Tag: Jace Avina

Yankees MILB 5/30: Yoendrys Gomez Shines

News:

RHP Cody Poteet will start for Scranton on Saturday and will (reportedly) be the “first man up” in the Yankees’ attempt to replace Clarke Schmidt.

RHP Cody Morris, called up today, can be an option for the next start.

Scranton (34-20) (Beat up Toledo again, 9-2)

2B Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-4, RS, CS (2), 2 BB
DH Oswald Peraza: 0-for-5, 3 K
Eek.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 RS, 2 BB, K
Back-to-back multi-hit efforts as he attempts to break out of his little slump.
C Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-5, HR (5), 3 RBI, RS, K
If you are going to go 1-for-5, make the “1” count!
3B Luis Torrens: 1-for-5, RS
LF Oscar Gonzalez: 3-for-4, 2B (6), RBI, RS, HBP
I remain happy that the depth in the 2024 organization includes Gonzalez, who I think can contribute if needed (let’s hope not)
SS Jeter Downs: 1-for-4, RS, BB, 3 K
RF Greg Allen: 3-for-4, 3B (1), 3 RBI, RS, BB
Like Gonzalez, Allen is nice depth to have around.
CF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-4, RBI, BB, K

RHP Yoendrys Gomez: (W, 1-2)  5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K
It was a brilliant performance by Gomez, who could find himself in the mix for more MLB innings. Season: 3.06 ERA (32.1 IP, 21 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 19 BB, 39 K)
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Alex Mauricio: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
1.07 ERA (25.1 IP, 19 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 10 BB, 28 K). I believe that an MLB opportunity will come for Mauricio. Even if it isn’t with the Yankees (it can be!), I think there’s a good shot he’ll stick somewhere.
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Somerset (23-25) (Lost to Bowie, 7-2, in 12 innings)

CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-4, HBP, 2 K
Jones increases his on-base streak to 13. That is encouraging but he isn’t hot. Perhaps it’s the start of something bigger…
DH Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-5, K
Ramirez is at .265 with a .919 OPS. He is in a minor 3-for-22 slide.
1B Ben Rice: 0-for-4, BB, K
SS Ben Cowles: 1-for-5, K
C J.C. Escarra: 0-for-5, 2 K
LF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-5, RS, SB (6), 3 K
3B Jordan Groshans: 2-for-5, SB (1), K
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, RS
The prospect nerd in me still gets excited when I see good things from Seigler. Without the injuries, who knows where he would be today? That’s just the brutal part of sports.

RHP Bailey Dees: 7.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
The second run scored after he left a game (on a 2-out strikeout/wild pitch. So stupid). Anyway, brilliant performance for Dees (longest outing of his career). Season: 3.71 ERA (51 IP, 45 H, 23 R, 22 ER, 5 HR, 19 BB, 50 K). This is his 9th straight start where he allowed three runs or fewer.
RHP Jack Neely: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
1.40 ERA (25.2 IP, 16 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 40 K).  I get that a prospect doesn’t need to stay in Triple-A for long (if at all), but I think it is time to get him there to prep him for his MLB debut. 
RHP Luis Velasquez: (L, 1-2): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Carlos Gomez: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Hudson Valley (23-22) (Mauled Aberdeen, 11-1)

2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-2, 3B (3), 3 RS, 2 BB
.210/.358/.361 in 148 PA (6 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 24 R, 16.9% BB, 18.2% K). If he reaches his potential, I see him as a pain-in-the-butt table setter type. So far, he hasn’t hit for average in his brief professional career.
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, RS, HBP, K
9 RBI in his last two games and 24 RBI in 23 May games.
LF Jace Avina: 3-for-4, 2B (15), SF, 2 RBI, RS
Avina has five 3-hit games and is hitting .309/.391/.525 in 161 PA.
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-3, 2 BB
Position update: C: 19 games (16 starts); 2B: 3 starts; 3B: 13 games (12 starts); LF: 8 starts. While he hasn’t played there in 2024, he made 28 starts at first base in 2023.
DH Tyler Hardman: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
C Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, RS, BB, 2 K
1B Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, 2 2B (14), 2 RS, BB
Flores has four doubles in his last four games (9 doubles in May). He is hitting .281/.390/.456 in 136 PA (14.7% BB, 22.8% K). He is a C/1B type and is someone to pay attention to.
RF Garrett Martin: 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 RS, SB (6), HBP, 2 K
Martin launches his first professional homer. Congrats!
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-4, RS, SB (4), BB, 3 K

RHP Sebastian Keane: (W, 4-3) 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 6 K
4.60 ERA (43 IP, 42 H, 22 R, 22 ER, 3 HR, 21 BB, 41 K). He has some impressive starts mixed with starts where he has struggled a bit. All a part of the learning curve.
RHP Trent Sellers: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
RHP Matt Keating: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.73 ERA (29.2 IP, 18 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 2 HR, 11 BB, 31 K). The Yankees have so many legit (in my opinion) relief prospects that some can get lost in the shuffle – Keating is under the radar.

Tampa (18-30) (Lost to Palm Beach, 4-3)

SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-3, RBI, RS, 2 SB (12), 2 BB, K
.219/.373/.272 in 142 PA. He is 12-for-13 SB. As for the power, he’s 18 years old. He’ll likely grow into some pop.
LF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, BB, K
.240/.383/.430 in 128 PA with equal 19.5% BB and K rates.
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
2B Hans Montero: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
CF Willy Montero: 1-for-4, RBI
RF Coby Morales: 0-for-4, K
DH Tomas Frick: 1-for-3, 2 RS, BB
3B Brenny Escanio: 2-for-4, SB (3)
C Edinson Duran: 1-for-4, 2 K

RHP Josh Grosz: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
He is back at the level where he belongs. To his credit, he settled in after allowing three quick runs in the first.
RHP Aaron Nixon: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
2.96 ERA (27.1 IP, 20 H, 13 R, 9 ER, 0 HR, 20 BB, 29 K). He is generating ground balls and has a decent K rate. The walks? Something he needs to work on.
RHP Ocean Gabonia (L, 0-2): 1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

FCL (12-7) (Defeated the Tigers, 9-5)

CF Brando Mayea: 1-for-4, RS, SB (4), BB, K
7-game hitting streak.
LF Christopher Familia: 4-for-5, RBI, RS
It shouldn’t be long before they declare his rehab over and his assignment to (I assume) Hudson Valley.
1B Josue Gonzalez: 2-for-5, 2 RS, SB (3), 2 K
3B Abrahan Ramirez: 3-for-4, 2 2B (3), RBI, 2 RS, BB
17-for-48 (.354/.483/.542)
SS Juan Matheus: 3-for-5, HR (2), 4 RBI, 2 RS
.263/.435/.460 in 283 career PA (6 HR, 48 RBI, 52 R)

RHP Bryce Warrecker: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
9 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 12 K
RHP Sabier Marte (W, 3-0): 4.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Jordy Luciano (S, 1): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/27: Jesus Rodriguez Collects 2 Hits

News:

Nothing

Scranton (32-18)

Scheduled day off.

Somerset (22-23)

Scheduled day off.

Hudson Valley (21-22) (Lost to Aberdeen, 9-4)

CF Jace Avina: 1-for-5, HR (5), RBI, RS
14 doubles, 5 homers in 33 games. Last year, he hit 22 doubles and 14 homers in 99 games.
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-5, 2B (11), RS, K
LF Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-3, 2B (12), RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
Rodriguez has 6 hits in his last two games and is 29-for-82 (.354) in May with 9 doubles. His ability to play many positions leverages him well for a promotion to Somerset.
DH Tyler Hardman: 1-for-4, RBI, K
Hardman is no longer on his rehab stint and was assigned to Hudson Valley.
1B Omar Martinez: 0-for-4, K
C Rafael Flores: 1-for-4, K
3B Josh Moylan: 1-for-3, 2B (4), BB
RF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-4, K
2B Beau Brewer: 0-for-2, CI, BB

RHP Jackson Fristoe: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K
4.70 ERA (23 IP, 18 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 1 HR, 21 BB, 28 K). He’s pitched exactly 3 innings in four of his five May starts. The Yankees have yet to push him. They will eventually.
RHP Trent Sellers: (L, 4-2)  1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
As expected, Sellers was sent back down here from Scranton.
RHP Mason Vinyard: 0.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
LHP Joel Valdez: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Matt Keating: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Tampa (18-27)

Scheduled day off.

FCL (10-7) (Defeated the Blue Jays, 2-1, in a 7-inning game)

CF Brando Mayea: 1-for-4, RS, SB (2), K
Mayea has a 5-game hitting streak.
C Edgleen Perez: 1-for-2, RBI, RS, BB, K
.333/.529/.500 in 51 PA. 
DH Christopher Familia: 1-for-2, BB, K
The 23-year-old Familia put himself on the map in 2023 when he hit .307/.378/.617 in 68 games for Tampa/Hudson Valley. In those 68 games, he hit 22 home runs and drove home 63. While much of that damage was done in Tampa (.928 SLG!), 11 homers were hit in Hudson Valley. Anyway, he is here on a rehab stint.
LF Brian Sanchez: 1-for-2, RBI, CS (1), BB, K
Sanchez has a 6-game hitting streak and is hitting .370/.463/.609.

