Yankees MILB 5/29: Spencer Jones Returns

Notes:

OF Spencer Jones, out since May 3rd due to an “intercostal injury,” returned to the Somerset lineup tonight. He joined Jazz Chisholm Jr., who is in Somerset on a rehab stint.

Unfortunately, when someone comes off the injured list, someone has to go. The Yankees have released OF Grant Richardson. Drafted in the 17th round in 2021 out of Indiana, Richardson struggled between Somerset/Scranton this year, hitting .198/.288/.363 with three homers and a stolen base in 32 games. In 2022 and 2023, he accomplished a double-double in home runs and stolen bases. Last season, he just missed, hitting 9 homers while stealing 16 bases. Hopefully, he finds work elsewhere.

Injury Log


Scranton (23-28) (Lost to Worcester, 3-2)

C Jesus Rodriguez1-for-5, 2 RBI
He was looking at a 0-for until his 2-run single in the 9th.  He is hitting .366/.445/.458 at this level.
LF Dominic Smith1-for-5, 2 K
1B T.J. Rumfield1-for-4, K
DH Alex Jackson1-for-4, 2 K
2B Jose Rojas2-for-4, R, K
RF Bryan De La Cruz2-for-4, R
CF Ismael Munguia: 2-for-4, 2 SB (13)
Munguia is well within a career best for stolen bases (18, set in 2023 and 2024).
SS Andrew Velazquez1-for-3, SB (12)
3B Jake Gatewood0-for-3, BB, K

RHP Erick Leal:(L, 1-6)  4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, HR
LHP Jayvien Sandridge: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
If the Yankees unlock him, he could be a bullpen threat in the big leagues. It’s all about those walks.
RHP Eric Reyzelman1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
Reyzelman cannot find a groove….
RHP Zach Messinger2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Messinger as a reliever can be interesting. In his first three games in the role: 8 IP, 6 R, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K. It is possible they placed him in the bullpen temporarily to reset him as a starter, where he has struggled this year.


Somerset (23-24) (Destroyed Akron, 12-0)

3B Jazz Chisholm Jr.2-for-3, 2 R, BB
It’s hilarious that this franchise, adamant about moving Chisholm Jr. back to his natural position, may move him to third to accommodate the remnants of DJ LeMahieu. We would be laughing if the Colorado Rockies did something like this.
   3B Alexander Vargas0-for-1
SS George Lombard Jr.1-for-5, 3B (1), RBI
CF Spencer Jones2-for-3, 2B (4), RBI, R, SB (7), CS (2)
Good to see Jones running in his first game back (plus, they played him in center field, a good sign they think he is fully healed). 
   CF Cole Gabrielson0-for-2, K
C Rafael Flores0-for-4, R, BB, K
RF Garrett Martin2-for-4, HR (6), RBI, 2 R
.221/.329/.393 in 171 PA. 
LF Brennen Davis: 2-for-2, HR (2), 2 RBI, 3 R, HBP, BB
4-for-15 with two home runs and six runs scored. Davis has 167 games of Triple-A experience, and I assume he will get back there. It might be a roster space game more than anything else.
1B Dylan Jasso0-for-3, R, BB, K
DH Tyler Hardman3-for-3, 2 HR (6), 6 RBI, 2 R, BB
Hardman’s first multi-HR game since 2023 (he had five such games that season, including a 3-HR effort). He has 15 RBI in 19 May games.
2B Max Burt1-for-4, K

RHP JT Brubaker4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Solid start for Brubaker, who has a ticking clock that the Yankees will eventually need to decide on.
RHP Brendan Beck (W, 4-1): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
2.33 ERA (38.2 IP, 25 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 40 K). Beck has been impressive and healthy. Let’s hope he keeps it going.


