Grosz (L, 1-1): 4.2 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR
6.06 ERA (16.1 IP, 18 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 2 HR, 9 BB, 22 K)
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Hayden Merda: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Matt Keating: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
4.05 ERA (6.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 6 BB, 6 K). Keating has 184 strikeouts in 142.1 career innings. However, he has walked 76.
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Tampa (9-15) (Lost to Bradenton, 1-0)

C Edgleen Perez: 1-for-4
.183/.367/.200 in 79 PA (21.5% BB, 25.3% K)
DH Engelth Urena: 0-for-2, HBP, BB
.173/.337/.320 in 95 PA (15.8% BB, 21.1% K)
LF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-4, 2 K
Lewis’s rough start continues (.159/.233/.241 in 90 PA).
2B Austin Green: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
RF Tyler Wilson: 0-for-3, BB, K
SS Juan Matheus: 0-for-3, SB (5), CS (3), BB, 2 K
CF Marshall Toole: 0-for-3, BB, K
1B Hans Montero: 1-for-3, HBP
Montero’s first career game at first base. 
3B Owen Cobb: 0-for-3, 2 K

LHP Griffin Herring: (L, 3-1)  6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 11 K, HR
Tough luck loss. Season: 0.60 ERA (30 IP, 17 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 10 BB, 39 K). Herring generated 26 whiffs with his slider (8 whiffs)/sinker (7)/changeup (8)/4-seamer (3) combination. What do I make of the 21-year-old’s start?  What is there to say? This is domination for last year’s 6th-round pick out of LSU, and he could/should find himself in Hudson Valley relatively soon.
RHP Cade Austin: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Chris Veach: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
2.61 ERA (10.1 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 18 K). 

FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 4/30: George Lombard Jr. Ends Month on Good Note

Notes:

C Alex Jackson was activated off the injured list. He goes back to being the #3 catcher (#4 if you think Ben Rice would take on the responsibility). C/UTIL Jesus Rodriguez played in Game 2 of Scranton’s doubleheader tonight. I don’t know if he will stick with the squad or return to Somerset.

OF Everson Pereira, who missed several games for unknown reasons, was back in the lineup tonight.

Injury Log

Scranton (14-14) (Tossed a pair of shutouts in a doubleheader sweep of Syracuse)

Game 1 (Won, 5-0)

CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-4
3B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-4, R, K
LF Everson Pereira: 2-for-3, 2 R, K
Pereira’s first game since April 19th. He has three multi-hit games in his last five games and is hitting .274/.343/.435 in 70 PA.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-2, R, BB
C Alex Jackson: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 K
Jackson is on a 5-game hitting streak (8-for-18).
  C Ronaldo Hernandez: 0-for-0
DH Dominic Smith: 1-for-1, SF, RBI, BB
RF Jose Rojas: 1-for-3, HR (3), 3 RBI, R, K
2B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-3, 3 K
SS Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-3, 2 K

RHP Allan Winans: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
0.00 ERA (14 IP, 10 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 5 BB, 24 K). Winans doesn’t have much MLB success under his belt, but this is how you get yourself on the radar.
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
3.18 ERA (11.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 15 K). A mixed bag for their top relief prospect.
RHP Geoff Hartlieb (W, 2-1): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
2.25 ERA (12 IP, 13 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 12 K)

Game 2 (Won, 2-0)

CF Ismael Munguia: 1-for-3, BB, K
3B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-3, 2 R, SB (6), HBP
.319/.426/.436 in 116 PA (5 doubles, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 17 R, 6-for-10 SB, 12.9% BB, 6.9% K). If Jazz Chisholm Jr. has to go on the injured list (we’ll see), Vivas would be the logical call-up. The scouting report isn’t fond of his defense, so it’s all about the offense.
C Jesus Rodriguez: 3-for-3, BB
Rodriguez wishes to stay here. He is 16-for-43 (.372) with two doubles, a homer, 10 RBI, 12 walks, and 9 strikeouts. Those 12 walks have come in 58 PA (20.7%). I am not discounting his Double-A struggles (small sample), but Rodriguez continues to hit, hit, hit.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-3, SF, 2 RBI, K
.241/.362/.460 in 105 PA (7 doubles, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 18 R, 1-for-2 SB)
LF Dominic Smith: 0-for-3, K
RF Jose Rojas: 0-for-3, K
DH Ronaldo Hernandez: 0-for-2, CI
2B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-2, HBP
SS Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-2, BB, K

RHP Sean Boyle: (W, 3-3)  5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 9 K
4.06 ERA (31 IP, 21 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 5 HR, 11 BB, 36 K). His season consists of three starts where he tossed 5+ scoreless innings and three starts where he allowed 14 runs over 15.2 IP.
LHP Rob Zastryzny: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Yerry De Los Santos (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
De Los Santos did his job in his Yankees debut. At this level, he owns a 0.96 ERA (9.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 9 K)

Somerset (11-12) (Defeated Richmond, 10-8)

2B Dylan Jasso: 3-for-5, RBI, R, HBP
When people ask me about prospects like Jasso, my answers are typically: 1. He is hitting at an upper level; 2. The Yankees are batting him at the top of minor league lineups (an indicator of some faith); 3. No major sites say much about him, which lessens his prospect status. If he continues to achieve, we’ll start seeing more scouting reports. Anyway, this is Jasso’s second consecutive 3-hit effort, and he is over .300 for the first time this season (.303/.961 OPS)
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, 2B (3), RBI, 2 R, SB (5), 2 BB, 3 K
Jones is hitting .232 with a .931 OPS over 100 PA (3 doubles, 8 HR, 14 RBI, 19 R, 5-for-6 SB, 17% BB, 35% K). He’s hitting homers, taking walks, and striking out a ton. Interpret as you will.
1B Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, 2B (7), 2 RBI, R, SB (3), 2 BB, K
Flores has played 15 games behind the plate and five at first base. He is hitting .295 with a .902 OPS (7 doubles, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 12 R, 3-for-3 SB, 9.2% BB, 32.7% K). As of this writing, his 21 RBI are tied for the Eastern League lead.
DH Garrett Martin: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, R, 4 BB
Martin’s first career 4 BB game (not that it would be common!). He has 2 doubles, 3 HR, 9 RBI, and 7 walks over his last seven games.
SS Alexander Vargas: 1-for-6, 2 K
After a solid spring and solid start to his campaign, he has slumped (down to .226).
RF Jared Wegner: 3-for-4, 2B (3), SF, 2 RBI, 2 R, CS (1), K
C Antonio Gomez: 1-for-5, R
3B Max Burt: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
LF Christopher Familia: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K

