News:
C Ben Rortvedt‘s stint on the IL didn’t last long as he was in the Scranton lineup tonight. The Railriders are now carrying four catchers (Rortvedt, Rodolfo Duran, Carlos Narvaez, and Josh Breaux). They can use the 1B and DH slots to help distribute some at-bats (Rortvedt, Narvaez, and Duran all played tonight), but they also need to make sure these players get in their time behind the plate as well.
SS Oswald Peraza missed his third straight game this evening. OF Everson Pereira (Somerset) is still out of the lineup, as well.
Since they had a need for additional bodies in Scranton, UTIL Max Burt was promoted to Scranton. Drafted in the 28th round in the 2018 draft out of Northeastern, Burt is an organizational utility player. This isn’t his first stint in Scranton (played 36 games back in 2021). When I see a player like Burt, I think of someone you are going to see coaching, scouting, or whatever they wish to do in baseball some day.
Scranton (33-39) (Lost to Buffalo, 2-1, in ten innings)
LF Estevan Florial: 1-for-4, HR (19), RBI, RS, K
.296/.385/.619. After hitting 9 HR in May, he has 7 in June. That said, he hasn’t been on top of his game in June. He is only 18-for-74 (.243) with four walks and 22 strikeouts. He walked 15 times in May, so his discipline has taken a bit of a fall.
3B Andres Chaparro: 0-for-4
.238/.311/.457 in 289 PA with 12 doubles, 14 homers, and 43 RBI.
C Ben Rortvedt: 0-for-2, BB, HBP, K
DH Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-3, BB, K
CF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-4, 3 K
1B Rodolfo Duran: 1-for-4, 2 K
2B Jamie Westbrook: 0-for-4, K
SS Jesus Bastidas: 1-for-4, 2 K, SB (5)
RF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-4, K, CS (1)
LHP Tanner Tully: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
3.91 ERA (69 IP, 81 H, 33 R, 30 ER, 7 HR, 16 BB, 63 K). Doing his job eating some Triple-A innings.
LHP Matt Krook: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Michael Gomez: (L, 0-3) 2.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Somerset (40-25) (Defeated New Hampshire, 4-3, in 14 innings)
SS Trey Sweeney: 1-for-4, HR (9), 2 RBI, RS, BB
Sweeney has four home runs in his last five games. This home run tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the 11th.
LF Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-5, BB, K
His average has fallen back down to .198. I think everyone should have at least SOME level of concern, right? He hasn’t shown much progress as the season has gone along. It’s not like the Yankees are loaded with upper-level OF prospects, especially if Everson Pereira is going to go down to injury every year.
DH Austin Wells: 2-for-5, 2B (9), BB, K
Wells is surprisingly hitting only .247 at this level, but you still feel confident that he has conquered Double-A. Some of that is due to the power he has shown (9 doubles, 9 HR in 38 games).
3B Tyler Hardman: 0-for-6
Eeeeeeek.
RF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-5, RS, BB, K
Palensky scored the winning run on a balk in the 14th.
C Anthony Seigler: 0-for-3, 3 BB
All three walks were intentional. Whatever helps the OBP!
1B Eric Wagaman: 0-for-5, BB, K
CF Jeisson Rosario: 0-for-5, BB, 2 K
2B Delvin Perez: 1-for-5, HR (2), RBI, 2 RS, BB, 4 K
I brought up his Top 100 status yesterday. In case you are wondering, he never lived up to it because the bat simply never developed. He can run and play multiple positions (though he is mostly a SS) and that perhaps can get him some MLB time down the road.
RHP Richard Fitts: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
3.91 ERA (71.1 IP, 68 H, 32 R, 31 ER, 10 HR, 15 BB, 80 K). Fitts has been rolling lately. This was his 13th start of 2023 – if you believe in patterns (and you should at least pay attention to them), he made 17 starts in Tampa in 2022 before being promoted to Hudson Valley for his final five starts.
RHP Zac Houston: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
9 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 17 K.
LHP Lisandro Santos: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K
RHP Tanner Myatt: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Justin Wilson: (W, 3-1) 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
3.86 ERA (25.2 IP, 21 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 16 BB, 26 K)
Hudson Valley (39-27) (Lost to Brooklyn, 5-1)
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-4, 2 K, SB (17)
.280/.338/.519 in 263 PA with 17 stolen bases in 20 attempts (85%).
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-4, 2 K
.208/.265/.358 in 230 PA. In the FSL last season, he hit .203/.271/.311. He started the season very promising but has fallen down rather quickly. He is 7-for-62 in June with 23 strikeouts.
1B Rafael Flores: 1-for-4, 2B (10), K
DH Anthony Garcia: 0-for-4, 2 K
C Antonio Gomez: 2-for-4, HR (3), RBI, RS, K
Gomez is up to .247 as he improves his June numbers to 17-for-46 (.370) with four doubles and two home runs. A reason for optimism? I will take anything – he is still only 21 as a catcher in High-A ball.
2B Ben Cowles: 1-for-4, 2B (8)
LF Grant Richardson: 0-for-4, 2 K
RF Aldenis Sanchez: 1-for-3, 2 K
3B Eduardo Torrealba: 0-for-1, BB
LHP Joel Valdez: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 7 K
5.94 ERA (47 IP, 39 H, 33 R, 31 ER, 6 HR, 35 BB, 48 K).
RHP Luis Velasquez: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR
Since promotion: 6 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 8 K
RHP Bailey Dees: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
2.20 ERA (28.2 IP, 15 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 HR, 10 BB, 44 K). It is always a bit of a crapshoot trying to figure out which of these big relief arms will become viable MLB relievers. As an organization, you want to keep churning them out. If only a few of them pan out, it’s a win.