Hudson Valley (30-16) (Lost to Wilmington, 7-6, in ten innings)

2B Roc Riggio2-for-5, HR (6), RBI, 2 R, K
Riggio has six home runs in 17 games (7 HR in 19 games if you want to include his FCL rehab stint)
LF Brendan Jones0-for-5, 2 K
RF Jace Avina1-for-3, 2B (12), 2 R, 2 BB
Avina 12 doubles and four homers in 38 games. He has 20 RBI and 28 runs scored (15.3% BB).
DH Parks Harber1-for-5, 2B (8), RBI, R, K
CF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-5, 3B (1), 3 RBI, R
Castillo is hitting .230/.331/.355 with 11 doubles, a triple, and a pair of home runs. He has 29 RBI in 39 games (he is 17-for-52 (.327) with RISP)
C Omar Martinez1-for-3, RBI, BB
  PR Luis Durango0-for-0
   C Tomas Frick0-for-0, BB
3B Jose Colmenares1-for-5, K
1B Josh Moylan0-for-3, HBP, K
SS Brenny Escanio: 0-for-3, BB, K

RHP Ben Hess4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
4.05 ERA (40 IP, 27 H, 22 R, 18 ER, 1 HR, 24 BB, 59 K). Not giving up home runs and striking out 59 in 40 innings is good. The walks are the biggest issue he will need to work on.
RHP Bryce Warrecker1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Warrecker has been outstanding all year, but it’s fair to point out that he allowed two of Hess’ runs to score tonight (he entered the game with the bases loaded and one out).  Season: 0.83 ERA (21.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 29 K).
RHP Hayden Merda2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
3.22 ERA (22.1 IP, 16 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 32 K). Merda has a 1.38 ERA in May (5.79 in April)
RHP Huey Morrill: (L, 2-1): 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K


Tampa (25-22) (Split two games with Lakeland)

Game 1 (Won, 2-0, in the completion of yesterday’s game)

SS Roderick Arias0-for-1, 2 BB
CF Cam Eden1-for-2
His rehab was moved to Tampa.
   PH-CF Marshall Toole0-for-1
DH Edgleen Perez0-for-2, BB, K
C Engelth Urena0-for-3
RF Dillon Lewis0-for-2, BB, K
3B Juan Matheus2-for-3, R, K
LF Tyler Wilson0-for-3, K
2B Austin Green1-for-3, HR (3), 2 RBI, R, K
1B Josue Gonzalez0-for-3

RHP Carson Coleman1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Coleman’s rehab was moved here from the FCL.
RHP Andrew Landry: (W, 2-3)  3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
6.43 ERA (35 IP, 49 H, 30 R, 25 ER, 4 HR, 15 BB, 37 K). 
RHP Jackson Fristoe2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
5.11 ERA (24.2 IP, 27 H, 18 R, 14 ER, 4 HR, 16 BB, 20 K)
RHP Brady Kirtner (S, 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.08 ERA (26 IP, 14 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 10 BB, 30 K). A call to Hudson Valley may not be far off.

Game 2 (Lost, 3-1)

SS Roderick Arias0-for-2, SF, RBI, 2 K
The struggle is real.
CF Brian Sanchez0-for-2, K
C Edgleen Perez0-for-2, BB
DH Engelth Urena0-for-3
RF Cam Eden0-for-2, BB
LF Dillon Lewis0-for-3, K
3B Juan Matheus1-for-3, R
.290/.355/.359 in 169 PA (10 doubles, 23 RBI, 20 R, 12-for-17 SB, 10.7% BB, 22.5% K). Matheus is doing a solid job adjusting to full-season ball, but is a cautionary tale about taking K/BB rates seriously in the rookie leagues (he compiled 84 walks and 76 strikeouts in 104 rookie league games)
1B Tyler Wilson1-for-2, 2B (5), BB
2B Owen Cobb2-for-2
.391/.429/.667 in 78 PA (6 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 19 R, 8-for-10 SB, 6.4% BB, 19.2% K). 
  PH Austin Green0-for-1, K
Unless the idea was that Green would get an AB in Game 2 (weird) or Cobb was injured, I don’t get the idea of pinch-hitting for a kid hitting .391 with two outs and nobody on.

RHP Brandon Decker: (L, 1-1)  2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
2.14 ERA (21 IP, 18 H, 10 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 21 K). This is his second straight start. I am not sure if they are starting to stretch him out but it would make sense.
LHP Tanner Bauman: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Sean Hermann1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
1.54 ERA (23.1 IP, 14 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 19 BB, 22 K). His BB rate has come down considerably in May.