RHP Bailey Dees: (W, 1-1) 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, HR
6.38 ERA (18.1 IP, 20 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 4 HR, 13 BB, 21 K)
RHP Harrison Cohen: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
2.89 ERA (9.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 12 K)
LHP Will Brian: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Brian has pitched 5.1 innings in his first two Double-A appearances and tossed 47 pitches tonight. Your reminder that his professional journey started in 2022, and his 12.1 innings this season are a personal best. Injuries, injuries, injuries.
RHP Mason Vinyard (S, 1): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Hudson Valley (16-7) (Lost a morning game to Jersey Shore, 4-2)

CF Brendan Jones: 0-for-4, K
Jones finishes April at .238/.342/.425 in 95 PA (4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 19 R, 11-for-14 SB, 12.6% BB, 21.1% K).  The average is low, but not much to complain about in his profile.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 2-for-3, 2B (5), R, 2 SB (11), BB
Lombard Jr. finishes April at .309/.500/.456 in 96 PA (5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 19 R, 11-for-13 SB, 22.9% BB, 19.8% K). He reached base safely in 20 of his 21 games. Your expectations can never be met if you complain about his first month. This is what a top prospect does.
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-4, 2 K
.275/.370/.420 in 81 PA (7 doubles, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 7 R, 3-for-3, SB, 13.6% BB, 28.4% K). He compiled a pair of 6-RBI games. Including the 21 games he played here last year, he owns a .295/.377/.468 triple slash over 162 PA.
DH Jace Avina: 1-for-4, 2B (4), RBI, R, 2 K
Avina has an 8-game hitting streak (16-for-31) and finishes April .329/.457/.425 in 92 PA. The 21-year-old is repeating the level, but I don’t hold that against him, as he was 20 (turned 21 last June) when he played here in 2024.
3B Parks Harber: 1-for-3, BB, 2 K
4-for-8 to start his Hudson Valley tenure. .325/.435/.584 overall.
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-4, 2 K
2B Duncan Pastore: 0-for-4
RF Anthony Hall: 1-for-4, K
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-3

RHP Ben Hess (L, 1-2): 5 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Hess, last year’s first-round pick, was solid beyond a 4-run second inning. All innings count, though. Season: 4.42 ERA (18.1 IP, 11 H, 11 R, 9 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 30 K). The walks need to come down, but look at those strikeouts. I would consider his first professional month a successful one.
RHP Chris Kean: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
10.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K. In 32 career games, Kean is 4-1 with a 0.82 ERA (44 IP, 22 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 54 K). Impressive numbers for the 22-year-old.
RHP Sebastian Keane: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.57 ERA (7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 9 K). Keane made 26 appearances (15 starts) at this level last year. Is he going “full-time relief” or will they try him as a starter again?

Tampa (9-14) (Defeated Bradenton, 4-3)

DH Edgleen Perez: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 BB
.179/.373/.196 in 75 PA. The 18-year-old had some struggles and successes in his first month of full-season ball. I am not discouraged.
CF Brian Sanchez: 0-for-4, R, SB (4), BB, K
C Engelth Urena: 0-for-4, R, SB (3), 2 K
.178/.330/.329 in 91 PA. The kid with a power reputation hit three home runs in a 4-game span earlier this season.
RF Dillon Lewis: 1-for-4, 2B (4), R, SB (6), BB, 3 K
2B Austin Green: 0-for-4, BB
LF Tyler Wilson: 1-for-4, RBI, K
SS Juan Matheus: 2-for-4, R, CS (2), K
.255/.343/.345 in 67 PA. The 21-year-old switch-hitter compiled a 13.4% BB rate and 16.4% K rate.
1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-1, 3 BB
3B Owen Cobb: 0-for-3, SB (1), BB, K
Cobb (23) played in 18 games last season, hitting .238/.338/.302 with a perfect 9-for-9 SB rate. The Padres originally drafted him in 2019 (37th round out of high school), but he didn’t sign. The Yankees signed him as an undrafted free agent last year.

RHP Danny Flatt: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR
5.40 ERA (13.1 IP, 14 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 2 HR, 10 BB, 9 K). The 20-year-old is a 4-seamer, cutter, slider guy who reached 93.7 MPH with the fastball tonight.
RHP Sean Hermann: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Jonathan Loaisiga: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Loaisiga’s sinker reached 96.9 MPH (averaged 95.7). That plays.
RHP Brady Kirtner: (W, 1-0)  3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Kirtner’s first professional win. Season: 1.29 ERA (14 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 6 BB, 11 K)

FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 4/29: Dylan Jasso: Double, 2 HR

Notes:

SS Roderick Arias, hitting .155/.302/.254 (72 wRC+) in 86 plate appearances, was placed on Tampa’s 7-day injured list.

1B/3B Parks Harber, who has a 170 wRC+ this season, was rightfully promoted from Tampa to Hudson Valley.

IF Owen Cobb was activated off the injured list and assigned to Tampa.

After missing a few games for unknown reasons, teenage catcher Edgleen Perez was back in the lineup tonight for Tampa.

DJ LeMahieu‘s rehab stint is temporarily (?) halted due to needing a cortisone shot in his hip.

Injury Log

Scranton (12-13)

Their game against Syracuse was postponed. They will try to play a pair tomorrow.

Somerset (10-12) (Defeated Richmond, 7-3)

3B Dylan Jasso: 3-for-5, 2B (5), 2 HR (5), 2 RBI, 3 R
Jasso’s third career 2-HR game. He had zero extra-base hits in his first five games and 11 in his last 13 games.  His OPS is up to .938, which leads the team and is 7th in the Eastern League.
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, HR (8), RBI, R, BB, K
Jones swats his Eastern League-leading 8th HR. He has 33 doubles, 6 triples, and 28 home runs in 160 Double-A games (715 PA).
C Rafael Flores: 3-for-5, HR (5), RBI, R, 2 K
Flores has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games (15-for-44 (.341); 5 doubles, 3 HR, 11 RBI). 
1B Tyler Hardman: 4-for-5, 2 2B (7), HR (2), 2 RBI, R
Hardman’s first 4-hit game since July 28, 2023 (third career 4-hit effort). 
2B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-4, SF, RBI, 3 K
RF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-5, K
LF Garrett Martin: 0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 K
DH Jared Wegner: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K
SS Max Burt: 1-for-4, 2 K

RHP Brendan Beck: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Beck, who tossed 72 pitches tonight, allowed his first runs of the season.  Stats: 0.93 ERA (19.1 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 19 K)
RHP Indigo Diaz: (W, 2-1): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Ryan Anderson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Luis Pacheco: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Danny Watson: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (16-6) (Mauled Jersey Shore, 14-2. The Renedages have scored 125 runs while allowing 68.)

