Yankees MILB 8/29: Spencer Jones Continues to Roll

News:

Nothing fit for print.


Scranton (73-53) (Their game against Rochester was postponed. The lineup was released before the postponement and is below)

2B Caleb Durbin0-for-0
Is his size a detriment? Maybe, but we shouldn’t downgrade him on that alone. At 5’6″, he is the same height as Jose Altuve (Hall of Fame aspirations) and Tony Kemp (not quite Hall of Fame material). We have successful 5’7″ and 5’8″ players. How much does that extra height matter?  The other question is defensive flexibility. The Yankees play him all over the field in the minors. Does a kid with his size have the arm to play anywhere other than 2B in MLB? His profile is intriguing and, while he isn’t a power hitter, his power is spiking this year. 
LF Jasson Dominguez0-for-0
Will Dominguez be up in September? He should be. However, the Yankees will need to find room. Will Trent Grisham (who has minor league options) be a causality? Even though Grisham has CF ability, I find that to be more realistic than cutting Alex Verdugo. Regardless, leaving Dominguez off the roster in September would be foolish.
3B Jorbit Vivas0-for-0
SS Oswald Peraza0-for-0
1B T.J. Rumfield0-for-0
For Scranton: .286/.355/.451 in 408 PA (24 doubles, 12 HR, 60 RBI, 62 R). 
CF Taylor Trammell0-for-0
C J.C. Escarra0-for-0
For Scranton: .291/.407/.437 in 123 PA (9 doubles, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 21 R)
DH Carlos Narvaez0-for-0
RF Greg Allen0-for-0

RHP Yoendrys Gomez0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K


Somerset (64-57) (Won two games against Reading. They are 1.5 games behind Portland for the second-half title)

Game 1 (Won, 5-4, in 10 innings)

3B Jon Berti0-for-2, RS, BB
   3B Max Burt0-for-1, 2 RS, SB (11), BB
1B Anthony Rizzo0-for-2, 2 K
   PH-1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-1, BB
CF Spencer Jones2-for-4, 2B (23), RBI, RS, SB (23), HBP, 2 K
Jones follows up his 3-hit effort with a 2-hit effort. 
C Rafael Flores2-for-5, RBI, 2 K
RF Grant Richardson1-for-4, RBI, CS (4), K
DH Elijah Dunham0-for-4, 2 K
2B Anthony Seigler1-for-4, K
LF Jared Wegner3-for-4, 2B (14), SB (6), K
SS Alexander Vargas1-for-3, SB (11), BB, K
At this level: .255/.303/.402 in 198 PA (5 doubles, 5 triples, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 20 R, 11-for-18 SB)

RHP Cam Schlittler4.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 2 HR
Since promotion: 5.30 ERA (18.2 IP, 23 H, 13 R, 11 ER, 3 HR, 7 BB, 18 K)
LHP Ryan Anderson0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Jesus Liranzo2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.89 ERA (28 IP, 24 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 2 HR, 10 BB, 38 K). Liranzo is a 29-year-old minor league veteran without MLB experience. He is pitching well and you never know with relief arms.
RHP Matt Sauer1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Leonardo Pestana1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Since promotion: 1.56 ERA (17.1 IP, 13 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 18 K). 
RHP Sean Boyle: (W, 2-0) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Game 2 (Won, 2-1. Rizzo and Berti didn’t play in this one. Rizzo was spotted at the US Open)

DH Spencer Jones: 2-for-3, 2B (24), RBI, RS, SB (24)
Jones has a 5-game hitting and RBI streak (10-for-19, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 7 RBI).  He is hitting .333/.404/.524 (28-for-84) in August and .259/.339/.435 in 478 PA (24 doubles, 4 triples, 14 HR, 70 RBI, 62 R, 24-for-32 SB, 10.3% BB, 36.8% K). He has a .774 OPS after producing a .780 OPS (.267/.336/.444) last year. It’s amazing how good players tend to eventually get to where you expect them to be. 
1B Rafael Flores0-for-2, SB (4), BB
Since promotion: .262/.346/.487 in 211 PA. Flores compiled 24 extra-base hits in 434 PA last year. This year, he has 43 in 444 PA.
3B Tyler Hardman0-for-2, SF, RBI, K
LF Elijah Dunham0-for-2, K
2B Anthony Seigler0-for-2, K
.230/.341/.399 in 373 PA (25-for-28 SB). It is fair to point out that this is his second year at this level. He has played in a career-high 102 games.
CF Cole Gabrielson0-for-1, SB (1), BB
RF Jared Wegner1-for-2, RS, SB (7), K
SS Max Burt0-for-2, K
C Juan Crisp0-for-2, K

RHP Bailey Dees: (W, 6-7)  6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
4.49 ERA (126.1 IP, 110 H, 68 R, 63 ER, 19 HR, 52 BB, 133 K). Last 2 starts: 11.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 8 BB, 17 K. Dees has more than doubled last year’s innings output. I think he has pitched well for a converted reliever.
RHP Danny Watson (S, 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
5.74 ERA (31.1 IP, 31 H, 24 R, 20 ER, 4 HR, 13 BB, 19 K). Watson’s injury this year hampered his development. Here’s hoping he can have a solid final few weeks.


