News:
Since the Olympics are front and center, the last few days with the “thrill of victory” (promotions) and the “agony of defeat” (releases). It’s the unfortunate reality of prospect-watching.
The releases are RHP Montana Semmel, RHP Nicio Rodriguez, RHP Nick Paciorek, 3B Beau Brewer, and CF Nelson Medina. There are other players down in the FCL/DSL, as well. You have seen me write about most of these players. Rodriguez hadn’t pitched since 2021 due to injuries. Paciorek pitched well in Hudson Valley in 2023 but was also a victim of the injury bug.
Hopefully, they can find jobs with other organizations or independent ball.
Veteran infielder Rougned Odor (who never appeared in a game after the Yankees signed him to a minor league deal) was also released.
With releases come promotions. I will report on them as they start playing.
Scranton (58-47) (Lost to Louisville, 4-2)
CF Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-4, 3 K
Dominguez’s first full game in the field since coming back.
2B Jorbit Vivas: 2-for-4, 2B (8)
Vivas has four multi-hit efforts in his last seven games.
3B Oswald Peraza: 0-for-4
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-3, 2B (18), RS, BB
Since promotion: .291/.343/.470 in 329 PA (18 doubles, 12 HR, 51 RBI, 50 R, 6.7% BB, 17.6% K). He is on a 7-game hitting streak (9-for-30).
DH Oscar Gonzalez: 2-for-4
RF Taylor Trammell: 1-for-4
SS Kevin Smith: 1-for-4, 2B (11), RBI, 2 K
C J.C. Escarra: 1-for-4, HR (1), RBI, RS, K
14-for-39 (.359) with four doubles and a homer since his promotion. He is 29 years old, but didn’t convert to catching until recently.
LF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-4, K
LHP Thomas Pannone (L, 5-9): 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
LHP Victor Gonzalez: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Phil Bickford: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Tim Mayza: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Somerset (50-50) (Lost to Bowie, 3-2)
2B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4, 2B (2), K
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-4, 4 K
Yes, I get the frustration of fans who see Jones go on a run only to have a night like this. The Yankees love him and are willing to live through the growing pains. That could change if the right trade opportunity comes along this winter. Yes, signing Juan Soto long-term can be a factor.
C Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-4, 2 K
DH Rafael Flores: 1-for-4, RS
3B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-2, HR (6), RBI, RS, CS (1), 2 BB
Hardman has 32 home runs in 118 Double-A games.
LF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-2, 2 BB
RF Jared Wegner: 1-for-4, RBI, K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
1B Max Burt: 0-for-3, K
RHP Chase Hampton: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
Hampton’s first Somerset appearance this season. I can see him finishing the year in Scranton if all goes well.
RHP Matt Sauer: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Danny Watson (L, 1-3): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
I mentioned Eric Reyzelman as the organization’s best relief prospect. A healthy Watson is high on the list, as well. I am not worried about his overall 2024 statistics.
RHP Jesus Liranzo: 1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Carlos Gomez: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Hudson Valley (50-48) (Defeated Jersey Shore, 7-1, in a 7-inning game. The game started late due to rain, so they cut it short)
2B Roc Riggio: 0-for-4
CF Jace Avina: 1-for-3, RS, K
1B Omar Martinez: 0-for-2, RS, BB
C Antonio Gomez: 1-for-3, 2B (6), RBI, RS
I wish Gomez’s bat would develop, as he is one of the few catching prospects who has few questions about sticking there.
DH Garrett Martin: 0-for-3, RS, SB (10), K
3B Kiko Romero: 2-for-3, HR (6), RBI, 2 RS
Romero’s first home run since July 4th.
LF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-2, RBI, RS, BB
RF Anthony Hall: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
Hall has a pair of multi-hit efforts in his last three games. Hopefully, this is a sign that he will finish strongly.
SS Brenny Escanio: 0-for-3, 2 K
RHP Cam Schlittler: (W, 6-4) 5 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
2.60 ERA (86.2 IP, 60 H, 34 R, 25 ER, 7 HR, 38 BB, 108 K). Schlittler tied his personal best for strikeouts in a game and may be their most consistent minor league starter this season.
RHP Kelly Austin: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
The organizational debut for Austin, who was acquired from the Houston Astros for Caleb Ferguson. He pitched to a 2.21 ERA in 36.2 innings for Houston’s Low-A/High-A clubs.
