Tag: Jace Avina

Yankees MILB 5/29: Spencer Jones Returns

Notes:

OF Spencer Jones, out since May 3rd due to an “intercostal injury,” returned to the Somerset lineup tonight. He joined Jazz Chisholm Jr., who is in Somerset on a rehab stint.

Unfortunately, when someone comes off the injured list, someone has to go. The Yankees have released OF Grant Richardson. Drafted in the 17th round in 2021 out of Indiana, Richardson struggled between Somerset/Scranton this year, hitting .198/.288/.363 with three homers and a stolen base in 32 games. In 2022 and 2023, he accomplished a double-double in home runs and stolen bases. Last season, he just missed, hitting 9 homers while stealing 16 bases. Hopefully, he finds work elsewhere.

Injury Log

Scranton (23-28) (Lost to Worcester, 3-2)

C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-5, 2 RBI
He was looking at a 0-for until his 2-run single in the 9th.  He is hitting .366/.445/.458 at this level.
LF Dominic Smith: 1-for-5, 2 K
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, K
DH Alex Jackson: 1-for-4, 2 K
2B Jose Rojas: 2-for-4, R, K
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 2-for-4, R
CF Ismael Munguia: 2-for-4, 2 SB (13)
Munguia is well within a career best for stolen bases (18, set in 2023 and 2024).
SS Andrew Velazquez: 1-for-3, SB (12)
3B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-3, BB, K

RHP Erick Leal:(L, 1-6)  4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, HR
LHP Jayvien Sandridge: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
If the Yankees unlock him, he could be a bullpen threat in the big leagues. It’s all about those walks.
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
Reyzelman cannot find a groove….
RHP Zach Messinger: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Messinger as a reliever can be interesting. In his first three games in the role: 8 IP, 6 R, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K. It is possible they placed him in the bullpen temporarily to reset him as a starter, where he has struggled this year.

Somerset (23-24) (Destroyed Akron, 12-0)

3B Jazz Chisholm Jr.: 2-for-3, 2 R, BB
It’s hilarious that this franchise, adamant about moving Chisholm Jr. back to his natural position, may move him to third to accommodate the remnants of DJ LeMahieu. We would be laughing if the Colorado Rockies did something like this.
   3B Alexander Vargas: 0-for-1
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-5, 3B (1), RBI
CF Spencer Jones: 2-for-3, 2B (4), RBI, R, SB (7), CS (2)
Good to see Jones running in his first game back (plus, they played him in center field, a good sign they think he is fully healed). 
   CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-2, K
C Rafael Flores: 0-for-4, R, BB, K
RF Garrett Martin: 2-for-4, HR (6), RBI, 2 R
.221/.329/.393 in 171 PA. 
LF Brennen Davis: 2-for-2, HR (2), 2 RBI, 3 R, HBP, BB
4-for-15 with two home runs and six runs scored. Davis has 167 games of Triple-A experience, and I assume he will get back there. It might be a roster space game more than anything else.
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
DH Tyler Hardman: 3-for-3, 2 HR (6), 6 RBI, 2 R, BB
Hardman’s first multi-HR game since 2023 (he had five such games that season, including a 3-HR effort). He has 15 RBI in 19 May games.
2B Max Burt: 1-for-4, K

RHP JT Brubaker: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Solid start for Brubaker, who has a ticking clock that the Yankees will eventually need to decide on.
RHP Brendan Beck (W, 4-1): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
2.33 ERA (38.2 IP, 25 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 40 K). Beck has been impressive and healthy. Let’s hope he keeps it going.

Hudson Valley (30-16) (Lost to Wilmington, 7-6, in ten innings)

2B Roc Riggio: 2-for-5, HR (6), RBI, 2 R, K
Riggio has six home runs in 17 games (7 HR in 19 games if you want to include his FCL rehab stint)
LF Brendan Jones: 0-for-5, 2 K
RF Jace Avina: 1-for-3, 2B (12), 2 R, 2 BB
Avina 12 doubles and four homers in 38 games. He has 20 RBI and 28 runs scored (15.3% BB).
DH Parks Harber: 1-for-5, 2B (8), RBI, R, K
CF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-5, 3B (1), 3 RBI, R
Castillo is hitting .230/.331/.355 with 11 doubles, a triple, and a pair of home runs. He has 29 RBI in 39 games (he is 17-for-52 (.327) with RISP)
C Omar Martinez: 1-for-3, RBI, BB
  PR Luis Durango: 0-for-0
   C Tomas Frick: 0-for-0, BB
3B Jose Colmenares: 1-for-5, K
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-3, HBP, K
SS Brenny Escanio: 0-for-3, BB, K

RHP Ben Hess: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
4.05 ERA (40 IP, 27 H, 22 R, 18 ER, 1 HR, 24 BB, 59 K). Not giving up home runs and striking out 59 in 40 innings is good. The walks are the biggest issue he will need to work on.
RHP Bryce Warrecker: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Warrecker has been outstanding all year, but it’s fair to point out that he allowed two of Hess’ runs to score tonight (he entered the game with the bases loaded and one out).  Season: 0.83 ERA (21.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 29 K).
RHP Hayden Merda: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
3.22 ERA (22.1 IP, 16 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 32 K). Merda has a 1.38 ERA in May (5.79 in April)
RHP Huey Morrill: (L, 2-1): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Tampa (25-22) (Split two games with Lakeland)

Game 1 (Won, 2-0, in the completion of yesterday’s game)

SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-1, 2 BB
CF Cam Eden: 1-for-2
His rehab was moved to Tampa.
   PH-CF Marshall Toole: 0-for-1
DH Edgleen Perez: 0-for-2, BB, K
C Engelth Urena: 0-for-3
RF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-2, BB, K
3B Juan Matheus: 2-for-3, R, K
LF Tyler Wilson: 0-for-3, K
2B Austin Green: 1-for-3, HR (3), 2 RBI, R, K
1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3

RHP Carson Coleman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Coleman’s rehab was moved here from the FCL.
RHP Andrew Landry: (W, 2-3)  3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
6.43 ERA (35 IP, 49 H, 30 R, 25 ER, 4 HR, 15 BB, 37 K). 
RHP Jackson Fristoe: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
5.11 ERA (24.2 IP, 27 H, 18 R, 14 ER, 4 HR, 16 BB, 20 K)
RHP Brady Kirtner (S, 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.08 ERA (26 IP, 14 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 10 BB, 30 K). A call to Hudson Valley may not be far off.

Game 2 (Lost, 3-1)

SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, 2 K
The struggle is real.
CF Brian Sanchez: 0-for-2, K
C Edgleen Perez: 0-for-2, BB
DH Engelth Urena: 0-for-3
RF Cam Eden: 0-for-2, BB
LF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-3, K
3B Juan Matheus: 1-for-3, R
.290/.355/.359 in 169 PA (10 doubles, 23 RBI, 20 R, 12-for-17 SB, 10.7% BB, 22.5% K). Matheus is doing a solid job adjusting to full-season ball, but is a cautionary tale about taking K/BB rates seriously in the rookie leagues (he compiled 84 walks and 76 strikeouts in 104 rookie league games)
1B Tyler Wilson: 1-for-2, 2B (5), BB
2B Owen Cobb: 2-for-2
.391/.429/.667 in 78 PA (6 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 19 R, 8-for-10 SB, 6.4% BB, 19.2% K). 
  PH Austin Green: 0-for-1, K
Unless the idea was that Green would get an AB in Game 2 (weird) or Cobb was injured, I don’t get the idea of pinch-hitting for a kid hitting .391 with two outs and nobody on.

RHP Brandon Decker: (L, 1-1)  2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
2.14 ERA (21 IP, 18 H, 10 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 21 K). This is his second straight start. I am not sure if they are starting to stretch him out but it would make sense.
LHP Tanner Bauman: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Sean Hermann: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
1.54 ERA (23.1 IP, 14 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 19 BB, 22 K). His BB rate has come down considerably in May.

FCL (8-11) (Lost to the Tigers, 3-0)

LF Brando Mayea: 0-for-3, HBP
.288/.366/.493 in 83 PA (4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 19 R, 4-for-7 SB)
C Ediel Rivera: 2-for-4, CS (2), K
.283/.400/.413 in 55 PA (3 doubles, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 7 R, 4-for-6 SB)
2B Gabriel Terrero: 1-for-2, 3B (1), BB, K
Terrero has a double, triple, and homer in ten games this season.
RF Santiago Gomez: 0-for-2, 2 SB (8), HBP

RHP Omar Gonzalez (L, 0-2): 4 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 5 K
RHP Mariano Salomon: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
0.68 ERA (13.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 15 K). Salomon has impressed in his career, throwing to a 2.67 ERA in 104.1 innings with a 131/24 K/BB.
RHP Chance Nolan: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
The former collegiate quarterback has yet to allow an earned run (5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 3 K)

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 5/28: Carlos Lagrange’s Big Effort

Notes:

Early-season standout Griffin Herring was promoted from Tampa to Hudson Valley.

The Yankees went heavy on SEC pitchers in the 2024 draft, and the left-handed Herring was no exception. Out of LSU, the Yankees drafted him in the 6th round and signed him to an overslot bonus (as a draft-eligible sophomore, he had leverage). He was an instant sensation for Tampa, pitching to a 0.39 ERA in his four April starts.

