Notes:
A lot of roster assignments in the DSL today in anticipation of their openers on Monday. I say openers because the Yankees have two Dominican Summer League (DSL) teams. If you are new to this, they do play each other during the season.
One unique feature of the DSL is that the rosters do not count towards the organizational limit. If you look at their rosters, you will often see a zillion pitchers, a million catchers, and several hundred thousand infielders who are labeled as “shortstops” (every outfielder is a center fielder, also!).
SS Mani Cedeno is one of the most highly touted prospects. The 16-year-old signed for $2.5 million in January. One of his teammates is 18-year-old OF Francisco Vilorio. Vilorio, signed for $1.75M in 2024, struggled in his first taste of professional ball last year. He hit .196/.294/.345 with four homers and eight stolen bases in 42 games. 2025 is already a big year for his prospect status. I doubt many top players struggled in back-to-back DSL seasons.
Now for the reality: Many of the best players who come out of the DSL signed for much less than the bonus babies. I won’t get into the entire list, but Mariano Rivera famously signed for $2,500 in 1990. It was a different system and bonus structure, but that is one of the biggest international bargains in history. Who do I think will be those “surprise” players in the DSL? A moment of honesty: I don’t know who 99% of these players are, never mind trying to project their futures.
Scranton (25-28) (Defeated Worcester, 3-0)
DH Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-4, 2B (6), R, SB (9), K
Since promotion: .360/.436/.453 in 163 PA (6 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 27 R, 9-for-13 SB, 12.3% BB, 14.1% K). In his last five games, in order: 3B, 3B, C, C, DH. He compiled 34 hits in 23 May games.
LF Dominic Smith: 1-for-2, HR (8), 2 RBI, R, SB (4), BB
The veteran had an outstanding May: .317/.389/.622 with 7 homers and 22 RBI in 23 games.
C Alex Jackson: 1-for-4, RBI, K
.302/.387/.604 in 111 PA (8 HR, 28 RBI, 21 runs in 26 games). He has never hit in MLB, but he is valuable as a #3 catcher.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-3, SB (4), BB
Rumfield in May: .343/.422/.486 with four doubles and a pair of home runs.
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 1-for-3, BB, K
SS Braden Shewmake: 1-for-4, 2B (2)
CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-4, CS (4), K
2B Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-2, SB (13), BB
3B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-2, R, BB, K
RHP Allan Winans (W, 4-0): 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
0.27 ERA (33.1 IP, 23 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 11 BB, 39 K). You see numbers like these, and your first instinct may be “What about that BABIP?” In Winans’ case, it is normal: .280. Anyway, Winans needs to be precise because he doesn’t throw hard. His 4-seamer maxed at 89.7 MPH (sinker reached 89.8).
RHP Clayton Beeter: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Beeeter reached 96.4 MPH with his 4-seamer. Season: 1.13 ERA (8 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 8 BB, 12 K)
RHP Wilking Rodriguez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 3 K
Four walks and three strikeouts in an inning of work (his outing spanned two innings). Now for the good stuff: Rodriguez reached 99.3 MPH with his 4-seamer, and his cutter reached 98.9. If you are skeptical of that number, so am I. It is possible that it was a misread 4-seam fastball. Either way, those readings keep teams interested. Season: 4.42 ERA (18.1 IP, 14 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 2 HR, 17 BB, 27 K).
RHP Colten Brewer (S, 3): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
3.98 ERA (20.1 IP, 15 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 3 HR, 12 BB, 26 K)
Somerset (23-26) (Lost to Akron, 10-5. The game ended on a triple play with the bases loaded)
3B Jazz Chisholm Jr.: 1-for-3, SB (1)
I doubt he will be down here much longer. The Yankees typically want a player to play a full game in the field before they consider activation.
3B Max Burt: 0-for-2, K
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-4, 3 K
We all have bad days. At this level, he is hitting .200 (15-for-75) with a double and a triple. He has 18 walks (18.8%) and 21 strikeouts (21.9%). The Yankees knew there would be struggles. They feel that he can handle them.
DH Rafael Flores: 1-for-4, 2B (13), R
In April, Flores hit seven doubles and five homers. In May, he compiled six doubles and five homers. He played more games in May, but he has been consistent.
