Yankees MILB 6/7: Austin Wells Drives Home 2

News:

The Yankees have selected the contract of OF Billy McKinney to replace Aaron JudgeMcKinney, on his second tour with the Yankees organization, was hitting well in Scranton (.274/.388/.511 in 40 games) and should find himself getting some playing time over the next few weeks.

“Why McKinney and not Estevan Florial?” I don’t disagree with those who would rather see Florial than McKinney, who hasn’t done much with his 768 MLB plate appearances (.206/.277/.387). Furthermore, in his most recent sample size, he went 5-for-52 in 23 games for Oakland last season. We could have a situation where the Yankees simply do not want to push Florial through the waiver process again once they need to send him back down. He slipped through after Spring Training, but that is a tough time for any player to be designated for assignment. Teams have already set their 26-man rosters and may not see a need to claim a player like Florial, who is not a sure bet to be anything useful in MLB. Now? Teams have evaluated their rosters for two months. Injuries have occurred. There may be more of a market to pick up Florial for “free” and give him a bench role. Whatever the case may be, McKinney is here in the short term and will be battling it out with Jake Bauers and Willie Calhoun to be here for the longer term.

The Yankees have promoted RHP Luis Velasquez from Tampa to Hudson Valley. Signed by the Yankees in 2019 (I can’t find any news on his bonus, so it likely wasn’t much), Velasquez has moved up the chain in a reasonable amount of time. Like with many prospects, the lost 2020 season likely impacted him in some way.

There isn’t much to dislike about Velasquez, other than an elevated BB rate (which isn’t uncommon amongst Yankees relief prospects). This season for Tampa, he compiled a 1.05 ERA (3.21 FIP) over 25.2 innings with a 32.7% K, 14.9% BB, and 69.4% GB.

On August 5, 2019, Velasquez allowed a home run. Why is that a big deal? He hasn’t allowed one since. Overall, he has allowed that one home run in 84.2 career innings (0.1 HR/9). His ability to keep the ball on the ground and strike hitters out is tantalizing. The control can be worked on.

Scranton (27-30)

For the second night in a row, their game against Norfolk was postponed due to poor air quality. No makeup dates have been announced for these games.

Somerset (30-22) (Lost to Hartford, 5-4)

SS Trey Sweeney1-for-5, RBI
LF Jasson Dominguez0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 K
Walks by month: April: 20 (17 games); May: 17 (25 games); June: 7 (6 games). The discipline is there if that wasn’t already obvious. He has 143 walks in 224 career games.
DH Austin Wells1-for-4, 2B (7), 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
Wells has three doubles and 8 RBI in six June games.
3B Tyler Hardman: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K
1B T.J. Rumfield0-for-4, BB
2B Caleb Durbin: 2-for-4, SB (12)
Durbin is now 27-for-31 stealing bases between here and Hudson Valley (44 games). He stole 31 bases in 105 games last season. As for the strikeouts, he still has only two in 92 plate appearances at this level.
RF Brandon Lockridge0-for-4, 2 K
Lockridge’s first game since 5/24. He was hitting well prior to his injury (.310/.400/.494 with 17 stolen bases) so hopefully he can pick up where he left off.
CF Jeisson Rosario: 2-for-4, HR (7), RBI, 2 RS, 2 K
C Mickey Gasper3-for-4, 2 RS, K

RHP Gray Fenter: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, HR
Fenter’s best start as a member of the Yankees’ organization. He is 27, so he is purely a depth arm.
RHP Danny Watson: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Watson hasn’t allowed a run in 3.2 innings since his promotion. This is his first strikeout since moving to Somerset after striking out 39 in 24.1 innings for Hudson Valley. Every level is an adjustment.
RHP Tanner Myatt: (L, 2-1) 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Justin Wilson0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Hudson Valley (30-22) 

Their game against Jersey Shore was postponed due to poor air quality. I can vouch for how “smoky” the air has become down here. No makeup date has been announced.