While no pitcher at any level can keep up that pace forever, Herring came close. In eight starts, he went 4-1 with a 1.21 ERA (2.87 FIP) over 44.2 innings with a 33.3% K and 9.2% BB. The K rate matches what he did for LSU in 2024. As you may suspect from a pitcher with his numbers, there is some luck involved. He owned a whopping 89% strand rate.

At any rate, he joins fellow 2024 SEC draftees Bryce Cunningham (Vanderbilt) and Ben Hess (Alabama) in the Hudson Valley rotation. The rotation also includes Carlos Lagrange, Kyle Carr, Josh Grosz, and Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. Amongst this group, only Grosz (who has talent) isn’t on the MLB Pipeline Top 30 Yankees Prospects list.

No, I don’t expect them to go with a 7-man rotation. They will either do some piggybacking, or someone is on their way to Somerset.

Injury Log

Scranton (23-27) (Lost to Worcester, 5-4)

3B Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-4, SF, RBI
Is he receiving more time at 3B?  Four of his last six games have been at third base, including back-to-back games. Before this stretch, he caught three straight games. The not-so-fulfilling answer is that I don’t know, but one thing is showing up this year: They haven’t asked him to play 1B/2B/OF at all (second base was never likely to happen, and he doesn’t really *need* to play first base regularly). I think they want him to get comfortable at third base while showing other organizations what he can do behind the plate. 
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-3, 2 BB
.297/.392/.493 in 176 PA. Rumfield is 23-for-61 (.377) with four doubles and a pair of homers in May. He will likely go down the path of Dermis Garcia, Andres Chaparro, and Eric Wagaman – eventually making MLB on squads that can afford them the opportunity. 
DH Everson Pereira: 1-for-5, 2 RBI
The long May layoff interrupted what was a good month (.255/.406/.617 with a double and 6 home runs).
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 K
LF Jose Rojas: 0-for-5, K
C Ronaldo Hernandez: 2-for-4, R, BB, 2 K
This is Hernandez’s first game since May 7th. If you want to get on the “Rodriguez is playing more 3B!” train, perhaps adding Hernandez back to the roster is a sign for you (the other catcher is Alex Jackson). 
CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-3, R, HBP
SS Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-3, R, BB, 2 K
2B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-1, R, HBP, 2 BB, K

LHP Brandon Leibrandt: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
RHP Scott Effross: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Effross has a 27.00 ERA for Scranton (2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 K).
RHP Geoff Hartlieb: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
2.57 ERA (21 IP, 23 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 22 K). It may be hard to remember that Hartlieb was amongst the final spring training cuts.
RHP Leonardo Pestana: (L, 1-2)  1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR

Somerset (22-24) (Lost to Akron, 1-0. The Patriots have scored one run in their last two games.

SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-5, 2 K
When the leadoff hitter gets five plate appearances in a shutout loss, you know there was some annoyance. In this case, Somerset left ten runners on base and went 1-for-12 with RISP. As for Lombard Jr., I know we have been waiting for the power to show up, and it hasn’t. Patience.  He went on an extra-base hit splurge just before his promotion here.
DH Rafael Flores: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
Flores is having a strong season (.300/.355/.533), but it is reasonable to worry about those darn strikeouts (28.9%). You can live with that if a player mashes, but it could limit his upside. By the way, watching the Yankees-Angels last night gave me an interesting comparison: Logan O’Hoppe. 
RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-2, HBP, BB
2B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-4, 2 K
.286/.339/.497 in 174 PA. 
LF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-3, SB (10), BB, K
Gabrielson can take walks (.351 career OBP) and steal bases (28-for-35 in 138 career games) but the rest of the tools haven’t shown up (.225/.351/.335 career triple slash).
CF Grant Richardson: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4, K
3B Alexander Vargas: 1-for-2, SB (9), HBP, K
C Antonio Gomez: 0-for-3, K

RHP Trent Sellers: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
His stay on the inactive list was a short one. Season: 3.19 ERA (36.2 IP, 20 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 4 HR, 16 BB, 47 K)
RHP Danny Watson: (L, 1-2)  1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Harrison Cohen: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
2.55 ERA (17.2 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 24 K). Cohen has been steady since entering the organization in 2023, compiling a 2.79 ERA over 96.2 IP with only 66 hits allowed and a 120/44 K/BB.
RHP Luis Pacheco: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Indigo Diaz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Kelly Austin: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
1.80 ERA (15 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 16 K). He needed a boost to the strikeout rate, and today provided that!

Hudson Valley (30-16) (Defeated Wilmington, 7-1. I love baseball – Somerset turned over the lineup for a fifth time while being shut out. Hudson Valley? Three of their hitters didn’t get to the plate four times in a 7-run effort!)

DH Roc Riggio: 0-for-3, CS (4), BB, 2 K
.246/.434/.614 in 76 PA. He came out of his rehab stint smoking but has settled down (0-for-10 in his last three games). He is 2-for-6 stealing bases after going 27-for-33 in 2024.
CF Jace Avina: 3-for-4, 2 2B (11), HR (4), 2 RBI, 3 R, K
.296/.418/.480 in 158 PA (11 doubles, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 26 R, 14.6% BB, 25.3% K). This is his 4th 3-hit effort this season (the other three were in consecutive games from 4/26 – 4/29).
RF Coby Morales: 2-for-4, RBI, SB (8), 2 K
1B Parks Harber: 0-for-4, K
Since promotion: .333/.389/.540 in 95 PA. He has been feast-or-famine lately (in his last 9 games, he has two 4-hit efforts, one 3-hit effort, one 1-hit effort, and five no-hit efforts)
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
SS Jose Colmenares: 1-for-4, HR (3), RBI, 2 R
3B Josh Moylan: 1-for-3, 2B (9), RBI
LF Luis Durango: 1-for-3, R, K
Durango is 5-for-13 since returning from his rehab stint (3-for-3 SB)
2B Duncan Pastore: 1-for-3, RBI, R, K

RHP Carlos Lagrange (W, 4-2): 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, HR
4.10 ERA (41.2 IP, 31 H, 20 R, 19 ER, 4 HR, 12 BB, 64 K). Other than the hiccup (4 BB in 3.2 innings) in his last start, Lagrange continues to show tremendous growth in that department. 
RHP Chris Kean: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
3.26 ERA (19.1 IP, 18 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 18 K)
RHP Tony Rossi: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Since promotion: 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 10 K. Overall: 16.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 22 K

Tampa (24-21) (Tried to play a doubleheader, but rain got in the way. Game 1 was suspended. Game 2 was canceled and will not be made up)

Game 1 (Lead, 2-0, in the 5th inning)

SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-1, BB
CF Cam Eden: 1-for-2
His rehab was moved to Tampa.
DH Edgleen Perez: 0-for-1, BB, K
C Engelth Urena: 0-for-2
RF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-2, K
3B Juan Matheus: 1-for-2, R, K
LF Tyler Wilson: 0-for-2, K
2B Austin Green: 1-for-2, HR (3), 2 RBI, R, K
1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-2

RHP Carson Coleman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Coleman’s rehab was moved here from the FCL.
RHP Andrew Landry: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K

FCL (8-10)

Day off.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 5/18: Rafael Flores Homers Again

Notes:

RHP JT Brubaker started his latest rehab stint in Hudson Valley today. Acquired for infield prospect Keiner Delgado in April 2024, Bruaker hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He tossed only 16.2 innings in the Yankees system last year.

The difference between Brubaker and Scott Effross and Clayton Beeter is that Brubaker is out of options.  Once the rehab is up, and assuming he is healthy, decisions need to be made.

As for Delgado, reading Twitter at the time made one feel as if the Yankees relinquished the next coming of Roberto Alomar. After hitting .231/.318/.347 in Low-A in 2024, he was moved to High-A Greensboro, hitting .252/.329/.394 with a 9-for-9 stolen base rate. Prospects develop at different rates, but it seems doubtful this trade will haunt the Yankees.

Injury Log

Scranton (21-22) (Lost to Toledo, 10-8)

LF Cooper Hummel: 3-for-5, RBI, R, K
Hummel is 8-for-29 since the Yankees signed him.
CF Everson Pereira: 0-for-3, R, SB (4), BB, 2 K
Pereira was 21-for-28 stealing bases in 102 games in 2022. Since then, he is 20-for-24 in 150 games.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-5, 2B (10), RBI, R, SB (3), K
.305/.404/.519 in 156 PA (10 doubles, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 29 R, 3-for-4 SB, 11.5% BB, 20.5% K). 
C Alex Jackson: 2-for-5, HR (6), 3 RBI, R, K
Jackson continues to alternate games with and without a home run.  He has four home runs in his last seven games (HR, no HR, HR, no HR, HR, no HR, HR)
DH Dominic Smith: 1-for-4, HR (6), RBI, R, BB
Smith has five homers in 14 May games.
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 1-for-5, 2B (3), R, 2 K
3B Jose Rojas: 1-for-4, RBI, R, SB (2), 2 K
2B Jake Gatewood: 1-for-3, 2B (2), SB (1), CS (2), BB, 2 K
SS Andrew Velazquez: 1-for-4, RBI, R

RHP Carlos Carrasco: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 0 K
4.24 ERA (17 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 19 BB, 18 K). Control has always been an issue (19 BB in 38.2 IP in 2024), but it is amplified this season. Furthermore, his K% isn’t making up for the high walk total. Last year, he struck out 63 (40.9%). This season, entering today, his K% was 26.1%. 
RHP Kervin Castro: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2.18 ERA (20.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 24 K)
RHP Geoff Hartlieb: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
3.00 ERA (18 IP, 19 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 18 K)
LHP Ismael Munguia (L, 0-1): 1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Minor league baseball = sometimes bringing in a position player during an 8-8 game.  This was his first career pitching appearance.

