Yankees MILB 7/25: Ben Rice is Lovin’ Double-A

News:

The Yankees have released a pair of veteran relievers.

RHP Michael Feliz, signed on May 18th, was released from his contract. He reportedly will sign with a team in Japan. The veteran pitched to a decent 3.38 ERA in only 13.1 innings with a 15/5 K/BB.
LHP D.J. Snelten was also cut. Snelten, who hadn’t pitched since making 20 starts with the Chicago Dogs (Independent) in 2019, was an interesting story but he simply did not perform. He compiled a 7.50 ERA in 30 games with Scranton, with a 48/42 K/BB over 36 innings.

RHP Bailey Dees was promoted from Hudson Valley to Somerset today, reuniting with former bullpen mate Danny Watson to form a towering duo. Dees, who stands 6’8″, pitched to a 1.74 ERA and 59/15 K/BB ratio over 41.1 innings. He was the Yankees’ 18th-round pick in the 2021 draft out of Penn State.

Scranton (45-49; 11-8 in the second half) (Lost to Buffalo, 3-1)

CF Estevan Florial: 2-for-3, 2B (14), RS, BB, K
Florial now has a 5-game hitting streak (7-for-17). He has three doubles during the streak.
LF Everson Pereira1-for-4, K
Pereira is hitting .345 (20-for-58) since his promotion (at least one hit in 13 of 14 games)
SS Oswaldo Cabrera0-for-3, BB, K
C Austin Wells0-for-3, SF, RBI, K
Since promotion: 3-for-14 (1 double, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 7 K)
3B Andres Chaparro0-for-4
DH Carlos Narvaez2-for-4, 2B (5)
Since promotion: .285/.416/.486 in 178 PA.
RF Franchy Cordero0-for-3, 2 K
1B Jake Lamb0-for-2, BB, K
2B Jamie Westbrook0-for-3

RHP Jhony Brito: (L, 2-2) 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR
5.45 ERA (36.1 IP, 40 H, 23 R, 22 ER, 16 BB, 33 K). Do his Triple-A numbers matter? Not really.
RHP Michael Gomez1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
LHP Anthony Misiewicz1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K

Somerset (54-35; 12-9 in the second half) (Shut out Bowie, 6-0, in a 6-inning game (rain))

FYI: If you see any numbers below that don’t match up to other numbers you are seeing, it is due to July 9th. That game was suspended and MILB.com is treating it weirdly. The overall numbers include that game – the splits do not. So, when you see “numbers in July” below, keep in mind that one game is currently not included.

SS Trey Sweeney1-for-4, HR (13), RBI, RS, K
The home run was a lead-off blast. Sweeney is hitting .253/.369/.437 in 396 PA. In July, he is hitting .288/.413/.455 in 17 games (3 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 14 R, 12 BB, 15 K). He has shown more against RHP (.856 OPS) than LHP (.630) but there is no reason for concern. Just something to watch.
RF Willie Calhoun: 2-for-3, BB
CF Jasson Dominguez1-for-3, RS, BB, K, SB (26), CS (6)
.220/.349/.368 in 392 PA. In 18 July games, Dominguez is hitting .307/.381/.427.
3B Tyler Hardman0-for-3, RS, BB, K
.230/.321/.544 in 312 PA. 
1B T.J. Rumfield0-for-0
He left the game early – never a good thing.
 1B Mickey Gasper: 1-for-2, 2 RS, BB
LF Elijah Dunham2-for-2, SF, RBI, SB (9), CS (2)
Dunham has a 5-game hitting streak (9-for-21) and has 21 stolen bases in 27 tries between here and Scranton.
DH Ben Rice2-for-2, HR (3), 4 RBI, RS, BB
Since promotion: 10-for-17 (.588) with three home runs in four games. Overall, Rice is hitting .365/.516/.646 in 128 spectacular plate appearances. I don’t know if catching is part of the long-term plan, but the Yankees seem to have an intriguing hitter here.
C Josh Breaux0-for-3, K
2B Max Burt0-for-1, 2 BB, K, CS (3)

RHP Blane Abeyta (W, 6-4): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
It goes down as a shutout in the record books. Abeyta owns a 5.46 ERA in 85.2 IP with a 91/37 K/BB.