RHP Hansel Rosario: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
RHP Yoljeldriz Diaz (W, 3-0): 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
4 appearances/3 wins. Life as a middle reliever in the FCL, where starters rarely qualify for wins.
RHP Jesus Castellanos (S, 1): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/23: George Lombard’s 4-Hit Night

News:

OF Jasson Dominguez didn’t play in either game of today’s doubleheader for Somerset. He just played back-to-back games for the first time, so it is possible that this was planned.  They are not going to rush this rehab.

Scranton (31-17) (Split a doubleheader with Syracuse)

Game 1 (Won, 3-2, on a walk-off single)

2B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4, 2B (17)
3B Oswald Peraza: 0-for-2, 2 BB
With DJ LeMahieu healthy and Gleyber Torres likely going nowhere, the path to MLB (in 2024) is hard to find. I assume the Yankees are open to trading him, especially if they have confidence in someone like Durbin. Another option certainly would be to throw him in the 2025 second base competition.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, RBI
Rumfield had the game-winning single.
RF Oscar Gonzalez: 1-for-2, HR (3), RBI, RS, BB
LF Taylor Trammell: 1-for-3, 2 K
  PR-LF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-0, RS
C Luis Torrens: 1-for-2, SB (1), BB
DH Jose Rojas: 1-for-2, RBI, BB
SS Kevin Smith: 0-for-3, K
CF Greg Allen: 0-for-2, RS, BB

RHP Baron Stuart (W, 1-0):  7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Called up from Hudson Valley specifically to make this start, Stuart tosses a 7-inning complete game. He probably will head back to Hudson Valley (where he compiled a 4.13 ERA in 24 IP with a 16/11 K/BB), but this was an impressive effort in a series that was dominated by offense before today.

Game 2 (Lost, 4-2)

3B Caleb Durbin: 0-for-0, RS, HBP
Durbin stayed in the game long enough to score after being HBP but left the game soon after that. Hopefully, it is precautionary.
  3B Kevin Smith: 0-for-2
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, K
Rumfield is hitting .300/.353/.417 since his promotion with 24 RBI in 31 games.
C Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-3, K
LF Taylor Trammell: 1-for-2, RBI, CS (2), K
  LF Greg Allen: 0-for-1, K
DH Oscar Gonzalez: 1-for-3, SB (2)
Gonzalez now owns a 7-game hitting streak.
RF Jose Rojas: 0-for-3, 2 K
SS Jeter Downs: 0-for-3, 3 K
2B Josh VanMeter: 1-for-1, RS, BB
CF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-2

LHP Tanner Tully: (L, 0-3) 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
RHP Ron Marinaccio: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Alex Mauricio: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
1.23 ERA (22 IP, 16 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 25 K). I am not sure if the Yankees are the organization that will give him a chance, but he is doing the best he can to get everyone to notice.

Somerset (20-22) (Lost a doubleheader to New Hampshire)

Game 1 (Lost, 5-4, in 9 (extra) innings)

SS Ben Cowles: 0-for-4, RS, K
1B Agustin Ramirez: 2-for-4, RBI, SB (10)
Ramirez has already reached double digits in HR and SB.  He is hitting .272/.394/.574.
C Ben Rice: 1-for-3, HR (11), RBI, RS, BB, K
Rice has three home runs in his last two games.
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-4, K
3B Jordan Groshans: 1-for-3, BB, 2 K
DH J.C. Escarra: 1-for-3, RS, K
CF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-4, HR (3), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-4, K
LF Aaron Palensky: 1-for-4, K

RHP Zach Messinger: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
3.75 ERA (50.1 IP, 39 H, 29 R, 21 ER, 4 HR, 16 BB, 56 K).  After allowing 1.24 HR/9 in 2023, he has it down to 0.72/9 in 2024. He has also maintained a strong K rate while reducing his walks from 4.80/9 in 2023 to 2.86/9 in 2024. We may just be witnessing a maturing starting pitcher.
RHP Luis Velasquez: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
This is what you call a noisy line.
LHP Ryan Anderson (L, 1-3): 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Game 2 (Lost, 9-0)

DH Spencer Jones: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K
.220/.302/.325 in 139 PA. Cue the complainers who say the Yankees should have traded him “when his value was high!” Some people should not follow minor league baseball if they are unwilling to understand player development. Jones didn’t forget how to play overnight – give him time to find his groove (for the record, I am not against trading most any prospect – but I don’t base that on random hot or cold minor league streaks)
1B Ben Rice: 1-for-4, K
Rice is at .247/.373/.507. Before his current hot streak (four games), he was hitting .233/.356/.444. It gets harder to improve your triple slash significantly with one little hot streak as you get later into the season, but Rice has done that lately.
SS Ben Cowles: 2-for-3
He is at .324 with a .926 OPS. This is his 13th multi-hit game of the season. If the Yankees don’t go outside the organization to fill the probable 2B vacancy, put Cowles on the list of potential candidates.
C J.C. Escarra: 0-for-3, K
CF Grant Richardson: 0-for-3, K
RF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-2, SB (4), BB
3B Jordan Groshans: 0-for-2, BB
LF Jared Wegner: 0-for-2, BB
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-3, K

LHP Josh Maciejewski: (L, 0-2) 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Kevin Stevens: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Since promotion: 8.1 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K
RHP Yorlin Calderon: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
RHP Aaron Palensky: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Somerset ran out of pitchers, so Palensky had to eat four outs.

Hudson Valley (20-19) (Destroyed Brooklyn, 16-3)

3B DJ LeMahieu: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RS
He is on track to join the team in Anaheim.
   PH-3B Beau Brewer: 0-for-2, K
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-5, 2 RS, BB, K
Serna extends his on-base streak to 21.
2B Jorbit Vivas: 5-for-5, 2B (1), 5 RBI, 3 RS, BB
Vivas, someone to watch in the 2025 second base competition, was 2-for-21 on his rehab assignment entering tonight. He ties his best for RBI in a game, but not hits. He had a 6-hit game on 6/8/21 when he was a member of the Dodgers organization.
DH Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, RS, 2 BB
.310/.388/.490 in 165 PA. It feels like he is on a 5,000-game hitting streak, but this effort increased it to five.
CF Jace Avina: 3-for-5, 2B (13), 3 RBI, 2 RS, 2 K
Avina is at .310 with a .933 OPS in 132 PA (13 doubles, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 19 R, 4-for-4 SB). His K% is high (28.0) but is down from his 29.6% rate in Low-A last year. The ceiling is tantalizing.
C Omar Martinez: 2-for-4, 2B (6), HR (5), SF, 5 RBI, 2 RS
Don’t forget about Martinez, who is a legitimate catching prospect. He is on an 8-game hitting streak (10-for-28, 4 doubles, 1 HR, 6 RBI) and is up to .250 with a .849 OPS (19.7% BB, 21.8% K)
1B Kiko Romero: 1-for-5, 2B (4), RS, 2 K
RF Cole Gabrielson: 3-for-5, 2B (6), RBI, RS
Gabrielson’s second career 3-hit game. 
LF Kyle Battle: 1-for-4, 3 RS, SB (5), BB
I like seeing this from prospects like Battle…

RHP Sebastian Keane: (W, 3-3)  5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 2 HR
5.11 ERA (37 IP, 38 H, 21 R, 21 ER, 3 HR, 18 BB, 35 K). This is the first time in his short career that he has allowed multiple HR in a game (he has allowed 4 in 68.2 innings). He is a legit prospect to place somewhere in your brain as he develops.
RHP Steven Fulgencio: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Mason Vinyard: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Since returning from his rehab: 9.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 15 K. Add him to the mile-long list of relief prospects. 

Tampa (15-27) (Defeated Jupiter, 8-1)

2B George Lombard Jr.: 4-for-5, 3 RBI
This raises his triple slash from .193/.366/.239 to .226/.385/.269. This is his second career 4-hit effort (did it on 9/3/23, after being promoted to this level). The power hasn’t shown up yet, but remember that Anthony Volpe had 3 HR and .355 SLG in 150 PA for Pulaski in 2019.  Lombard is at 117 career plate appearances.
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-5, K
.214/.337/.351 in 184 PA. 
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-5, 2 K
CF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, RS, BB, 2 K
RF Willy Montero: 1-for-5, HR (1), RBI, RS, K
Power has yet to be a part of Montero’s game (7th career HR in 153 games). He hasn’t hit for average this year (got off to a miserable start), but has played better in May.
DH Coby Morales: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 RS, SB (8), BB, 2 K
.250/.370/.299 in 173 PA. He is 21-for-67 in May (.313/.413/.403). 
3B Brenny Escanio: 1-for-4, RS, K
C Edinson Duran: 2-for-3, 2 3B (3), 2 RS, BB
Oh to be a young catcher capable of legging out two triples. He has 8 triples in 110 career games. 
LF Daury Arias: 1-for-4, 2B (3), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K

RHP Cade Smith: (W, 2-2)  7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
2.41 ERA (37.1 IP, 23 H, 14 R, 10 ER, 1 HR, 18 BB, 46 K). He maxed out at 95.6 MPH (averaged 93.3). This is an impressive first professional season. At 22 years old, he is a candidate for a Hudson Valley promotion this season.
RHP Jordy Luciano: 2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

FCL (8-6) (Defeated the Tigers, 5-4, thanks to a 3-run bottom of the 8th (after the Tigers scored two in the top of the 8th. This was a scheduled 7-inning game, so the 8th inning was extra innings. Got it? Good.)