RF Brendan Jones: 2-for-4, RBI, R, CS (3), BB
.250/.363/.447 in 91 PA. Last 11 games: 15-for-44 (.341; 3 doubles, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 16 R)
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-3, 2 R, HBP, BB, K
You know your season is going well when reaching base two times and scoring twice is an “off night”.  His .489 OBP is second in the South Atlantic League. The leader (Noah Myers, .540) is 25 years old.
CF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-5, 2B (7), 2 RBI, R, K
.277/.377/.431 in 77 PA (sevens are wild!). 
LF Jace Avina: 3-for-5, 2 R, K
Avina, who has three straight 3-hit efforts, increases his hitting streak to 7. It’s not a run-of-the-mill hitting streak; he is 15-for-27 (.556). His triple slash has risen from .190/.364/.214 to .333/.466/.420. Nuts.
C Omar Martinez: 1-for-2, SF, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
3B Parks Harber: 3-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, 3 R
Harber’s High-A debut is a successful one. He crushed Low-A (.304/.422/.551; 170 wRC+), and hopes to do the same here.
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-3, HR (grand slam), SF, 5 RBI
Morales falls one short of his personal best for RBI (5/5/24).
2B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
DH Tomas Frick: 1-for-4, 2B (2), 2 RBI, R, K

RHP Carlos Lagrange: (W, 2-1)  5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
He threw 96 pitches tonight. While I won’t search through all his game logs, I feel safe saying that is a personal best. Season: 4.58 ERA (19.2 IP, 16 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 6 BB, 32 K). He has surged after a rough first start. Lagrange has the talent to be a top-of-the-rotation starter.
RHP Tyrone Yulie: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Bryce Warrecker: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Tony Rossi: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Rossi hasn’t allowed a run in seven games between here and Tampa (9.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 15 K)

Tampa (8-14) (Lost to Bradenton, 5-2)

DH Edgleen Perez: 1-for-3, R, BB
Perez’s first game since April 23.  He is hitting .189/.371/.208 (at his lowest point (4/16), he was hitting .114/.244/.114). Remember, he is an 18-year-old catcher receiving his first taste of full-season ball.
CF Brian Sanchez: 1-for-4, 2B (7), 2 RBI, K
Sanchez is on a 5-game hitting streak (6-for-23). He is hitting .250/.292/.412 in 72 PA (5.6% BB, 30.6% K). 
C Engelth Urena: 1-for-4, K
RF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-4
2B Austin Green: 0-for-3
LF Tyler Wilson: 0-for-3
SS Juan Matheus: 2-for-3
.235/.333/.333 in 63 PA (14.3% BB; 15.9% K). Matheus has never had a K/BB over 1.00 in his career.
1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3
3B Hans Montero: 0-for-2, R, BB, K

RHP Andrew Landry: (L, 0-2)  5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Landry has a wide assortment of pitches, including a 4-seamer that topped out at 96.4 tonight (his sinker reached 95.8). He threw 88 pitches and owns a 7.94 ERA in 17 IP (27 H, 18 R, 15 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 18 K). His numbers are skewed by a 1.1 IP, 8 H, 10 R, 9 ER game.
RHP Jack Sokol: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Cole Zaffiro: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 4/27: Rafael Flores Doubles, Homers

Notes:

OF Everson Pereira is listed as active but hasn’t played since April 19th. Injuries are a part of Pereira’s story. He has never played in more than 102 games. His second-highest total is 82. You have to be available to be useful.

George Lombard Jr. and Roderick Arias left their games early yesterday. Lombard Jr. was back in the lineup today while Arias was not. Hudson Valley pulled Lombard Jr. during a blowout, so there was nothing to worry about.

The Yankees have released RHP Alex Bustamante. The 24-year-old was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

Injury Log

Scranton (12-13) (Lost to Charlotte, 13-12, in 12 innings)

CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-4, RBI, 3 R, SB (6), HBP, 2 BB
11.4% BB, 7.0% K. He is doing what you want a leadoff hitter to do.
3B Jorbit Vivas: 2-for-6, RBI, R, BB, 2 K
Vivas is hitting .322 with a .878 OPS (5 doubles, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 14 R; 13.9% BB, 6.5% K)
DH-C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-4, HR (1), SF, 4 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Rodriguez swats his first Triple-A homer. He is hitting .325 with a .913 OPS since his promotion. This ties his personal best for RBI in a game.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-4, 2B (7), 3 RBI, R, SB (1), HBP, 2 BB, K
Hopefully, this is the start of a hot streak.
LF Dominic Smith: 1-for-7, RBI, 3 K
RF Jose Rojas: 1-for-5, 2B (7), 2 R, SB (1), 2 BB, 2 K
C Ronaldo Hernandez: 1-for-5, R, BB, K
   PR-P Edinson Duran: 0-for-0
SS Jake Gatewood: 1-for-4, RBI, R, 2 BB
2B Andrew Velazquez: 2-for-6, R, SB (7), 3 K

RHP Jake Woodford: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K, HR
4.32 ERA (16.2 IP, 22 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 4 HR, 9 BB, 12 K). While not prospects, veterans in Triple-A are fighting for depth chart placement. You never know when an emergency will present itself in MLB. Woodford hasn’t pitched well in 2025.
RHP Leonardo Pestana: (W, 2-1)  2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
4.76 ERA (11.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 HR, 8 BB, 16 K)
RHP McKinley Moore: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, HR
LHP Rob Zastryzny: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Wilking Rodriguez: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Kervin Castro: 2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
1.23 ERA (14.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 17 K). Nice start to the season for the 26-year-old with 20 games of MLB experience (Giants, Cubs).
RHP Edinson Duran: (L, 0-1):  1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Duran’s second career pitching appearance (first was in 2022) 

Somerset (9-12) (Lost to Hartford, 13-5)