Hudson Valley (51-39; 12-12 in the second half) (Smoked Hickory, 16-5)

CF Spencer Jones3-for-6, RBI, RS, K
Jones now has a 6-game hitting streak (11-for-27 (.407); 2 doubles, 2 HR, 6 RBI). This is his 10th 3+ hit game this season (including one on 7/21). It’s been a season of streaks for Jones, but the overall resume is a good one. 
2B Ben Cowles1-for-6, RS, 3 K
C Agustin Ramirez: 2-for-6, HR (5), 2 RBI, 2 RS, K
Ramirez is hitting .392 with 15 extra-base hits (10 doubles, 5 HR) in 18 games since his promotion. 
1B Rafael Flores2-for-5, 3 RS, BB, 3 K
Flores has five 2-hit games in his last nine games played (hitless in the other four games)
DH Christopher Familia: 3-for-4, HR (3), RBI, 3 RS, BB
Familia has two 3-hit games in his last three games played. He is up to .254 since his promotion.
SS Alexander Vargas2-for-4, 3B (5), 4 RBI, 4 RS, BB
Vargas takes over the organizational lead with his 5th triple. This is his second 4-RBI game this season (first 4-run game).
RF Grant Richardson1-for-5, 2 RBI, RS, K
LF Anthony Garcia2-for-2, 2B (6), HR (5), 3 RBI, RS, 3 BB
Garcia has the type of night we were all dreaming about a few years ago. 
3B Eduardo Torrealba: 1-for-5, SF, 2 RBI

RHP Tyrone Yulie: (W, 5-6) 5 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 HR
4.66 ERA (75.1 IP, 58 H, 49 R, 39 ER, 13 HR, 41 BB, 89 K)
RHP Carlos Gomez2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Harrison Cohen: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
2.49 ERA (27.2 IP, 21 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 11 BB, 37 K)

Tampa (43-48; 12-13 in the second half) (Lost to Dunedin, 5-1)

2B Jared Serna1-for-4, K, SB (19)
After going a month without a stolen base (and only one attempt), Serna is now 3-for-3 in his last four games.
3B Jesus Rodriguez1-for-4
Rodriguez has hit safely in ten of his last 11 games (15-for-43; .349)
C Omar Martinez1-for-2, HR (10), RBI, RS, 2 BB, SB (7)
Martinez has ten home runs in 69 games this season (11 HR in 110 games prior to 2023)
SS Brenny Escanio: 2-for-3, 2B (8), BB
CF Daury Arias0-for-4, 2 K
DH Brett Barrera0-for-4, 2 K
LF Tayler Aguilar0-for-2, 2 K
  LF Jake Palmer1-for-2
1B Ronny Rojas3-for-4
RF Felix Negueis0-for-4, K

RHP Sean Hermann: (L, 4-6)  4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
5.99 ERA (73.2 IP, 85 H, 56 R, 49 ER, 8 HR, 33 BB, 59 K)
RHP Yorlin Calderon1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
3.25 ERA in 52.2 IP (44 H, 22 R, 19 ER, 4 HR, 14 BB, 66 K). Calderon comes at you with a sinker/change/slider mix, with a few curves mixed in.
RHP Matt Keating2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
3.95 ERA (41 IP, 41 H, 24 R, 18 ER, 3 HR, 22 BB, 60 K). Keating doesn’t throw extremely hard (91-93) but has a few weapons to go to (4-seam, cutter, slider, curve)
RHP Ocean Gabonia1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

FCL Yankees (19-14) (Defeated the Blue Jays, 2-1. The Blue Jays only compiled one hit)

2B Keiner Delgado1-for-5, RS
3B Enmanuel Tejeda2-for-2, 2 BB, SB (18), CS (5)
.317/.489/.462 in 141 PA (2 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 26 R, 31 BB, 30 K, 18-for-23 SB)
CF Willy Montero4-for-4, RBI, CS (4)
.344/.397/.467 in 136 PA (7 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 30 RBI, 17 R, 11 BB, 25 K, 4-for-8 SB). He is fifth in the league in AVG and third in runs batted in.
SS Hans Montero0-for-4
RF John Cruz1-for-4, HR (7), RBI, RS, K
.246/.331/.482 in 130 PA. He is the league leader with 32 RBI.

RHP Carlos Lagrange5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, HR
2.73 ERA (29.2 IP, 15 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 3 HR, 16 BB, 41 K). Like many big pitchers, you look for improvements in control. Not allowing a walk works.
RHP Jackson Fristoe (W, 1-2): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 2 K
Fristoe’s first professional win – congrats!
RHP Yoljeldriz Diaz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
When you have a 22-year-old who has pitched in only 20 games in four seasons, you know that injuries are the likely reason.
RHP Eric Reyzelman (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
His first professional save – congrats! 