Hudson Valley (66-56) (Knocked off Jersey Shore, 7-0. They increase their lead over the BlueClaws to two games)

CF Brendan Jones: 2-for-4, HR (2, grand slam), 5 RBI, RS, BB
Jones predictably cooled off after a crazy hot start but made up for that with his grand slam tonight. In 17 games between here and Tampa, he is hitting .283/.486/.509 in 74 PA (3 doubles, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 14 R, 21 BB, 14 K, 12-for-12 SB).
SS George Lombard Jr.:  2-for-4, 2B (4), RS
Lombard has doubled in four straight games and has three consecutive multi-hit efforts. After games of 8/16, he owned a .081/.190/.081 triple slash at this level. It is now .185/.283/.235 in 92 PA with a 10.9% BB and 20.7% K. For Tampa, he owned a 12.8% BB and 24.0% K. There are encouraging signs in his profile.
3B Josh Moylan1-for-3, SF, RBI, BB, K
LF Garrett Martin2-for-4, BB, K
DH Omar Martinez3-for-4, 2B (14), SF, RBI, RS, SB (2), K
.239/.374/.410 in 398 PA. Last season for Tampa, he hit .251/.367/.445 in 444 PA. 
RF Jackson Castillo0-for-4, RS, SB (3), BB
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-5, K
C Antonio Gomez1-for-3, 2B (13), 2 RS, SB (1), 2 BB
.238/.306/.448 in 162 PA (13 doubles, 1 triple, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 25 R). He is 22-for-72 with 9 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 12 RBI, and 18 R in August.
2B Brenny Escanio0-for-5, 5 K

RHP Trent Sellers3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Sellers continues his stellar pitching as a starter (8 starts, 0.61 ERA (29.1 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 31 K)). His innings-per-start isn’t high because he is converting from relief work.
RHP Yorlin Calderon: (W, 1-0)  1.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Harrison Cohen2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
1.15 ERA (15.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 18 K). It is time to promote him to Somerset (where he finished 2023).
RHP Mason Vinyard2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
At this level: 3.50 ERA (43.2 IP, 34 H, 23 R, 17 ER, 2 HR, 24 BB, 56 K). 


Tampa (50-69) (Defeated Bradenton, 6-3. Game 2 was postponed before Game 1 started. Hence, they converted Game 1 to a 9-inning contest. They will attempt a doubleheader tomorrow)

SS Roderick Arias0-for-3, RBI, 2 BB
Arias owns a 12.3% BB and 31.6% K. 
CF Willy Montero0-for-3, RS, SB (12), HBP, BB, K
3B Hans Montero0-for-4, SF, RBI, K
DH Tyler Wilson1-for-2, 2B (5), RS, 3 BB
RF Dillon Lewis2-for-5, 2B (3), RBI, RS
Lewis hit a ball at 108.8 MPH. He is 8-for-20 with three doubles and a homer to begin his career.
1B Parks Harber1-for-4, RS, BB, 3 K
LF Joe Delossantos0-for-4, RS, SB (9), BB, 3 K
Delossantos, who stole home on the backend of a double steal, is 9-for-10 stealing bases (14 games)
C Josue Gonzalez0-for-5, K
2B Owen Cobb: 2-for-3, RBI, RS, SB (6), HBP
Cobb has reached base safely in 10 of his 11 professional games.

RHP Danny Flatt3.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, HR
Flatt tossed 71 pitches tonight. Last year’s 14th-round pick is only 20 years old and pitched well enough in the FCL to earn some late-season starts here.
RHP Aaron Nixon: (W, 4-3)  1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Tanner Myatt1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Myatt begins a rehab assignment (first appearance since April 26th). Before his injury, he pitched to a 4.15 ERA and 12/3 K/BB in 8.2 IP for Somerset.
RHP Luis Pacheco: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Pacheco dialed it up to 97 MPH tonight. That is why the Yankees took a flyer on the 25-year-old. He owns a 2.25 ERA (16 IP, 15 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 20 K)
RHP Chris Kean: (S, 2) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K


FCL (35-22)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (17-36)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (30-25) 

Their season is over. The Bombers had a good season but it wasn’t enough to make the playoffs.

Yankees MILB 8/24: It’s Roderick Arias Night!

News:

Nothing.