CF Brando Mayea: 2-for-4, K
3-for-8 with a pair of walks and strikeouts.
C Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-4
DH Engelth Urena: 1-for-3, 2 RS, HBP, K
LF Brian Sanchez: 3-for-4, 2 2B (6), RBI, 2 RS
Sanchez has shown off his doubles/triples power in his brief minor league career (13 doubles, 5 triples in 44 games). He has five multi-hit games in 11 games this season.
SS Juan Matheus: 1-for-3, 2B (1), RBI, RS, CS (4), BB
3B Abrahan Ramirez: 1-for-2, RBI, SB (3), 2 BB, K
1B Diomedes Hernandez: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 K
Hernandez walked it off with an RBI single. The 19-year-old is listed as a catcher, though he has yet to get behind the dish in 2024 (only 7 games played).
2B Gabriel Terrero: 0-for-1, 2 BB
RF Fidel Montero: 1-for-3, CS (1), K

RHP Angel Benitez: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
2.16 ERA (8.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 10 BB, 9 K). He stands 6’7″ and likely has some of the command/control issues that come with that. He has time to work on that.
RHP Sabier Marte: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 3 K
0.68 ERA (13.1 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 11 BB, 12 K)
RHP Yoljeldriz Diaz (W, 2-0): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/19: Trystan Vrieling Sparkles

News:

The news section has been too quiet for my liking lately. Something big is about to happen…

Scranton (29-14) (Split a doubleheader with Worcester)

Game 1 (Won, 6-3)

3B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4
.285/.402/.418 in 200 PA. Durbin has a reverse split, hitting .216/.341/.270 vs. LHP and .305/.419/.461 vs. RHP. 
SS Oswald Peraza: 0-for-4, K
Peraza was called up from Somerset to continue his rehab assignment here. 
DH Taylor Trammell: 0-for-3, CS (1), BB, 2 K
RF Everson Pereira: 2-for-3, 2 RS, SB (5)
1B Jose Rojas: 3-for-3, 2B (10), HR (9), RBI, 3 RS, SB (1)
LF Oscar Gonzalez: 2-for-3, RBI, K
Gonzalez is 14-for-43 (.326) at this level (4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR). 
C Luis Torrens: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
CF Greg Allen: 1-for-2, RS, HBP
2B Josh VanMeter: 1-for-3, 2B (7), RBI, K

RHP Cody Poteet: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
4.05 ERA (33.1 IP, 26 H, 16 R, 15 ER, 4 HR, 11 BB, 38 K)
RHP Cody Morris (W, 3-0): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Ron Marinaccio (S, 2): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Game 2 (Lost, 3-1)

LF Taylor Trammell: 0-for-4, K
C Carlos Narvaez: 2-for-3, HR (4), RBI, RS, BB, K
.244/.392/.420 in 153 PA. 
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-2, BB
Rumfield has a 7-game hitting streak and is hititng .317/.385/.424 in 156 PA between here and Somerset.
DH Everson Pereira: 0-for-2, BB, K
.265/.346/.512 in 182 PA (8 doubles, 1 triple, 10 HR, 27 RBI, 33 R, 14.6% BB, 32.4%)
RF Jose Rojas: 1-for-3, K
SS Jeter Downs: 0-for-3, 2 K
2B Josh VanMeter: 0-for-3
3B Kevin Smith: 1-for-3, K
CF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-3, 2 K

RHP Yoendrys Gomez: (L, 0-2)  4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HR
3.62 ERA (27.1 IP, 21 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 4 HR, 18 BB, 33 K). The Yankees have until the end of next year’s spring training to determine what they are going to do with Gomez. For now, he is depth.
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Alex Mauricio: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
1.29 ERA (21 IP, 16 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 23 K)

Somerset (19-19) (Shut down Portland, 7-0)

CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-5, 2B (5), RS, 2 K
Jones’ first extra-base hit since May 7th (9 consecutive games without one). We’ll see if it sparks him.
3B DJ LeMahieu: 1-for-1, RBI, 2 RS, 3 BB
The Yankees will play it cautiously with LeMahieu, but this is an encouraging day. Some may wonder about how he will impact what the MLB team is doing. One hates to upset the apple cart, but a healthy LeMahieu is still a useful baseball player.
   3B Jordan Groshans: 0-for-1
C Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-2, 2 RS, 2 BB
He ends Sunday with an OPS just below 1.000 (.998). vs. LHP: .382/.463/.912.  vs. RHP: .239/.369/.489. That is acceptable, especially since he has 7 HR, 20 RBI, and 18 walks in 110 PA vs. RHP.
1B Ben Rice: 0-for-3, SF, RBI
Rice has slumped in May (.192/.317/.269), but at least he did something productive this afternoon. His bat has been too dominant in Double-A (24 HR in 84 games) for this to continue.
SS Ben Cowles: 1-for-2, 2B (14), 2 RBI, RS, SB (6), 2 BB
.331/.414/.543 in 152 PA (14 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 22 R, 6-for-6 SB, 12.5% BB, 15.8% K). 
LF Grant Richardson: 0-for-2, SB (6), HBP, BB, K
DH Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, RBI, BB, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-4, RBI, SB (6), 2 K
RF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-3, RS, 2 SB (7), BB, K

RHP Trystan Vrieling: (W, 3-4)  5.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
4.40 ERA (45 IP, 40 H, 24 R, 22 ER, 2 HR, 10 BB, 44 K). Earlier in the week, against this team, Vrieling allowed 9 runs in 4.2 innings so this was a nice adjustment. 
RHP Ryan Anderson: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Tommy Kahnle: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Kahnle has retired all 15 batters he has faced during his rehab stint (Tampa/Somerset), striking out 11. He is on his way to New York now.
RHP Luis Velasquez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Since promotion: 7.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K

Hudson Valley (19-17) (Lost to Jersey Shore, 6-5, in 10 innings)

2B Roc Riggio: 0-for-5, RS, BB, 3 K
SS Jared Serna: 2-for-3, 2B (9), RBI, RS, SB (4), 2 BB, K
.263/.388/.489 in 165 PA. He has 7 multi-hit games in his last 17 games played.
CF Jace Avina: 2-for-5, 2B (12), 3 RBI, SB (4), BB, K
.310/.412/.550 in 119 PA  (12 doubles, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 17 R, 4-for-4 SB).  He has hit safely in 13 of 15 May games (18-for-61, 9 doubles, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 12 R)
LF Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-5
.308/.384/.489 in 151 PA with a 10.6% BB and 14.6% K. 
DH Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, BB, 3 K
Martinez has a 6-game hitting streak (7-for-20; 7 walks). He is starting to get rolling.
  PR-DH Kyle Battle: 0-for-0
C Rafael Flores: 1-for-5, RS, 2 K
Flores has a 5-game hitting streak and is 13-for-32 (.406) in May with 5 doubles and 8 walks.
3B Josh Moylan: 0-for-4, BB, K
1B Kiko Romero: 0-for-4, RS, BB
RF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-3, 2B (5), RBI, RS, BB, HBP, K

LHP Ben Shields: 3.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, HR
3.86 ERA (25.2 IP, 22 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 3 HR, 4 BB, 34 K). You have to love that K/BB. He started strong in April but has struggled in May. This was only his second start.
RHP Trent Sellers: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K
2.82 ERA (22.1 IP, 14 H, 11 R, 7 ER, 16 BB, 30 K). This is the first time in his career (which only started this year) that he didn’t strike out at least one batter in an appearance.
RHP Mason Vinyard: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Steven Fulgencio: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Cole Ayers:  (L, 1-2) 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Tampa (14-25) (Defeated Bradenton, 3-1)

2B Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-4, K
  2B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-0
DH Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
This is the first time Dominguez played back-to-back games this season.
SS Roderick Arias: 2-for-4, 2 K
.213/.345/.348 in 171 PA (5 doubles, 4 triples, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 21 R, 9-for-15 SB, 15.8% BB, 35.7% K). Last 12 games: 12-for-44 (.273), 10 BB, 16 K.
1B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-4, 2B (13), K
.319/.360/.551 with 7 doubles, 3 HR, and 16 RBI in 17 May games.
CF Willy Montero: 0-for-4, K
3B Hans Montero: 2-for-3, 3B (2), HR (2), RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
Montero is 16-for-48 (.333; 2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR). He was 3-for-18 in his first five games. Interestingly, we don’t know if he would be here right now if not for the injuries to George Lombard Jr. and (especially) Enmanuel Tejeda.
RF Coby Morales: 2-for-4, RBI, RS
.321/.426/.429 with 3 doubles, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 11 R, and 11 walks in 16 May games. Morales was their 18th-round pick in the 2023 draft out of Washington. He bats lefty and has an extreme split (.294/.416/.363 vs. RHP; .097/.222/.097 vs. LHP)
C Edinson Duran: 1-for-3, 3B (1), RBI, BB
LF Dayro Perez: 0-for-4, 2 K

RHP Ryan Harvey: (W, 1-2) 5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K
Harvey sets a new personal best for strikeouts in a game.
LHP Rafelin Nivar: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
The 22-year-old was called up from the FCL. In 33 appearances between the DSL/FCL since 2022, he went 4-1 with a 4.70 ERA in 51.2 IP. He walked 30 and struck out 72. Today, he threw 20 sinkers (92.3 MPH average), 7 changeups, and 3 sliders.
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Montana Semmel (S, 2): 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

FCL (5-6)

They never play on Sunday.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/18: Jasson Dominguez is Heating Up

News:

I have nothing to offer you.