FCL (8-11) (Lost to the Tigers, 3-0)

LF Brando Mayea0-for-3, HBP
.288/.366/.493 in 83 PA (4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 19 R, 4-for-7 SB)
C Ediel Rivera2-for-4, CS (2), K
.283/.400/.413 in 55 PA (3 doubles, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 7 R, 4-for-6 SB)
2B Gabriel Terrero1-for-2, 3B (1), BB, K
Terrero has a double, triple, and homer in ten games this season.
RF Santiago Gomez0-for-2, 2 SB (8), HBP

RHP Omar Gonzalez (L, 0-2): 4 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 5 K
RHP Mariano Salomon3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
0.68 ERA (13.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 15 K). Salomon has impressed in his career, throwing to a 2.67 ERA in 104.1 innings with a 131/24 K/BB.
RHP Chance Nolan: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
The former collegiate quarterback has yet to allow an earned run (5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 3 K)


DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.

Yankees MILB 5/18: Rafael Flores Homers Again

Notes:

RHP JT Brubaker started his latest rehab stint in Hudson Valley today. Acquired for infield prospect Keiner Delgado in April 2024, Bruaker hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He tossed only 16.2 innings in the Yankees system last year.

The difference between Brubaker and Scott Effross and Clayton Beeter is that Brubaker is out of options.  Once the rehab is up, and assuming he is healthy, decisions need to be made.

As for Delgado, reading Twitter at the time made one feel as if the Yankees relinquished the next coming of Roberto Alomar. After hitting .231/.318/.347 in Low-A in 2024, he was moved to High-A Greensboro, hitting .252/.329/.394 with a 9-for-9 stolen base rate. Prospects develop at different rates, but it seems doubtful this trade will haunt the Yankees.

Injury Log


Scranton (21-22) (Lost to Toledo, 10-8)

LF Cooper Hummel: 3-for-5, RBI, R, K
Hummel is 8-for-29 since the Yankees signed him.
CF Everson Pereira0-for-3, R, SB (4), BB, 2 K
Pereira was 21-for-28 stealing bases in 102 games in 2022. Since then, he is 20-for-24 in 150 games.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-5, 2B (10), RBI, R, SB (3), K
.305/.404/.519 in 156 PA (10 doubles, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 29 R, 3-for-4 SB, 11.5% BB, 20.5% K). 
C Alex Jackson2-for-5, HR (6), 3 RBI, R, K
Jackson continues to alternate games with and without a home run.  He has four home runs in his last seven games (HR, no HR, HR, no HR, HR, no HR, HR)
DH Dominic Smith1-for-4, HR (6), RBI, R, BB
Smith has five homers in 14 May games.
RF Bryan De La Cruz1-for-5, 2B (3), R, 2 K
3B Jose Rojas1-for-4, RBI, R, SB (2), 2 K
2B Jake Gatewood: 1-for-3, 2B (2), SB (1), CS (2), BB, 2 K
SS Andrew Velazquez1-for-4, RBI, R

RHP Carlos Carrasco1.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Leonardo Pestana1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Eric Reyzelman1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 0 K
4.24 ERA (17 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 19 BB, 18 K). Control has always been an issue (19 BB in 38.2 IP in 2024), but it is amplified this season. Furthermore, his K% isn’t making up for the high walk total. Last year, he struck out 63 (40.9%). This season, entering today, his K% was 26.1%. 
RHP Kervin Castro1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2.18 ERA (20.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 24 K)
RHP Geoff Hartlieb: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
3.00 ERA (18 IP, 19 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 18 K)
LHP Ismael Munguia (L, 0-1): 1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Minor league baseball = sometimes bringing in a position player during an 8-8 game.  This was his first career pitching appearance.


Somerset (17-21) (Lost to Portland, 4-1)

3B Dylan Jasso0-for-4, 2 K
.275/.329/.493 in 149 PA (7 doubles, 1 triple, 7 HR, 23 RBI, 20 R).  He has played 14 games at 3B, 12 at 2B, 6 at 1B, and 2 at designated hitter.
SS George Lombard Jr.0-for-2, CS (1), HBP, BB, K
Since promotion: .182/.378/.182 in 45 PA (3 RBI, 7 R, 3-for-4 SB, 10 BB, 9 K)
1B Rafael Flores1-for-3, HR (9), RBI, R, BB, 2 K
Flores has homered in three straight games and ties Spencer Jones for the Eastern League lead. He is hitting .304/.354/.554 in 161 PA. Going back to last year, Flores has hit .285/.357/.532 in 434 Double-A plate appearances (24 doubles, 24 HR, 63 RBI, 60 R, 8.99% BB, 28.3% K)
DH Garrett Martin0-for-4, K
RF Coby Morales: 2-for-4, 2 K
CF Grant Richardson0-for-4, 3 K
LF Jared Wegner1-for-3
C Antonio Gomez0-for-2, BB, K
2B Max Burt0-for-3, K