DSL Yankees (22-12) (Destroyed the Rangers Red, 12-2)

CF Brando Mayea2-for-6, RS, K, SB (15)
.258/.377/.360 in 106 PA. Hard to complain about his first 100+ professional plate appearances.
DH Jose Castro3-for-6, 2B (4), RBI, RS, SB (10)
.286/.440/.429 in 91 PA. Castro (17) is a perfect 10-for-10 stealing bases.
SS Santiago Gomez1-for-3, RBI, 2 RS, 3 BB, K
.303/.458/.461 in 118 PA. In 68 total games at this level between 2022-2023, he is hitting .261/.421/.412 in 273 PA.
LF Andres Lacruz1-for-4, RBI, RS, HBP, SB (16), CS (2)
2B Luis Escudero2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 RS, 2 BB, SB (4)
The 17-year-old is hitting .282/.451/.436 in 102 PA. This is his debut season.
3B Andry Javier1-for-5, 3B (1), 2 RBI, RS
RF Niurby Asigen: 4-for-5, RBI, 3 RS
His first career 4-hit game raises his triple slash from .169/.319/.271 to .219/.351/.313. The wonders of small sample sizes.

RHP Jerson Alejandro3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
LHP Pedro Rodriguez (W, 5-0): 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Jose Guzman (S, 1): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K

DSL Bombers (17-18) (Won an 11-10 thriller over DSL Brewers 1. The Brewers scored four to take a 10-6 lead in the top of the 10th, only for the Bombers to score five to secure the win)

DH Gabriel Terrero2-for-6, HR (5), 3 RBI, RS, 3 K
.319/.398/.571 in 103 PA with 20 runs batted in. He is a 17-year-old switch-hitting middle infielder in his debut season.
C Edgleen Perez3-for-5, RBI
CF Gabriel Lara1-for-5, 2 RS, BB, 2 K
.272/.398/.456 in 128 PA with a 12-for-16 stolen base rate. I am intrigued.
LF Ramiro Altagracia2-for-5, RS, BB, 2 K
2B Abrahan Ramirez2-for-3, 2B (4), 2 RBI, RS, 2 BB
3B Rafael Martinez2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 RS

Yankees MILB 4/26: Richard Fitts: 6 Scoreless IP

News:

Nothing to report.

Scranton (10-13) (Defeated Worcester, 4-1)

RF Estevan Florial: 2-for-5, 2 K, 2 SB (7), CS (2)
CF Harrison Bader: 1-for-3, BB
  CF Michael Hermosillo: 1-for-1
DH Elijah Dunham0-for-3, BB, HBP, 2 K
3B Andres Chaparro0-for-4, BB, K
LF Jake Bauers: 1-for-3, 2B (5), 2 RS, BB, K, 2 SB (5)
Bauers extends his hitting streak to seven.
2B Jamie Westbrook0-for-2, RS, 2 BB, K
1B Billy McKinney: 3-for-4, 2B (3), 2 RBI, K
The veteran was only 11-for-59 (.186) entering tonight.
SS Jesus Bastidas0-for-3, SF, RBI, K
C Jose Godoy0-for-3, BB, 2 K

LHP Tanner Tully: (W, 1-1) 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K
Tully is a depth arm who pitched in three games for the Indians in 2022.
LHP Matt Krook0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Matt Bowman1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP D.J. Snelten (S, 1): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
Snelten (30) hadn’t pitched since 2018 entering this season. This is what you call perseverance.

Somerset (10-7) (Held off Harrisburg, 4-3)

DH Trey Sweeney0-for-4, RS, BB, 3 K
.264/.365/.377 in 63 PA with 12.7% BB and 23.8% K rates.
LF Everson Pereira2-for-4, 2 2B (5), 2 RBI
Breaks out of his little 2-for-16 slump.
RF Jeisson Rosario0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K
3B Tyler Hardman0-for-4, 2 K
SS Max Burt1-for-4, 3B (1), RS, 2 K
Burt’s first triple since 5/22/19.
CF Brandon Lockridge0-for-4, RBI, K
1B Eric Wagaman1-for-4, HR (1), RBI, RS
His add-on solo HR in the 9th (giving Somerset a 4-0 lead) proved to be the game-winner. The 25-year-old set a career-best with his 13 home runs last season, including four at this level.
C Juan Crisp1-for-2, RS, 2 BB
The 22-year-old Crisp hasn’t played much since compiling 36 games down in the GCL back in 2019. It seems his role is that of an organizational backup catcher.
2B Eduardo Torrealba0-for-4, K

