My Take: Yankees Acquire OF Juan Soto

The trade:

The Yankees acquired outfielders Juan Soto and Trent Grisham from the Padres for C Kyle Higashioka and right-handed pitchers Michael King, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito, and Drew Thorpe

This is one of those blockbusters that will be talked about for as long as baseball exists. It is the second blockbuster that Soto has been involved in over the last two years. If you asked the Padres last winter if they would be dealing Soto in the winter of 2023, they would have laughed at you. This was not a part of their plan.

From the Yankees’ perspective:

They are acquiring a player who is amongst the best hitters in history through age 25. 25-year-old players aren’t supposed to have a .284/.421/.524 career triple slash through 779 games with a higher walk rate (19%) than strikeout rate (17.1%). Sometimes, the word “unicorn” is thrown out too often when it comes to a professional athlete. In the case of Soto, he is a unicorn – a hitter who can define a generation. That isn’t hyperbole.

The 2023 Yankees were stale and boring. I watch a lot of baseball and can tell you that it was a rare season where the game felt like “background noise” to everything else going on around me. With one trade, the Yankees have livened up the fanbase again.

Are there flaws with Soto? Yes. He isn’t a good defensive player and while he did steal 12 bases in 2023, his BSR was -4.3. Those flaws are probably not as significant as his contract status, as he only has one year of control. During his time in Washington, when he was far away from free agency, he turned down an offer north of $400 million to stay. There is little doubt that he is going to seek $500 million for 2025 and beyond, which would dwarf Aaron Judge‘s $360 million pact. There is no doubt that Soto will beat that, and Judge would have to live with not being the highest-paid player on the squad if Soto is retained. Is that a problem? I doubt it. Judge understands the business – his contract helped set the tone for the classes that follow him.

Soto is not a dead pull hitter who is “made” for the short porch. That doesn’t concern me. He set a new career-best with 35 home runs in 2023 and I would expect the same level of power in 2024. If you are digging around for flaws in his offensive game, you are wasting your time. Those flaws don’t exist.

As for Grisham, he is a left-handed bat known for his solid defensive work and ability to steal some bags. His bat is not his calling card, but his 13.5% BB rate (2023) was well above league average. Additionally, he can provide some pop (13 home runs) and his pull percentage is above MLB average which suggests he might be able to take advantage of the porch. His reverse split makes him an appealing option to play over Alex Verdugo against left-handed pitching. Beyond that, he will be a cheap backup option who can pinch-run and be used as a defensive replacement.  He has two more seasons of team control.

In the span of two nights, the Yankees solved one of their most pressing issues: The outfield. They went from Judge and a group of question marks (especially with Jasson Dominguez‘s injury) to a versatile strong group of four who should be well above league average. If they give Oswaldo Cabrera another chance to fill a super-utility role, he will provide additional depth. Everson Pereira didn’t hit much after his promotion and could spend time in Triple-A, ready to come up at a moment’s notice. Brandon Lockridge survived another Rule 5 and has a speed/defense profile – a profile I liken to former Yankee Tim Locastro.

If you are going to acquire a generational type of talent, you should feel some pain regardless of team control. I don’t think the Yankees were posturing with their reluctance to include King, who leaves a gaping hole in the pitching staff for the time being. I do think that the rumors that they wouldn’t include King or Thorpe were posturing as that was never going to fly. In the end, they ended up giving up both pitchers + two swingmen who figured to play roles in swallowing up some innings.

The three MLB pitchers they gave up will need to be replaced, whether that is internally or externally. Internally, expect to see a lot of Will Warren next spring as they ready him for his big league debut. Clayton Beeter was added to the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 draft. He has an electric arm that I think is better suited for short relief, but he is stretched out to start. Yoendrys Gomez received a cup of coffee late in 2023. He is a 40-man roster guy with limited mileage, due to injuries. He reminds me of Jonathan Loaisiga as a kid with good stuff with health concerns. A move to the bullpen didn’t help Loaisiga much with the injuries, but perhaps that will help Gomez.

