Notes:
Trade analysis links:
Jose Caballero/Camilo Doval (link)
David Bednar/Jake Bird (link)
Ryan McMahon (link)
Amed Rosario (link)
Austin Slater (link)
RHP Luis Serna, who hadn’t pitched since July 31, 2024, finally made it back to the hill today. The 21-year-old, who is the cousin of former Yankees’ prospect Jared Serna, jumped on the radar during his 2021 debut season in the DSL. Quickly moved to the FCL in 2022, he pitched to a 1.96 ERA in 41.1 innings with a 56/17 K/BB.
He tossed only 19.1 innings in 2023 before starting the 2024 season in Low-A Tampa. While his ERA was far from good (6.07), there was plenty of bad luck baked into that, as he compiled a 3.83 FIP and 3.55 xFIP. You can see why there is a wide discrepancy: He owned a 27.1% K, 7.9% BB, and 0.78 HR/9. He was ranked 19th in the system by Pipeline in 2023, the last time he appeared on the list.
Injury Log
Scranton (66-44; 28-10 in second half) (Lost to Lehigh Valley, 3-0)
3B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-3, BB
C J.C. Escarra: 2-for-3, BB
Escarra singled in the 7th and didn’t come out to play defense in the 8th. Something to monitor, as the Yankees cannot afford to lose any catching depth.
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-1, K
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-4, 3 K
Jones’ slump (4-for-30 without an extra-base hit in August) has him down to .322/.400/.694 since his promotion. Imagine going into a deep slump and still owning a 1.094 OPS. That is the kind of heater Jones was on for a while.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-3, BB
.311/.395/.507 in 438 PA. While Rumfield still hits for power, his change in approach is what is allowing him to hit for average. In his first year with the Yankees’ organization (2023), he hit .222/.320/.437 with 17 home runs in 86 games. In the last two years, over 225 games, he is hitting .302 with 56 doubles and 29 home runs. The home run rate is down, but he is a better overall hitter.
RF Bryan De La Cruz: 0-for-4, 4 K
DH Jeimer Candelario: 1-for-4, 2B (12), 2 K
Candelario is 8-for-29 (.276) with four doubles in August. At this point, he is playing for a 2026 contract.
SS Braden Shewmake: 1-for-4, SB (1)
2B Jake Gatewood: 0-for-4, K
LF Duke Ellis: 1-for-4, SB (22), K
RHP Kenta Maeda (L, 0-1): 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
You hope he isn’t needed in MLB, but a solid organizational debut for Maeda, the 37-year-old who was still an effective MLB pitcher as recently as 2023.
RHP Joel Kuhnel: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Harrison Cohen: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Since promotion: 1.65 ERA (16.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 17 K)
Somerset (57-50; 22-16 in second half) (Defeated Binghamton, 3-2, in ten innings)
CF Brendan Jones: 1-for-4, RBI, R, SB (11), BB
Jones, who has 34 stolen bases, is one behind Juan Matheus for the organizational lead. He won the game with a walkoff single in the 10th.
SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-3, R, SB (18), BB, K
After going 0-for-1 stealing bases in July, Lombard Jr. is 4-for-4 in August.
3B Dylan Jasso: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 K
Jasso is 10-for-29 (.345) with a double, a homer, and five RBI in August. This is after hitting .317/.356/.463 in July. The undrafted free agent (2023) has worked his way into the prospect conversation and it doesn’t hurt that he can play a few positions.
LF Jace Avina: 0-for-3, SF, RBI
DH Tyler Hardman: 1-for-4, 3 K
1B Coby Morales: 1-for-4, 2 K
RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-3, CI, 2 K
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-4
PR Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-0, R
2B Alexander Vargas: 0-for-4, K
RHP Trent Sellers: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 4 K
3.69 ERA (85.1 IP, 69 H, 38 R, 35 ER, 8 HR, 43 BB, 98 K).
RHP Hayden Merda: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Last 8 appearances: 10 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
RHP Cole Ayers: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Michael Arias: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
LHP Ryan Anderson: (W, 4-1) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Hudson Valley (65-39; 27-13 second half) (Shutout Brooklyn for the second day in a row, 6-0)
CF Dillon Lewis: 1-for-3, 2B (8), SF, 2 RBI, K
Lewis’ High-A triple slash was .204/.250/.327 on June 14th. A nice power surge has lifted that to .237/.308/.460.
SS Kaeden Kent: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RBI
Kent’s first professional extra-base hit. Like many draftees, there will be questions about his future at shortstop. That’s why you draft shortstops in the first place – typically, if they can’t handle the position, they can handle other positions.
3B Juan Matheus: 0-for-4, 2 K
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-4, R, K
2B Core Jackson: 1-for-4, R, 2 K
Jackson’s first professional hit.
LF Tyler Wilson: 1-for-3, RBI, R
RF Robbie Burnett: 0-for-2, R, BB, K
A few eyebrows were raised when I mentioned his numbers this season while playing for an SEC school. Additionally, he was named to the second team in the all-SEC vote. That would seemingly add up to a player being chosen in the early rounds of a draft, right? So, how did the Yankees get him as an undrafted free agent? He isn’t big (5’10”) and doesn’t profile as an exceptional defender anywhere. I will argue that a kid who hits like he did in the SEC still feels like a steal as an undrafted free agent, but there are limitations to his game. The Yankees hope he can continue to achieve above those limitations.
C John Cristino: 1-for-2, 2B (1), 2 RBI, 2 R, CI, K
DH Joe Delossantos: 0-for-3, 3 K
RHP Andrew Landry (W, 2-1): 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
Landry has tossed seven shutout innings twice this season (the first was with Tampa). Hudson Valley is short-handed in the starting pitching department (thanks to injuries, trades, and promotions), and Landry is doing a nice job filling the void.