3B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-4, K
.258/.329/.485 in 73 PA
2B DJ LeMahieu: 1-for-2
LeMahieu plays in back-to-back games for the first time during his rehab stint.
   PH-2B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-2
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, R, 2 K
.230/.360/.541 in 89 PA (2 doubles, 7 HR, 12 RBI, 15 R, 4-for-5 SB, 15.7% BB, 34.8% K). His .541 SLG ranks fifth in the Eastern League.
C Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, 2B (6), HR (4), 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 K
.266/.322/.494 in 87 PA (6 doubles, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 10 R, 8.0% BB, 33.3% K). Last season, he struck out 25.3% of the time. 33.3% is too high – I am not saying anything groundbreaking.
RF Garrett Martin: 1-for-4, HR (4), 2 RBI, R, K
Martin has homered in back-to-back games (3 HR in his last five games)
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4, 2 K
The 26-year-old Hardman hasn’t been the same since his 2023 injury (26 HR in 77 games that year; 11 HR in 113 games since).
LF Jared Wegner: 1-for-3, R, K
DH Antonio Gomez: 0-for-3, K
Gomez is 2-for-25 since his promotion.
SS Max Burt: 1-for-2, 2B (3), SF, RBI, K

RHP Trent Sellers: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
3.86 ERA (18.2 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 24 K). Sellers had a rough first start (3 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER) but has settled in since. He had an under-the-radar 2024 debut season, pitching to a 2.26 ERA in 83.1 IP with a 100/40 K/BB.
RHP Harrison Cohen: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Mason Vinyard: 1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
LHP Ryan Anderson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Danny Watson: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
RHP Cole Ayers: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
Watson dug the hole. Ayers lit it on fire, allowing three of Watson’s runs to score on a grand slam.

Hudson Valley (15-6) (Doubled up Asheville, 8-4. There is so much intriguing talent at this level. The next wave of Yankees prospects to watch closely.)

DH Brendan Jones: 1-for-4, SF, 2 RBI, R, CS (2), BB, K
.236/.349/.444 in 86 PA (4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 18 R, 11-for-13 SB, 12.8% BB, 22.1% K). 
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-3, 2B (4), HBP, 2 BB, 2 K
.306/.494/.452 in 87 PA (4 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 16 R, 9-for-11 SB, 22.99% BB, 20.7% K). He has three doubles in his last five games, so the extra-base power is starting to show. The .494 OBP ranks second in the South Atlantic League.
LF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-5, RBI, K
.267/.375/.417 in 72 PA (6 doubles, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 6 R, 3-for-3 SB, 15.3% BB, 27.8% K)
CF Jace Avina: 3-for-4, 2B (3), RBI, R, BB
Avina has back-to-back 3-hit efforts and is 12-for-22 during his 6-game hitting streak. He is up to .313/.458/.406 in 83 PA (18.1% BB, 21.7% K). The .458 OBP ranks fifth in the South Atlantic League.
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-5, SB (5), K
3B Josh Moylan: 0-for-4, R, BB, 3 K
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-2, 3 R, 2 HBP, BB
Not the typical way to reach base four times, but he’ll take it.
RF Anthony Hall: 1-for-4, RBI, R, BB, 3 K
2B Duncan Pastore: 3-for-5, 2 2B (2), 3 RBI, R, K
Pastore doesn’t play often but is 14-for-42 (.333) in 16 career games with a 5-for-5 stolen base rate. 

LHP Kyle Carr:  4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, HR
2.16 ERA (16.2 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 16 K). He threw 69 pitches, so they aren’t yet pushing him (has yet to throw more than 4.2 innings this season).
RHP Chris Kean: (W, 2-0) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
8 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
RHP Matt Keating: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Huey Morrill: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Hayden Merda: (S, 1) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Merda’s first career save.

Tampa (8-13) (Lost to Dunedin, 8-5. Edgleen Perez remains out of the lineup but is not on the injured list. Yes, I am keeping this note here until his status changes!)

CF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-4, BB
Lewis is struggling to get on track (.171/.247/.257). The 21-year-old was their 13th-round pick in 2024.
C Engelth Urena: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, R, 2 BB
.185/.341/.354 in 82 PA (2 doubles, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 11 R, 17.1% BB, 20.7% K). His start was slow (2-for-22)
DH Parks Harber: 1-for-3, R, SB (4), HBP, BB
Yes, Harber is too old for this level and will need to be moved up at some point. He played at major Division I schools, swatting 54 HR in 206 games for Georgia and North Carolina. This level of competition isn’t challenging him.
RF Tyler Wilson: 0-for-3, SB (6), 2 BB
2B Austin Green: 0-for-4, RBI, R, SB (3), BB, K
3B Hans Montero: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
SS Juan Matheus: 0-for-4, K
LF Marshall Toole: 2-for-4, R, SB (4), K
Toole has three multi-hit efforts in his last five games. His triple slash has jumped from .208/.345/.208 to .286/.375/.310.
1B Josue Gonzalez: 2-for-4, RBI, R, 2 SB (4)
Gonzalez is having a tough start to 2025 (7-for-51). Today’s performance was needed.

RHP Gage Ziehl: (L, 0-2)  4 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Last year’s 4th-round pick had a solid debut (4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K), but his last two starts haven’t been up to the standard. No need to be worried, as that’s baseball.
RHP Chris Veach: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
2.89 ERA (9.1 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 15 K)
RHP Jackson Fristoe: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, HR
Fristoe is throwing hard (maxed out at 96.5), so the hope is that his early-season struggles are due to rust (he didn’t pitch after June 23rd last season due to injury).
RHP Brady Kirtner: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
1.64 ERA (11 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 6 BB, 9 K). Kirtner was drafted by the Mets in 2023, but decided to return to Virginia Tech. In 2024, he went undrafted and signed with the Yankees.

FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 4/26: Jackson Castillo Drives Home 6

Notes:

I have nothing to offer you.

