Yankees MILB 9/23: Scranton Wins Game 1

Notes:

Trade analysis links:
Jose Caballero/Camilo Doval (link)
David Bednar/Jake Bird (link)
Ryan McMahon (link)
Amed Rosario (link)
Austin Slater (link)

Updated look at the trade deadline.

My thoughts on Core Jackson.

Arizona Fall League Players

Pipeline announced its 2025 Double-A All-Star teams.

No current Yankees’ prospect was on the list. C Rafael Flores was listed for Somerset, since he spent most of his time with the Patriots. Flores is now on the Pirates roster and entered tonight 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles in his MLB career.

If you are wondering about Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz or Carlos Lagrange, I suppose they were considered “tweeners” who didn’t put in enough work in either High-A or Double-A to qualify for either All-Star team.

As for George Lombard Jr., there’s a difference between being a top prospect and someone who put together an All-Star season. It’s hard to argue for him as a Double-A All-Star.

Speaking of Rodriguez-Cruz, he was named the Yankees’ Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America. If I had a vote, I would have voted for him as well.

One more Rodriguez-Cruz note: If you trust Andy Martino, the Orioles asked the Yankees for Rodriguez-Cruz in exchange for Charlie Morton. The Yankees laughed in their faces (at least they should have), and Baltimore ended up shipping him to Detroit for a minor league reliever. As you likely know by now, Morton was ultimately released by the Tigers.

There is nothing wrong with aiming high, but a ridiculous ask should always end with a laugh and a declaration of “No further discussion, since you aren’t taking this seriously.”

Injury Log


Scranton (Defeated Jacksonville, 5-4 (10 innings), to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 series. Game 2 is tomorrow. The Tacoma-Las Vegas series starts tonight (10:05 PM ET).

In case you are wondering, they still do the “runner on second base” thing in extra innings during minor league playoff games. I do not have an issue with that.

Former Yankees prospect (and a fan favorite amongst Yankees’ prospect followers) Jared Serna plays for Jacksonville. The once promising prospect had an awful 2025 campaign (.224/.310/.279 in 111 games). Serna was a part of the package that went to the Marlins for Jazz Chisholm Jr.  In case you are wondering how the biggest piece in the package is doing, Agustin Ramirez is hitting .234/.291/.424 (94 wRC+; 21 home runs) with bad (awful) defense. His fWAR is 0.1.

2B Jorbit Vivas0-for-4, BB
   PR Andrew Velazquez0-for-0, R
C J.C. Escarra1-for-4, RBI, BB
Escarra drove home the winning run in the top of the 10th.
LF-RF Bryan De La Cruz0-for-5, 3 K
CF Spencer Jones0-for-3, R, HBP, BB, 3 K
When the top four hitters go 1-for-16, you don’t expect to win.
RF Jose Rojas1-for-4, R, K
   LF Ismael Munguia0-for-1
DH Brennen Davis1-for-5, 2B (1), 2 K
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, R, K
Rumfield’s 3-run home run turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead.
3B Jeimer Candelario: 2-for-4, HR (1), RBI, R, K
Candelario and Rumfield went back-to-back in the 4th inning.
SS Braden Shewmake: 2-for-3, 2 2B (2), HBP

RHP Brendan Beck4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Including this postseason start, Beck ends the season with 136 innings.  He was able to get through an entire season without any injury setbacks.
RHP Kervin Castro: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Yerry De los Santos1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
LHP Brent Headrick1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Joel Kuhnel : 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
The bullpen was good tonight, but Kuhnel couldn’t hold a 4-2 lead in the 9th.
LHP Jayvien Sandridge: (W, 1-0)  0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Ian Hamilton: (S, 1)  1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
That’s how you close out a game!


Somerset (73-65; 38-31 in the second half; lost in the first round of the playoffs)

Their season is over.


Hudson Valley (79-50; 41-24 in the second half) 

Their season is over.


Tampa (63-63; 27-34 in the second half)

Their season is over.


FCL (28-30)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (24-32)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (31-25)

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/21: Spencer Jones Just Misses 30/30

Notes:

Trade analysis links:
Jose Caballero/Camilo Doval (link)
David Bednar/Jake Bird (link)
Ryan McMahon (link)
Amed Rosario (link)
Austin Slater (link)

Updated look at the trade deadline.

My thoughts on Core Jackson.

Arizona Fall League Players

Today is the last day of the regular season. This would typically be the time I would thank everyone for reading. However, Scranton decided to extend my writing assignment for at least two more games.  If I am still doing this next Saturday, that means they are playing in the Triple-A Championship Game.

Injury Log


Scranton (87-60; 49-26 in second half) (Defeated Buffalo, 2-1)

This is Scranton’s first playoff appearance since 2019, and they haven’t won the International League Championship since 2016 (they also won the overall Triple-A Championship that season). They will take on Jacksonville in a 3-game series starting Tuesday. Because they need to complete the series as quickly as possible (so they can play the Triple-A Championship Game), they play on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with all games in Jacksonville.  The PCL Championship Series will be between Tacoma and Las Vegas.