Somerset (17-21) (Lost to Portland, 4-1)

3B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-4, 2 K
.275/.329/.493 in 149 PA (7 doubles, 1 triple, 7 HR, 23 RBI, 20 R).  He has played 14 games at 3B, 12 at 2B, 6 at 1B, and 2 at designated hitter.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-2, CS (1), HBP, BB, K
Since promotion: .182/.378/.182 in 45 PA (3 RBI, 7 R, 3-for-4 SB, 10 BB, 9 K)
1B Rafael Flores: 1-for-3, HR (9), RBI, R, BB, 2 K
Flores has homered in three straight games and ties Spencer Jones for the Eastern League lead. He is hitting .304/.354/.554 in 161 PA. Going back to last year, Flores has hit .285/.357/.532 in 434 Double-A plate appearances (24 doubles, 24 HR, 63 RBI, 60 R, 8.99% BB, 28.3% K)
DH Garrett Martin: 0-for-4, K
RF Coby Morales: 2-for-4, 2 K
CF Grant Richardson: 0-for-4, 3 K
LF Jared Wegner: 1-for-3
C Antonio Gomez: 0-for-2, BB, K
2B Max Burt: 0-for-3, K

RHP Bailey Dees: (L, 1-3)  6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
4.50 ERA (34 IP, 33 H, 18 R, 17 ER, 5 HR, 16 BB, 37 K). Bees walked 13 in 18.1 April innings. That number has dropped to three in 15.2 May innings.
RHP Indigo Diaz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Cole Ayers: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Danny Watson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Hudson Valley (26-12) (Defeated Aberdeen, 3-2)

LF Brendan Jones: 1-for-4, K
RF Jace Avina: 1-for-3, HR (3), RBI, R
.297/.421/.455 in 126 PA. Avina has a pair of homers and 3 RBI in three games since returning from injury.
  RF Anthony Hall: 1-for-1, 2B (4)
DH Parks Harber: 0-for-4, 4 K
From four hits to four strikeouts. Explain baseball to me.
CF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-3, 2B (9), BB
Back-to-back multi-hit games as Castillo tries to get on track. He is hitting .234/.342/.355 in 146 PA and is 5-for-5 stealing bases.
2B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-4, K
3B Josh Moylan: 0-for-3, K
SS Brenny Escanio: 1-for-3, 2B (4), R
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-3, K
1B Duncan Pastore: 1-for-3, RBI, R

RHP JT Brubaker: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
His climb back to MLB begins yet again…
RHP Bryce Cunningham: (W, 5-1)  5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 2 HR
2.14 ERA (42 IP, 32 H, 12 R, 10 ER, 3 HR, 10 BB, 44 K). It is hard to deny that Cunningham has impressed the most (so far) amongst the 2024 draftees.
RHP Huey Morrill (S, 2): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Tampa (19-20) (Walked it off against Palm Beach, 5-4)

C Edgleen Perez: 1-for-4, SF, RBI, R, K
It saddens me that I won’t be able to call him an 18-year-old much longer, as he turns 19 on 5/25. 
DH Engelth Urena: 1-for-3, RBI, R, 2 BB, K
His RBI single with one out in the 9th tied the game.
LF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB, K
2B Juan Matheus: 2-for-3, 2B (8), RBI, 2 BB
Matheus has gone insane. He is 15-for-25 (.600) during his 7-game hitting streak. The streak has spiked his triple slash to .316/.378/.386 (.236/.321/.303 before the streak started). He ranks fifth in the Florida State League in batting average.  He is a switch-hitter who has thus far hit lefties well in a small sample (9-for-22). Last year, he was 8-for-40 against southpaws.
RF Austin Green: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, SB (5), 2 K
Green has a 5-game hitting streak (8-for-18). 
1B Tyler Wilson: 0-for-4, 2 K
3B Hans Montero: 0-for-4, 3 K
SS Owen Cobb: 2-for-4, R
No extra-base hits? I’m appalled! Cobb is now 21-for-47 (.447) with 11 extra-base hits (6 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR). He is on a 6-game hitting streak (10-for-22) and has eight multi-hit efforts in 14 games.
CF Marshall Toole: 1-for-3, R, CS (1), BB
Toole has a 7-game hitting streak (8-for-22).  He is hitting .326/.398/.447 in 98 PA.

RHP Gage Ziehl: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, HR
RHP Gus Hughes: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Sean Hermann: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
1.80 ERA (20 IP, 14 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 17 BB, 20 K). The walks have settled down since he walked 15 in 12.1 April innings.
RHP Cole Zaffiro: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Jackson Fristoe (W, 3-1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
5.75 ERA (20.1 IP, 24 H, 17 R, 13 ER, 3 HR, 14 BB, 17 K)

FCL (5-6) 

Day off.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 5/16: Jesus Rodriguez is Scorching

Notes:

RHP Clayton Beeter‘s rehab is over. The Yankees have optioned him to Scranton.

The Yankees traded LHP Rob Zastryzny to the Brewers for cash considerations. This is a massive win since I no longer need to type that name. The 33-year-old has pitched for several organizations, including MLB stops with the Cubs, Mets, Angels, and Pirates. This will be his second stint with the Brewers.

He never pitched in MLB for the Yankees. In 13 games for Scranton, he pitched to a 4.50 ERA over 12 innings with a 12/2 K/BB.

LHP Edgar Barclay, who looked like he was making a push to get to MLB a few years ago, was transferred from the 7-day injured list to the Full Season list for Somerset. RHP Luis Velasquez suffered the same fate.

Injury Log

Scranton (20-21) (Lost to Toledo, 6-3)

C Jesus Rodriguez: 3-for-5, CS (1), K
This is silly. He has back-to-back 3-hit efforts and is 14-for-31 (.452) during his 8-game hitting streak. Since his promotion: .385/.482/.495 in 112 PA (5 doubles, 3 triples, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 23 R, 5-for-6 SB, 16.1% BB, 12.5% K)
RF Cooper Hummel: 0-for-3, CS (1), BB, 2 K
  CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-0
   PH T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-1
CF Everson Pereira: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB, K
.289/.391/.577 in 115 PA. 16 walks in 115 PA this season. 16 walks in 182 PA last year. He is on an 11-game on-base streak (at least one hit in ten of those games)
DH Alex Jackson: 1-for-4, K
1B Dominic Smith: 1-for-4, RBI
LF Bryan De La Cruz: 1-for-4, 2B (2), RBI, K
3B Jose Rojas: 2-for-4, 2 2B (10), K
2B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-4, K
SS Andrew Velazquez: 2-for-4, HR (2), RBI, R, 2 K

RHP Jake Woodford (L, 1-2): 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, HR
3.86 ERA (30.1 IP, 32 H, 16 R, 13 ER, 6 HR, 12 BB, 28 K). 
RHP Wilking Rodriguez: 1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Colten Brewer: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Somerset (16-20) (Defeated Portland, 4-2, in ten innings. As the home team, you know what that means!)

DH Dylan Jasso: 2-for-5, HR (7), 2 RBI, R, K
Yes, that is what it means:  Jasso hit a walk-off 2-run blast. He has homered in back-to-back games and owns a .271/.329/.504 triple slash in his first taste of Double-A. Hitting him at the top of the lineup all season shows that the Yankees like something about this kid.
3B George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-3, R, BB, 3 K
You don’t see Lombard Jr. have many no-contact games. Sometimes, he will remind you that he is still a teenager.
C Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, HR (7), 2 RBI, R, K
.293/.342/.514 in 152 PA. Flores has slumped in the power department this month, so it’s nice to see him hit one out.
CF Garrett Martin: 0-for-2, SB (6), HBP, K
LF Coby Morales: 1-for-3, 2 K
Morales’s first Double-A hit.
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4, 2 K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-3, SB (5), BB, K
RF Grant Richardson: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
2B Max Burt: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K

RHP Trystan Vrieling: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K
Vrieling’s rehab is over. This is his first start for Somerset this season. He tossed 60 pitches (34 strikes).
RHP Baron Stuart: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Jon Olsen: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Olsen’s Somerset debut. It’s his first game in affiliated ball since 2022.
LHP Ryan Anderson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Mason Vinyard (W, 1-1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
After a slow start, he is pitching better (4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K this month)

Hudson Valley (24-12) (Lost to Aberdeen, 4-3. They scored a pair in the 9th to make it interesting but couldn’t get over the hump)

CF Brendan Jones: 0-for-5, 2 K
2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-4, 2 K
DH Jace Avina: 1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, R, 3 K
Avina was activated from the injured list today. He is hitting .305 with a .879 OPS.
LF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-2, R, SB (5), 2 BB
Jackson has a 14.6% BB rate and has 102 walks in 637 career plate appearances. He showed he could hit here in a brief audition in 2024, so his slow start is somewhat surprising.
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-4, 2 K
3B Jose Colmenares: 2-for-4, 2 2B (5), RBI, R, K
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-2, HBP, BB, K
  PR Luis Durango: 0-for-0
SS Brenny Escanio: 0-for-4, 3 K
RF Anthony Hall: 1-for-3, RBI, BB, 2 K

RHP Josh Grosz: (L, 2-2)  5 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
4.18 ERA (28 IP, 24 H, 17 R, 13 ER, 2 HR, 12 BB, 37 K)
RHP Chris Kean: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
1.10 ERA (16.1 IP, 12 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 14 K)
RHP Matt Keating: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.45 ERA (11 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 9 K)

Tampa (18-19)

Scheduled day off.