You will hear a lot about Chase Hampton, who can have a role late in the season. Some experts think he has more upside than Thorpe, though he did struggle in his first taste of Double-A (4.37 ERA and a K% that dropped from 40.5% in High-A to 27.4% in Double-A).  Brendan Beck missed a lot of time due to injury but is already Rule 5 eligible after the 2024 season. If healthy, he has the polish (he was a polished arm coming out of college) that can get him to the big leagues sometime in the second half of the season. Matt Sauerlost in the Rule 5 draft to the Royals, is not guaranteed to stick and could be further depth. From the left side, they have Edgar Barclaywho was dominant in Somerset before getting lit up in Scranton, which isn’t too concerning given the offensive environment. It should be noted that all ten of his appearances after his promotion were starts. Expect some minor league signings to add extra depth.

All that is nice, but the main focus will shift to pitchers who can be difference makers immediately, with the big fish being Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a pitcher with so much intrigue that Hal Steinbrenner reportedly is willing to go over $300 million (both in 2024 team salaries and total contract for Yamamoto). If that doesn’t work out, secondary targets would include Jordan Montgomery and Frankie Montas. It is easy to forget just how good Montas can be when healthy, and the Yankees could be interested in him even if they sign Yamamoto. I am not sure if the Yankees would shift to Japanese lefty Shota ImanagaHe doesn’t “fit” as the type of player they typically target internationally (Kei Igawa was a reactionary move).

I want Yamamoto. If you are going all-in with Soto, get the 25-year-old pitcher who will cost you nothing but money. The competition will be fierce for his services.

We take for granted how good the Yankees are at building bullpens because they rarely have a bad one. That is not the norm across baseball, as other organizations have trouble figuring out the right formula. The Yankees have several arms that should be ready sometime in 2024. I do not advise going big on relief pitching. Josh Hader is a waste of their resources, no matter how good he is.

From the Padres’ perspective:

They needed to clear money quickly, and Soto’s $30M+ was a quick and simple solution to that problem. Grisham provides additional relief, but this was all about clearing the salary of a player they had no hope of keeping.

You would think that would lead to desperation and a lesser prospect package. That is not what they received here, as they were able to use the Yankees’ desperation to make a splash to extract as much talent as possible. Given the mass pitching exodus and an elbow injury to Yu Darvish, the Padres needed pitching help. They received that in droves.

The immediate headliner is King, who pitched to a 2.23 ERA in nine starts after the Yankees moved him into the rotation. While his 4-seam fastball velocity was down from his 2022 heights, King didn’t miss a beat beyond a rough June that may have just been a dead arm period for a pitcher coming off of an injury. He is a strikeout machine with impressive command and control of four pitches, all of which he deploys in any count in any situation. There are durability concerns, and 2023 was the first time King cleared 100 innings in the big leagues. He will be 29 in May and comes with two years of control. If the Padres are bad in the first several months of 2024, he may become an attractive flip candidate to help with a rebuild/retool around the stars who remain.

From a prospect perspective, the headliner is Thorpe, who is coming off of a season where he was named the Minor League Pitcher of the Year. While that award doesn’t make him the best pitching prospect in baseball, he is still well-regarded in the industry after a season where he struck out 32.4% of batters at High-A Hudson Valley – only to follow that up with a 40% rate in 30.1 innings for Somerset. While he may dazzle in spring training and force the Padres’ hand, he is likely a second-half-of-the-season rotation candidate. His calling card is a dazzling changeup that continued to be effective against advanced hitters in Double-A. Will it translate as high as MLB? Until proven otherwise, we have to assume it can.