RHP Luis Arejula: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Tampa (41-56) (Lost to Lakeland, 4-3)
2B George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-5, RS, SB (29), 2 K
Lombard Jr. is 29-for-33 (87.9%) in the stolen base department.
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-3, RS, SB (27), BB
Arias is 27-for-38 (71.1%) in the stolen base department. That should improve with experience. His strikeout rate is 32.5%, which is an improvement over where he was earlier this season.
1B Dylan Jasso: 2-for-4, RS, SB (2)
Jasso has three multi-hit efforts in his last six games.
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-3, BB, K
.255/.388/.407 in 327 PA.
RF Willy Montero: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, K
3B Hans Montero: 0-for-2, 2 BB
C Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, K
LF Coby Morales: 0-for-4, 3 K
DH Tomas Frick: 0-for-2, 2 K
PH-DH Joe Delossantos: 0-for-1, BB, K
Delossantos is the first 2024 draftee to make his debut. He was their 10th-round pick, signing for a mere $7,500 (he had zero leverage). The right-handed hitting outfielder out of William & Mary is 23 years old, so it makes sense that they would place him here out of the shoot. He hit .330/.431/.584 in 57 games for the Tribe this season.
RHP Andrew Landry: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Last year’s 16th-round pick makes his Tampa debut. In the FCL, he tossed 9.1 innings, giving up two runs on nine hits with a 14/3 K/BB. He showed off a 6-pitch mix tonight, maxing out at 95.7 with his 4-seam fastball and 95 with his sinker. He mixed in a slider, curve, change, and cutter. The Yankees have a track record of success with mid-round pitching, so watch him.
LHP Will Brian: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
This is not the 25-year-old’s Tampa debut, as he appeared in 2022 and 2023. The 10th-round pick in 2022 out of Eastern Kentucky is 25 years old and features a sinker/curve combo. He generated an impressive ten whiffs tonight.
RHP Jordy Luciano: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Luis Pacheco: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Ocean Gabonia (L, 3-3): 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
FCL (35-22)
Their season is over.
DSL Yankees (15-26) (Lost to DSL Cardinals, 11-9. This was the TAME game down in the DSL today)
SS Dexters Peralta: 2-for-5, 2 RS, SB (21), 2 K
Peralta has three multi-hit efforts in his last four games and is 21-for-24 in the stolen base category.
3B Richard Matic: 0-for-2, 2 RS, 2 BB, K
C Luis Puello: 2-for-4, HR (4), RBI, 2 RS, K
.321/.424/.512 in 99 PA (4 doubles, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 16 R, 3-for-3 SB). He is only 18 years old.
2B Geyber Blanco: 2-for-4, 2B (6), RBI, RS
LF Estivenzon Montero: 1-for-3, 2B (5), 3 RBI, RS, K
CF Louis Pierre: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, RS, 2 SB (12)
1B Niurby Asigen: 2-for-4, SB (7), K
DH Diego Gonzalez: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, BB, K
The 17-year-old left-handed hitting outfielder makes his professional debut.
DSL Bombers (23-20) (Lost to the DSL Twins, 21-19, in 13 innings. That isn’t a typo)
DH Francisco Vilorio: 3-for-7, 2B (7), 2 HR (3), 5 RBI, 2 RS, 2 K
A big day for the bonus baby outfielder. This increases his triple slash from .190/.265/.295 to .205/.280/.366. He is only 17.
C Queni Pineda: 2-for-5, 2B (7), HR (3), RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
The 17-year-old has a .245/.437/.415 line in 126 plate appearances.
SS Christofer Reyes: 3-for-7, 3 RS, SB (14), 1 BB, 3 K
2B-1B Luis Escudero: 1-for-4, 2 RS, 2 BB, K
1B Carlos Villarroel: 2-for-4, 2 2B (5), RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
LF David Carrera: 2-for-6, 3 RBI, RS, K
CF Angel Ventura: 2-for-7, RBI, 3 RS, CS (2), 2 K
RHP Mariano Salomon: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR
Yes, the game got out of hand after he left the game. They used nine total pitchers. Salomon (21) has a 1.75 ERA and 40/10 K/BB over 36 innings.