Scranton (28-13) 

Their game against Worcester was postponed. Instead of playing two tomorrow, they will attempt to make this up on Monday. The posted lineup is below.

2B Caleb Durbin: 0-for-0
.286/.405/.422 in 196 PA (14 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 30 R, 20-for-22 SB, 14.8% BB, 10.7% K). His SLG has, predictably, slipped (only four extra-base hits (all doubles) in May), but the rest of his profile has motored along. Starts, by position: 2B: 17; 3B: 10; SS: 7; LF: 4; CF: 1. 
SS Oswald Peraza: 0-for-0
Peraza’s rehab stint was moved here from Somerset.
RF Taylor Trammell: 0-for-0
1B Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-0
After a .215/.384/.354 April, Narvaez is hitting .275/.396/.475 in May.
DH Jose Rojas: 0-for-0
3B Jeter Downs: 0-for-0
.265/.358/.510 in 124 PA.  How souped up is this league? A .510 SLG is strong on paper. In the International League, it is good enough to be ranked 33rd. In the Double-A Eastern League (where Somerset plays), the 33rd-best slugging percentage is .394.
C Luis Torrens: 0-for-0
LF Greg Allen: 0-for-0
CF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-0

RHP Cody Poteet: 0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Somerset (18-19) (Lost to Portland, 2-1)

CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
.222/.298/.333 in 121 PA. He hasn’t homered since April 23rd (20 straight games without one). Eventually, you figure someone is going to pay.
1B Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-3, SF, RBI, 2 K
.285/.395/.618 in 147 PA. His hitting streak is at 7 (12-for-26).
SS Ben Cowles: 1-for-4, 2 K
.328/.405/.536 in 148 PA. 
C J.C. Escarra: 0-for-4, 2 K
3B Jordan Groshans: 0-for-4, K
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, BB, K
DH Elijah Dunham: 1-for-4, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-3, RS, K
LF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-2, BB, K

RHP Bailey Dees: (L, 2-3) 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
I was concerned when he only pitched three innings last time, but he is fine, it appears. Season: 3.99 ERA (38.1 IP, 33 H, 18 R, 17 ER, 17 BB, 41 K). His first 8 professional starts have gone as well as you can hope for.
RHP Kevin Stevens: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Josh Maciejewski: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Jack Neely: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
In his last five appearances: 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 13 K. Overall, he has a 1.45 ERA and 30/6 K/BB over 18.2 IP. In his career, he has 222 strikeouts in 137.1 innings. He is a legitimate high-leverage relief prospect.

Hudson Valley (19-16) (Lost to Jersey Shore, 14-8)

2B Roc Riggio: 0-for-4, RS, BB, HBP, K
His BB% (16.3) continues to be higher than his K% (15.4). I expect the bat to eventually get going.
SS Luis Serna: 1-for-5, HR (7), RBI, RS, SB (3), BB
Serna has homered in two of his last three games and is hitting .305/.406/.627 in May (4 doubles, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 12 R).  While many see him as a 2B long-term, he has started 26 games at SS and 8 at 2B.
RF Jace Avina: 3-for-4, 2B (11), HR (4), 3 RBI, 2 RS, SB (3), BB
.305/.407/.547 in 113 PA (11 doubles, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 17 R, 11.5% BB, 28.3% K). 
DH Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-3, RS, 2 BB, K
.313/.390/.500 in 146 PA (7 doubles, 1 triple, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 24 R, 10.96% BB, 15.1% K). He owns a 12-game on-base streak.
C Omar Martinez: 2-for-4, 2B (4), 2 RS, BB, K
Martinez has a 5-game hitting streak. He is at .240/.406/.413 in 133 PA (21.1% BB and 21.1% K).
1B Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, 2B (10), 2 RBI, BB, K
Flores is up to .281/.387/.461 in 106 PA (10 doubles, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 10 R, 14.2% BB, 23.6% K). He has five multi-hit efforts in his last seven games (12-for-24; 5 doubles, 10 RBI – he has at least one RBI in seven straight games). Before this streak, he was hitting .200/.307/.369.
3B Josh Moylan: 3-for-5, 2B (3), 2 RBI, CS (1)
In his last four games, Moylan is 6-for-15 with five RBI. It has lifted his triple slash from .205/.344/.295 to .237/.368/.323. It’s a start!
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-5, 2 K
LF Kyle Battle: 0-for-4, RS, SB (4), BB, K

LHP Kyle Carr: 4 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, HR
6.49 ERA (26.1 IP, 32 H, 27 R, 18 ER, 2 HR, 23 BB, 22 K). I won’t try to trick you into thinking that is a good line. I will say that this is his debut season and everyone develops at a different pace. How does he adjust? That is the question you want answered.
RHP Matt Keating: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Luis Arejula: (L, 1-3) 1.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
RHP Huey Morrill: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Joel Valdez: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Tampa (13-25) (Defeated Bradenton, 10-9, in ten innings)

2B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-3, 2 RS, BB, HBP, K
Vivas is 1-for-7 since he restarted his rehab stint (he went 1-for-7 for Scranton during his first rehab stint)
   2B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-1, RS
DH Jasson Dominguez: 2-for-4, 2B (1), 2 RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
Dominguez’s double was hit 106.5 MPH. On his rehab stint: 5-for-11 (1 double, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K).
   PH Hans Montero: 1-for-1
Again, they probably told Dominguez his night was over after his 5th plate appearance, which is why he didn’t hit in the 10th inning.
3B George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-5, RBI, RS, HBP, K
He is hitting .210 with a .644 OPS.
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-4, 3B (4), SF, 3 RBI, RS, BB, K
Arias walked it off in the bottom of the 10th with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. 
1B Dylan Jasso: 2-for-4, 2 2B (12), BB, 2 K
Jasso has 20 doubles in 57 career games.
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-4, SF, 3 RBI, K
All 9 of Castillo’s RBI have come in his last ten games. In those ten games, he is 14-for-31 with four doubles and three homers.
LF Willy Montero: 2-for-5, 2 K
For a moment, he lifted his average over .200. At he end of the night, he settled in at .198.
RF Coby Morales: 0-for-4, 2 RS, BB, 2 K
C Manuel Palencia: 2-for-4, RS, BB

RHP Josh Grosz: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, HR
7.06 ERA (29.1 IP, 37 H, 32 R, 23 ER, 8 HR, 13 BB, 48 K). That line shows off his raw ability and things he needs to work on. His rate numbers show bad luck: Entering tonight, he had a .413 BABIP and 35% HR/FB. A 35% HR/FB is insane – something like that can’t be sustained. 
RHP Osiel Rodriguez: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
1.96 ERA (18.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 HR, 9 BB, 18 K). Rodriguez hit 96.3 with his 4-seamer and 95.1 with his sinker.
RHP Jordy Luciano: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
RHP Aaron Nixon: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
2.14 ERA (21 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 17 BB, 22 K)
RHP Kris Bow: (W, 1-0)  1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
He just comes at you with hard sinkers and sliders. They don’t always hit the zone, but there is no way Bow is a comfortable AB. Season: 3.94 ERA (16 IP, 9 H, 10 R, 7 ER, 1 HR, 13 BB, 19 K)

FCL (5-6) (Defeated the Blue Jays, 6-2)

1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 RS, HBP, K
8-for-29 (2 doubles, 3 HR, 10 BB, 8 K, 2-for-2 SB)
DH Tyler Hardman: 0-for-2, 2 RS, BB, HBP, K
My thick skull finally figured it out: They send Hardman to the FCL for rehab on days Jasson Dominguez plays for Tampa. For now, both are only playing DH.
C Edgleen Perez: 1-for-3, 2B (3), 2 RBI, BB
7-for-22 (3 doubles, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 11 BB, 4 K). The 17-year-old (for one more week) is making an early impression.
SS Juan Matheus: 1-for-3, SF, 2 RBI
7-for-30 (1 triple, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2-for-5 SB)
3B Luis Ogando: 2-for-4, RS

RHP Bryce Warrecker: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Last year’s 20th-round pick stands 6’8″. His ERA wasn’t great at Cal Poly, but he kept the walks in check, which is unusual for a kid this big.
RHP Omar Gonzalez: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Sabier Marte (W, 2-0): 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
9.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 6 BB, 9 K
RHP Chris Kean: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. I doubt he will be in the FCL for long.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/16: Jasson Dominguez: 2 Hits

News:

I have nothing to offer you.