Injury Log

Scranton (12-13) (Lost to Charlotte, 8-7. The Railriders blew a 7-0 lead)

CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-4, R, BB
.256/.362/.372 in 107 PA (4 doubles, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 15 R, 5-for-7 SB, 10.3% BB, 7.5% K)
3B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-3, CS (4), 2 BB
Vivas has ten starts at second base and 12 at third base.
C Jesus Rodriguez: 3-for-5, 2B (2), RBI, 2 R, SB (4)
Some websites (ahem…MLB Pipeline…ahem) refuse to rank Rodriguez in the Yankees’ Top 30. The Yankees disagree, as they added him to the 40-man roster, and he continues to hit. Since joining Scranton, he is 12-for-36 (.333/.468/.389) with a pair of doubles and more walks (9) than strikeouts (7). He is also 4-for-4 in the stolen base department. In his 300-game minor league career, the 23-year-old is hitting .306/.394/.464. When Alex Jackson returns (assuming the injury won’t keep him out forever), the Yankees may have a decision to make. One place Rodriguez struggled was Double-A (.196/.250/.339 in 30 games). Do they send him back? Do they use his versatility to their advantage and keep him in Scranton?
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-4, R, BB, 2 K
Rumfield is down to .231/.341/.462 thanks to a 1-for-24 slump.
RF Dominic Smith: 2-for-4, 2 2B (4), RBI, R, BB
Smith has three doubles in his last two games (7-for-23 in his last six games).
LF Jose Rojas: 2-for-5, 3B (1), R
DH Ronaldo Hernandez: 1-for-3, SF, 3 RBI, R
SS Jake Gatewood: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
2B Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K

RHP Erick Leal: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
4.81 ERA (24.1 IP, 24 H, 16 R, 13 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 31 K)
RHP Colten Brewer: 1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Eric Reyzelman (L, 1-2): 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
3.38 ERA (10.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 7 BB, 13 K). Control, control, control.
RHP Geoff Hartlieb: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
2.61 ERA (10.1 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 11 K)

Somerset (9-11) (Defeated Hartford, 4-3)

1B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-4, 2B (4), RBI
Jasso continues to hit (.274 with a .864 OPS) while playing 1B, 2B, and 3B. Is he a legitimate prospect?  If he continues to hit, you can start envisioning him as a utility piece.
2B DJ LeMahieu: 2-for-3, RBI, R, K
LeMahieu is 5-for-8 during his rehab stint.
  2B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-1
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-4, 2 K
DH Rafael Flores: 1-for-3, 2B (5), R, BB, K
Flores has hit safely in eight of his last nine games (10-for-35; 4 doubles, 1 HR)
LF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, SB (8), K
C Antonio Gomez: 0-for-3, 2 K
3B Alexander Vargas: 0-for-2, SB (4), BB
SS Max Burt: 1-for-3, 2B (2), R
RF Christopher Familia: 1-for-3, 2B (2), R, 2 K
Familia is 3-for-9 with two doubles and a triple.

LHP Edgar Barclay: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, HR
RHP Clayton Beeter: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Beeter struggled in his first rehab appearance at this level. Not tonight.
LHP Will Brian (W, 1-0): 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
An impressive Double-A debut after a strong start at Hudson Valley (7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K). Health has been an issue for the 26-year-old.
RHP Harrison Cohen (S, 1): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
2.25 ERA (8 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 10 K)

Hudson Valley (14-6) (Continued their hot start with a 15-0 mauling of Asheville)

CF Brendan Jones: 3-for-6, 2B (4), RBI, 3 R, SB (11)
Jones has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, including three multi-hit efforts (12-for-36). With 11 stolen bases, he is second in the South Atlantic League (Duce Gourson has 12). He is hitting .235/.350/.456 
SS George Lombard Jr.: 3-for-4, 2B (3), RBI, 2 R, BB
.305/.481/.441 in 81 PA (3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 16 R, 9-for-11 SB, 22.2% BB, 19.8% K). And he is still a teenager.
  PR-2B Duncan Pastore: 0-for-1, R
Pastore pinch-run for Lombard in the 7th. I am hoping it was due to the score, not an injury.
LF Jackson Castillo: 3-for-5, 2B (6), HR (1, grand slam), SF, 6 RBI, R, K
Castillo has two 6-RBI games this season (3 RBI in his other 12 games). His personal best remains seven, which he did last August. 
DH Jace Avina: 3-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
Avina is on a 5-game hitting streak (9-for-18). His triple slash has climbed from .190/.364/.214 to .283/.436/.367.
C Omar Martinez: 1-for-6, R, 4 K
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-6, HR (2), RBI, R, K
If you are going to go 1-for-6, you may as well make the one a homer.
3B Josh Moylan: 1-for-5, 2 K
2B-SS Brenny Escanio: 2-for-4, RBI, R, BB, K
RF Anthony Hall: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, K

RHP Bryce Cunningham (W, 3-1):  6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K
2.63 ERA (24 IP, 19 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 30 K). Cunningham has been brilliant in three of his four starts. In the other start, he allowed five runs in the first inning before settling in and providing the team with six innings. The 6’5″ 22-year-old is showing off impressive command/control thus far. He walked 71 batters in 160 college innings, so is this a hot stretch, or has something clicked in the Yankees Pitching Lab?
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Gilbert pulls off the 4 strikeout inning!
RHP Tyrone Yulie: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
4.32 ERA (8.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 5 BB, 13 K)
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Tampa (8-12) (Lost to Dunedin, 5-1. Edgleen Perez remains out of the lineup but is not on the injured list.)

SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-3, SB (9), BB, K
I am not sure why Arias was pulled from the game.
   3B Parks Harber: 0-for-0
DH Brian Sanchez: 1-for-4, CS (2), K
.250/.294/.406 in 68 PA. He owned an 11.6% BB last year (5.9% this year).
C Engelth Urena: 1-for-4, R
LF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-4, 2 K
1B Tyler Wilson: 2-for-2, CS (3), 2 BB
Wilson reaches base four times to improve his triple slash to .258/.364/.258. Correct: All 17 of his hits are singles. Last season, the 22-year-old compiled five doubles and a homer in 21 games.
RF Austin Green: 2-for-4, 2 2B (2), RBI
Green had one extra-base hit in his first 20 professional games. Naturally, he swats a pair tonight to jump that number to three. Baseball!
3B-2B Hans Montero: 1-for-4, K
2B-SS Juan Matheus: 0-for-4, 2 K
CF Marshall Toole: 0-for-4, K

RHP Greysen Carter (L, 0-2): 5 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR
5.74 ERA (15.2 IP, 15 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 1 HR, 12 BB, 20 K). Even at the lower levels, throwing 98+ (and hitting triple digits at times) still requires command and solid secondary pitches. Carter will be a work-in-progress with a massive ceiling.
RHP Jonathan Loaisiga: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Could he get a crack at the closer role if he stays healthy? I prefer closers who miss more bats than Loaisiga does, but a healthy Loaisiga is a massive bullpen upgrade.
RHP Gus Hughes: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Brandon Decker: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
0.90 ERA (10 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 5 BB, 11 K)

FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 4/25: Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz Strikes Out 12

Notes:

Some pitching promotions to announce.

LHP Will Brian and RHP Cole Ayers are coming to Somerset from Hudson Valley.
RHP Tony Rossi was promoted from Tampa to Hudson Valley.