RHP Carson Coleman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Still on his rehab stint, Coleman has tossed three scoreless innings at this level (0 H, 1 BB, 3).
RHP Tony Rossi: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Tampa (48-55; 12-26 in the second half) (Lost a doubleheader to St. Lucie)
Game 1 (Lost, 5-2)
3B Enmanuel Tejeda: 1-for-1, R, 2 BB
RF Marshall Toole: 1-for-3, 3B (11), 2 RBI, SB (32), K
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-3, SB (26), K
For the first time this season, a game ends with Arias hitting .200+.
1B Kyle West: 0-for-3, 3 K
CF Willy Montero: 0-for-3, K
DH Richie Bonomolo: 0-for-3, 3 K
LF Wilson Rodriguez: 1-for-3, K
Since promotion: .219/.322/.315 in 87 PA (2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 10 R, 11.5% BB, 19.5% K).
2B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 0-for-3, K
C Ediel Rivera: 0-for-1, R, HBP
RHP Edinzo Marquez (L, 0-1): 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
The 20-year-old’s second start since his promotion.
RHP Gus Hughes: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
3.82 ERA (37.2 IP, 35 H, 23 R, 16 ER, 4 HR, 14 BB, 36 K)
RHP Jackson Fristoe: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K
Game 2 (Lost, 8-6)
DH Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
At this level: .214/.327/.333 with a pair of doubles and a homer in 53 PA. He has 11 walks and seven strikeouts.
RF Marshall Toole: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Toole is on a 5-game hitting streak. Season: .302/.406/.480 in 293 PA (13 doubles, 11 triples, 3 HR, 35 RBI, 53 R, 32-for-35 SB, 14.3% BB, 21.2% K). I am not predicting stardom or that he will even make it to MLB. However, he is a fun prospect to follow. He leads the league in average, triples, slugging percentage, and OPS.
SS Roderick Arias: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, K
That .200+ batting average dipped right back under (.199/.318/.303 in 363 PA with a 26-for-32 stolen base rate)
1B Kyle West: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
CF Willy Montero: 1-for-3, BB, 2 K
LF Eric Genther: 1-for-3, R, BB, K
Genther has a pair of 1-for-3 games to begin his career.
3B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: 1-for-2, RBI, R, BB, K
Martin-Grudzielanek in 2-for-9 with an RBI and two walks.
C Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-2, RBI, R, BB, 2 K
2B Hans Montero: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 K
RHP Luis Serna (L, 0-1): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Serna is still young enough to develop into something. First things first: Stay healthy.
RHP Cade Austin: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
3.05 ERA (44.1 IP, 38 H, 22 R, 15 ER, 4 HR, 19 BB, 49 K)
LHP Tanner Bauman: 1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
RHP Jack Sokol: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K
RHP Juan Sanchez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Sanchez is a catcher who has yet to catch in 2025. He’s made a pair of relief appearances.
FCL (28-30)
Their season is over.
In case you are wondering, the DSL ends on August 19th. The Yankees have no shot at the playoffs. The Bombers still have a chance to make it into the 16-team field.
DSL Yankees (22-27) (Defeated the DSL Phillies Red, 5-1)
CF Francisco Vilorio: 1-for-3, 2B (8), 2 RBI, R, SB (8), BB
.277/.383/.361 in 196 PA. The 18-year-old bonus baby has bounced back nicely from his .196/.294/.345 campaign.
SS Mani Cedeno: 0-for-2, R, SB (21), BB, K
Cedeno has 11 walks and six stolen bases in seven August games.
2B Carlos Bello: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, K
Bello is on a 5-game hitting streak (7-for-19, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 6 RBI)
DH Isaias Castillo: 1-for-3, K
C Jose Lavagnino: 1-for-1, 2 R, SB (1), 2 BB
RHP Hector Moreno: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Moreno is 16 years old and stands 6’6″. Crazy to think there could be additional growth. As you may suspect with a kid this young, tall, and raw, the road has been bumpy in his first season (22.24 ERA; 11.1 IP, 16 H, 31 R, 28 ER, 0 HR, 28 BB, 15 K). Now for the good news: In his last two appearances: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 10 K.
RHP Anthony Mena (W, 3-1): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
3.38 ERA (42.2 IP, 42 H, 19 R, 16 ER, 5 HR, 16 BB, 53 K). A solid campaign for the 20-year-old (second year at the level)
DSL Bombers (26-23) (Defeated the DSL Mets Blue, 6-2)
SS Stiven Marinez: 2-for-2, 3B (3), RBI, R, 2 BB
Marinez is hitting .273/.421/.377 in 197 PA. He is scorching, as he is on an 8-game hitting streak that features five multi-hit games (14-for-33; 2 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR). What an impressive debut – no other way to put it.
DH Ruben Castillo: 1-for-4
CF Jose Castro: 1-for-4, RBI, CS (4), K
2B Juan Torres: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
C Carlos Villarroel: 1-for-2, RBI, R, SB (7), CS (3), HBP, K
LF David Carrera: 1-for-3, R, SB (12), BB, K
RF Richard Meran: 3-for-3, 3B (2), RBI, R
.333/.495/.597 in 95 PA. This is his first career 3-hit effort.
RHP Luis Burgos (W, 3-4): 5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
2.76 ERA (45.2 IP, 37 H, 20 R, 14 ER, 2 HR, 20 BB, 44 K)
RHP Alexis Gonzalez: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K