Brito and Vasquez both made their debuts for the 2023 Yankees and figured to have roles on the 2024 squad as depth starter/middle reliever types. Now, they have a clear opportunity to be full-time starters for the Padres. Brito (who will be 26 at the start of next season) pitched to a 4.28 ERA (4.74 FIP) over 90.1 innings with a 19.4% K and 7.5% BB. As he was coming up the Yankees chain, there were concerns about whether he had a true strikeout pitch. While his fading changeup has devastating action that can lead to some swing-and-miss, it is more of a pitch that induces ground balls when he is on his game.

Vasquez (who just turned 25) tossed 37.2 MLB innings in 2023, compiling a 2.87 ERA (4.98 FIP) with a 10.8% BB and 19.9% K. Known for the spin rate on his breaking ball, there is likely more swing-and-miss to come as he gains experience. Injuries are a part of his profile, and the Yankees have treated him very carefully over the years. In 42 minor league starts between 2022 and 2023, Vasquez didn’t average five innings per start. One could look at him as a modern type of pitcher – he won’t be asked to give you a ton of innings, but you hope the innings he does provide are high-quality.

As the last piece of the deal, the Yankees relieved some of their catching logjam by including Kyle HigashiokaHigashioka is quite a story – a player the Yankees could have lost to minor league free agency years ago who instead stuck it out and is now a proud owner of a 314-game MLB career. In that career (where he was mostly the backup catcher), Higashioka has 40 home runs in 923 plate appearances, making it his clear offensive calling card. He is a classic overachiever – a non-descript 7th-round pick out of high school back in 2008 who put in a lot of work, reached his dream, and can now forever brag that he was the only position player the Padres acquired from the Yankees for Juan SotoHe will be an asset for a staff that figures to be in flux in 2024. It would be funny if the Padres brought back Gary Sanchez as their primary catcher. If reports are accurate, Sanchez has been linked to San Diego.

The Bottom Line:

The pressure to win the World Series in 2024 starts now. That’s the nature of the beast in pinstripes, and it shouldn’t be underestimated just how good Soto was during the Nationals’ 2019 championship run. The bright lights didn’t faze him and he played like the superstar that he is.

The Yankees needed offense and acquired one of the best hitters in the game to help fix that. I can’t quibble with what they gave up to acquire such a player. Could they have held firm that they wouldn’t give up both King and Thorpe? Could they have insisted that the Padres take one of Brito/Vasquez but not both? Sure. But who in their right mind would allow that to hold up a trade like this? It wouldn’t make much sense. They have options to sure up the pitching. There weren’t many options to help out the offense. Hence, this deal makes perfect sense for both organizations. One needed young pitching, the other needed a big bat. They came together and magic was made.

 

 

Yankees MILB 7/18: Jasson Dominguez Stays Hot

News:

The Yankees have promoted a few players. Firstly, C/1B Ben Rice is on his way to Somerset. Rice just completed a rehab stint in Tampa. Earlier this season, he was a beast for Hudson Valley. He hit .341/.559/.523 in 68 plate appearances and was likely in line for an early promotion to Somerset at that point. Rice is a 24-year-old left-handed bat.

The Yankees promoted LHP Brock Selvidge from Tampa to Hudson Valley. Only 20 years old, Selvidge pitched to a 3.38 ERA (2.75 FIP) over 77.1 innings for Tampa. His rates across the board are impressive: 28% K, 6.5% BB, and 52% GB. He was their 21st-round pick in 2021 and is not Rule 5 eligible until after 2025. Selvidge is on the same flight (bus?) as RHP Shane Gray, who will also make his way to Hudson Valley. Gray, a reliever, pitched to a 4.26 ERA (4.32 FIP) over 38 innings with a 28.7% K and 9.1% BB. The 23-year-old was chosen in the 16th round of the 2022 draft.

We will probably see more promotions in the coming days ahead.

According to Chris Kirschner on Twitter, the Yankees have signed 17 of their 18 draft picks. The lone holdout is 4th round pick Roc Riggio, who has some leverage as a draft-eligible sophomore.