The Tarpons have won four in a row and are 9-3 in their last 12 as they pulled themselves out of an abyss.

FCL (5-5) (Lost to the Phillies, 15-5)

CF Cam Eden: 1-for-4, SB (2)
DH Brennen Davis: 3-for-4, 2B (2), HR (3), RBI, 2 R, K
OK, get him to Scranton.
LF Brando Mayea: 2-for-4, R
.297/.381/.459 in 43 PA. At this level last year, the 19-year-old bonus baby hit .281/.370/.326 in 154 PA. I would be shocked if he doesn’t make his Low-A debut this year.
2B Luis Escudero: 3-for-4, 3B (1), RBI, R
SS Santiago Gomez: 1-for-3, RBI, SB (2), K

None of the pitching lines warrant inclusion!

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 5/3: George Lombard Jr. is Scorching

Notes:

Will the Yankees dodge a bullet with Clarke Schmidt? “Soreness in the side” is scary, but I hope so.

The Yankees lack rotation depth. This should not come as a surprise to people who read these reports. The Triple-A rotation consists of prospects Zach Messinger and Sean Boyle, along with veterans Allan Winans, Brandon Leibrandt, Erick Leal, and Jake Woodford.

Winans is on the 40-man roster and would seemingly have a leg up. In 2025, the right-hander has a whopping strikeout rate of 42.9%. Even though it’s Triple-A, it’s considerably higher than any previous season at any level. He has yet to allow an earned run in 14 innings.

Fangraphs labeled Messinger as a “depth starter” in its annual prospects report. He has an innings-eater profile, including 150 for Somerset in 2024 (6th most in minor league baseball). He hasn’t pitched well for Scranton thus far (6.48 ERA/5.18 FIP in 25 innings). Boyle has tossed three strong starts and three less-than-ideal starts. Woodford has 89 games (25 starts) of MLB experience, posting a 4.88 ERA (4.94 FIP) and 15.2% K rate.

If I don’t sound enthusiastic, that is a good observation. Their 6th starter depth is not ideal. Hence, it is imperative that Schmidt feels better when he wakes up on Sunday.

LHP Edgar Barclay was placed on the injured list for Somerset.

Injury Log

Scranton (15-16) (Lost to Syracuse, 8-2)

CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-5
LF Everson Pereira: 1-for-4, HR (6), RBI, R, K
Pereira has three home runs in his last two games (5 HR in his last 8 games)
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, 2 K
C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-3, BB
Rodriguez has an 8-game hitting streak (15-for-31).  Since his promotion, he has more walks (13) than strikeouts (10).
DH Dominic Smith: 1-for-3, HR (2), RBI, R, BB, K
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 1-for-4, 2 K
His first hit as a member of the Yankees’ organization.
3B Jose Rojas: 1-for-4
2B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K
SS Andrew Velazquez: 1-for-3, BB, K

RHP Erick Leal (L, 1-3): 0.2 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
3.95 ERA (13.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 HR, 10 BB, 18 K). He did a nice job settling the game down.
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2.63 ERA (13.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 16 K). This is his longest career outing.
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Wilking Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
1.50 ERA (12 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 18 K)
LHP Grant Richardson: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
The outfielder makes his first career pitching appearance.

Somerset (11-15) (Lost to Richmond, 4-1)

3B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3, CS (2), BB, 2 K
LF Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, 3 K
.228/.372/.554 in 113 PA (3 doubles, 9 HR, 16 RBI, 20 R, 6-for-7 SB, 17.7% BB, 36.3% K).  Even if Jones is a viable MLB player, games like tonight will be relatively common.  You take the good with the bad.
DH Rafael Flores: 0-for-3, K
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-3, K
2B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-3, 2 K
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3, 2 K
RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-3
SS Alexander Vargas: 1-for-3, 2B (6), R
Vargas breaks up the no-hitter with one out in the 9th.  He is hitting .270/.338/.397 in 71 PA.
C Antonio Gomez: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, BB
Gomez’s first Double-A RBI.

RHP Trent Sellers (L, 0-1): 4.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, HR
3.91 ERA (23 IP, 14 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 11 BB, 31 K). The undrafted free agent out of Oregon State (2023) has pitched well enough to get on the radar. 
RHP Indigo Diaz: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Luis Pacheco: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K

Hudson Valley (18-8) (Walked it off against Jersey Shore, 5-4)

RF Jace Avina: 2-for-3, 2 2B (6), 2 R, HBP, BB, K
.329/.467/.439 in 105 PA (6 doubles, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 18 R, 2-for-3 SB, 16.2% BB, 23.8% K). Avina has reached base safely in 24 of 25 games this season. He was ejected after his first AB in the only game where he hasn’t reached base.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 3-for-5, 2 2B (8), 2 RBI, 2 R
.329/.495/.488 in 111 PA (8 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 22 R, 11-for-13 SB, 20.7% BB, 19.8% K). Lombard Jr. has six doubles in his last seven games and is starting to make his case for a promotion. No, I am not there yet. However, last I checked, my vote doesn’t count.
CF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, BB
3B Parks Harber: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, K
1B Coby Morales: 2-for-5, 2B (2), RBI, R, K
Morales’ double with one out in the 9th tied the game (brought home Lombard Jr.)
DH Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, 2B (4), BB
Martinez has a 5-game hitting streak (6-for-18).
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-4, BB, 4 K
2B Brenny Escanio: 2-for-4, RBI, CI, K
Escanio with the walk-off single with one out in the 9th.
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-4, 2 K

RHP Bryce Cunningham: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
2.10 ERA (30 IP, 23 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 34 K). Cunningham is cruising, as he hasn’t allowed an earned run (one unearned run) in his last three starts (19 IP). This is how you earn a spot in Double-A.
RHP Tony Rossi: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Between here and Tampa: 10.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 17 K. He’s 25, so moving him up another level could be in the cards soon.
RHP Chris Kean: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Sebastian Keane: (W, 2-0)  0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Tampa (10-16) (Destroyed Fort Myers, 12-5)

C Edgleen Perez: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, K
.179/.364/.194 in 88 PA. Perez owns a .409 career OBP with more walks (94) than strikeouts (88). It will be interesting to see how his career blossoms as he matures.
CF Brian Sanchez: 0-for-4, SB (5), 2 K
DH Engelth Urena: 1-for-4, 2 R, 2 K
.183/.337/.317 in 104 PA. 
LF Dillon Lewis: 3-for-4, 2 HR (3), 6 RBI, 3 R, BB
Lewis improves his triple slash from .159/.233/.244 to .186/.263/.337 in one day.  He sets personal bests for hits, homers, and RBI.
SS Juan Matheus: 1-for-5, 2 RBI, K
RF Tyler Wilson: 3-for-5, RBI, SB (7), K
.239/.343/.250 in 102 PA. 
1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-4, CS (1), K
2B Hans Montero: 2-for-3, 2B (1), 3 R, SB (3), BB, K
.229/.327/.313 in 55 PA.
3B Owen Cobb: 2-for-3, HR (1), RBI, 2 R, BB
Cobb’s first professional home run (21st game)!  Congrats!

RHP Greysen Carter (W, 1-2): 5 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 2 K
“Somebody teach this kid some control before he kills somebody!” Carter is a fun project for someone whose job it is to work with projects. We are just along for the ride.
RHP Jackson Fristoe: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Brady Kirtner: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
1.69 ERA (16 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 14 K)

FCL (0-1) (Lost to the Tigers, 3-1. Another “modern” aspect of the FCL is that the Yankees will play the same teams constantly. Tigers, Phillies, Blue Jays. They play in a 4-team division. It’s essentially a drawn-out round robin.)