Scranton (70-53) (Defeated St. Paul, 6-3)

DH Caleb Durbin2-for-5, HR (6), 4 RBI, RS, K
Durbin’s 3-run HR in the top of the 9th broke the 3-3 tie. His best for HR is 8, set in 105 games in 2022. He has 6 HR in 71 games this season. This is his 4th 4-RBI game this year (he’s never had a 5-RBI game). At this level: .298/.418/.464 in 289 PA (19 doubles, 1 triple, 6 HR, 48 RBI, 45 R, 23-for-25 SB, 14.2% BB, 10.0% K)
LF Jasson Dominguez0-for-4, SB (12), BB, K
At this level: .298/.356/.444 in 135 PA (6 doubles, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 20 R, 12-for-13 SB, 8.1% BB, 20% K). Yes, he walked more last year (15.3% BB), but I am not worrying about that.  He makes solid contact, which is the most important thing as he returns to form.
3B Jorbit Vivas0-for-5, 2 K
SS Oswald Peraza0-for-4
1B T.J. Rumfield0-for-4
C Carlos Narvaez1-for-3, BB, 2 K
CF Taylor Trammell1-for-3, 2 RS, HBP, 2 K
RF Oscar Gonzalez3-for-3, 2B (16), HR (7), 2 RBI, 2 RS
   PR-RF Cam Eden: 0-for-0, SB (29)
   PH J.C. Escarra0-for-1
   RF Greg Allen0-for-0
2B Jahmai Jones2-for-3, 2B (4), RS, SAC, K

LHP Tanner Tully5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Ron Marinaccio1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Scott Effross1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Effross maxed out at 90.9 with his sinker (averaged 90.7). Effross was never a power pitcher, so it’s hard to tell just how much he is progressing by velocity numbers alone.
RHP Nick Burdi: (W, 1-0)  1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Burdi is sitting in the mid-90s. His 4-seamer velocity is down from his MLB average this year (97.5).
LHP Anthony Misiewicz (S, 7): 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K


Somerset (60-57) (Doubled up Portland, 8-4. Tomorrow is a must-win if they want a realistic chance at taking the second-half division title)

CF Spencer Jones: 2-for-4, 2B (21), RBI, RS, BB, K
.249/.331/.419 in 462 PA. August: .290/.372/.449 (5 doubles, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R, 9 BB, 30 K)
DH Jon Berti2-for-3, HR (1), 3 RBI, RS, K
On his way back…
  PH-DH Cole Gabrielson1-for-2, K
1B Tyler Hardman0-for-5, 5 K
We’ll just pretend this never happened.
LF Grant Richardson0-for-3, RS, SB (14), CS (3), 2 BB, 2 K
RF Elijah Dunham0-for-4, SB (15), CS (4), BB, K
2B Anthony Seigler2-for-3, RBI, 2 RS, 2 SB (23), 2 BB
.221/.339/.396 in 358 PA (20 doubles, 11 HR, 40 RBI, 49 R, 23-for-26 SB, 14.8% BB, 17.6% K). Seigler is not the prospect anyone thought he could be, but he is having a nice year.
SS Alexander Vargas1-for-4, RBI, RS, SB (8), BB, 3 K
August: .273/.342/.455 (18-for-66; 2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, 5-for-8 SB, 5 BB, 17 K). 
3B Max Burt2-for-5, HR (5), RBI, RS, K
C Juan Crisp0-for-3, RBI, RS, BB, K
I love it when a little-used player contributes. 

LHP Ben Shields2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
Since promotion: 3.00 ERA (39 IP, 33 H, 16 R, 13 ER, 2 HR, 15 BB, 46 K). 
RHP Colby White: (W, 2-0)  1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Ian Hamilton1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
An impressive first rehab appearance.
RHP Jesus Liranzo1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Matt Sauer1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Cole Ayers1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Since promotion: 4.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K. This is one way to make an impression.
RHP Eric Reyzelman1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
At this level: 2.70 ERA (16.2 IP, 12 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 HR, 10 BB, 26 K). I know I have talked up relievers who ended up being traded or didn’t fire in MLB. I can’t guarantee that Reyzelman will be different. I can only tell you that he is an intriguing arm to watch.