Scranton (43-45; 9-5 in the second half) (Defeated Norfolk, 5-3)

CF Greg Allen1-for-3, RS, BB, K
His rehab stint was moved here from Tampa.
   CF Brandon Lockridge0-for-1, K
RF Everson Pereira1-for-5, 2 K
Pereira has at least one hit in all eight games since his promotion. The most recent five of those games are 1-hit affairs, but he is still hitting .371/.405/.543.
C Carlos Narvaez2-for-4, RBI, BB, K, SB (2)
Narvaez increases his hitting streak to five. 
3B Andres Chaparro2-for-5, HR (18), 2 RBI, RS
In July, Chaparro is 15-for-44 (.341) with 3 HR and 16 RBI. 
1B Jake Lamb1-for-4
DH Jamie Westbrook1-for-2, HR (13), RBI, RS, 2 BB, K
The veteran is hitting .295/.391/.506 in 277 PA. 
LF Michael Hermosillo2-for-4, 2B (3), RS
SS Jesus Bastidas1-for-4, RS, K, SB (6)
.261/.322/.430 in 276 PA. Bastidas has a .752 OPS this season after a .750 mark with Somerset in 2022.
2B Wilmer Difo0-for-1, SF, RBI, 2 BB

RHP Jhony Brito: (W, 2-1)  6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, HR
LHP Matt Krook1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
1.05 ERA (25.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 18 BB, 46 K). I would love to see Krook get an extended MLB opportunity.
RHP Aaron McGarity0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Zach Greene (S, 1): 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Somerset (49-34; 7-8 in the second half) (Lost to Hartford, 7-5)

SS Trey Sweeney1-for-5, 3B (2), 3 RBI, K
If you are going to have a one-hit night, may as well make it a 3-run triple. Sweeney is hitting .245/.363/.425 in 366 plate appearances. 
CF Jasson Dominguez2-for-5, HR (12), RBI, RS, K
Dominguez has four straight multi-hit games (six multi-hit games in his last seven games played). He is up to .220/.358/.383 in 363 plate appearances (27.3% K; 17.6% BB). After games of July 6th, he was hitting .198/.341/.343.
C Austin Wells1-for-5
Wells is 11-for-50 in July (.220). I would rather not see that, but he still doesn’t belong here. 
1B T.J. Rumfield0-for-2, RS, 3 BB, 2 K
.217/.320/.446 in 284 plate appearances. 
LF Elijah Dunham0-for-3, BB, HBP, K
3B Tyler Hardman1-for-3, 2B (9), RS, BB, 2 K
RF Aaron Palensky0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K
Palensky is hitting .187/.372/.374 in 121 plate appearances at this level.
DH Josh Breaux0-for-4, K
Breaux is 4-for-20 at this level after going 1-for-10 with Scranton. 
2B Max Burt0-for-2, RBI, RS, BB, HBP, K, SB (10)

RHP Matt Sauer: (L, 1-2) 3.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
Sauer needed 75 pitches to get those ten outs. The good part of that sentence is that he is being stretched out to 75 pitches after spending most of the first half on the shelf.
LHP Josh Maciejewski1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Blas Castano1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, HR
LHP Lisandro Santos: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
2.74 ERA (46 IP, 27 H, 23 R, 14 ER, 2 HR, 32 BB, 49 K)

Hudson Valley (48-37; 9-10 in the second half) (Lost to Brooklyn, 7-4)

CF Spencer Jones2-for-4, HR (11), RBI, RS, K
.267/.341/.476 in 328 PA (20 doubles, 4 triples, 11 HR, 42 RBI, 43 R, 32 BB (9.8%), 101 K (30.8%), 21-for-29 SB). Jones is 12-for-34 in July with eight walks.
2B Ben Cowles0-for-3, BB, 2 K, SB (8)
Cowles is a perfect 8-for-8 stealing bases (14-for-20 in 2022)
C Agustin Ramirez1-for-4, 2 K
6-game hitting streak. Since promotion: .407/.439/.685 in 57 PA
DH Rafael Flores0-for-4, 2 K
LF Christopher Familia1-for-3, BB, K
SS Alexander Vargas1-for-4, 3B (4), RS
.213/.260/.348 in 288 PA (10 doubles, 4 triples, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 35 R, 17 BB, 76 K, 10-for-15 SB)
1B Spencer Henson1-for-4, RBI, RS, K
RF Grant Richardson1-for-4, 3B (2), RBI, RS, K
3B Eduardo Torrealba0-for-4