RHP Richard Fitts (W, 1-2): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
5.23 ERA (20.2 IP, 20 H, 12 R, 12 ER, 3 HR, 5 BB, 26 K). It is all about command (not control) for Fitts.
RHP Tanner Myatt1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
8.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 10 K. Injuries have derailed the hard-throwing right-hander, who is now 24.
LHP Lisandro Santos1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Justin Maese1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR

Hudson Valley (12-5) (Mauled Greenville, 16-2)

CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-5, 2 RBI, RS, BB, K, SB (7)
When will we see him in Somerset? In my opinion, the second half of the season at the latest – could be earlier if he starts to annihilate this level.
SS Alexander Vargas0-for-4, RS, 2 BB, K, 2 SB (4)
2B Caleb Durbin0-for-4, RS, 2 BB, SB (13)
Durbin is second in stolen bases amongst all minor leaguers (Victor Scott (A+, St. Louis) has 16)
C Ben Rice: 2-for-4, SF, 2 RBI, 2 RS, BB, 2 K
Rice has been a machine since Day 1. He entered tonight with a .627 OBP – so this performance will bring that number down.
DH Spencer Henson: 2-for-5, HR (5), RBI, 2 RS, BB, 2 K
Henson has 15 home runs in 84 games at this level and should probably be challenged in Somerset.
RF Anthony Garcia: 1-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, 4 RS, 2 BB, 2 K
Garcia sets a new personal best with four runs scored. His ceiling is that of a three outcomes type – the issue is that one of those outcomes (strikeouts) is two extreme right now.
1B Rafael Flores: 1-for-3, SF, RBI, 2 RS, BB
LF Aaron Palensky: 4-for-5, 2 HR (5), 7 RBI, 3 RS, 2 SB (7)
This is what you call a career game. Palensky, a 24-year-old outfielder, has homered in three of his last four games. He hit 10 home runs in 77 games at this level last season. His previous high for RBI in a game was four.
3B Ben Cowles1-for-5, 3 K

LHP Joel Valdez:  4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
5.54 ERA (13 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 10 BB, 14 K). Valdez was acquired along with T.J. Rumfield from the Phillies for Nick Nelson and Donny Sands last year.
RHP Danny Watson: (W, 1-1)  1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
8.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 6 BB, 13 K
RHP Bailey Dees1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
6.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 12 K. The 24-year-old stands 6’8″ and is listed at 250 pounds – his career K-rate matches up to his size. Let’s see what he can do in the upper minors.
RHP Harrison Cohen1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
The 23-year-old was signed last year as an undrafted free agent (out of George Washington)
LHP Clay Aguilar1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
The 24-year-old is back after missing all of 2022. In his debut 2021 season, he pitched to a 1.90 ERA in 52 innings with a 71/11 K/BB. He made five starts that season, so we will see if they explore that again.

Tampa (6-11) (Lost to Jupiter, 5-2)

3B Brenny Escanio0-for-3, BB, K
Games by position, 2023: SS – 7; 3B – 5; 2B – 2. I give him some of the spotlight because they have been leading him off all season.
C Austin Wells0-for-2, BB, K
He is following the typical rehab formula – he was the DH in the first game and caught a partial game in his second game back.
  C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-1
DH Daury Arias1-for-4, RS, SB (4)
SS Dayro Perez0-for-4, 4 K
LF Nelson Medina1-for-4, 3B (1), RBI, RS
Medina has hit safely in 11 of his 13 starts this season (and has reached base safely in every start)
1B Jose Rodriguez0-for-4, RBI, K
CF Alan Mejia1-for-4, 3 K
RF Felix Negueis0-for-3, K
2B Roberto Chirinos1-for-3, K, SB (1)

RHP Leonardo Pestana: (L, 0-1) 3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
4.97 ERA (12.2 IP, 14 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 17 K). Pestana hasn’t pitched much since 2019 (two games in 2021; one game in 2022). He has 130 strikeouts in 91.2 innings (but has also walked 57)
RHP Shane Gray: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Gray was the Yankees’ 16th-round pick in the 2022 draft out of Evansville.
RHP Manny Ramirez:  1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
RHP Luis Velasquez1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
11.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 12 K