In his debut season, the 25-year-old Rossi (undrafted free agent, 2024) was predictably overwhelming Low-A hitters (7.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K).
The 26-year-old Brian (10th round, 2022) was equally effective for Hudson Valley (7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K).
Ayers (16th round, 2021) has the most experience of the trio (106 games from 2022 to 2025). Like the others, he owns a 0.00 ERA this season (6.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K). This isn’t his first taste of Somerset, as he appeared in eight games for the Patriots in 2024.

Unfortunately, promotions sometimes come with cuts. The Yankees released right-handed relievers Cole Percival and Colby White from their minor league contracts.

RHP Yoendrys Gomez nearly cleared waivers but the Dodgers nabbed him. Oh well.

Injury Log

Scranton (12-12) (Lost to Charlotte, 4-1. This game started late due to rain so they decided to only play 7 innings)

CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-2, SB (5), BB
3B Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-2, CS (3), BB
After an insane, unsustainable stretch, Vivas is now 1-for-12 in his last four games. He has drawn three walks, however.
DH Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-2, R, BB
Rodriguez is hitting .290 with a .775 OPS in 42 PA since his promotion.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-3
Rumfield’s first game since Sunday. No idea why, but it was obviously minor.  
LF Dominic Smith: 1-for-3, 2B (2), RBI
C Ronaldo Hernandez: 0-for-3
SS Jake Gatewood: 0-for-3, 2 K
2B Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-2, K
RF Grant Richardson: 1-for-2

RHP Zach Messinger: (L, 0-2)  4 IP,3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 2 HR
4.79 ERA (20.2 IP, 22 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 2 HR, 13 BB, 22 K). It’s only the 4th time in Messinger’s career where he has allowed 2+ HR in a game (tonight was his 85th game/67th start).
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
4.82 ERA (9.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 8 BB, 13 K)
RHP Wilking Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
He did allow an inherited runner to score. Season: 0.00 ERA (8.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 12 K)

Somerset (8-11) (Mauled by Hartford, 19-4)

2B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-2, 3 BB
Jasso had three walks in 14 games entering tonight. Baseball!  By the way, walks aren’t a foreign concept to Jasso (he had a solid 9.8% rate last season). Tonight’s three walks jumped his 2025 rate to 9.2.
LF Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 K
.242/.383/.591 in 81 PA (2 doubles, 7 HR, 12 RBI, 14 R, 4-for-5 SB, 17.3% BB, 33.3% K). It’s the theme for Jones – encouraging profile with an obvious red flag.
C Rafael Flores: 1-for-4, SF, RBI, 2 R
DH Garrett Martin: 2-for-4, 2B (3), HR (3), 3 RBI, R, K
Martin has two doubles and two homers in his last four games (one of each in his first 12 games)
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-4, 2 K
1B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-2, 2 BB
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, BB, K
SS Alexander Vargas: 1-for-4, 2B (5), R
3B Max Burt: 0-for-4, K

RHP Baron Stuart: (L, 0-1) 2.2 IP, 4 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 6 BB, 3 K
RHP Luis Pacheco: 1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Indigo Diaz: 1.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Cole Ayers: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Ayers ate a few innings and slowed down the Hartford machine.
RHP Diomedes Hernandez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
The 20-year-old catcher/first baseman makes his 4th career pitching appearance. Perhaps he should have started?

Hudson Valley (13-6) (Shut down Asheville, 3-0)

LF Brendan Jones: 0-for-4, K
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-4, CS (2), K
.273/.461/.400 in 76 PA (2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 14 R, 9-for-11 SB, 22.4% BB, 21.1% K). A lot to like in his profile so far. 
DH Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, 2 K
.240/.377/.340 in 61 PA (5 doubles, 9 RBI, 4 R, 3-for-3 SB, 18.0% BB, 29.5% K)
CF Jace Avina: 1-for-2, R, 2 BB
.250/.403/.286 in 72 PA (2 doubles, 6 RBI, 9 R, 1-for-2 SB, 16.7% BB, 25.0% K)
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-4, 3 K
1B Coby Morales: 0-for-2, R, SB (4), BB, K
3B Josh Moylan: 2-for-3, 2B (4), RBI, R, SB (2)
2B Brenny Escanio: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, CS (2), K
RF Anthony Hall: 0-for-3, K

RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz: (W, 2-1)  6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K (new personal best; struck out seven in a row at one point)
Since he was acquired for Carlos Narvaez, here is a Narvaez update: The catcher has played in 18 of Boston’s 27 games, slashing .210/.269/.371 with 4 doubles and 2 home runs. He is grading out well defensively, however. As for Rodriguez-Cruz, the 21-year-old owns a 2.42 ERA (22.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 30 K). That works.
RHP Sebastian Keane: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
3.18 ERA (5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 7 K)
RHP Tony Rossi (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
His first Hudson Valley appearance results in a save. Can he be fast-tracked to Somerset this season? Certainly. I am not a fan of holding relief pitchers back. However, let’s be patient.

Tampa (8-11) (Lost to Dunedin, 4-2. Edgleen Perez remains out of the lineup but is not on the injured list.)

3B Roderick Arias: 0-for-3, RBI, BB, 2 K
After a 5-game hitting streak (5-for-21), Arias is 0-for-10 in his last three games. He is hitting .147/.293/.250 in 82 PA (15.9% BB, 26.8% K). Arias owns a paltry .200 BABIP, which should normalize. There is a “positive” for you.
DH Engelth Urena: 1-for-4
.172/.329/.362 in 73 PA (16.4% BB, 23.3% K). Like Arias, there is a small sample size BABIP issue (.179).
1B Parks Harber: 0-for-4, 2 K
LF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-4, 2 K
RF Tyler Wilson: 1-for-4, R, SB (5)
Wilson is 5-for-7 stealing bases. He is searching for his first extra-base hit of 2025 (17 games)
2B Austin Green: 1-for-3, R, SB (2), BB, K
SS Juan Matheus: 1-for-3, BB, K
.250/.365/.375 in 52 PA (5 doubles, 10 RBI, 5 R, 4-for-5 SB, 9 BB, 7 K). Matheus owns a BB/K rate above 1.00 in his career (98/89).
C Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3, K
CF Marshall Toole: 0-for-2, RBI, BB, 2 K

LHP Tanner Bauman: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
Bauman needed a decent outing after a pair of rough ones. This qualifies. The biggest issue is walks (17 in 14.1 IP).
RHP Cade Austin: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Sean Hermann (L, 1-1): 2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 4/24: Cam Schlittler Dominates

Notes:

Nothing newsworthy.