LHP Clay Aguilar: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
2.93 ERA (15.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 9 BB, 25 K). Can’t ask for much more.
Tampa (31-35) (Swept in a doubleheader by Ft. Myers)
Game 1 (Lost, 2-0)
2B Jared Serna: 0-for-2, BB, CS (5)
CF Anthony Hall: 0-for-3, K
C Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-3
DH Daury Arias: 0-for-2, BB
SS Brenny Escanio: 2-for-3, K
His hitting streak reaches 7 (four multi-hit games)
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-3, K
1B Omar Martinez: 0-for-2
RF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-2
LF Jake Palmer: 0-for-2
RHP Leonardo Pestana (L, 0-3): 3.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
4.50 ERA (30 IP, 29 H, 16 R, 15 ER, 4 HR, 15 BB, 39 K)
RHP Kris Bow: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 3 K
7.41 ERA (17 IP, 19 H, 15 R, 14 ER, 1 HR, 16 BB, 16 K). I will keep reminding you that he gave up 11 runs (10 earned) in 2.2 innings in his first two starts.
Game 2 (Lost, 7-6, in 9 innings)
2B Jared Serna: 1-for-5, 2B (13), RBI, RS
.304/.368/.520 in 277 PA.
CF Anthony Hall: 3-for-5, 2B (8), HR (5), 2 RBI, 2 RS, K
.278/.394/.438 in 203 PA. He is now 20-for-68 (.294/.380/.500) in June after his crazy May.
SS Brenny Escanio: 3-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 RS, BB
I would say that five hits in a doubleheader qualify as a good day. His hitting streak reaches 8 (five multi-hit games). Overall, he is still only hitting .230/.322/.293 in 259 PA.
DH Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-4, K
LF Christopher Familia: 2-for-4, 2B (6), RBI, K
Familia is now 28-for-73 (.384) with six doubles, two triples, ten home runs, and 29 RBI. He has nine multi-hit games (18 games played)
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-4, 2 K
PR-C Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-0
RF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-4, 2 K
1B Ronny Rojas: 0-for-3, BB, K
3B Beau Brewer: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB
LHP Brock Selvidge: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, HR
3.65 ERA (61.2 IP, 57 H, 29 R, 25 ER, 3 HR, 15 BB, 74 K). Selvidge is only 20, so they don’t really need to rush him to Hudson Valley – but he has done a solid job. His ten strikeouts tonight set a new personal high (the previous high was 8, which he accomplished in each of his three starts prior to tonight)
RHP Manny Ramirez: 1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
RHP Cole Ayers: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Matt Keating: (L, 5-5) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
3.14 ERA (28.2 IP, 25 H, 14 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 16 BB, 45 K)
FCL Yankees (8-5) (Lost to the Tigers, 5-4)
2B Keiner Delgado: 1-for-3, 2B (4), 2 BB
Rookie League disclaimer applies, but he now owns a 70/35 BB/K ratio in 301 career plate appearances.
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-4, RS, BB, K, 2 SB (7)
Arias is 7-for-17 in his last four games (0-for-18 in his previous five games)
RF Willy Montero: 2-for-4, 2B (4), BB, K
15-for-44 (.341) with four doubles.
DH Hans Montero: 0-for-3, RS, 2 BB, K, SB (4)
I just love crazy lines like .298/.508/.614 in 63 PA.
C Edinson Duran: 2-for-3, RS, HBP, SB (1)
12-for-26 (.462). He is 20 years old.
RHP Ryan Harvey: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, HR
2.38 ERA (11.1 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 16 K)
RHP Jordarlin Mendoza: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
9.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 12 K
DSL Bombers (8-5) (Lost to Rangers Blue, 12-11)
SS Juan Matheus: 1-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 K, SB (11)
Matheus’ 11 stolen bases lead the DSL.
2B Gabriel Terrero: 1-for-3, 2B (4), 2 RS, 2 BB, SB (5)
Terrero is on an 8-game hitting streak (he has hit safely in nine of his ten games)
CF Gabriel Lara: 1-for-5, HR (2), 3 RBI, RS
11-for-36 with nine walks and six strikeouts. He is 17 years old (debut season)
1B David Beckles: 2-for-4, 2B (3), HR (1), RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
LF Abrahan Ramirez: 0-for-3, 2 RS, 2 BB, 2 SB (3)
RF Luis Puello: 2-for-5, RBI, RS
The 17-year-old is 8-for-31 (.258) with six walks and seven strikeouts in his debut season
DSL Yankees (10-2) (Lost to Rangers Red, 4-3)
CF Brando Mayea: 2-for-5, 2B (3), RS, K, SB (2)
7-for-16 (.438) in his first five professional games.
C Josue Gonzalez: 1-for-2, HR (1), 3 RBI, RS, 3 BB, K, 2 SB (2)
The 19-year-old (second year at this level) is 10-for-27 with 15 RBI in eight games. He has 12 walks and six strikeouts.
SS Santiago Gomez: 1-for-2, 2B (4), 2 BB, K, SB (7)
Also 19, Gomez is 11-for-32 with a pair of home runs and 13 RBI.
RHP Sabier Marte: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Marte is another big kid (6’5″). Unlike many of their bigger pitchers, he thus far hasn’t run into major control issues (47/7 K/BB in 38.2 career innings)