Scranton (28-13) (Lost a pitcher’s duel to Worcester, 13-12)

2B Caleb Durbin: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, RS, SB (19), BB
.288/.411/.429 in 191 PA. He has 14 multi-hit games this season (41 games)
CF Everson Pereira: 1-for-5, 3 RS, BB, K
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-6, RBI, RS, K
Rumfield has a 5-game hitting streak (8-for-22). He is at .317/.368/.452 since his promotion.
C Carlos Narvaez: 3-for-5, 2B (9), 2 RBI, RS, HBP, K
.243/.396/.405 in 144 PA. He has four doubles in his last five games (walks and power have always been his offensive trademark – and it’s proving to be the case in 2024 as well)
LF Taylor Trammell: 2-for-4, 2B (2), 3 RBI, RS, SB (1), 2 BB, 2 K
DH Oscar Gonzalez: 1-for-5, 2B (3), 2 RBI, RS
RF Jose Rojas: 2-for-4, 2B (9), HR (8), RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
The veteran depth piece is hitting .221/.376/.538 in 133 PA. If this was 2023, he would be in the MLB lineup.
SS Jeter Downs: 1-for-3, RBI, RS, 2 BB, K
3B Josh VanMeter: 0-for-3, RS, 2 BB, K

LHP Edgar Barclay: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 3 K
Back-to-back rough starts (14 R in 7.2 IP) have spiked his ERA to 5.84 in 37 IP. 
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
Yikes.
RHP Alex Mauricio: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Art Warren: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Ron Marinaccio (L, 0-1): 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
Allowed a walk-off HR with two outs in the 9th.

Somerset (17-18) (Lost to Portland, 5-1)

CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, BB, K
Jones is 7-for-50 (.140) in May. There was a time in May 2023, when Jasson Dominguez was hitting .125/.367/.304. You never know when a top prospect will start to break out. Hopefully, Jones does soon.
SS Oswald Peraza: 0-for-3, SB (1), BB, 3 K
C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-4, RS
Ramirez has a 6-game hitting streak (11-for-23, 3 doubles, 2 homers). He is 22 (23 in September) and dominating Double-A (1.024 OPS). Yes, he should be considered one of the better offensive prospects in baseball.
DH Ben Rice: 1-for-4, 2B (4), RBI
.246/.371/.468 in 152 PA. The bar is high for a 1B/DH. The bar lowers if he can be a backup catcher as well. 
LF Grant Richardson: 0-for-4, K
1B J.C. Escarra: 0-for-3, BB, K
3B Jordan Groshans: 1-for-3
RF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-3, 2 K
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-3

LHP Brock Selvidge: (L, 3-2)  6 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 8 K, 2 HR
This is Selvidge’s second time he has allowed multiple home runs in a game (45th game; 41st start). Season: 3.00 ERA (39 IP, 30 H, 18 R, 13 ER, 3 HR, 16 BB, 41 K)
RHP Tommy Kahnle: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
He is toying with minor-league hitters, retiring all 12 he has faced. For Somerset, he has faced six batters and struck them all out. In Tampa, he faced six batters and struck out three.
RHP Jack Neely: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
1.53 ERA (17.2 IP, 12 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 6 BB, 27 K). It may be time to send him to Scranton.
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Pestana has tossed 6.1 scoreless innings since his promotion and owns a 1.13 ERA in 16 IP overall. This is his first full season in the bullpen and he is seemingly throwing well.

Hudson Valley (18-15) (Defeated Jersey Shore, 8-5)

2B Roc Riggio: 2-for-4, 2B (6), 2 RS, BB
SS Jared Serna: 2-for-5, HR (6), RBI, 2 RS, K
He is hitting .256 with a .847 OPS. After games of 4/27, his OPS was .583. An incredible run (22-for-60, 6 doubles, 4 HR, 9 BB) has turned around his fortunes. We have seen this throughout his brief career: When he gets hot, he is special.
CF Jace Avina: 2-for-5, 2B (10), HR (3), 2 RBI, 2 RS
11-game hitting streak. He is up to .299 with a .921 OPS and has 13 extra-base hits in 23 games (50% of his hits have gone for extra bases).
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-5, 2B (7), RBI, RS, 2 K
I have written a lot about him. So, why isn’t he prominently on Yankees prospect lists? It is possible he doesn’t have the “loud” tools that prospect watchers love. However, he continues hitting well while playing anywhere the Yankees ask him to. It’s an interesting package regardless of what the rankings say.
1B Omar Martinez: 1-for-3, RBI, RS, BB
C Rafael Flores: 3-for-4, 2B (9), RBI
Flores has four multi-hit games in his last five games, increasing his triple slash from .200/.307/.369 to .265/.361/.446.
DH Josh Moylan: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
RF Nelson Medina: 1-for-4, RBI, SB (6)
LF Kyle Battle: 0-for-4, 2 K

RHP Jackson Fristoe: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
It is hard to get a good read on Fristoe, as the Yankees have protected him thus far (17 IP in six starts this season). He throws as hard as anyone in the system. The question is whether he can put the entire intriguing package together.
RHP Trent Sellers: (W, 4-1)  1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, HR
3.00 ERA (21 IP, 12 H, 11 R, 7 ER, 2 HR, 13 BB, 30 K)
RHP Mason Vinyard: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
LHP Joel Valdez: (S, 2) 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
2.33 ERA (19.1 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 6 BB, 23 K). After allowing 10 HR in 78.2 innings in 2023, he hasn’t allowed any in 2024.

Tampa (11-25) (Lost to Bradenton, 3-1)

2B Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-3, K
  2B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-1
DH Jasson Dominguez: 2-for-4
Dominguez’s first hit was smoked (111 MPH). His second hit was exactly half that. They both count the same in the boxscore. By the way, I am 100% for officially placing him in Scranton after rehab. The Yankees don’t care about “burning” options. He has three left and you hope they don’t need to use all of them. He will essentially become the team’s 4th outfielder – unlike most 4th outfielders, he will be in Triple-A as an insurance policy in case of injury instead of playing once a week while riding the pine the other days. 
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, K
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-3, HR (3), RBI, RS
.246/.395/.478 in 86 PA (5 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 14 R, 6-for-7 SB, 19.8% BB, 22.1% K). He is 11-for-32 in his last ten games with three doubles and three home runs.
3B Hans Montero: 0-for-3, K
RF Coby Morales: 1-for-2, 2B (4), BB
16-for-46 (.348) in May.
C Edinson Duran: 0-for-3
LF Daury Arias: 0-for-3, K

RHP Cade Smith: (L, 1-2)  4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
2.97 ERA (30.1 IP, 21 H, 14 R, 10 ER, 1 HR, 16 BB, 41 K). 
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
RHP Kris Bow: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Bow hit 98.3 MPH with his sinker, which he threw 82% of the time. If I threw a 98.3 MPH sinker, I’d use it 100% of the time. While he didn’t walk anyone tonight, walks have been his issue (12 in 15 IP this year, 36 in 36.2 innings last year). He has a legitimate chance if he can harness that (he doesn’t need to become a control specialist to be effective). 

FCL (4-5) (Lost to the Phillies, 19-1, in a 7-inning (thankfully) game)

1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3, BB
C Edgleen Perez: 0-for-1, 2 BB
SS Juan Matheus: 1-for-2, SB (2), CS (3), BB, K
CF Fidel Montero: 1-for-2, HR (1), RBI, RS, BB, K
Montero hit 11 homers in 108 DSL games (to go along with the 59 stolen bases in 72 attempts)

RHP Angel Benitez (L, 1-1): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/10: Edgleen Perez Homers in FCL Win

News:

Expect report delays on Saturday and Sunday due to Mother’s Day weekend.

Scranton (25-10)

Their game against Rochester was postponed. They will try to play two on Saturday.

Somerset (14-15) 

Their game against Altoona was postponed. They will try to play two on Saturday.

The lineup was posted before the postponement.

CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-0
His first 19 games this season (10.2% BB; 29.5% K, 105 wRC+) are close to his 17 Somerset games last season (9% BB; 28.2% K; 104 wRC+). I expect his bat to take off at some point.
SS Oswald Peraza: 0-for-0
Peraza’s rehab moves to Somerset for the weekend. A reminder that Peraza has one option year remaining so he can be assigned to a minor league team once his rehab is over.
C Ben Rice: 0-for-0
The Yankees remain somewhat committed to him behind the plate, as he has 12 starts (8 each at first base and designated hitter). If opposing scouts like what he does behind the plate, they see power at a premium position. That may not be the goal here, but one has to consider it. If it weren’t for the catching, he would have no reason to be here (.301/.394/.589 in 351 Double-A plate appearances).
1B Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-0
139 PA for Somerset in 2023: .211/.273/.313.  In 120 PA in 2024:  .237/.383/.567.  His 2024 average is being impacted by a low BABIP (.203). Imagine if the number was league average.
2B Ben Cowles: 0-for-0
What can Cowles be? I don’t know the answer to that. A Rob Refsnyder outcome would be a win (Refsnyder has carved out a 392-game career with a .758 OPS vs. LHP). That outcome likely doesn’t keep him in the Yankees organization, but maybe the higher-ups see a potential second base option. Who knows?  If he keeps up his current hitting, he won’t have to worry about making it to MLB.
DH Grant Richardson: 0-for-0
For Hudson Valley last year, Richardson hit .204/.306/.389 (92 wRC+) with an 11.2% BB and 31.3% K.  The Yankees decided to promote him. As one would expect to happen (sarcasm), he is hitting .309/.383/.544 with an 8.4% BB and 25.97% K since that promotion. Don’t question it – go with it.
3B J.C. Escarra: 0-for-0
RF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-0
LF Jared Wegner: 0-for-0
Wegner is one of those prospects that hardly anyone pays attention to…then, he suddenly gets called up to make his MLB debut. 

LHP Brock Selvidge: 0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
A 51.5% GB and 25.9% K is a formula for success. He has allowed 7 HR in 200 career innings. The number of teams who would use him in MLB in 2024 is not zero.

Hudson Valley (14-14) (Lost to Aberdeen, 5-3)

SS Roc Riggio: 1-for-4, 2B (4), RS, CS (2), BB, K
Riggio is hitting .214 with a .778 OPS. He has an eye (19.3% BB) and pop (.414 SLG). His BABIP is low.
2B Jared Serna: 1-for-4, 2B (7), BB, K
Serna extends his hitting streak to 9 (15-for-42; 5 doubles, 3 HR)
CF Jace Avina: 1-for-5, 2B (7), RBI, RS, SB (2), 4 K
With the extra-base power comes the high strikeout rate. The Yankees weren’t getting a polished prospect for Jake Bauers – they accepted a worthwhile lottery ticket.
LF Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, BB, K
Games by position: C: 13 (11 starts); 3B: 8; 2B: 3; LF: 3; DH: 1
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-2, 3 BB, K
Martinez is 3-for-22 in May but has 9 walks. Taking it back further, he is in a 3-for-34 slump.
   PR Kyle Battle: 0-for-0, SB (2)
1B Josh Moylan: 1-for-5, 2 K
DH Rafael Flores: 0-for-3, BB, K
Thankfully, his stay on the IL wasn’t a long one (first game since 5/2)
RF Nelson Medina: 1-for-3, RS, SB (5), BB, 2 K
3B Beau Brewer: 1-for-2, 2 BB, K

RHP Sebastian Keane:  4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
6.12 ERA (25 IP, 29 H, 17 R, 17 ER, 1 HR, 16 BB, 25 K). 
RHP Luis Arejula: (L, 1-2) 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Huey Morrill: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR

Tampa (10-21)

Scheduled day off (they played a scheduled doubleheader earlier this week)

FCL (3-2) (Defeated the Blue Jays, 6-1, in a 7-inning game)

“Why are so many games seven innings?”

Firstly, this is a manager’s decision before the game starts. They have the option to play 7 innings or 9 innings.

The reason why the number of 7-inning games has gone up comes down to:
1. The earlier start to the season (no new draftees filtering onto the roster);
2. “Domestic roster limits” – Teams can only carry 165 players between the FCL/A/A+/AA/AAA (this is down 15 players from 2023);
3. Related to the above: Lack of pitching. Starters aren’t asked to go deep often (especially early on), so teams need enough pitchers to get through a game. It is easier to do that in seven innings than in nine innings.

For example, seven FCL games were played today – four went nine innings while three went seven.

(Remember, I do not list out the entire lineup for the FCL/DSL games. However, since today was light on action, I will do it)

RF Wilson Rodriguez: 1-for-2, 2 RS, BB, K
In 17 FCL games, Rodriguez is hitting .218/.377/.382 in 69 PA (18.8% BB, 28.99% K). He is a long-range 19-year-old prospect.
C Edgleen Perez: 1-for-2, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 RS, BB
4-for-9 (2 doubles, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB)
DH Josue Gonzalez: 1-for-3, 2B (2), SB (2), 2 K
6-for-13 (2 doubles, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 2 SB)
SS Juan Matheus: 1-for-3, CS (2), K
The 20-year-old is 3-for-15.
3B Abrahan Ramirez: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, RS
5-for-13 with a homer and 5 RBI.
CF Fidel Montero: 1-for-2, 2B (1), RS, BB, K
3-for-11 with a double and three stolen bases. Montero hit 11 homers and stole 59 bases in 108 DSL games.
1B Luis Ogando: 0-for-2, SF, RBI, K
Now 20, Ogando hit .352/.446/.541 in 148 DSL plate appearances in 2023. He played a pair of games at SS in his 2022 debut season but has been 1B/3B with a sprinkle of LF the last two seasons.
LF Ramiro Altagracia: 1-for-3, RBI, K
Season debut for the 20-year-old. He spent 2021-2023 in the DSL and didn’t show much at the plate until last year.
2B Gabriel Terrero: 0-for-2, BB, K
Terrero will play the entire 2024 season at 18 years of age.

RHP Jesus Liranzo: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
This is a rehab appearance for the 29-year-old. He compiled a 7.09 ERA in 20 games for Somerset last season. Liranzo is a lifer who started his professional journey in 2013 but has yet to make a big league appearance.
RHP Angel Benitez (W, 1-0): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K
This is the second appearance of 2024 for the 6’7″ Benitez. He didn’t pitch in 2023 due to the elbow surgery he needed in mid-2022. He is an intriguing 20-year-old lottery ticket.
LHP Brady Rose (S, 1): 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
If the name looks familiar, it is because he pitched in four games for Tampa earlier this year. Having a stretched-out arm is beneficial down here, though I would guess that Rose preferred the full-season league experience.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 4/30: Jared Serna is Heating Up

News:

The Yankees sent IF Keiner Delgado to the Pirates to complete the trade that landed the Yankees JT Brubaker and $500,000 of International bonus pool money.

Ranked 22nd on my Yankees’ Top 30 prospects list, Delgado hit .293/.414/.485 in 49 FCL games in 2023. He scored 54 runs, drove in 31, and went 36-for-43 in the stolen base department. As I stated in his blurb, video game numbers.  Whether that performance will translate into a full-season league, we don’t know. The Yankees did not move him to Low-A Tampa to begin 2024.

There is a logjam of middle infield prospects in the system. Delgado was blocked by the Roderick Arias, George Lombard Jr., Enmanuel Tejeda trio to begin this season. I have Arias and Lombard ranked ahead of him and Tejeda one spot underneath him.

In case you forgot, Brubaker is out following Tommy John surgery last April. He could eat some innings for the Yankees in the second half of the season. The $500,000 shouldn’t be ignored, as the Yankees tend to be good in the international market. An example of that is Delgado, who signed for $100,000.

RHP Leonardo Pestana was promoted to Somerset from Hudson Valley. The 25-year-old Pestana pitched to a 1.86 ERA in 9.2 innings with a 15/5 K/BB for Hudson Valley. Typically a starter in his career, it appears he was moved to the bullpen for 2024.

OF Oscar Gonzalez is done with his rehab stint and has been assigned to Scranton.

Scranton (18-9) (Defeated Jacksonville, 7-6)

3B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4, 2B (10), RBI, RS, BB
Durbin finishes April with a .294 average and .896 OPS (10 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 20 R, 17.3% BB, 11.0% K, 12-for-13 SB). Games by position: 2B: 10; SS: 3; 3B: 4; LF: 5 (4 starts); CF: 1; DH: 2.  One has to be intrigued.
DH Everson Pereira: 2-for-4, RBI, RS, HBP, K
Pereira hits .263 with a .914 OPS in April. He finishes the month on a 5-game hitting streak that featured three multi-hit efforts.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-5, HR (1), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
Rumfield is hitting .292 with a .785 OPS since his promotion. He has three multi-hit games in his last four games played.
LF Oscar Gonzalez: 1-for-5, 2 K
RF Jose Rojas: 0-for-5, RBI
C Luis Torrens: 2-for-5, RS, K
CF Greg Allen: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
SS Jeter Downs: 2-for-4, 2B (3), 2 RS, SB (4), K
Downs impresses in his first month in the organization, hitting .294 with a .916 OPS.  He has a 6-game hitting streak going (9-for-22)
2B Josh VanMeter: 1-for-3, HR (3), 2 RBI, RS, K
  PH-2B Kevin Smith: 0-for-0, BB

