News:
The Yankees have selected the contract of OF Billy McKinney to replace Aaron Judge. McKinney, 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 Sweeney: 1-for-5, RBI
LF Jasson Dominguez: 0-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 Wells: 1-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. Rumfield: 0-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 Lockridge: 0-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 Gasper: 3-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 Wilson: 0.1 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 Arias: 1-for-3, 2B (7), BB, K
C Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-4, K
SS Brenny Escanio: 0-for-3, RS, BB, K
LF Christopher Familia: 1-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 Rodriguez: 2-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 Martinez: 2-for-4, K
Martinez is off to a 5-for-15 start in June.
DH Tayler Aguilar: 1-for-4, 2 K
RF Felix Negueis: 2-for-3, K
A needed game for Negueis, who entered tonight 3-for-61.
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 2.2 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.