Injury Log

Scranton (12-11) (Lost to Charlotte, 10-3)

CF Ismael Munguia: 1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, R, K
Munguia hits a lead-off blast. The rest of the night didn’t go their way.
2B Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
Vivas was called up to MLB in 2024 and 2025. He has yet to appear in a game.
C Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-4
Since promotion: 8-for-29 (.276/.436/.310). Rodriguez started showing some pop in 2023 and 2024. This year, between Somerset and Scranton, his “pop” consists of one double in 16 games. It’s early. By the way, while Rodriguez is known for his versatility, the only positions he has played for Scranton are catcher and DH.
LF Dominic Smith: 0-for-3, R, BB
1B Jose Rojas: 2-for-4
DH Ronaldo Hernandez: 0-for-4, 2 K
3B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
SS Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-4, 3 K
RF Grant Richardson: 0-for-3, CS (1), BB, K

RHP Sean Boyle: (L, 2-3)  5.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 3 HR
4.91 ERA (25.2 IP, 20 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 5 HR, 8 BB, 27 K)
RHP Mason Vinyard: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
Vinyard’s Triple-A debut wasn’t impressive, but it’s only Game 1.
LHP Rob Zastryzny: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP McKinley Moore: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Somerset (8-10) (Shut down Hartford, 2-0)

3B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-3, HR (3), RBI, R, K
Jasso has swatted a double and two home runs in his last three games. He is hitting .286/.333/.536 in 60 PA.
2B DJ LeMahieu: 0-for-2, K
He hasn’t played back-to-back days yet. We’ll see if he is the designated hitter tomorrow.
   2B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-1, K
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-3, HR (7), RBI, R, K
7th HR in his last 15 games. Now hitting .254/.382/.619.
C Rafael Flores: 1-for-3, 2B (4), 2 K
Flores has 18 doubles and 18 home runs in 83 Double-A games (.502 SLG)
LF Garrett Martin: 0-for-3, K
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-3, K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-2, BB
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, 2 K
DH Antonio Gomez: 0-for-3

RHP Cam Schlittler: (W, 2-1)  7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K (ties personal best)
1.23 ERA (22 IP, 13 H, 8 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 24 K). I don’t know if he makes his MLB debut this year, but it is possible. He may also be in the “trade zone” for the Yankees. History tells us that the Yankees like to trade pitchers who throw well in Double-A.
RHP Danny Watson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Ryan Anderson (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Both Watson and Anderson needed uneventful outings.

Hudson Valley (12-6) (Defeated Asheville, 9-4)

CF Brendan Jones: 1-for-4, 2B (3), RBI, R, BB
Jones continues to show off pop early in his career (8 doubles, 1 triple, 6 HR in 39 games). He is also 28-for-29 stealing bases and has more walks (39) than strikeouts (38). All that in a center field package? Color me intrigued.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-2, 2 R, HBP, 2 BB, K
Lombard continues to reach base.  He has 14 hits, 17 walks, and 3 HBP in 72 PA. He has the speed (9-for-10 SB) to make opponents pay for allowing him to get on base. The power? It will come.
LF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-5, 2B (5), RBI, 2 R, K
Castillo has five doubles in 13 games. 
RF Jace Avina: 2-for-5, 2B (2), 2 RBI, K
Avina can use a surge. He has back-to-back multi-hit games. This is only his second extra-base hit this season (34 in 92 games in 2024)
DH Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, R, BB, K
Finally, Martinez fills the home run column. He launched 13 in 104 games at this level in 2024.
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-5, R, 2 K
3B Josh Moylan: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB, 3 K
2B Brenny Escanio: 1-for-3, R, 2 BB, 2 K
C Tomas Frick: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, BB, K

RHP Josh Grosz: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
His pitch count was elevated (73). He owns a 3.09 ERA (11.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 19 K).
RHP Huey Morrill (W, 1-0): 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K
RHP Hayden Merda: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Bryce Warrecker: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
His first run allowed in 2025 comes via a balk. Blah. Season: 6.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 11 K. I assume they will let him start again, but you never know what they think about any prospect. As a reminder, he was a starter in 2023 but missed all of 2024.

Tampa (8-10) (Defeated Dunedin, 7-2. After leaving the game early last night, Edgleen Perez wasn’t in the lineup tonight)

SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-3, BB
.154/.295/.262 in 78 PA. Yikes.
C Engelth Urena: 0-for-4, K
1B Parks Harber: 1-for-3, 2B (4), 2 R, BB
Harber continues to rake (he has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games). I am not there yet, but soon you may see me typing “Get him off this level.”
LF Dillon Lewis: 2-for-4, 2 2B (3), R
RF Tyler Wilson: 1-for-3, R, BB
2B Austin Green: 1-for-3, SF, 2 RBI, R
CF Marshall Toole: 3-for-4, 2B (1), 2 R
Early season baseball: Two games back, he was hitting .200/.360/.300. Now, he is hitting .313/.405/.344.
3B Juan Matheus: 2-for-3, 2B (5), SF, 3 RBI, SB (4)
.243/.354/.378 in 48 PA (5 doubles, 10 RBI, 5 R, 4-for-5 SB, 16.7% BB, 12.5% K). Matheus intrigues me.
DH Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-4

LHP Griffin Herring: (W, 3-0)  7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K
0.39 ERA (23.1 IP, 12 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 10 BB, 28 K).  We call these video game numbers, though he has walked 10 hitters in 17.2 IP in his last three starts. 
RHP Jack Sokol: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Chris Veach: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.45 ERA (7.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 14 K)

FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 4/23: Carlos Lagrange Ks 8

Notes:

LHP Brent Headrick, who pitched well for the Yankees earlier this year, was placed on the 7-day injured list for Scranton.
RHP Mason Vinyard was promoted to Scranton. The 25-year-old Vinyard has 76 games of minor league experience, pitching to a 3.08 ERA in 114 IP with a 146/60 K/BB.
Infielder Jake Gatewood was also promoted to Scranton. The 29-year-0ld power bat spent 2021 and 2022 in Triple-A as a member of the Angels organization. He hit .219/.272/.456 in 224 games with 50 home runs.