RHP Will Warren: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, HR
If you told me that Warren would get his ERA under 4.00 after allowing five ER in 0.1 innings in his 2024 debut, I would have called you crazy. Yet, here we are: 3.95 ERA (27.1 IP, 20 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 6 HR, 9 BB, 33 K)
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: (W, 1-0)  1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Phil Bickford (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Somerset (10-12) (Defeated New Hampshire, 3-2)

DH Ben Rice: 1-for-3, HR (7), RBI, RS, BB, K
Rice has homered in back-to-back games and has 23 home runs in 319 Double-A plate appearances.
3B Jon Berti: 0-for-2, SB (1), 2 BB
Berti didn’t miss much time with his injury, so you have to assume he will be back in MLB soon.
   SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-0
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-4, 3 K
.320/.382/.540 in 55 PA.
C Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-4, K
.247/.370/.610 in 92 PA. As great as he has been, he is being brought down by a .200 BABIP.
SS-3B Ben Cowles: 1-for-4
Cowles extends his hitting streak to 8. He ends April at .351/.433/.623 in 90 PA (8 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 14 R, 12.2% BB, 16.7% K, 3-for-3 SB). He has 11 starts at SS, 7 starts at 3B (9 games total), and 3 starts at 2B. What more can you ask for?
1B J.C. Escarra: 0-for-2, RS, BB
LF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-3, 2B (3), RS, 2 K
.226/.317/.472 in 60 PA (3 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers)
RF Jared Wegner: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
Wegner picked the perfect time to extend his hitting streak to 13: A 2-run single in the 7th that gave Somerset the lead they wouldn’t give up. He hit .270/.352/.508 in April. He is 24 years old and this is his first taste of Double-A.
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-3, 2 K

RHP Bailey Dees: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
Last four starts: 3.10 ERA (20.1 IP, 18 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 10 BB, 24 K). I will remind you that he is converting to starting, so that line is promising.
LHP Ryan Anderson: (W, 1-1)  2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
4.82 ERA (9.1 IP, 14 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 11 K). His BABIP is .467.
RHP Carlos Gomez (S, 2): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
0.87 ERA (10.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 8 K)

Hudson Valley (13-8) (Mauled Wilmington (thanks to a 9-run 7th), 12-2)

2B Roc Riggio: 3-for-5, 2B (3), RBI, 2 RS, SB (2)
A nice return for Riggio (first game since 4/21), who compiled two hits in the 9-run 7th inning. This is his first career 3-hit game.
  2B Beau Brewer: 1-for-1
SS Jared Serna: 3-for-6, 2B (4), 2 RBI, 2 RS
Serna, who also had two hits in the 7th inning, has back-to-back 3-hit efforts. These two games have jumped his triple slash from .148/.304/.279 to .211/.344/.352. 
LF Jace Avina: 3-for-6, 2 2B (3), 2 RBI, RS, K
Avina’s second 3-hit effort this season (11 games). The 20-year-old is hitting .333/.447/.564 in 47 PA (3 doubles, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R). A strong start to his Yankees’ career.
C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-6, HR (2), 2 RBI, RS, K
If you are going to have only one hit, make it count. He ends April at .293/.354/.440 in 82 PA while playing several positions.
DH Omar Martinez: 0-for-5, K
There is always someone not invited to the party. Martinez, who has prospect buzz, hit .242/.367/.424 in 79 April plate appearances.
3B Josh Moylan: 3-for-5, 3B (1), 2 RS
Moylan hit .231/.359/.327 in 64 April plate appearances. The power has yet to show up in his brief professional career, but he is only 21 and has shown some plate discipline (15.8% BB)
1B Rafael Flores: 2-for-5, HR (2), 2 RBI, RS, K
.211/.308/.404 in 65 PA. 
CF Nelson Medina: 2-for-5, 2B (1), 2 RS, 2 K
RF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-3, 2B (3), RBI, RS, CS (1), 2 HBP

RHP Baron Stuart: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
4.61 ERA (13.2 IP, 13 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 9 K). He is a ground ball pitcher.
RHP Luis Arejula: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
LHP Ben Shields: (W, 1-0)  2..2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
0.54 ERA (16.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 20 K). Anyone who has read my stuff in the past knows that I am not patient with college pitchers – when they show a level isn’t challenging them, you move them. Perhaps it’s still a tad early for Shields, but they have to start thinking about it.
RHP Cole Ayers: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
1.38 ERA (13 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 17 K). He pitched to a 2.50 ERA and 22/6 K/BB in 18 IP at this level last year.

Tampa (5-17) (Lost to Dunedin, 2-0)

2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-4, 3 K
A slump to close out April has him down to .276/.330/.310 in 98 PA. Given his style of play, he will need to bring down that 24.5% K rate.
RF Coby Morales: 0-for-4, 3 K
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, K
.214/.327/.381 in 98 PA. His statistical profile in April shows his raw ability: Eight of his 18 hits went for extra bases. He stole four bases but was caught three times. He owned a 50% K rate at one point, so it is impressive that he dropped that to 36.7%. Overall, it’s encouraging. You have to be willing to accept some warts as he progresses.
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-4, 2 K
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-3, K
LF Willy Montero: 0-for-3, K
.162/.213/.203 in 80 PA. Baseball is a game of constant adjustments. We’ll see how he adjust.
C Tomas Frick: 1-for-3, K
Frick is hitting .367/.500/.433 in 38 PA with six walks and six strikeouts. He has reached base safely in all nine games (at least one hit in eight of them)
DH Manuel Palencia: 0-for-3, K
3B Brenny Escanio: 1-for-2, 2B (4), BB

RHP Gabriel Barbosa:(L, 0-3)  6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
Barbosa ties his personal best for strikeouts in a game. Last two starts: 12 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 17 K. He is not a major prospect as a minor league Rule 5 draftee, but you never know if/when something will click. Something had to impress the Yankees to lead them to draft him in the first place.
RHP Osiel Rodriguez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
2.45 ERA (11 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 HR, 6 BB, 12 K). If it wasn’t for those pesky home runs…

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 4/24: Will Warren Tosses 6 Strong Innings

News:

I have no news, real or otherwise..

Scranton (14-8) (Defeated Durham, 6-1)

2B Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-3, HBP, CS (1), 3 K
  PH-2B Josh VanMeter: 0-for-1
LF Caleb Durbin: 2-for-4, RS, 2 SB (12), BB, K
Durbin was in a 4-for-34 slide after his last multi-hit game on 4/12. Hopefully, tonight’s performance puts him back on the right track. He is hitting .280/.412/.439, which shows how hot he was before his slump.
RF Everson Pereira: 2-for-5, HR (7), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
Pereira has 15 homers and 49 RBI in 55 Triple-A games. 
1B Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-4, BB, 3 K
DH Jose Rojas: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 3 K
C Luis Torrens: 2-for-4, 2B (3), K
While Narvaez would be the simple move (he is on the 40-man), don’t rule out Torrens as the #3 catcher if a need ever presented itself in MLB.
SS Jeter Downs: 2-for-3, HR (3), 2 RBI, 2 RS, SB (3), BB
Downs’ home run was quite a blast: 427 feet at 105.9 MPH. He is hitting .265/.351/.510 in 58 plate appearances.
3B Kevin Smith: 1-for-4, RBI, RS, 2 SB (5), K
CF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-4, 3 K

RHP Will Warren: (W, 3-0) 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 6 K
4.22 ERA (21.1 IP, 14 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 5 HR, 9 BB, 26 K). When you allow five runs in 0.1 innings in your first start, it takes a while to bring the ERA down. Warren has allowed one run in 12 innings with a 13/2 K/BB over his last two starts. Tonight, he mixed all his pitches nicely: 29% sinkers, 26% sweepers, 20% 4-seamers, 14% cutters, 11% changeups.
LHP Clayton Andrews: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Alex Mauricio: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Mauricio isn’t the biggest of pitchers, but he packs some punch (maxed out at 95.7 with his 4-seamer). 