RHP Tyrone Yulie: (L, 4-6)  5 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HR
4.48 ERA (70.1 IP, 53 H, 44 R, 35 ER, 11 HR, 40 BB, 84 K)
LHP Joel Valdez1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Harrison Cohen: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Since promotion: 2.78 ERA (22.2 IP, 19 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 2 HR, 9 BB, 30 K)
RHP Carlos Gomez1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Tampa (42-43; 11-8 in the second half) (Won a crazy one against Lakeland, 17-11)

SS Jared Serna2-for-5, HR (18), 3 RBI, 3 RS, BB, K
Serna has four home runs and 13 RBI in his last four games. Overall, he is hitting .290 with 18 doubles, 1 triple, 18 HR, 64 RBI, and 62 runs scored. An incredible season.
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-6, 2 RBI, 2 RS, K
Rodriguez has three multi-hit games in his last four games played. He is up to .294 and has hit for average in his entire short career (tonight was his 163rd career game). He is only 21 and won’t turn 22 until next April.
2B Brenny Escanio3-for-3, 2 2B (7), 2 RBI, 3 RS, 2 BB
Escanio only had three hits all month entering tonight. Baseball! Anyway, reaching base five times in a game is always a special night.
C Omar Martinez: 2-for-5, 2B (8), HR (9, grand slam), 4 RBI, 2 RS
Martinez has homered in four of his last five games and has back-to-back 4-RBI efforts. He has done a solid job drawing walks this season (14.8% BB) and is now showing off some power in July. 
CF Daury Arias1-for-4, 2 RBI, RS, BB
DH Brett Barrera: 2-for-5, RBI, 2 RS, 2 K
The Stanford product hasn’t been able to get much going since being drafted in the 8th round of the 2022 draft. A 2-for-28 start to 2023 put him in an instant hole. An injury in June held him back as well.
LF Jake Palmer0-for-4, RBI, RS, BB
1B Beau Brewer1-for-4, RBI, 2 RS, BB, SB (2)
RF Felix Negueis0-for-4, RBI, RS, BB, K

RHP Sean Hermann2.1 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
A rain delay in the third inning derailed his outing – the two runners that were on base prior to the delay ended up scoring. In other words, I think he deserves a pass. 
RHP Yorlin Calderon2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
3.12 ERA (49 IP, 41 H, 20 R, 17 ER, 4 HR, 13 BB, 62 K). After an extended stretch of awesomeness, he has allowed runs in each of his last three appearances. No need for concern.
RHP Alex Bustamante: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
RHP Cole Ayers: (W, 2-1) 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Ayers did an outstanding job calming this game down. He has a 3.79 ERA in 38 IP with a 52/13 K/BB.
RHP Montana Semmel0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Semmel’s Low-A debut. He was drafted back in 2019 out of high school – a kid whose development was altered by the lost COVID season and an injury that kept him out for 2021.

FCL Yankees (16-11) 

Their game against the Blue Jays was postponed. They will try to make it up on July 25th.

DSL Yankees (19-10) (Lost to DSL Colorado, 12-6)

CF Brando Mayea0-for-3, RS, BB
RF Jose Castro1-for-4, HR (2), 4 RBI, RS, K
A grand slam for the 17-year-old, who is hitting .291/.444/.436 in 72 plate appearances.
DH Josue Gonzalez1-for-4, K
Gonzalez (hitting .440) is on a 6-game hitting streak.
1B Luis Ogando1-for-3, 2B (8), HBP, K, SB (8)
2B Luis Escudero2-for-4, RBI, RS
The 17-year-old is hitting .278/.441/.444 in 93 plate appearances.