Tampa (23-30) (Defeated Lakeland, 3-1)

2B Jared Serna: 1-for-4, K
.311/.371/.495. It is the first time his SLG has dropped below .500 since May 4th, and he is 1-for-14 in his last three games after going 8-for-13 in his previous four games. Baseball!
CF Daury Arias1-for-3, 2B (7), BB, K
C Agustin Ramirez0-for-4, K
SS Brenny Escanio0-for-3, RS, BB, K
LF Christopher Familia1-for-4, HR (4), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
Familia’s four home runs have come in only six games. He is 22 years old and already received a taste of this level in 2022 (.207/.295/.362 in 36 games). 
3B Jesus Rodriguez2-for-3, 2B (4), RS, BB, K
Rodriguez has hit safely in all six June games (12-for-24). He struggled mightily in May, so it is good to see him get going again. Overall, he is hitting .286/.356/.368.
1B Omar Martinez2-for-4, K
Martinez is off to a 5-for-15 start in June. 
DH Tayler Aguilar1-for-4, 2 K
RF Felix Negueis2-for-3, K
A needed game for Negueis, who entered tonight 3-for-61.

RHP Leonardo Pestana2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Kris Bow: (W, 1-1) 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
This is Bow’s first professional victory. His last two outings: 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 8 K (he allowed ten earned runs in 2.2 innings during his first two outings). Bow is throwing mid-90s sinkers. That’ll work.
RHP Matt Keating: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.63 ERA (24 IP, 20 H, 10 R, 7 ER, 2 HR, 12 BB, 36 K). He has at least one strikeout in 14 of his 16 appearances (12 of those games feature 2+ strikeouts). He doesn’t throw hard (90-92, topped out at 93.1 tonight), so I assume much of his swing-and-miss comes on his curve and slider.
RHP Adam Stone (S, 1): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Stone’s first career save was an adventure, but he got the job done. He was throwing in the mid-90s.

FCL Yankees (1-1)

Day off.

DSL Bombers (2-0) and DSL Yankees (2-0)

Both teams had the day off.

Yankees MILB 5/31: Oswald Peraza: BOOM x 2!

News:

Nothing new or exciting to report.

Scranton (27-26) (Defeated Lehigh Valley, 7-5, in ten innings)

CF Estevan Florial2-for-6, 3B (3), RBI, K
Florial is in the midst of a 10-game hitting streak. He has five multi-hit games during the streak and has at least one extra-base hit in nine of the games. Overall, he is hitting .322/.432/.645.
SS Oswald Peraza: 3-for-6, 2 HR (9), 2 RBI, 3 RS
Peraza is now the owner of a 7-game hitting streak and has 8 HR in his last ten games. This is his 4th career multi-HR game (second this month). I have said since Spring Training that he has nothing to prove here. I don’t care about a logjam in MLB – Peraza does not belong here.  Anyway, he is hitting .347/.398/.663.
LF Elijah Dunham2-for-5, 2 K
.219/.347/.331 in 202 plate appearances. He started the season strong (.256/.378/.390 in April) but simply couldn’t get much going in May. 
3B Andres Chaparro0-for-5, 3 K
He finishes May 26-for-89 (.292) with 3 HR and 20 RBI. 
  PR-3B Wilmer Difo: 0-for-0, RS
RF Kole Calhoun2-for-5, 3B (2), 2 RBI, RS, K
DH Rodolfo Duran1-for-4, RBI, RS, BB
.283/.338/.542 in 130 plate appearances. 
1B Billy McKinney1-for-4, BB, 2 K
C Carlos Narvaez1-for-2, RS, 3 BB, K
Since his promotion: 10-for-37 with 14 (!) walks and seven strikeouts. There is a catching logjam that will only get larger when Josh Breaux gets back here.
2B Jamie Westbrook1-for-4, BB, 2 K, CS (2)

RHP Mitch Spence: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
4.26 ERA (57 IP, 54 H, 32 R, 27 ER, 10 HR, 21 BB, 45 K). Spence compiled a 2.21 ERA in 36.2 May innings.
RHP Deivi Garcia: 1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
4.78 ERA (26.1 IP, 22 H, 15 R, 14 ER, 3 HR, 21 BB, 27 K). Simply put, you aren’t surviving in the big leagues with this kind of walk rate. Again, the Yankees have a free year of evaluation with Garcia, so may as well use it to see if anything clicks.
RHP Matt Bowman (W, 2-0): 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Somerset (26-20) (Defeated Portland, 4-2)