It’s Opening Day so I will give you the full lineup:

CF Brando Mayea: 0-for-3, CS (1), BB, 3 K
Mayea was their buzzy millionaire signing a few years back. The 19-year-old showed discipline last year (.281/.370/.326), but no power (2 doubles, 2 triples). He is repeating this level, which I don’t like to see. You don’t give out big bonuses, hoping the player will languish in mid-season leagues for several years. Hopefully, he will break out and get to Low-A later.
2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-2, RBI
First rehab game for Riggio, who hit .221/.349/.397 in 480 plate appearances for Hudson Valley in 2024.
  2B Luis Escudero: 0-for-1, SB (1), BB
LF Luis Durango: 0-for-3, CS (1), 2 K
First rehab game for Durango. As stated yesterday, the Yankees chose him in the Triple-A phase of the 2024 Rule 5 draft (from Cleveland).
   LF Gabriel Lara: 0-for-0, BB
Known for elite speed, Lara showed offensive chops in his 2023 debut season in the DSL (.267/.401/.411 with 18 stolen bases). However, he flattened out at this level in 2024 (.202/.322/.250; 14 stolen bases). That said, he only struck out 13% of the time and had a crazy low BABIP for someone with his speed reputation (.231). I am watching him for a breakout.
C Manuel Palencia: 0-for-4
The 22-year-old may be an organizational floater. I keep rooting for him to put one over the fence (0 HR in 134 career games).
RF Isael Arias: 0-for-2, SB (1), 2 BB
In his 2024 debut campaign in the DSL, he hit .246/.379/.325 with a 10-for-11 stolen base rate.
DH Ediel Rivera: 1-for-3, BB
“Who is this guy?” There are always a few in the crowd whom I don’t recognize. However, there is a good reason for that: This is the 19-year-old’s professional debut. The Yankees signed him out of Puerto Rico last July. He is listed as a catcher.
1B Luis Puello: 0-for-4, 3 K
The 19-year-old spent his first two professional seasons in the DSL. He didn’t fare well in 2023 but bounced back to hit .361/.439/.516 in 37 games last year.
3B Santiago Gomez: 1-for-4, R, SB (1), 2 K
Gomez is 21 and spending his 4th season in the DSL/FCL. He has significant time at 2B/SS/3B.
SS Kevin Verde: 0-for-3, BB
The 19-year-old’s FCL debut. He didn’t do much hitting in the DSL.

RHP Trystan Vrieling: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
First rehab start. The Yankees threw him into the Double-A fire in his 2024 debut season. He responded by going 13-7 with a 4.58 ERA in 147.1 IP. He finished strongly (1.57 ERA in August, 3.12 ERA in September).  I assume he will be back in Somerset once his rehab is complete.
RHP Sunayro Martina (L, 0-1): 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Martina struggled in 19 innings here last year (8.53 ERA), though he did strike out 23 batters.
RHP Stanly Alcantara: 2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
FCL debut. He will want to forget his 2024 season (34 walks in 18.2 innings).

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 4/30: George Lombard Jr. Ends Month on Good Note

Notes:

C Alex Jackson was activated off the injured list. He goes back to being the #3 catcher (#4 if you think Ben Rice would take on the responsibility). C/UTIL Jesus Rodriguez played in Game 2 of Scranton’s doubleheader tonight. I don’t know if he will stick with the squad or return to Somerset.

OF Everson Pereira, who missed several games for unknown reasons, was back in the lineup tonight.

Injury Log

Scranton (14-14) (Tossed a pair of shutouts in a doubleheader sweep of Syracuse)

Game 1 (Won, 5-0)

CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-4
3B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-4, R, K
LF Everson Pereira: 2-for-3, 2 R, K
Pereira’s first game since April 19th. He has three multi-hit games in his last five games and is hitting .274/.343/.435 in 70 PA.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-2, R, BB
C Alex Jackson: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 K
Jackson is on a 5-game hitting streak (8-for-18).
  C Ronaldo Hernandez: 0-for-0
DH Dominic Smith: 1-for-1, SF, RBI, BB
RF Jose Rojas: 1-for-3, HR (3), 3 RBI, R, K
2B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-3, 3 K
SS Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-3, 2 K

RHP Allan Winans: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
0.00 ERA (14 IP, 10 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 5 BB, 24 K). Winans doesn’t have much MLB success under his belt, but this is how you get yourself on the radar.
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
3.18 ERA (11.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 15 K). A mixed bag for their top relief prospect.
RHP Geoff Hartlieb (W, 2-1): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
2.25 ERA (12 IP, 13 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 12 K)

Game 2 (Won, 2-0)

CF Ismael Munguia: 1-for-3, BB, K
3B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-3, 2 R, SB (6), HBP
.319/.426/.436 in 116 PA (5 doubles, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 17 R, 6-for-10 SB, 12.9% BB, 6.9% K). If Jazz Chisholm Jr. has to go on the injured list (we’ll see), Vivas would be the logical call-up. The scouting report isn’t fond of his defense, so it’s all about the offense.
C Jesus Rodriguez: 3-for-3, BB
Rodriguez wishes to stay here. He is 16-for-43 (.372) with two doubles, a homer, 10 RBI, 12 walks, and 9 strikeouts. Those 12 walks have come in 58 PA (20.7%). I am not discounting his Double-A struggles (small sample), but Rodriguez continues to hit, hit, hit.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-3, SF, 2 RBI, K
.241/.362/.460 in 105 PA (7 doubles, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 18 R, 1-for-2 SB)
LF Dominic Smith: 0-for-3, K
RF Jose Rojas: 0-for-3, K
DH Ronaldo Hernandez: 0-for-2, CI
2B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-2, HBP
SS Andrew Velazquez: 0-for-2, BB, K

RHP Sean Boyle: (W, 3-3)  5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 9 K
4.06 ERA (31 IP, 21 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 5 HR, 11 BB, 36 K). His season consists of three starts where he tossed 5+ scoreless innings and three starts where he allowed 14 runs over 15.2 IP.
LHP Rob Zastryzny: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Yerry De Los Santos (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
De Los Santos did his job in his Yankees debut. At this level, he owns a 0.96 ERA (9.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 9 K)

Somerset (11-12) (Defeated Richmond, 10-8)

2B Dylan Jasso: 3-for-5, RBI, R, HBP
When people ask me about prospects like Jasso, my answers are typically: 1. He is hitting at an upper level; 2. The Yankees are batting him at the top of minor league lineups (an indicator of some faith); 3. No major sites say much about him, which lessens his prospect status. If he continues to achieve, we’ll start seeing more scouting reports. Anyway, this is Jasso’s second consecutive 3-hit effort, and he is over .300 for the first time this season (.303/.961 OPS)
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, 2B (3), RBI, 2 R, SB (5), 2 BB, 3 K
Jones is hitting .232 with a .931 OPS over 100 PA (3 doubles, 8 HR, 14 RBI, 19 R, 5-for-6 SB, 17% BB, 35% K). He’s hitting homers, taking walks, and striking out a ton. Interpret as you will.
1B Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, 2B (7), 2 RBI, R, SB (3), 2 BB, K
Flores has played 15 games behind the plate and five at first base. He is hitting .295 with a .902 OPS (7 doubles, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 12 R, 3-for-3 SB, 9.2% BB, 32.7% K). As of this writing, his 21 RBI are tied for the Eastern League lead.
DH Garrett Martin: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, R, 4 BB
Martin’s first career 4 BB game (not that it would be common!). He has 2 doubles, 3 HR, 9 RBI, and 7 walks over his last seven games.
SS Alexander Vargas: 1-for-6, 2 K
After a solid spring and solid start to his campaign, he has slumped (down to .226).
RF Jared Wegner: 3-for-4, 2B (3), SF, 2 RBI, 2 R, CS (1), K
C Antonio Gomez: 1-for-5, R
3B Max Burt: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
LF Christopher Familia: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K

RHP Bailey Dees: (W, 1-1) 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, HR
6.38 ERA (18.1 IP, 20 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 4 HR, 13 BB, 21 K)
RHP Harrison Cohen: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
2.89 ERA (9.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 12 K)
LHP Will Brian: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Brian has pitched 5.1 innings in his first two Double-A appearances and tossed 47 pitches tonight. Your reminder that his professional journey started in 2022, and his 12.1 innings this season are a personal best. Injuries, injuries, injuries.
RHP Mason Vinyard (S, 1): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Hudson Valley (16-7) (Lost a morning game to Jersey Shore, 4-2)

CF Brendan Jones: 0-for-4, K
Jones finishes April at .238/.342/.425 in 95 PA (4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 19 R, 11-for-14 SB, 12.6% BB, 21.1% K).  The average is low, but not much to complain about in his profile.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 2-for-3, 2B (5), R, 2 SB (11), BB
Lombard Jr. finishes April at .309/.500/.456 in 96 PA (5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 19 R, 11-for-13 SB, 22.9% BB, 19.8% K). He reached base safely in 20 of his 21 games. Your expectations can never be met if you complain about his first month. This is what a top prospect does.
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-4, 2 K
.275/.370/.420 in 81 PA (7 doubles, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 7 R, 3-for-3, SB, 13.6% BB, 28.4% K). He compiled a pair of 6-RBI games. Including the 21 games he played here last year, he owns a .295/.377/.468 triple slash over 162 PA.
DH Jace Avina: 1-for-4, 2B (4), RBI, R, 2 K
Avina has an 8-game hitting streak (16-for-31) and finishes April .329/.457/.425 in 92 PA. The 21-year-old is repeating the level, but I don’t hold that against him, as he was 20 (turned 21 last June) when he played here in 2024.
3B Parks Harber: 1-for-3, BB, 2 K
4-for-8 to start his Hudson Valley tenure. .325/.435/.584 overall.
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-4, 2 K
2B Duncan Pastore: 0-for-4
RF Anthony Hall: 1-for-4, K
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-3

RHP Ben Hess (L, 1-2): 5 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Hess, last year’s first-round pick, was solid beyond a 4-run second inning. All innings count, though. Season: 4.42 ERA (18.1 IP, 11 H, 11 R, 9 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 30 K). The walks need to come down, but look at those strikeouts. I would consider his first professional month a successful one.
RHP Chris Kean: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
10.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K. In 32 career games, Kean is 4-1 with a 0.82 ERA (44 IP, 22 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 54 K). Impressive numbers for the 22-year-old.
RHP Sebastian Keane: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.57 ERA (7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 9 K). Keane made 26 appearances (15 starts) at this level last year. Is he going “full-time relief” or will they try him as a starter again?