DSL Bombers (12-17) (Lost to Arizona Black, 2-1)

DH Gabriel Terrero0-for-4, K
CF Gabriel Lara1-for-4
2B Abrahan Ramirez1-for-3, RBI, SB (4)
.288/.419/.390 in 74 PA

RHP Michell Chirinos: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K

Yankees MILB 5/26: Everson Pereira Homers

News:

Nothing new to report.

Scranton (24-25) (Defeated Worcester, 5-2)

CF Elijah Dunham1-for-5, HR (3), RBI, RS, 3 K
Dunham’s first home run since May 6th. He is hitting .225/.361/.344. I like the walk rate (14.8%) and hopefully the rest of his offense will start rounding into form. 
DH Josh Donaldson0-for-3, RS, 2 BB, 2 K
SS Oswald Peraza2-for-5, SB (6)
Peraza is 15-for-39 (.385) since coming back down here with two doubles and five home runs.
LF Kole Calhoun0-for-2, 2 BB, K
3B Andres Chaparro1-for-3, SF, RBI, K
Chaparro is now the proud owner of a 5-game hitting streak (8-for-19). 
RF Franchy Cordero0-for-1, RS, 3 BB
C Carlos Narvaez0-for-3, K
1B Billy McKinney1-for-4, HR (7), 2 RBI, RS
McKinney has homered in back-to-back games.
2B Jesus Bastidas2-for-3, HR (5), RBI, RS, BB
.255/.321/.404 in 159 PA. After the games of May 14th, his triple slash was .223/.268/.321.

RHP Jhony Brito: (W, 1-0)  5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, HR
I always like to see a kid do well after a demotion. It isn’t easy to go back down to the minors when you get a taste of the majors.
RHP Deivi Garcia2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
3.91 ERA (25.1 IP, 20 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 3 HR, 19 BB, 26 K)
LHP D.J. Snelten (S, 2): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K

Somerset (24-18) (Lost to Erie, 10-4. The Patriots compiled 8 hits and walked 7 times, but couldn’t keep up with Erie, who benefitted from a couple of Somerset errors (five unearned runs))

SS Trey Sweeney1-for-3, RS, 2 BB
Sweeney now has 21 walks in 20 May games. He is hitting .239/.382/.333 in 173 plate appearances.
LF Jasson Dominguez1-for-2, RBI, 3 BB
Dominguez has six walks in his last three games (he has three 3-walk games this season and 11 multi-walk games) 
C Austin Wells0-for-5
CF Everson Pereira1-for-5, HR (7), RBI, RS
Pereira’s hitting streak reached 9 (15-for-35; 2 doubles, 3 HR)
3B Tyler Hardman2-for-5, 2 RBI, 3 K
.233/.309/.508 in 136 PA
1B T.J. Rumfield2-for-5, 2B (5)
8-for-17 in his last four games with three doubles and a home run.
RF Jeisson Rosario0-for-3, BB, 2 K
DH Anthony Seigler0-for-3, BB
Seigler increases his walk streak to nine games.
2B Max Burt1-for-4, RS

RHP Gray Fenter: (L, 2-2) 4.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
RHP Justin Maese1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
LHP Lisandro Santos1.1 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 0 K
RHP Zac Houston1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Houston’s first appearance since 4/27.