SS Trey Sweeney0-for-3, BB, K
Sweeney walked 23 times in 24 May games (26 K). He hit .222/.383/.333 during the month.
CF Jasson Dominguez1-for-4, K
Dominguez finishes May at .237/.353/.412 after a .140/.380/.340 April. 
1B T.J. Rumfield0-for-3, SF, RBI
Rumfield had a strong May, hitting .273/.383/.515 (4 doubles, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 12 R)
3B Caleb Durbin1-for-4, RS
Since promotion: .254/.347/.333 in 72 plate appearances with 7 walks and only 2 strikeouts. The Braves recently DFA’s Lucas Luetge, the pitcher who the Yankees sent over for Durbin (and RHP Indigo Diaz)
LF Jeisson Rosario1-for-3, HR (6), 2 RBI, RS
6 of Rosario’s 17 hits have gone over the fence. His BABIP is an insanely low .180.
C Anthony Seigler1-for-3
2B Max Burt1-for-3, K
RF Aaron Palensky0-for-2, HBP, SB (1)
Palensky is a perfect 11-for-11 stealing bases between here and Hudson Valley.
DH Mickey Gasper1-for-2, HR (1), RBI, 2 RS, HBP

RHP Clayton Beeter (W, 3-2): 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 3 K
2.66 ERA (44 IP, 35 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 3 HR, 25 BB, 52 K)
LHP Edgar Barclay1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Barclay’s first appearance of 2023 (and first in Double-A). He pitched to a 1.74 ERA and 33.5% K rate for Hudson Valley last season. He is someone to watch.
RHP Danny Watson1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
While he didn’t strike anyone out in his Double-A debut, he was a K machine for Hudson Valley.
RHP Zac Houston0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Alex Mauricio (S, 2): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Hudson Valley (27-20) (Lost to Aberdeen, 7-4)

CF Spencer Jones2-for-5, 2 2B (15), RS, 2 K
Jones has 21 doubles (35 extra-base hits) in 64 career games.
SS Alexander Vargas0-for-5, 2 K
C Josh Breaux3-for-5, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 RS, K
One has to assume he will make his way to Scranton soon enough. That will place four catchers in Triple-A: Ben Rortvedt, Rodolfo Duran, Carlos Narvaez, and Breaux. I assume Narvaez will be the one on the way back to Somerset.
DH Spencer Henson2-for-5, 3 K
1B Rafael Flores2-for-3, 2B (7), RBI, BB
.328/.381/.403 in 147 plate appearances. A surprising early entry in the “race” for the organization’s batting crown.
2B Ben Cowles1-for-4, 2 K
He finishes May with a 5-game hitting streak and an overall .333/.400/.439 line.
LF Grant Richardson1-for-4, HR (5), RBI, RS, K
He hit .203/.284/.329 in May. However, the good news is that he started very slow before coming on strong over the past few weeks.
RF Aldenis Sanchez0-for-3, BB, K, CS (2)
3B Marcos Cabrera0-for-3, BB

RHP Tyrone Yulie (L, 1-3): 4.1 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 5 K, HR
This is a “fascinating” stat line.
RHP Mason Vinyard1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Vinyard’s High-A debut (14 games of 3.33 ERA ball for Tampa)
RHP Carlos Gomez1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Josh Maciejewski2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Maciejewski’s first appearance since 7/4/22. He pitched to a 2.88 ERA in 34.1 IP for Somerset last season (he had one rough start for Scranton, as well)

Tampa (20-27) (Defeated Bradenton, 2-1, in ten innings)

2B Jared Serna0-for-4, SF, RBI, 3 K
Serna’s 10-game hitting streak is snapped.
RF-CF Daury Arias1-for-5
Arias went 22-for-80 (.275) in May. He hit .167/.254/.250 in April.
C Agustin Ramirez2-for-3, 2B (5), RBI, 2 BB
Ramirez walks it off in the 10th. He has walked seven times in his last two games (18 times in May to go along with his 5 doubles and 4 home runs)
DH Anthony Hall: 1-for-3, BB, K, SB (2)
Hall goes 23-for-68 in May with 17 walks. Again, I can’t imagine him being here for too long.
SS Brenny Escanio0-for-3, BB, K
CF Nelson Medina1-for-1, RS, SB (7)
Medina has been solid thus far, so let’s hope that any injury he has suffered is short-term.
  PH-RF Felix Negueis0-for-3, 2 K
1B Omar Martinez1-for-4, K, SB (2)
LF Tayler Aguilar0-for-3, BB, K
3B Brett Barrera0-for-4, RS, K