Somerset (7-10) (Lost to Reading, 4-3. They had baserunners all day: 11 walks, 1 HBP, 2 errors)

CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-5, 2 K
DH Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-4, BB, K
Ramirez has four hits in his last eight games (4-for-26). The good news is that he has eight walks in that timeframe.
1B Ben Rice: 0-for-1, RS, 3 BB, HBP
.250/.351/.500 in 74 PA.
SS Ben Cowles: 2-for-4, HR (1), RBI, RS, BB
After swatting eight doubles and two triples, Cowles fills in the home run column.
C J.C. Escarra: 0-for-4, CS (1), BB, K
3B Jordan Groshans: 1-for-4, BB
RF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-2, CS (2), 2 BB
LF Jared Wegner: 1-for-4, RS, BB, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-3, 2B (2), RBI, BB

RHP Bailey Dees: (L, 1-2) 5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
Dees, who allowed eight runs in 3.1 IP in his 2024 debut, has allowed six runs in 15.1 IP since (3.52 ERA). Today was one of those days where he could have imploded but kept the runs to a minimum.
RHP Carlos Gomez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
RHP Jack Neely: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Hudson Valley (9-7) (Lost to tough one to Bowling Green, 3-2)

CF Jace Avina: 3-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, RS, SB (1)
Avina’s first HR (and stolen base) as a member of the Yankees’ organization. Expect more as raw power is the top tool in his offensive arsenal. His RBI single in the bottom of the 8th broke the 1-1 tie, but the Renegades couldn’t hold the lead.
SS Jared Serna: 0-for-3, BB
Serna is now 7-for-50 with a double, two home runs, 13 walks, and eight strikeouts. The walks and strikeouts are nice – the balls need to start finding grass.
2B Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-3, BB
A new position for Rodriguez’s resume. He has now played C/1B/2B/3B/LF in his professional career (he has yet to play first base in 2024)
C Omar Martinez: 1-for-4
.298/.411/.532 in 56 PA. I think Martinez gets lost in the shuffle but he is a legitimate prospect. The Yankees have a lot of them to sort through.
DH Josh Moylan: 1-for-4, K
1B Rafael Flores: 0-for-4, K
3B Kiko Romero: 1-for-4, 2B (1), K
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-4, 2 K
LF Kyle Battle: 0-for-2, RS, BB, K

RHP Jackson Fristoe: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
The fireballer threw 50 pitches today (37 in his first start, 35 in his second (didn’t get out of the first)). They are simply building him up.
LHP Ben Shields: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
0.64 ERA (14 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 15 K). I don’t know much about him (besides he went to UMass and George Mason), but he is doing the job. Although it is his debut season, I will note that he is 25.
LHP Joel Valdez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
2.61 ERA (10.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 12 K). You see me writing about T.J. Rumfield often in these reports. Valdez was the other piece in the trade with the Phillies that sent Nick Nelson and Donny Sands to Philadelphia.
RHP Huey Morrill (L, 0-1):  1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 0 K
Morrill’s Hudson Valley debut (he was in Tampa) didn’t go as planned, but there’s always next time.

Tampa (4-13) (Lost to Lakeland, 14-5)

SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-5
RF Oscar Gonzalez: 2-for-4, HR (1), RBI, RS, BB
Gonzalez didn’t miss much time in spring training so one has to assume he will make his way up to Scranton soon enough.
3B Enmanuel Tejeda: 2-fot-5, 2B (3), RS
Tejeda increases his hitting streak to six (10-for-27). All three of his doubles have come during this streak.
2B Roderick Arias: 3-for-4, RS, BB, K
Arias’ first career 3-hit game. He is up to .238 with a .764 OPS thanks to a 7-for-16 surge in his last four games. He has walked once in five consecutive games.
1B Coby Morales: 2-for-4, RBI, RS, HBP, K
CF Willy Montero: 2-for-4, 2 2B (3), RBI, RS, BB
After games of 4/12, Montero was hitting .095/.208/.143. His average is now .172. Hey, it’s a start!
DH Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, 2 K
C Manuel Palencia: 2-for-4, 2 2B (3), 2 RBI, K
LF Daury Arias: 0-for-4, 2 K

RHP Luis Serna: (L, 0-2) 2.2 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
There’s not much you can do but move on. Season: 11.1 IP, 14 H,  13 R, 13 ER, 1 HR, 7 BB, 16 K
RHP Yoljeldriz Diaz: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Art Warren: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Jordy Luciano: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 4/19: Trystan Vrieling: 7.2 Hitless Innings

News:

RHP Tanner Myatt was promoted to Scranton today. He entered the game tonight, but it wasn’t his Scranton debut.

IF DJ LeMahieu was supposed to be in Somerset this weekend on a rehab stint but it isn’t happening. Who knows when he will be ready?

Scranton (12-6) (Lost to Lehigh Valley, 9-3)

LF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-5, RBI, 2 K
Lockridge is in a little 0-for-14 slide. 
SS Caleb Durbin: 1-for-2, RS, 2 BB
.303/.440/.485 in 84 PA (7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 13 R, 16 BB, 8 K, 10-for-10 SB). What is there to dislike in that stat line? 
CF Everson Pereira: 0-for-4, 3 K
There has been feast-or-famine in his profile this year. He is hitting .237/.338/.576 in 68 PA, but it comes with a 38.2% K rate.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-4, 2B (2), RBI
Rumfield is 6-for-15 with two doubles since his promotion. The Yankees do not have tremendous first base depth – if anything happens to Anthony Rizzo, Rumfield could find himself in the mix.
C Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-3, BB, K
DH Jose Rojas: 0-for-4, K
3B Jordan Groshans: 0-for-3, BB
2B Josh VanMeter: 1-for-3, 2B (2), RS, BB, K
RF Luis Gonzalez: 1-for-4, RS, 2 K

RHP Clayton Beeter: (L, 1-1) 4 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
Beeter wasn’t throwing hard tonight, maxing at 94.9 and averaging only 91.8.  These are the first runs he has allowed this season (8.1 scoreless here and one scoreless in MLB)
RHP Tanner Myatt: 2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
When Myatt was drafted, there was talk about how hard he threw. However, injuries have likely sapped him of some of that. He maxed at 92.6 MPH tonight.
RHP Phil Bickford: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 2 K

Somerset (6-7) (Walked it off against Hartford, 1-0)

1B Ben Rice: 2-for-4, HR (4), RBI, RS, 2 K
Walk-off homer to break the scoreless tie. Rice has homered in three straight games (7-for-13, double, 3 HR). He is up to .269/.321/.519 in 56 PA. Before these three games, he was hitting .179/.256/.256. Early-season sample sizes!
C Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-3, 2 K
.244/.370/.711 in 54 PA. He needs to hit the ball over the fence because he isn’t having much luck when he doesn’t (.148 BABIP)
CF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-2, CS (1), BB
SS Ben Cowles: 0-for-3
RF Jared Wegner: 1-for-3, K
.250/.302/.525 in 43 PA. 16 of his 32 career hits have gone for extra-bases (.517 SLG). Last year’s 9th-round pick (Arkansas) is 24 years old.
LF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-3, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-3
3B Alexander Vargas: 0-for-3, K
0-for-11 since his promotion. When you struggle with the bat, a trip to Double-A isn’t often a cure (though pitchers in Double-A tend to have better control/command). 
DH Spencer Henson: 0-for-3, 2 K

RHP Trystan Vrieling: 7.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K (100 pitches)
Vrieling was brilliant tonight. His ERA through three starts is 0.48 in 18.2 IP (5 H, 1 R, 6 BB, 18 K). In case you forgot, this is his debut season. The Yankees sent the 3rd round pick in the 2022 draft (he didn’t pitch in 2023) straight to Double-A, which is not something they ever do. They knew what they were doing.
RHP Kevin Stevens (W, 2-0): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 1 BB, 8 K. The 26-year-old was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and missed the entire 2023 season.

Hudson Valley (8-4) (Lost to Aberdeen, 6-2)

SS Roc Riggio: 0-for-3. RS, BB
If you haven’t seen his remarkable double play from last night, do it.
2B Jared Serna: 0-for-3, BB
Serna is hitting only .132 (5-for-38) though he does have a 10/6 BB/K.
CF Jace Avina: 2-for-3, HBP
I am intrigued to see if Avina’s bat can develop beyond the power.  From the scouting reports, he should be able to handle all three outfield positions.
C Jose Rodriguez: 0-for-3, HBP, 2 K
RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-3, HBP, K
LF Anthony Hall: 1-for-2, RBI, RS, SB (1), 2 BB, K
Hall entered this game struggling (2-for-27), so it is nice to see him have a good game.
DH Rafael Flores: 0-for-2, HBP, 2 K
1B Kiko Romero: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
3B Beau Brewer: 1-for-4, RBI

RHP Sebastian Keane: (L, 0-2) 4 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
Shrug it off and move on to the next one.
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
5.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
RHP Cole Ayers: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 1 K
7.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 10 K
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
5.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K. Nice start to his 2024 campaign.

Tampa (4-9) (Lost to St. Lucie, 3-1)

2B George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-4, 2 K
It is rare for Lombard not to reach base. This is only the second time in 26 career games (29 if you include the 2023 playoffs) that he did not reach base.
3B Enmanuel Tejeda: 2-for-4, 2B (2), 2 K
He has back-to-back games with a double after compiling zero extra-base hits in his first 11 games. He is hitting .306/.333/.347.
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-3, RS, SB (3), BB, K
.170/.278/.340 in 54 PA. He is taking some time to adjust, which is hardly surprising. He has stolen three bases in his last four games.
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-4, 4 K
LF Coby Morales: 1-for-3, 2B (1), RBI, K
CF Willy Montero: 0-for-3, 2 K
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-3, K
RF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-3, K
DH Edinson Duran: 0-for-3

LHP Allen Facundo: (L, 0-1) 3 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
Facundo hit 96.7 MPH with his 4-seamer (averaged 93.3). His control has been an issue but the Yankees likely feel there is something to work with.
RHP Jordy Luciano: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Gabonia threw a 95.5 MPH sinker tonight. After walking 29 in 53.2 innings last season, he has yet to walk anyone in 5.2 (small sample size) innings this year.
RHP Steven Fulgencio: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!