Hudson Valley (26-17) (Defeated Wilmington, 5-2)

CF Spencer Jones0-for-4, BB, 2 K
Jones has run into a brick wall – it shouldn’t last, but sometimes we (“we” includes “me”) have to realize that sometimes there is a reason why a player stays at a particular level.
2B Eduardo Torrealba1-for-3, RBI, RS, 2 HBP, SB (4)
LF Aaron Palensky2-for-4, 2B (8), 3B (2), RBI, RS, BB, K
.339/.420/.736 in 138 PA. Palensky has earned at least one extra-base hit in four straight games (4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs)
DH Antonio Gomez1-for-4, 2B (6), RBI, RS, BB, K
1B Spencer Henson3-for-5, HR (8), RBI, RS, K
.282/.361/.540 in 144 plate appearances. Henson is 9-for-16 in his last three games.
C Rafael Flores1-for-5, 2 K
Flores is now on a 5-game hitting streak (8-for-22)
RF Aldenis Sanchez2-for-4, 2B (5), RBI
.253/.333/.400 in 113 PA. He is 15-for-50 in May.
SS Ben Cowles1-for-2, 2B (6), RS, BB, HBP
Cowles is 18-for-55 (.327) in May with four doubles and a home run.
3B Marcos Cabrera0-for-4, 2 K

RHP Juan Carela: (W, 2-2) 6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
3.44 ERA (36.2 IP, 29 H, 19 R, 14 ER, 1 HR, 15 BB, 42 K). Only one of his starts is truly bad (3.1 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 8 ER on 4/29)
LHP Ryan Anderson1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Bailey Dees (S, 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
3.32 ERA (19 IP, 14 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 30 K)

Tampa (17-26) (Played two and won two against Palm Beach)

Game 1 (Won, 6-2)

2B Jared Serna1-for-4, 2B (8), RBI, K
LF Anthony Hall0-for-3, BB, K
SS Brenny Escanio1-for-3, RS, BB, K
CF Nelson Medina3-for-4, HR (4), RBI, RS, SB (6)
Medina’s second 3-hit game of 2023, as he sets a new personal best for HR in a season.
C Jesus Rodriguez1-for-4, RS, K
DH Omar Martinez0-for-2, BB, 2 K
.227/.370/.402 in 119 PA. 
3B Brett Barrera1-for-3, 2 RBI, K
Barrera, last year’s 8th-round pick, is only 2-for-24 this season. Hence, I am sure he was relieved to get that 2-run single.
1B Ronny Rojas2-for-3, 2 RS, SB (4)
RF Felix Negueis1-for-2, 2B (1), RBI, RS, BB, K
Given that Negueis is an impossible-to-fathom 3-for-54 this season, this double was a welcome sight. His BABIP is an unsightly .065. Suffice it to say, an “unlucky” BABIP is nearly 200 points higher than his.

LHP Brock Selvidge: (W, 2-3) 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
3.40 ERA (39.2 IP, 38 H, 18 R, 15 ER, 2 HR, 7 BB, 40 K). Selvidge walked 3.59/9 last season. This season, the rate is 1.59/9.
RHP Alex Bustamante1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
2.37 ERA (19 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 12 BB, 22 K)

Game 2 (Won, 5-2)

2B Jared Serna1-for-4, 2 RS, K, SB (9)
Serna is on a 7-game hitting streak (9-for-28). 9-for-28 doesn’t do anything for Serna’s average, as he is hitting .324 (he was hitting .325 when the streak began)
SS Brenny Escanio0-for-3, BB
C Agustin Ramirez: 2-for-3, HR (5), 4 RBI, RS
Ramirez had a 6-RBI game on 6/14/22.
LF Anthony Hall1-for-3, K, CS (1)
DH Daury Arias0-for-2, BB, K
CF Nelson Medina1-for-3, RS, K
Medina is hitting .283 in 133 PA (7 doubles,1 triple, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 14 R, 18 BB, 43 K)
RF Tayler Aguilar1-for-3, 2B (8), RBI, 2 K
Aguilar has eight doubles in 92 plate appearances. 
3B Beau Brewer0-for-3
1B Ronny Rojas0-for-1, RS, 2 BB, K, SB (5)

RHP Sean Hermann: (W, 3-4)  5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
5.31 ERA (39 IP, 41 H, 24 R, 23 ER, 3 HR, 12 BB, 32 K). He tossed five scoreless innings his last time out, so maybe he is starting to get into a groove.
RHP Manny Ramirez: (S, 2)   2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K