Tampa (9-14) (Defeated Bradenton, 4-3)

DH Edgleen Perez: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 BB
.179/.373/.196 in 75 PA. The 18-year-old had some struggles and successes in his first month of full-season ball. I am not discouraged.
CF Brian Sanchez: 0-for-4, R, SB (4), BB, K
C Engelth Urena: 0-for-4, R, SB (3), 2 K
.178/.330/.329 in 91 PA. The kid with a power reputation hit three home runs in a 4-game span earlier this season.
RF Dillon Lewis: 1-for-4, 2B (4), R, SB (6), BB, 3 K
2B Austin Green: 0-for-4, BB
LF Tyler Wilson: 1-for-4, RBI, K
SS Juan Matheus: 2-for-4, R, CS (2), K
.255/.343/.345 in 67 PA. The 21-year-old switch-hitter compiled a 13.4% BB rate and 16.4% K rate.
1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-1, 3 BB
3B Owen Cobb: 0-for-3, SB (1), BB, K
Cobb (23) played in 18 games last season, hitting .238/.338/.302 with a perfect 9-for-9 SB rate. The Padres originally drafted him in 2019 (37th round out of high school), but he didn’t sign. The Yankees signed him as an undrafted free agent last year.

RHP Danny Flatt: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR
5.40 ERA (13.1 IP, 14 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 2 HR, 10 BB, 9 K). The 20-year-old is a 4-seamer, cutter, slider guy who reached 93.7 MPH with the fastball tonight.
RHP Sean Hermann: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Jonathan Loaisiga: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Loaisiga’s sinker reached 96.9 MPH (averaged 95.7). That plays.
RHP Brady Kirtner: (W, 1-0)  3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Kirtner’s first professional win. Season: 1.29 ERA (14 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 6 BB, 11 K)

FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 4/29: Dylan Jasso: Double, 2 HR

Notes:

SS Roderick Arias, hitting .155/.302/.254 (72 wRC+) in 86 plate appearances, was placed on Tampa’s 7-day injured list.

1B/3B Parks Harber, who has a 170 wRC+ this season, was rightfully promoted from Tampa to Hudson Valley.

IF Owen Cobb was activated off the injured list and assigned to Tampa.

After missing a few games for unknown reasons, teenage catcher Edgleen Perez was back in the lineup tonight for Tampa.

DJ LeMahieu‘s rehab stint is temporarily (?) halted due to needing a cortisone shot in his hip.

Injury Log

Scranton (12-13)

Their game against Syracuse was postponed. They will try to play a pair tomorrow.

Somerset (10-12) (Defeated Richmond, 7-3)

3B Dylan Jasso: 3-for-5, 2B (5), 2 HR (5), 2 RBI, 3 R
Jasso’s third career 2-HR game. He had zero extra-base hits in his first five games and 11 in his last 13 games.  His OPS is up to .938, which leads the team and is 7th in the Eastern League.
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, HR (8), RBI, R, BB, K
Jones swats his Eastern League-leading 8th HR. He has 33 doubles, 6 triples, and 28 home runs in 160 Double-A games (715 PA).
C Rafael Flores: 3-for-5, HR (5), RBI, R, 2 K
Flores has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games (15-for-44 (.341); 5 doubles, 3 HR, 11 RBI). 
1B Tyler Hardman: 4-for-5, 2 2B (7), HR (2), 2 RBI, R
Hardman’s first 4-hit game since July 28, 2023 (third career 4-hit effort). 
2B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-4, SF, RBI, 3 K
RF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-5, K
LF Garrett Martin: 0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 K
DH Jared Wegner: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K
SS Max Burt: 1-for-4, 2 K

RHP Brendan Beck: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Beck, who tossed 72 pitches tonight, allowed his first runs of the season.  Stats: 0.93 ERA (19.1 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 19 K)
RHP Indigo Diaz: (W, 2-1): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Ryan Anderson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Luis Pacheco: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Danny Watson: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (16-6) (Mauled Jersey Shore, 14-2. The Renedages have scored 125 runs while allowing 68.)

RF Brendan Jones: 2-for-4, RBI, R, CS (3), BB
.250/.363/.447 in 91 PA. Last 11 games: 15-for-44 (.341; 3 doubles, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 16 R)
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-3, 2 R, HBP, BB, K
You know your season is going well when reaching base two times and scoring twice is an “off night”.  His .489 OBP is second in the South Atlantic League. The leader (Noah Myers, .540) is 25 years old.
CF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-5, 2B (7), 2 RBI, R, K
.277/.377/.431 in 77 PA (sevens are wild!). 
LF Jace Avina: 3-for-5, 2 R, K
Avina, who has three straight 3-hit efforts, increases his hitting streak to 7. It’s not a run-of-the-mill hitting streak; he is 15-for-27 (.556). His triple slash has risen from .190/.364/.214 to .333/.466/.420. Nuts.
C Omar Martinez: 1-for-2, SF, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
3B Parks Harber: 3-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, 3 R
Harber’s High-A debut is a successful one. He crushed Low-A (.304/.422/.551; 170 wRC+), and hopes to do the same here.
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-3, HR (grand slam), SF, 5 RBI
Morales falls one short of his personal best for RBI (5/5/24).
2B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
DH Tomas Frick: 1-for-4, 2B (2), 2 RBI, R, K

RHP Carlos Lagrange: (W, 2-1)  5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
He threw 96 pitches tonight. While I won’t search through all his game logs, I feel safe saying that is a personal best. Season: 4.58 ERA (19.2 IP, 16 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 6 BB, 32 K). He has surged after a rough first start. Lagrange has the talent to be a top-of-the-rotation starter.
RHP Tyrone Yulie: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Bryce Warrecker: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Tony Rossi: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Rossi hasn’t allowed a run in seven games between here and Tampa (9.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 15 K)

Tampa (8-14) (Lost to Bradenton, 5-2)

DH Edgleen Perez: 1-for-3, R, BB
Perez’s first game since April 23.  He is hitting .189/.371/.208 (at his lowest point (4/16), he was hitting .114/.244/.114). Remember, he is an 18-year-old catcher receiving his first taste of full-season ball.
CF Brian Sanchez: 1-for-4, 2B (7), 2 RBI, K
Sanchez is on a 5-game hitting streak (6-for-23). He is hitting .250/.292/.412 in 72 PA (5.6% BB, 30.6% K). 
C Engelth Urena: 1-for-4, K
RF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-4
2B Austin Green: 0-for-3
LF Tyler Wilson: 0-for-3
SS Juan Matheus: 2-for-3
.235/.333/.333 in 63 PA (14.3% BB; 15.9% K). Matheus has never had a K/BB over 1.00 in his career.
1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3
3B Hans Montero: 0-for-2, R, BB, K

RHP Andrew Landry: (L, 0-2)  5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Landry has a wide assortment of pitches, including a 4-seamer that topped out at 96.4 tonight (his sinker reached 95.8). He threw 88 pitches and owns a 7.94 ERA in 17 IP (27 H, 18 R, 15 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 18 K). His numbers are skewed by a 1.1 IP, 8 H, 10 R, 9 ER game.
RHP Jack Sokol: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Cole Zaffiro: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 4/27: Rafael Flores Doubles, Homers

Notes:

OF Everson Pereira is listed as active but hasn’t played since April 19th. Injuries are a part of Pereira’s story. He has never played in more than 102 games. His second-highest total is 82. You have to be available to be useful.

George Lombard Jr. and Roderick Arias left their games early yesterday. Lombard Jr. was back in the lineup today while Arias was not. Hudson Valley pulled Lombard Jr. during a blowout, so there was nothing to worry about.

