News:
OF Christopher Familia‘s rehab is over. He reported to High-A Hudson Valley today. IF Enmanuel Tejeda‘s rehab is also complete, and he is back in Tampa (though he didn’t play tonight).
Scranton (39-25) (Rocked Rochester, 10-0)
2B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-3, 2 RS, 2 BB
For Scranton: 9-for-51 with 11 walks (five walks in his last two games)
SS Oswald Peraza: 3-for-5, HR (1, grand slam), 4 RBI, RS, K
Peraza badly needed this night. I hope he can build from here.
CF Jasson Dominguez: 1-for-5, RBI, RS
All singles result in the runner reaching first base. However, they are special when they are hit 111.6 MPH. It isn’t just that Dominguez is hitting – it is that he is hitting the ball hard, which indicates his arm is fine when it comes to swinging the bat. The throwing? It’s likely not quite there yet, but it shouldn’t be long. It is beyond encouraging that he is playing full games in the field.
C Ben Rice: 2-for-4, RS, BB
Since joining Scranton: 10-for-22 (3 doubles, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 8 R, 6 BB, 6 K). He has four games at C and 2 at first base. I keep saying catching = more value while 1B = present/future MLB need. If the Yankees had “near future” plans for a promotion, would he not receive more first-base reps?
DH Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-5, 2 K
1B T.J. Rumfield: 4-for-5, HR (5), 2 RBI, 3 RS
With Scranton: .299/.354/.454 in 192 PA (12 doubles, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 28 R). His last four games: 10-for-20, 3 doubles, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 7 R. Rumfield is a potential option, even without traditional first-base power.
RF Oscar Gonzalez: 1-for-5, RBI, RS, K
LF Taylor Trammell: 2-for-5, 2B (7), RBI, 2 K
3B Jeter Downs: 2-for-4, RBI, RS, BB
RHP Yoendrys Gomez: (W, 2-2) 5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K
2.79 ERA (42 IP, 25 H, 14 R, 13 ER, 4 HR, 23 BB, 48 K). I think Gomez has some trade value, but remember that this is his last option year. If a team looks to acquire him, they believe he will be on the MLB roster for 2025 and beyond. That isn’t an unrealistic expectation. Do I think the Yankees would trade Gomez? For the right piece, yes.
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Underwood Jr. stranded two Gomez baserunners in the 6th.
RHP Art Warren: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Phil Bickford: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Somerset (28-30) (Lost to Binghamton, 6-3)
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB, 2 K
.226/.311/.376 in 212 PA. In June, he is 9-for-36 with a double, triple, 3 HR, and 12 RBI.
C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-4, RS
When do you know a prospect is having a great season? Answer: When you look at “1-for-4, RS” and feel disappointed.
SS Ben Cowles: 2-for-4
.315/.385/.505 in 231 PA (20 doubles, 3 triples, 4 HR, 31 RBI, 32 R, 9-for-9 SB, 9.6% BB, 17.3% K). Is this “real”? I like the reduction in the strikeout rate. It stands out if you reduce your K% as you move to a higher level. Cowles is 24 years old. In 2014, at 23, Rob Refsnyder hit .318/.387/.497 (18.2% K) between Double-A/Triple-A. Refsnyder isn’t a star but has carved out a decent career. No two players are alike – I am trying to give you a reference point.
RF Grant Richardson: 1-for-4, 2B (14), RBI, 2 K
.268/.328/.427 in 174 PA (14 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 20 R, 6.9% BB, 25.9% K). Richardson got off to a hot start but has slowed down lately. Maybe tonight jump starts him again.
1B J.C. Escarra: 0-for-4, K
DH Elijah Dunham: 0-for-4, 3 K
LF Jared Wegner: 0-for-4
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-2, BB
3B Max Burt: 0-for-3, RS
RHP Bailey Dees: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K
Dees’ 11th straight start where he has allowed 3 earned runs or less (every start since his first one). He owns a 3.59 ERA in 62.2 IP (54 H, 29 R, 25 ER, 7 HR, 22 BB, 68 K). His move to the rotation has gone as well as the Yankees could have ever imagined.
RHP Carlos Gomez: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Jesus Liranzo: (L, 1-1) 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
The HR was a big one – a grand slam.
RHP Luis Velasquez: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Hudson Valley (30-27) (Mauled Brooklyn, 13-4)
2B Roc Riggio: 0-for-4, RS, BB, 2 K
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-4, RS, SB (8), BB, K
Serna has a 5-game hitting streak (8-for-21, 5 doubles)
C Jesus Rodriguez: 3-for-5, 3B (4), 3 RBI, 3 RS
Rodriguez is hitting .335/.417/.517 in 235 PA. He owns five 3+ hit games and 21-multi-hit efforts. In 79 High-A games overall going back to 2023, he is at .341/.432/.522 (347 plate appearances). Rodriguez is a hitting machine and I can’t wait to see how he fares in the upper levels.