RHP Bailey Dees: (L, 1-3)  6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
4.50 ERA (34 IP, 33 H, 18 R, 17 ER, 5 HR, 16 BB, 37 K). Bees walked 13 in 18.1 April innings. That number has dropped to three in 15.2 May innings.
RHP Indigo Diaz1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Cole Ayers1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Danny Watson1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K


Hudson Valley (26-12) (Defeated Aberdeen, 3-2)

LF Brendan Jones1-for-4, K
RF Jace Avina1-for-3, HR (3), RBI, R
.297/.421/.455 in 126 PA. Avina has a pair of homers and 3 RBI in three games since returning from injury.
  RF Anthony Hall1-for-1, 2B (4)
DH Parks Harber0-for-4, 4 K
From four hits to four strikeouts. Explain baseball to me.
CF Jackson Castillo2-for-3, 2B (9), BB
Back-to-back multi-hit games as Castillo tries to get on track. He is hitting .234/.342/.355 in 146 PA and is 5-for-5 stealing bases.
2B Jose Colmenares0-for-4, K
3B Josh Moylan0-for-3, K
SS Brenny Escanio1-for-3, 2B (4), R
C Tomas Frick1-for-3, K
1B Duncan Pastore1-for-3, RBI, R

RHP JT Brubaker3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
His climb back to MLB begins yet again…
RHP Bryce Cunningham: (W, 5-1)  5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 2 HR
2.14 ERA (42 IP, 32 H, 12 R, 10 ER, 3 HR, 10 BB, 44 K). It is hard to deny that Cunningham has impressed the most (so far) amongst the 2024 draftees.
RHP Huey Morrill (S, 2): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K


Tampa (19-20) (Walked it off against Palm Beach, 5-4)

C Edgleen Perez: 1-for-4, SF, RBI, R, K
It saddens me that I won’t be able to call him an 18-year-old much longer, as he turns 19 on 5/25. 
DH Engelth Urena: 1-for-3, RBI, R, 2 BB, K
His RBI single with one out in the 9th tied the game.
LF Dillon Lewis0-for-3, R, 2 BB, K
2B Juan Matheus: 2-for-3, 2B (8), RBI, 2 BB
Matheus has gone insane. He is 15-for-25 (.600) during his 7-game hitting streak. The streak has spiked his triple slash to .316/.378/.386 (.236/.321/.303 before the streak started). He ranks fifth in the Florida State League in batting average.  He is a switch-hitter who has thus far hit lefties well in a small sample (9-for-22). Last year, he was 8-for-40 against southpaws.
RF Austin Green1-for-4, 2 RBI, SB (5), 2 K
Green has a 5-game hitting streak (8-for-18). 
1B Tyler Wilson0-for-4, 2 K
3B Hans Montero0-for-4, 3 K
SS Owen Cobb2-for-4, R
No extra-base hits? I’m appalled! Cobb is now 21-for-47 (.447) with 11 extra-base hits (6 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HR). He is on a 6-game hitting streak (10-for-22) and has eight multi-hit efforts in 14 games.
CF Marshall Toole1-for-3, R, CS (1), BB
Toole has a 7-game hitting streak (8-for-22).  He is hitting .326/.398/.447 in 98 PA.

RHP Gage Ziehl4.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, HR
RHP Gus Hughes0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Sean Hermann2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
1.80 ERA (20 IP, 14 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 17 BB, 20 K). The walks have settled down since he walked 15 in 12.1 April innings.
RHP Cole Zaffiro1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Jackson Fristoe (W, 3-1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
5.75 ERA (20.1 IP, 24 H, 17 R, 13 ER, 3 HR, 14 BB, 17 K)


FCL (5-6) 

Day off.


DSL (0-0)

Their season starts in June.