The Yankees have released RHP Alex Bustamante. The 24-year-old was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

Injury Log

Scranton (12-13) (Lost to Charlotte, 13-12, in 12 innings)

CF Ismael Munguia: 0-for-4, RBI, 3 R, SB (6), HBP, 2 BB
11.4% BB, 7.0% K. He is doing what you want a leadoff hitter to do.
3B Jorbit Vivas: 2-for-6, RBI, R, BB, 2 K
Vivas is hitting .322 with a .878 OPS (5 doubles, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 14 R; 13.9% BB, 6.5% K)
DH-C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-4, HR (1), SF, 4 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Rodriguez swats his first Triple-A homer. He is hitting .325 with a .913 OPS since his promotion. This ties his personal best for RBI in a game.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-4, 2B (7), 3 RBI, R, SB (1), HBP, 2 BB, K
Hopefully, this is the start of a hot streak.
LF Dominic Smith: 1-for-7, RBI, 3 K
RF Jose Rojas: 1-for-5, 2B (7), 2 R, SB (1), 2 BB, 2 K
C Ronaldo Hernandez: 1-for-5, R, BB, K
   PR-P Edinson Duran: 0-for-0
SS Jake Gatewood: 1-for-4, RBI, R, 2 BB
2B Andrew Velazquez: 2-for-6, R, SB (7), 3 K

RHP Jake Woodford: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K, HR
4.32 ERA (16.2 IP, 22 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 4 HR, 9 BB, 12 K). While not prospects, veterans in Triple-A are fighting for depth chart placement. You never know when an emergency will present itself in MLB. Woodford hasn’t pitched well in 2025.
RHP Leonardo Pestana: (W, 2-1)  2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
4.76 ERA (11.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 HR, 8 BB, 16 K)
RHP McKinley Moore: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, HR
LHP Rob Zastryzny: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Wilking Rodriguez: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Kervin Castro: 2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
1.23 ERA (14.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 17 K). Nice start to the season for the 26-year-old with 20 games of MLB experience (Giants, Cubs).
RHP Edinson Duran: (L, 0-1):  1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Duran’s second career pitching appearance (first was in 2022) 

Somerset (9-12) (Lost to Hartford, 13-5)

3B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-4, K
.258/.329/.485 in 73 PA
2B DJ LeMahieu: 1-for-2
LeMahieu plays in back-to-back games for the first time during his rehab stint.
   PH-2B Jose Colmenares: 0-for-2
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, R, 2 K
.230/.360/.541 in 89 PA (2 doubles, 7 HR, 12 RBI, 15 R, 4-for-5 SB, 15.7% BB, 34.8% K). His .541 SLG ranks fifth in the Eastern League.
C Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, 2B (6), HR (4), 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 K
.266/.322/.494 in 87 PA (6 doubles, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 10 R, 8.0% BB, 33.3% K). Last season, he struck out 25.3% of the time. 33.3% is too high – I am not saying anything groundbreaking.
RF Garrett Martin: 1-for-4, HR (4), 2 RBI, R, K
Martin has homered in back-to-back games (3 HR in his last five games)
1B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4, 2 K
The 26-year-old Hardman hasn’t been the same since his 2023 injury (26 HR in 77 games that year; 11 HR in 113 games since).
LF Jared Wegner: 1-for-3, R, K
DH Antonio Gomez: 0-for-3, K
Gomez is 2-for-25 since his promotion.
SS Max Burt: 1-for-2, 2B (3), SF, RBI, K

RHP Trent Sellers: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
3.86 ERA (18.2 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 24 K). Sellers had a rough first start (3 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER) but has settled in since. He had an under-the-radar 2024 debut season, pitching to a 2.26 ERA in 83.1 IP with a 100/40 K/BB.
RHP Harrison Cohen: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Mason Vinyard: 1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
LHP Ryan Anderson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Danny Watson: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
RHP Cole Ayers: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
Watson dug the hole. Ayers lit it on fire, allowing three of Watson’s runs to score on a grand slam.

Hudson Valley (15-6) (Doubled up Asheville, 8-4. There is so much intriguing talent at this level. The next wave of Yankees prospects to watch closely.)

DH Brendan Jones: 1-for-4, SF, 2 RBI, R, CS (2), BB, K
.236/.349/.444 in 86 PA (4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 18 R, 11-for-13 SB, 12.8% BB, 22.1% K). 
SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-3, 2B (4), HBP, 2 BB, 2 K
.306/.494/.452 in 87 PA (4 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 16 R, 9-for-11 SB, 22.99% BB, 20.7% K). He has three doubles in his last five games, so the extra-base power is starting to show. The .494 OBP ranks second in the South Atlantic League.
LF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-5, RBI, K
.267/.375/.417 in 72 PA (6 doubles, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 6 R, 3-for-3 SB, 15.3% BB, 27.8% K)
CF Jace Avina: 3-for-4, 2B (3), RBI, R, BB
Avina has back-to-back 3-hit efforts and is 12-for-22 during his 6-game hitting streak. He is up to .313/.458/.406 in 83 PA (18.1% BB, 21.7% K). The .458 OBP ranks fifth in the South Atlantic League.
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-5, SB (5), K
3B Josh Moylan: 0-for-4, R, BB, 3 K
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-2, 3 R, 2 HBP, BB
Not the typical way to reach base four times, but he’ll take it.
RF Anthony Hall: 1-for-4, RBI, R, BB, 3 K
2B Duncan Pastore: 3-for-5, 2 2B (2), 3 RBI, R, K
Pastore doesn’t play often but is 14-for-42 (.333) in 16 career games with a 5-for-5 stolen base rate. 

LHP Kyle Carr:  4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, HR
2.16 ERA (16.2 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 16 K). He threw 69 pitches, so they aren’t yet pushing him (has yet to throw more than 4.2 innings this season).
RHP Chris Kean: (W, 2-0) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
8 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
RHP Matt Keating: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Huey Morrill: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Hayden Merda: (S, 1) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Merda’s first career save.

Tampa (8-13) (Lost to Dunedin, 8-5. Edgleen Perez remains out of the lineup but is not on the injured list. Yes, I am keeping this note here until his status changes!)

CF Dillon Lewis: 0-for-4, BB
Lewis is struggling to get on track (.171/.247/.257). The 21-year-old was their 13th-round pick in 2024.
C Engelth Urena: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, R, 2 BB
.185/.341/.354 in 82 PA (2 doubles, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 11 R, 17.1% BB, 20.7% K). His start was slow (2-for-22)
DH Parks Harber: 1-for-3, R, SB (4), HBP, BB
Yes, Harber is too old for this level and will need to be moved up at some point. He played at major Division I schools, swatting 54 HR in 206 games for Georgia and North Carolina. This level of competition isn’t challenging him.
RF Tyler Wilson: 0-for-3, SB (6), 2 BB
2B Austin Green: 0-for-4, RBI, R, SB (3), BB, K
3B Hans Montero: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
SS Juan Matheus: 0-for-4, K
LF Marshall Toole: 2-for-4, R, SB (4), K
Toole has three multi-hit efforts in his last five games. His triple slash has jumped from .208/.345/.208 to .286/.375/.310.
1B Josue Gonzalez: 2-for-4, RBI, R, 2 SB (4)
Gonzalez is having a tough start to 2025 (7-for-51). Today’s performance was needed.

RHP Gage Ziehl: (L, 0-2)  4 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Last year’s 4th-round pick had a solid debut (4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K), but his last two starts haven’t been up to the standard. No need to be worried, as that’s baseball.
RHP Chris Veach: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
2.89 ERA (9.1 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 15 K)
RHP Jackson Fristoe: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, HR
Fristoe is throwing hard (maxed out at 96.5), so the hope is that his early-season struggles are due to rust (he didn’t pitch after June 23rd last season due to injury).
RHP Brady Kirtner: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
1.64 ERA (11 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 6 BB, 9 K). Kirtner was drafted by the Mets in 2023, but decided to return to Virginia Tech. In 2024, he went undrafted and signed with the Yankees.

FCL (0-0)

Their season starts on May 3rd.

DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 8/8: Caleb Durbin Drives in 3

News:

Nothing.

Scranton (61-47) (Defeated Lehigh Valley, 8-1, in the completion of last night’s suspended game. The second game of tonight’s doubleheader was postponed due to rain)

DH Caleb Durbin: 2-for-4, 2B (18), SF, 3 RBI, K
Including his time in Somerset/Tampa, Durbin has 20 doubles in 56 games.
CF Jasson Dominguez: 1-for-5, RBI, K
Dominguez is 6-for-32 (.188) since his latest comeback. From a statistical standpoint, that is the most important thing to watch.
3B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-3, 2B (9), RBI, BB
For Scranton: .244/.383/.376 in 246 PA (15.0% BB, 17.5% K)
SS Oswald Peraza: 0-for-3, BB
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-3, RBI, BB, K
RF Taylor Trammell: 1-for-4, HR (11), RBI, RS, K
Trammell has 5 HR in his last eight games.
LF Jahmai Jones: 2-for-2, 2 2B (2), 4 RS, 2 BB
C J.C. Escarra: 1-for-1, 2B (5), RBI, 2 RS, 3 BB
Escarra is 17-for-46 (.370/.517/.543) since his promotion with 12 walks and 6 strikeouts. His journey is fascinating. He did some catching in college but the Orioles took him away from the position when they drafted him. Over the past few years, he has toiled in the independent/winter leagues, where he took up catching again. It could be his ticket to some MLB playing time. Until Jose Trevino returns, he is probably the #3 catcher (though they may view Ben Rice that way). The only other catcher on the Scranton roster is the little-used (as in 2 career plate appearances) Peter Serruto.
DH Josh VanMeter: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K

LHP Tanner Tully: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
“Why do they sign pitchers like Tully?” To eat minor league innings. With injuries, promotions, innings limits, etc., you need veteran arms in the minors. It’s that simple.
RHP Phil Bickford (W, 3-4);  1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
RHP Alex Mauricio: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
1.60 ERA (33.2 IP, 24 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 19 BB, 38 K)
RHP Ron Marinaccio: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
I had a discussion on Discord about Marinaccio the other day. To me, the Yankees like him as a shuttle reliever and not a full-time MLB reliever. This is his last option year (unless he qualifies for an extra option next year) so they will likely try to trade him before Opening Day 2025.