1B Rafael Flores: 1-for-2, 2 RS, 3 BB, K
.318/.429/.503 in 182 PA. He has 616 High-A plate appearances over the last two years, so I think he will make his Somerset debut in the not-so-distant future. I will note that Flores played in four FCL games and skipped Low-A Tampa.
3B Tyler Hardman: 2-for-3, RS
3B Beau Brewer: 2-for-2, 4 RBI, RS
Not bad for someone who didn’t start the game…
CF Jace Avina: 2-for-5, 3 RBI, RS
Avina was in a slump. Hopefully, this ends that slump.
DH Omar Martinez: 2-for-5, RBI, K
.236/.386/.401 in 197 PA.
RF Garrett Martin: 1-for-4, RBI, RS, BB, K
LF Christopher Familia: 1-for-4, 2 RS, BB
I hope Familia makes his Somerset debut this season.
RHP Jackson Fristoe: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
Fristoe was coming off of a strong outing last time out. His inconsistency isn’t unexpected – hopefully, with time, the consistency will come. He owns a respectable 3.58 ERA in 32.2 IP, but has walked 26 batters.
RHP Cole Ayers: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
2.31 ERA (35 IP, 27 H, 12 R, 9 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 41 K).
RHP McKinley Moore: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Matt Keating: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
3.06 ERA (35.1 IP, 22 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 3 HR, 15 BB, 41 K)
LHP Joel Valdez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2.83 ERA (28.2 IP, 18 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 1 HR, 12 BB, 31 K). 2023: 10 HR allowed in 78.2 IP. Every other year, combined: 3 HR allowed in 158 IP.
Tampa (22-36) (Defeated Clearwater, 9-7, in 10 innings. Tampa had a 7-0 lead heading to the bottom of the 9th. Clearwater scored 7 to tie it)
2B George Lombard Jr: 2-for-6, 2B (8), 3 RBI, 2 K
Lombard Jr. needed a big hit and got it. He only has 8 extra-base hits in 40 games – I am hoping things start clicking as we approach the second half of 2024.
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-6, RBI, 2 SB (16), 3 K
Hopefully, this is one bad night after a string of good ones.
3B Dylan Jasso: 2-for-4, RBI, RS, 2 BB, K
CF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, 2 BB, 2 K
DH Hans Montero: 0-for-5, 3 K
RF Willy Montero: 2-for-5, 2B (11), HR (4), RBI, 2 RS
Montero is on a 7-game hitting streak (14-for-29 (.483; 4 doubles, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 8 R)). While he hasn’t walked this month, he also has only four strikeouts.
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-5, RS, SB (13), 2 K
C Tomas Frick: 0-for-1, 3 RS, 3 BB, HBP
About as productive as an 0-for-1 night can be.
LF Daury Arias: 1-for-2, 2B (6), 2 RS, 3 BB
Last 6 games: 7-for-14 (3 doubles, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R, 8 BB)
RHP Josh Grosz: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K
Pure dominance. Grosz had a 12-strikeout performance earlier this season, but he allowed 4 runs (2 earned) in that one. He threw 48% four-seamers (95.5 MPH max/93.9 MPH average), 32% sliders, 18% change-ups, and 2% sinkers. Like many youngsters, consistency is needed.
RHP Osiel Rodriguez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
1.98 ERA (27.1 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 4 HR, 14 BB, 33 K). I have to assume his Hudson Valley debut is coming in 2024.
RHP Montana Semmel: (W, 4-3) 1 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
Not the way one wishes to “win” a game.
RHP Steven Fulgencio: (S, 1) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
FCL (16-11) (Leading the Phillies, 4-1, in the 4th inning. This game was suspended and will be finished on 6/18. I won’t report on it today)
DSL Yankees (2-5) and DSL Bombers (3-3)
The DSL Bombers defeated the DSL Yankees, 7-1
Yankees:
3B Richard Matic: 1-for-2, 2 BB, K
7-for-16 with seven walks.
2B Geyber Blanco: 2-for-3, 2B (2), RS
SS Jelson Coca: 0-for-2, 2 SB (2), BB, 2 K
Coca is an 18-year-old right-handed bat.
LHP Marco Manzano: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
The 6’3″ Manzano is 20, but this is his debut season.
Bombers:
CF Francisco Vilorio: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K
5-for-17 with a triple and 3 runs batted in.
DH Queni Pineda: 3-for-4, 2B (2), RBI, 2 RS, SB (1)
5-for-15 with a pair of doubles and a homer.
2B Luis Escudero: 1-for-2, 3B (1), 2 RBI, 2 RS, 2 SB (6), BB
The 18-year-old has a stat line we see often in the DSL. He is a modest 2-for-7 but has walked 10 times (58.9% rate!) and stolen six bases.
1B Remy Veldhuisen: 2-for-2, RS, CS (1)
His first two career hits – congrats! He is a 19-year-old left-handed bat.
LHP Franyer Herrera: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K