RHP Kris Bow3.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Bow’s most impressive outing to date (he struggled in his first two starts of 2023). His experience is limited but he seems to have some good stuff to work with (a mid-90s sinker is always a nice start)
RHP Yorlin Calderon2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
2.38 ERA (22.2 IP, 20 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 27 K). Calderon tossed a 7-inning no-hitter in his debut at this level last year. In 2023, they have kept him in the bullpen with solid results. 
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
2.14 ERA (21 IP, 16 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 11 BB, 26 K). Some have asked if he can be stretched out to start, given he did a little starting for Clemson. I am sure the Yankees will consider it as they have tried that path with many of their pitching prospects. 
RHP Matt Keating1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
2.11 ERA (21.1 IP, 16 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 2 HR, 11 BB, 32 K). Even after the promotion of Watson, strong arms remain down here in Tampa.
RHP Cole Ayers: (W, 1-1) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K

Yankees MILB 4/23: Drew Thorpe Ks 10

Anthony Seigler was officially placed on the injured list by Somerset on 4/21. His injury history remains scary – even as his play improved in 2022.

Scranton (8-13) (Lost to St. Paul, 8-5)

RF Estevan Florial1-for-5, 3B (1), K
6-game hitting streak
2B Jamie Westbrook1-for-4, BB
LF Elijah Dunham0-for-4, K
3B Andres Chaparro1-for-3, RS, BB, K
It’s a shame that Chaparro is a corner infielder/DH who can’t play the outfield. 
DH Jake Bauers: 2-for-4, 2 HR (8), 3 RBI, 2 RS, K
Once a Top 100 prospect, Bauers hasn’t had much success at the big league level. This is his third multi-HR game this season (including a 3-HR game)
1B Billy McKinney0-for-3, BB, 2 K
SS Jesus Bastidas1-for-4, RS, K
C Mickey Gasper1-for-4
Gasper can catch and play first base. He is a left-handed bat who hit .266/.407/,453 in 70 games for Somerset last season. The downside? He is 27.
CF Michael Hermosillo: 1-for-3, HR (4), 2 RBI, RS, BB
Hermosillo has MLB experience but hasn’t hit much when given an opportunity.

RHP Randy Vasquez: (L, 0-3) 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 6 K, HR
It has been a bit of a bumpy ride for Vasquez, but this start is at least somewhat encouraging. Season: 7.48 ERA (21.2 IP, 27 H, 21 R, 18 ER, 5 HR, 16 BB, 28 K)
RHP Barrett Loseke1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Michael Gomez1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Somerset (8-7) (Defeated New Hampshire, 7-3)

LF Jasson Dominguez0-for-1, RS, 3 BB, K, SB (9)
15 walks in 55 plate appearances (27.3%). He is showing off his patience and perhaps Double-A pitchers are being extra careful despite his 3-for-39 start. Hopefully, he gets hot soon enough.
CF Harrison Bader0-for-3
See you soon! Hopefully you bring your playoff bat with you.
CF Brandon Lockridge0-for-0, SF, RBI
RF Jeisson Rosario3-for-4, 2 HR (3), 4 RBI, 2 RS
Rosario’s first career multi-HR game. Last year, he finished with 11 home runs after hitting ten total in his first four seasons.
3B Tyler Hardman2-for-4, SB (3)
1B T.J. Rumfield0-for-3, HBP
C Carlos Narvaez1-for-3, HBP
DH Eric Wagaman0-for-4
SS Max Burt1-for-3, HR (4), RBI, 2 RS, HBP, K, 2 SB (6)
Burt is one of those guys you root for to make an MLB appearance some day – he just grinds it out every year.  He is off to a 13-for-30 start (.433)
2B Eduardo Torrealba0-for-2, RS, HBP, K, SB (1)

RHP Blas Castano: (W, 1-0) 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, HR
He allowed a 3-run HR in the first but settled in nicely.He pitched well for Hudson Valley in 2022.
LHP Lisandro Santos1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
8.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 5 BB, 10 K. Santos is one of those big-armed guys who doesn’t always know where it is going. He was signed this off-season out of the Braves’ organization.
RHP Indigo Diaz1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Diaz was acquired from the Braves as a part of the Lucas Luetge transaction. This season: 7 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 8 K
RHP Steven Jennings: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Zac Houston1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
This is the 28-year-old’s organizational debut. He was an 11th round pick by the Tigers all the way back in 2016 and has shown off the strikeout touch in the minors (394 in 264 career innings). His control, however, has not been good.