Somerset (53-51)

Their game against Binghamton was postponed. I wouldn’t be enthusiastic about tomorrow. Smartly, they scheduled a doubleheader for Saturday.

Hudson Valley (54-49) (Defeated Brooklyn, 4-3, in ten innings)

2B Roc Riggio: 0-for-4, RS, SB (18), BB, K
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-4, BB, K
CF Jace Avina: 2-for-4, 2B (23), RBI, K
Avina has three multi-hit efforts in his last seven games.
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-4, 2 K
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3, RS, BB
DH Antonio Gomez: 1-for-3, 2B (9), RBI, RS, BB, K
Gomez has a 7-game hitting streak that features 6 doubles, a triple, and a home run. He has a .761 OPS  (.492 prior to this streak. That is not a typo).
RF Garrett Martin: 1-for-4, RBI, SB (11)
LF Christopher Familia: 0-for-4, RS, 3 K
3B Brenny Escanio: 1-for-3, BB

RHP Baron Stuart: 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
RHP Sebastian Keane: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
4.71 ERA (72.2 IP, 65 H, 39 R, 38 ER, 6 HR, 36 BB, 72 K). 
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Gabonia’s High-A debut. He pitched to a 4.01 ERA in 49.1 IP for Tampa with a 55/13 K/BB.
RHP Harrison Cohen: (W, 1-0) 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Tampa (42-60) (Lost to Daytona, 6-1)

CF Brendan Jones: 0-for-3, SB (2), BB, 2 K
It can’t just be me who has Brett Gardner dreams when the Yankees draft a speedy center fielder.
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, 3 K
RF Willy Montero: 1-for-3, BB
LF Tyler Wilson: 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI, RS, HBP
Wilson’s first professional hit is a home run. It went 384 feet at 103.5 MPH. In case you don’t read this every night (horrors!), he was their 8th round pick out of Grand Canyon. He is a switch-hitter who hit the HR batting left-handed.
2B Austin Green: 1-for-4, SB (1), 2 K
Green’s first professional hit!
3B Hans Montero: 0-for-3, BB, K
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-3, BB, 2 K
DH Parks Harber: 0-for-4, 2 K
C Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3, BB

RHP Andrew Landry: (L, 0-1) 2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
The results aren’t as important as the experience. The 22-year-old has 14.2 professional innings to his name.
LHP Rafelin Nivar: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, HR
RHP Luis Arejula: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Arejula was moved down here from Hudson Valley, where he pitched to a 2.90 ERA in 40.1 IP with a 38/21 K/BB. Because he was demoted to Tampa, we can look at some data. He pumped his fastball up to 95.5 MPH and seems to feature a 3-pitch mix (4-seamer, slider, changeup).
RHP Yoljeldriz Diaz: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

FCL (35-22)

Their season is over.

DSL Yankees (17-29) (Lost to the DSL Phillies White, 10-2)

SS Dexters Peralta: 1-for-3, 2B (7), RS, BB, K
CF Isael Arias: 2-for-3, RBI
1B Diego Flores: 1-for-3, RBI, SB (2)
The 17-year-old is 6-for-31 in his debut campaign. He is listed as a catcher (has played 3 innings behind the plate so far)

DSL Bombers (26-21) (Defeated the DSL Phillies Red, 7-2)

CF Francisco Vilorio: 0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 K
RF David Carrera: 1-for-4, 2 RS, SB (10), K
The 17-year-old is having a nice debut season: .271/.406/.412 in 106 PA with a 10-for-12 SB rate.
LF Remy Veldhuisen: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
3B Rafael Martinez: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 RS, SB (3)

RHP Mariano Salomon (W, 4-1): 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K
Salomon’s first carrer 10+ strikeout game. He owns a 1.51 ERA in 41.2 IP with a 50/10 K/BB. That’s awesome, but he isn’t young (22 years old). 

Yankees MILB 8/1: Zach Messinger Goes 7 Strong

News:

LHP Chasen Shreve was released from his contract for Scranton. Today is August 1st, so the odds are good that he had an opt-out. He pitched in ten games for Scranton, posting a 2.45 ERA in 11 innings.

As I pointed out yesterday, RHP Nick Burdi has options. Today, his rehab stint ended and he was optioned to Scranton. How far have the Yankees come? Jake Cousins, Michael Tonkin, and Tim Hill are blocking Burdi, who many saw as a potential key contributor when the season began. He still can be, but it will require an injury/implosion for him to get his next chance. If/when RHP Scott Effross is ready, he will join the mix.

Scranton (57-46) (Lost to Louisville, 10-8)

2B Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-4, BB, K
SS Oswald Peraza: 1-for-4, 2B (9), 2 RS, SB (16), K
Peraza is attempting to build on his .279/.367/.453 July.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-5, HR (12), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
Rumfield is hitting .288 with a .803 OPS since his promotion. If Rumfield can combine batting average with home runs, there could be something to work with (before 2023, he was a decent batting average guy with little power. In 2023, he showed off power with a low batting average). 
CF Taylor Trammell: 2-for-2, 2B (16), HR (9), 2 RBI, 3 RS, 2 BB
Trammell has three homers in his last four games. 
RF Oscar Gonzalez: 2-for-4, HR (6), 2 RBI, RS
C J.C. Escarra: 1-for-3, 2B (4), RBI, RS, BB
Escarra is 14-for-38 (.371) with four doubles since his promotion.
3B Kevin Smith: 1-for-4, RBI
DH Josh VanMeter: 0-for-4
LF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-4, 3 K

LHP Tanner Tully: 4 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Alex Mauricio: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
1.13 ERA (32 IP, 21 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 18 BB, 37 K). I hope Mauricio makes it to MLB. It’s been a grind going back to 2017.
RHP Art Warren: (L, 1-1) 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
RHP Scott Effross: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Effross needs clean outings before he is considered for the big club.
RHP Ron Marinaccio: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Somerset (50-49) (Defeated Bowie, 6-2)

DH Spencer Jones: 1-for-2, 2B (17), 3 RS, 3 BB, K
Jones’ OPS is .745. This is his highest number since May 3rd (.767). In his last 6 games, he is 7-for-21 (.333) with 3 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBI, and 6 walks.
1B Tyler Hardman: 3-for-5, 2B (3), 2 RBI, RS, 2 SB (6)
C Rafael Flores: 1-for-4, HR (7), 3 RBI, RS, BB
Flores’ power display has become serious. He has homered in back-to-back games and four times in his last eight games. Overall, he has 13 HR in 86 games between here and Hudson Valley. Last season, he hit 8 HR in 105 games.
RF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, BB, K
CF Grant Richardson: 2-for-5, 2 K
Richardson has three straight multi-hit efforts.
LF Jared Wegner: 0-for-4, BB, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-4, RS, BB, K
SS Alexander Vargas: 2-for-3, CS (5), HBP
Vargas is 29-for-111 (.261/.297/.396) since his promotion. That may not jump out at you, but his defense provides additional value.
3B Max Burt: 0-for-4, 2 K

RHP Zach Messinger:  (W, 3-8) 7 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
3.61 ERA (114.2 IP, 95 H, 63 R, 46 ER, 7 HR, 38 BB, 110 K). Messinger is an interesting prospect who stands 6’6″. He might have that “bulldog” quality. Can he translate that to MLB? We’ll see.
RHP McKinley Moore: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
His arm is worth investing development time in. But it’s going to take a lot of work.
RHP Kevin Stevens: (S, 7)  1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
2.37 ERA (38 IP, 28 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 1 HR, 16 BB, 55 K). He has impressed.

Hudson Valley (49-48) (Defeated Jersey Shore, 4-3)

2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-4, HR (8), RBI, RS
.223/.349/.394 in 351 PA. Much of Riggio’s profile is solid – his .254 BABIP is on the low side.
CF Jace Avina: 2-for-3, HR (9), SF, 2 RBI, RS
Avina and Riggio went back-to-back. Avina needed the calendar change after going 7-for-73 in July.
1B Omar Martinez: 2-for-4
It appears that Martinez is a “one level at a time” prospect. They didn’t move him away from Tampa in 2023 and may not move him away from Hudson Valley in 2024. There is nothing wrong with that. No two players are developed the same.
C Antonio Gomez: 1-for-4, 2B (5), 2 K
LF Garrett Martin: 1-for-4, K
DH Christopher Familia:  0-for-2, RS, BB, K
RF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-3, 2B (12), RBI, SB (11), K
3B Kiko Romero: 0-for-3
SS Brenny Escanio: 1-for-3, 2B (7), RS

RHP Blane Abeyta: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Mason Vinyard: (W, 4-2)  1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
3.71 ERA (34 IP, 28 H, 20 R, 14 ER, 2 HR, 20 BB, 48 K)
LHP Joel Valdez: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Matt Keating (S, 3): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
4.50 ERA (56 IP, 40 H, 31 R, 28 ER, 8 HR, 23 BB, 66 K)

Tampa (41-55)

Their game against Lakeland was postponed. A lineup was never posted.

FCL (35-22)

Their season is over.

DSL Yankees (15-25)

Their game against DSL Phillies Red was canceled due to a tropical rainstorm. It will not be made up.

DSL Bombers (23-19)

Their game against DSL Mets Orange was canceled due to a tropical rainstorm. It will not be made up.