2B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-4
CF Garrett Martin: 2-for-3, 2 HR (8), 2 RBI, 2 R, SB (9), BB
This is Martin’s third career 2-HR game. He has 31 doubles, 20 homers, and 26 stolen bases in 149 career games.
LF Brennen Davis: 0-for-3, RBI, R, BB, 2 K
1B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-4
RF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-4, HR (3), RBI, R, K
C Antonio Gomez: 0-for-3, BB, K
RHP Bailey Dees: (L, 1-4) 4.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 7 K, HR
5.02 ERA (43 IP, 43 H, 25 R, 24 ER, 6 HR, 25 BB, 52 K)
RHP Baron Stuart: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
5.00 ERA (27 IP, 17 H, 17 R, 15 ER, 3 HR, 20 BB, 27 K)
RHP Luis Pacheco: 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
Hudson Valley (30-19) (Lost to Wilmington, 5-1. The Renegades flew out of the gate but haven’t played as well lately. They have fallen into third place behind Brooklyn (34-15) and Greensboro (33-15).)
2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-2, R, 2 BB, K
.265/.438/.618 in 89 PA. Including 2024, Riggio is hitting .227/.363/.429 in 569 PA at this level with 17 homers, 62 RBI, 90 runs, 15.8% BB, 20.4% K, and a 29-for-39 stolen base rate.
LF Brendan Jones: 1-for-3, SB (21), BB, K
Jones finished May a perfect 10-for-10 stealing bases. After showing some pop in April (.238/.347/.425), it disappeared in May (.239/.339/.315). I’m not concerned.
1B Coby Morales: 0-for-4, 2 K
DH Parks Harber: 1-for-4, RBI
.323/.380/.515 in 108 PA since his promotion. His 53 total hits are tied for second with Jesus Rodriguez (the organizational leader is Rafael Flores, who has 55)
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-4, 3 K
.225/.323/.344 in 186 PA. Castillo slumped in May (.186/.286/.286) after a strong April (.275/.370/.420).
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-3, HBP, K
SS Jose Colmenares: 0-for-4, CS (2), 2 K
3B Josh Moylan: 1-for-3, 2B (10), BB, 2 K
RF Luis Durango: 1-for-4, CS (1), K
RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (L, 3-2): 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
3.38 ERA (48 IP, 31 H, 20 R, 18 ER, 0 HR, 22 BB, 57 K). A lot of groundballs, zero home runs allowed (9 allowed in 231.1 career innings), and a high strikeout rate. A 21-year-old doing this in High-A is impressive, even if there are a few warts.
RHP Chris Kean: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
3.00 ERA (21 IP, 18 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 2 HR, 9 BB, 19 K)
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Tampa (26-23) (Lost to Fort Myers, 11-1)
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-5, 3 K
Maybe I am being harsh, but we all see the reality here, right?
DH Edgleen Perez: 0-for-4, 2 K
C Engelth Urena: 0-for-3, HBP
CF Cam Eden: 0-for-4, 2 K
LF Dillon Lewis: 2-for-4, HR (9), RBI, R, K
Lewis doesn’t want May to end, as he finished the month 29-for-94 (.309) with 15 extra-base hits (5 doubles, 2 triples, 8 HR), 26 RBI, 24 runs, and a 7-for-7 stolen base rate. He entered tonight in a 5-way tie for first place in the league home run race. I don’t know if anyone else hit their 9th, nor do I care.
3B Juan Matheus: 2-for-4, K
.291/.362/.358. He finishes May 30-for-96 (.313) with 13 RBI, 15 runs, and a 10-for-13 stolen base rate.
RF Tyler Wilson: 0-for-4, 2 K
2B Hans Montero: 1-for-3, SB (6), BB, K
1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3, SB (8), BB, 3 K
LHP Brock Selvidge (L, 0-1): 2.2 IP, 1 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
This is only his third rehab appearance.
RHP Gus Hughes: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP J.T. Etheridge: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
6.00 ERA (9 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 10 K)
RHP Cade Austin: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
FCL (9-11)
Their game against the Phillies was postponed. They will try to play two on Monday.
DSL (0-0)
Their season starts in June.