2B Jorbit Vivas1-for-4, RBI
Vivas ends the season on a 7-game hitting streak (8-for-25).  He looked overmatched in his brief MLB time (though he hit a big home run in a 1-0 victory over the Rangers).  I wish he still had an option next year because he is a useful player to have on the shuttle.
  LF Ismael Munguia0-for-1
C J.C. Escarra0-for-4, BB, 3 K
Escarra has decent job security – the Yankees need catching depth, and they know he can handle life in the big leagues.
LF Bryan De La Cruz0-for-2, BB
   PH-2B Andrew Velazquez0-for-2
CF Spencer Jones0-for-3, R, SB (19), BB, K
Jones, who has a 22-game on-base streak, ends the season with 35 home runs and 29 stolen bases. I am sure an umpire missed the call on at least one of his six caught stealings (and they were never wrong when they called him safe). In case you were wondering, that annoying Ryan Ward (LAD) dude was able to overtake him for the minor league home run title. He’s like 45 years old and playing in the most souped-up league in the observable universe – so must we count that?  I’ll get into Jones’ future more once Scranton’s season is over. Preview: His strikeout rate remains insanely scary (you can debate it all day – it’s true), even as the rest of his game shows progress.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-2, SB (5), 2 BB, K
DH Brennen Davis1-for-3, RBI, BB, K
3B Jeimer Candelario0-for-4, K
SS Braden Shewmake: 2-for-3, 2B (13), R, BB, K
Will Shewmake remain on the 40-man roster over the winter? My first instinct is no. However, my first instinct was that he wouldn’t survive on the roster through April, never mind the entire season.
RF Duke Ellis0-for-2, 2 SAC, K
Two sacrifice bunts?  Are we turning back the clock to 1968?

RHP Kenta Maeda: (W, 6-7)  5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
A solid five innings from Maeda. He would be rested for the Triple-A Championship game if they get there, though Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz would also be in the mix if they aren’t going to shut him down. 
RHP Bailey Dees0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Dees’ Triple-A ERA was solid (2.76), but he walked 14 over 16.1 innings (19 strikeouts). 
RHP Joel Kuhnel0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Ian Hamilton0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Jake Bird1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Impressive afternoon for Bird. In his final four games, he struck out ten batters in 4.1 innings. Just looking for signs that he can be viable in 2026.
LHP Jayvien Sandridge: (S, 3) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
If every player who appears with the team receives a World Series ring, Sandridge should ensure the Yankees have his ring size.  Am I too confident?


Somerset (73-65; 38-31 in the second half; lost in the first round of the playoffs)

Their season is over.


Hudson Valley (79-50; 41-24 in the second half) 

Their season is over.


Tampa (63-63; 27-34 in the second half)

Their season is over.


FCL (28-30)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (24-32)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (31-25)

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 4/3: Braden Shewmake Homers

Notes:

RHP Jake Woodford, whom the Yankees signed on March 28th, has been assigned to Scranton. To make room, LHP Edgar Barclay was sent down to Somerset.

Woodford is a 28-year-old who pitched in 89 games (25 starts) for the Cardinals between 2020 and 2024. He compiled a 10-13 record with a 4.88 ERA (4.94 FIP; 84 ERA+) over 219.2 innings with a 15.2% K, 7.5% BB, and 45.8% GB. The ground balls likely attracted the Yankees to him, as he does not have overpowering stuff.


Scranton (3-3) (Defeated Syracuse, 5-1)

CF Ismael Munguia0-for-5
I mention his 5-game hitting streak, and he puts up a 0-fer. My bad. He is still hitting .360 with a .888 OPS.
3B Jorbit Vivas0-for-3, R, BB
1B T.J. Rumfield0-for-3, R, K
LF Everson Pereira1-for-3, RBI, 2 R, SB (2), BB, K
He finally plays a full game in the field. That is encouraging. He is 6-for-21.
DH Dominic Smith0-for-4, 2 K
His debut as a member of the Yankees’ organization (no, I don’t care about spring training)
RF Jose Rojas1-for-2, 2B (2), 3 RBI, 2 BB
  PR-RF Duke Ellis0-for-0, CS (1)
When your only tool is stealing bases, you don’t want to be caught trying to do it very often!
C Ronaldo Hernandez2-for-4, 2B (2)
SS Braden Shewmake1-for-4, HR (1), RBI, R, 2 K
Shewmake’s first HR as a member of the Yankees’ organization. He hit 16 in 122 games for Triple-A Gwinnett in 2023.
3B Andrew Velazquez0-for-3, BB

LHP Brandon Leibrandt: (W, 1-0)  5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
If you are wondering, yes, Leibrandt is the son of former MLB pitcher Charlie Leibrandt.
RHP Kervin Castro2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
In December 2023, Castro was selected in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He missed the entire 2024 season due to injury, so this is his Yankees’ organizational debut. He maxed at 94 MPH with his 4-seamer and featured a sweeper/curve/cutter/sinker
RHP Colten Brewer1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Yerry De Los Santos1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K


Somerset (0-0)

Their season starts on Friday.


Hudson Valley (0-0)

Their season starts on Friday.


Tampa (0-0)

Their season starts on Friday.


FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.


DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.