Hudson Valley (10-5) (Doubled up Rome, 10-5)

CF Spencer Jones 0-for-6, 4 K
22 K in 62 plate appearances (35.5%). 
SS Alexander Vargas2-for-4, 3B (2), 3 RS, 2 BB, K, SB (2)
Vargas has tripled in back-to-back games (hit 2 triples in 100 games in 2022)
C Ben Rice: 2-for-2, RBI, 2 RS, 4 BB, SB (3)
Rice is hitting .357 and has 13 walks (7 strikeouts) in 46 plate appearances. The walk rate is an absurd 28.3%. He can catch and play first base and bats left-handed.
RF Anthony Garcia2-for-3, SF, 2 RBI, RS, 2 BB, K
1B Spencer Henson1-for-6, 2B (3), RBI, RS
LF Aaron Palensky: 2-for-5, HR (3), RBI, 2 RS, K, 2 SB (5)
12-for-35 (.343) to start off his 2023 campaign.
DH Rafael Flores1-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, K
3B Marcos Cabrera1-for-5
2B Luis Santos: 1-for-4, SF, RBI

RHP Drew Thorpe: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 K
3.52 ERA (15.1 IP, 14 H, 10 R, 6 ER, 7 BB, 25 K). He has shown the ability to miss bats in what is his first professional season, which is encouraging. He can move quickly.
RHP Danny Watson1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Watson, who stands at 6’7″, threw to a 4.01 ERA for Tampa last season. Walks were the issue (36 in 58.1 IP)
RHP Harold Cortijo: (W, 4-0) 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
Four wins? It is nice to be a middle reliever in the minors, where pitch counts rule the day. 8.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 13 K. Cortijo became a full-time reliever in 2022 – we’ll see what that means for him going forward.
RHP Enrique Santana1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Tampa (6-9) (Lost to Clearwater, 12-3, in an ejection-filled mess. I don’t have every detail, but a bit of a brawl broke up after a Tampa pitcher hit a Clearwater batter. Whatever)

2B Brenny Escanio: 1-for-4, RS, BB, K
DH Ben Rortvedt: 3-for-4, 2 2B (2), 2 RS
Remember that Rortvedt missed spring training. He is still a while away from being where he needs to be – but this is an encouraging game.
PR/DH Nelson Medina: 0-for-1
RF Daury Arias1-for-4, RBI, BB, K
.225/.326/350 in 46 plate appearance for the “other Arias.” (Roderick Arias is one of the organization’s most promising lower-level prospects – you will see him in the rookie leagues this summer)
CF Anthony Hall1-for-4, RBI, BB, K
Hall’s first career game in CF (only his fifth career game). He played all three OF positions in college.
SS Dayro Perez0-for-1, K (Ejected)
SS Roberto Chirinos0-for-3, BB, K
C Omar Martinez0-for-1, K (Ejected)
C Agustin Ramirez0-for-4, K
LF Tayler Aguilar1-for-3, 2B (2), BB, 2 K
4-for-16 with a pair of doubles. Last year’s 15th-round pick struggled with the bat in his pro debut (.167/.286/.346 in 23 games)
3B Jose Rodriguez1-for-2, 2 BB
1B Ronny Rojas0-for-4

RHP Justin Lange: (L, 0-2)  1 IP, 1 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
Lange cruised through the first…only to start the second with five straight walks. He throws hard (reached 97 today) and is young (21) but he has some rawness to his game. This game skews the ERA as it jumps to 5.73 with a 20/6 K/BB over 11 innings. 
RHP Alex Bustamante1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K (Ejected)
RHP Yorlin Calderon: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Luis Velasquez2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
10.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 10 K. He is 21 years old, and this is his first taste of a full-season league. He hit 97.6 on the gun today.
RHP Cole Ayers1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
The Yankees aren’t loaded with left-handed relief prospects, so there is room for a kid like Gilbert to stand out. He was their 13th round pick in 2022 out of Clemson.
RHP Ocean Gabonia0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K