Yankees MILB 4/6: Bryce Cunningham Impresses in Debut

Notes:

Nothing to report


Scranton (5-4) (Doubled Up Syracuse, 8-4)

CF Ismael Munguia2-for-5, 2 R, SB (2)
Munguia’s solid start continues (11-for-35 (.314/.400/.371)).
RF Everson Pereira2-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, K
Do the Yankees feel that Pereira can be the right-handed bat they seek? I have no idea.
1B T.J. Rumfield0-for-4, R, BB, K
C Alex Jackson1-for-4, 2 RBI, R, BB, K
LF Dominic Smith0-for-3, BB
3B Jose Rojas1-for-4, RBI, K
  3B Jorbit Vivas1-for-1, HR (2), 3 RBI, R
Vivas makes the most of his at-bat. He is 10-for-33 (.303) with a pair of doubles, homers, and 9 RBI.
DH Ronaldo Hernandez1-for-5, 2 K
SS Andrew Velazquez1-for-5
2B Braden Shewmake1-for-3, R, BB, K

RHP Zach Messinger4 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
8 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
RHP Colten Brewer1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Allan Winans2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Kervin Castro (W, 1-0): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K


Somerset (1-2) (Mauled by Hartford, 16-5)

3B Jesus Rodriguez0-for-5, R
Rodriguez is facing a challenge for the first time in his career, as he is hitting .204/.257/.367 in 26 Double-A games. He will need to adjust to the upper level.
DH Spencer Jones1-for-3, R, BB, K
3-for-11 with a double, two walks, and five strikeouts.
C Rafael Flores1-for-4, HR (2), 3 RBI, R, K
Flores has homered in back-to-back games and has 17 in 68 Double-A games over the last two seasons. The power looks real.
1B Tyler Hardman1-for-3, BB, K
LF Cole Gabrielson0-for-4, 3 K
CF Garrett Martin0-for-2, R, SB (1), 2 BB, 2 K
RF Jared Wegner0-for-3, BB, 2 K
SS Jake Gatewood0-for-3, R, SB (1), HBP, K
2B Alexander Vargas1-for-2, RBI, HBP
  PH Max Burt0-for-1

RHP Trent Sellers3 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, HR
The 25-year-old broke out in 2024, pitching to a 2.26 ERA in 83.2 IP with a 100/40 K/BB (only allowed 43 hits). While he made an emergency appearance for Scranton, I would consider today his upper-level debut (he spent last year in Hudson Valley).
RHP Colby White (L, 0-1): 1.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Cole Percival0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
Percival was signed to a minor league contract in January. This is his first go-around for an East Coast organization (previously with the Dodgers, Angels, and Diamondbacks).  Yes, he is the son of former Angels’ closer Troy Percival.
RHP Zach Greene: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
It’s been a long road for the 28-year-old drafted by the Yankees in 2019. He was drafted in the Rule 5 by the Mets in 2022, but injuries kept him off the MLB roster. He was returned to the Yankees in 2023 and this is his first appearance since that year.
RHP Luis Pacheco0.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Danny Watson1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
A healthy season for Watson would add some extra punch to the organization. Before a tough 2024 season (coming off of an injury), he was dominant in 2023 (1.58 ERA with an 82/25 K/BB over 62.2 IP)


Hudson Valley (2-1) (Defeated Jersey Shore, 6-2)

LF Brendan Jones0-for-5, 3 K
SS George Lombard Jr.1-for-3, R, CS (1), BB, HBP, K
3-for-10 with a triple and a pair of walks. 
C Omar Martinez2-for-5, R, 2 K
5-for-13
CF Jace Avina2-for-5, 2 R, 2 K
3B-1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, HBP
2B Jose Colmenares2-for-4, 2B (1), 2 RBI, R, K
The 23-year-old had a strong 26-game audition here in 2023 (.244/.410/.564 with seven home runs). However, he missed all of 2024 to injury.
RF Anthony Hall2-for-4, 2B (1), HR (1), 3 RBI, R, K
An interesting prospect when he was drafted in the 4th round in 2022, injuries have limited Hall’s playing time. In 48 games last year, he hit .222/.320/.316 with a pair of home runs.
DH Tomas Frick0-for-3, BB
1B Kiko Romero2-for-3, 2B (1), K
  3B Brenny Escanio1-for-1

RHP Bryce Cunningham (W, 1-0): 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
The Yankees drafted a lot of pitchers in 2024. Cunningham (22; 6’5″) was taken in the 2nd round out of Vanderbilt. Throwing in the mid-to-upper 90s, he has a chance to become your favorite pitching prospect in the system. That is his ceiling. Will he reach it?
LHP Will Brian1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
The 25-year-old pitched in two games in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Hopefully, he can break the 3-game barrier in 2025 (injuries, injuries, injuries).
RHP Chris Kean1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Kean had an impressive 2024 debut, pitching to a 1.08 ERA in 25 games (33.1 IP). He allowed 15 hits, walked five, and struck out 44.
RHP Bryce Warrecker1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Warrecker stands an impressive 6’8″. In 19 starts last year, he went 2-7 with a 5.79 ERA and 46/30 K/BB over 65.1 innings.
RHP Huey Morrill1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K


Tampa (2-1) (The undefeated dream is over as they lose to Lakeland, 6-5)

SS Roderick Arias0-for-5, K
A tough start to the season for Arias (0-for-12, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 K)
DH Edgleen Perez1-for-5, R, 2 K
RF Brian Sanchez1-for-4, 3B (1), 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, K
Sanchez has 9 triples in 341 career plate appearances.
C Engelth Urena0-for-3, SF, RBI, BB, 2 K
3B Parks Harber0-for-3, R, BB, K
LF Tyler Wilson1-for-4, BB, K
2B Austin Green3-for-5, 2 RBI, K
Green’s first career multi-hit effort.
1B Josue Gonzalez0-for-4
CF Marshall Toole1-for-3, R, SB (1), BB, K
Last year’s 15th-round pick (Tulsa) hit .255/.449/.353 in 17 games with an 8-for-10 stolen base rate in his debut at this level.

RHP Greysen Carter3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 4 K
The professional debut for their 5th-round pick in the 2024 draft (Vanderbilt). Carter is known to hit triple digits, but the talent is raw. Last season for Vanderbilt, he posted a 6.58 ERA in 39.2 IP with a 38/31 K/BB.
LHP Tyler Matzek1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
The first rehab appearance for the 34-year-old.  The Yankees have an upcoming bullpen jam to work out.
RHP Jackson Fristoe2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
The strong-armed 24-year-old has dealt with injuries and wildness in his brief professional career.
RHP Jack Sokol (L, 0-1): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
The professional debut for Sokol, who was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Pittsburgh in 2024.
RHP Tony Rossi1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Rossi, who turns 26 in July, makes his professional debut. He was signed as an undrafted free agent last year (UNC Charlotte). 


FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.


DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.