Hudson Valley (64-54) (Defeated Wilmington, 7-3. They have won 6 in a row as they try to hold off Jersey Shore (3 games back), Aberdeen (3.5), and Greensboro (3.5) for the second-half title)

2B Roc Riggio1-for-3, RS, CS (6), HBP, BB
.216/.346/.371 in 429 PA (23 doubles, 4 triples, 8 HR, 36 RBI, 62 R, 24-for-30 SB, 14.7% BB, 19.3% K). The theme has been the same all year: He is making contact, drawing walks, and showing a little pop. His BABIP has been low since Opening Day, but it is up to .259.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-4, SB (6), BB, K
At this level: 8-for-65 (.123/.230/.123) with a 6-for-7 SB rate (he is 36-for-41 overall). His 21.6% K rate since his promotion suggests he isn’t overwhelmed. 
1B Josh Moylan1-for-4, RBI, 2 RS, BB, 2 K
RF Garrett Martin1-for-3, RS, SB (14), 2 BB
Martin has a 6-game hitting streak.
CF Jackson Castillo3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 RS, SB (2), BB
Since promotion: 12-for-31 (.387; 2 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 7 R, 2-for-2 SB). He has hit safely in 7 of the 8 games (in the other game, he left early due to injury).
3B Dylan Jasso1-for-5, K
DH Coby Morales2-for-5, 2 RBI, K
Since promotion: 10-for-23 (.435) with a double and 6 RBI.
C Antonio Gomez1-for-4, HR (5), RBI, RS, K
Gomez has 11 extra-base hits (7 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR) in 18 August games.
LF Anthony Hall2-for-3, 2 2B (3), RBI, 2 SB (4), BB

RHP Indigo Diaz0.2 IP, 3 H, 3R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
The Renegades went with a bullpen game today…
RHP Harrison Cohen: (W, 2-0)  2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
At this level: 13.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 16 K. Cohen did enough at this level last year to earn a promotion to Somerset late in the year. They need to consider doing that again.
LHP Joel Valdez2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Ocean Gabonia2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Since promotion: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 BB, 6 K
RHP Thomas Balboni Jr.: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Matt Keating0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K


Tampa (49-67) (Split a doubleheader against Ft. Myers)

Game 1 (Came back from a 7-0 deficit in the 5th to win, 8-7)

SS Roderick Arias: 3-for-4, 2 2B (18), HR (11), 4 RBI, RS, SB (29), BB
Arias finished off the comeback with a walk-off double in the bottom of the 7th. This game pushed his OPS over .700 (.225/.324/.378; 18 doubles, 7 triples, 11 HR, 66 RBI, 66 R, 29-for-42 SB). It’s been a season of extremes for Arias, which isn’t surprising.
CF Willy Montero1-for-4
3B Hans Montero2-for-3, 2B (6), RS, BB
1B Parks Harber1-for-4, RS, K
DH Dillon Lewis2-for-3, 2B (1), 2 RBI, BB, K
Lewis’ 2-run double in the 6th tied the game. He has started his professional career with back-to-back 2-for-3 efforts (homered in his first game)
LF JoJo Jackson0-for-4, K
Jackson debuted on August 6th, disappeared from the lineup, and returned today. The 21-year-old switch-hitter was their 17th-round pick out of Georgia State.
RF Joe Delossantos0-for-3, RS, BB, K
C Diomedes Hernandez0-for-3, RS, BB, K
2B Owen Cobb3-for-4, 2B (2), 2 RBI, 3 RS, SB (4), K
Cobb’s first professional multi-hit effort.

RHP Carlos Lagrange2 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
Lagrange was still throwing hard but didn’t have his control/command tonight. 
LHP Rafelin Nivar2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Aaron Nixon2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Kristofer Bow (W, 2-1): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
5.19 ERA (34.2 IP, 24 H, 24 R, 20 ER, 3 HR, 25 BB, 39 K). Bow has also hit 10 batters, so the control needs to be ironed out.

Game 2 (Lost, 7-6, in 8 innings)

CF Marshall Toole: 1-for-4, RS, SB (7), BB, 2 K
Toole is 11-for-39 (.282) with a pair of doubles and a 7-for-9 stolen base rate.
SS Roderick Arias: 2-for-3, 2B (19), RS, 2 SB (31), HBP
Today: 5-for-7, 3 doubles (19), HR (11), 4 RBI (66), 2 RS (67), 3 SB (31), BB, HBP. His OPS is now .709.
DH Willy Montero1-for-3, 2B (22), SF, 2 RBI, K
Montero has 7 doubles in 19 August games.
LF Tyler Wilson0-for-3, BB, 2 K
2B Hans Montero0-for-4, 2 K
1B Parks Harber0-for-2, RBI, RS, SB (4), 3 BB, K
RF Dillon Lewis1-for-4, 2 RS. SB (2), 2 K
3B Duncan Pastore: 1-for-4, RBI, RS, 2 SB (4), 2 K
Pastore is 8-for-15 with three RBI to begin his professional career.
C Josue Gonzalez0-for-2, 2 SF, 2 RBI, K

RHP Bryce Warrecker: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
Warrecker cruised through 3 innings before allowing a grand slam in the 4th.
RHP Yoljeldriz Diaz2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Jordy Luciano: (L, 2-5)  2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K


FCL (35-22)

Their season is over.


DSL Yankees (17-36)

Their season is over.


DSL Bombers (30-25) 

Their season is over. The Bombers had a good season but it wasn’t enough to make the playoffs.