Injury Log

Scranton (12-10) (Shut Down Charlotte, 5-0)

CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, K
.276/.376/.368 in 95 PA with more walks (9) than strikeouts (7).
DH Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, K
Since promotion: 6-for-25 with more walks (8) than strikeouts (7). 
LF Dominic Smith: 2-for-4, R
1B Jose Rojas: 0-for-4, 2 K
C Ronaldo Hernandez: 1-for-3, RBI, R, BB
3B Jake Gatewood: 1-for-3, HR (1), 3 RBI, R, K
Gatewood’s home run traveled 383 feet at 109.6 MPH. Between here and Somerset, 11 of his 15 hits have gone for extra bases.
SS Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-3, K
RF Grant Richardson: 0-for-3, K
2B Max Burt: 2-for-3, 3B (1), R, K

RHP Allan Winans: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K
Winans has 20 strikeouts in 9.1 innings. He tied his personal best for strikeouts in a game.
RHP Kervin Castro: (W, 2-0) 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
1.42 ERA (12.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 15 K)
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Reyzelman topped out at 96.4 MPH. Season: 2.79 ERA (9.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 11 K)
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
1.08 ERA (8.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 9 K). He is on the 40-man roster, giving him one advantage over the depth chart competition.

Somerset (7-10) (Lost to Hartford, 4-2)

3B Dylan Jasso: 2-for-4, RBI, CS (1)
.283/.333/.491 in 57 PA (3 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 12 R, 5.3% BB, 14.0% K). Jasso has six multi-hit efforts in his last nine games. He is 22 and trying this level for the first time, which is encouraging.
DH Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, CS (1), BB, 2 K
.250/.384/.583 in 73 PA (2 doubles, 6 HR, 11 RBI, 13 R, 4-for-5 SB, 16.4% BB, 32.9% K). Last year, in 544 PA at this level, he hit .259/.336/.452 (9.9% BB, 36.8% K). He relied heavily on BABIP last season (.401). This season, he is at .300.
1B Rafael Flores: 0-for-4, 2 K
CF Garrett Martin: 1-for-3, 2B (2), R, 2 SB (4), BB
.186/.352/.372 in 54 PA (2 doubles, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 9 R, 4-for-5 SB, 11.1% BB, 14.8% K). His .182 BABIP should normalize.
2B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-4, 2 K
Colmenares’ Double-A debut.
RF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3, SB (7), BB, K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-4, 2 K
C Antonio Gomez: 0-for-1, R, 3 BB, K
Since promotion: 2-for-16 with three walks and eight strikeouts.
LF Christopher Familia: 0-for-2, RBI, BB, K

RHP Bailey Dees: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, HR
5.54 ERA (13 IP, 14 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 3 HR, 10 BB, 13 K). He has two good starts, one bad one.
RHP Cole Percival: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Clayton Beeter (L, 0-1): 0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
I would rather this happen on a rehab stint than in an important game.
RHP Harrison Cohen: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
2.35 ERA (7.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 9 K)
RHP Jordany Ventura: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (11-6) (Swept in a doubleheader by Asheville)

Game 1 (Lost, 9-5)

CF Brendan Jones: 2-for-4, 2B (2), HR (3), 3 RBI, R
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-2, 2 SB (9), 2 BB
LF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-3, 2 K
.244/.404/.341 in 52 PA (21.2% BB, 28.8% K)
RF Jace Avina: 1-for-3, K
DH Omar Martinez: 0-for-2, BB
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI, R
Morales isn’t known for his power (6th HR in 137 career games)
3B Josh Moylan: 0-for-2, R, BB, 2 K
2B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-2, 2 R, BB
C Tomas Frick: 0-for-3, K

RHP Ben Hess: (L, 1-1)  3.2 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 4 K, HR
Hess didn’t allow an earned run in his first two starts. Season: 3.38 ERA (13.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 22 K)
LHP Will Brian: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 K
RHP Matt Keating: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Game 2 (Lost, 3-2, in ten innings)

CF Brendan Jones: 1-for-4, 2 SB (10), BB, K
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-4, 2B (2), R, BB, K
Doubleheader: 1-for-6, 2B, R, 2 SB, 3 BB, K. Lombard has more walks (15) than strikeouts (14) and is hitting .286 with a .892 OPS. If you want a negative (why would you?), he has only four extra-base hits in 15 games. That does not concern me.
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-4, R, CS (1), BB, 3 K
LF Jace Avina: 2-for-4, RBI, BB, 2 K
1B Coby Morales: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
3B Josh Moylan: 1-for-4
DH Tomas Frick: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, 2 K
RF Anthony Hall: 0-for-3, SB (2), BB, 2 K
2B Duncan Pastore: 0-for-2, SB (1), 2 BB, K
Pastore’s High-A debut.

RHP Carlos Lagrange: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, HR
Lagrange allowed a lead-off home run before settling in to provide a dominant performance. Season: 5.14 ERA (14 IP, 13 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 24 K). Most of the bad stuff happened in his first start (Last 2 starts: 11 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 17 K).
RHP Chris Kean: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
RHP Tyrone Yulie: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
4.91 ERA (7.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 11 K)
RHP Ocean Gabonia (L, 0-1): 0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Tampa (7-10) (Lost to Dunedin, 6-5)

SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, SB (8), BB, K
.161/.297/.274 in 74 PA (4 doubles, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 9 R, 8-for-8 SB, 14.9% BB, 27.0% K). It’s only 15 games, but he played 124 games here last year. It is time to pick up the pace.
C Edgleen Perez: 0-for-4, 2 K
I am not sure why Perez was pulled.
   3B Juan Matheus: 0-for-1, K
3B-1B Parks Harber: 3-for-4, 3B (2), R, K
.322/.429/.593 in 70 PA (3 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 9 R, 3-for-4 SB, 14.3% BB, 28.6% K). Harber has back-to-back 3-hit efforts.
DH Dillon Lewis: 0-for-3, SB (5), HBP, K
.185/.267/.259 in 60 PA. Lewis is 8-for-9 stealing bases in 29 minor league games. We are still waiting for last year’s 13th-round pick’s bat to blossom.
LF Tyler Wilson: 1-for-4, RBI, R
RF Austin Green: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
2B Hans Montero: 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 K
.233/.303/.333 in 33 PA. Montero was a bonus baby when he signed, but full-season ball is eating him up (.206/.305/.333 last season).
CF Marshall Toole: 2-for-4, K
Toole’s tools include speed (11-for-13 SB in 25 career games) and defense. It’s up to the bat if he is going to advance.
1B-C Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3, BB, K

RHP Danny Flatt: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, HR
4.66 ERA (9.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 6 K)
RHP Alex Bustamante: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Brady Kirtner: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
1.86 ERA (9.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 8 K)
RHP Jackson Fristoe (L, 1-1): 2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR

FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.