Tag: Rafael Flores

Yankees MILB 6/6: Ben Rice Homers Again

News:

Nothing interesting.

Scranton (34-25) (Lost to Norfolk, 9-3)

CF Jasson Dominguez: 3-for-4, 2B (2), RS
Dominguez is 4-for-11 since joining Scranton and 21-for-62 (.339) overall. Whenever the Yankees need him, he’ll be ready.
  RF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-1
3B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-5, K
2B Oswald Peraza: 1-for-3, 2B (1), RBI, RS, BB, K
Peraza needed that double in the worst way.
C Ben Rice: 1-for-2, HR (2), 2 RBI, RS, SB (1), 2 BB
Rice has homered in back-to-back games since his promotion. As for the stolen base, he is sneakily 9-for-9 in that department this year. 
DH Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-4, 3 K
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-3, HBP, K
SS Jeter Downs: 1-for-4, 2B (9)
LF Taylor Trammell: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
RF-CF Greg Allen: 1-for-4, 3B (2), 2 K

LHP Josh Maciejewski: (L, 1-1) 2.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
No matter what happens, Maciejewski can always say he is one of a small percentage of baseball players to reach the highest level.
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
4.50 ERA (30 IP, 21 H, 19 R, 15 ER, 3 HR, 17 BB, 45 K)
RHP Matt Sauer: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Last 9 appearances: 12.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 11 K. You just never know when there will be a need at the MLB level and De Los Santos has the ground ball profile the organization likes.
LHP Clayton Andrews: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR

Somerset (25-28) (Lost to Hartford, 7-5)

DH Spencer Jones: 1-for-5, HR (4), 3 RBI, RS, 2 K
.221/.303/.349 in 195 PA (6 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HR, 25 RBI, 25 R, 13-for-16 SB, 10.3% BB, 34.9% K). He has a double, triple, and homer in five June games. It’s a start (we hope)!
1B Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-4, CS (1), 2 K
.273/.372/.536 in 215 PA with 12 stolen bases in 13 attempts. 
2B Ben Cowles: 1-for-4, RS, K
.315/.391/.516 in 215 PA. Cowles 36 starts at shortstop (38 games), 9 starts at 3B (11 games), and 6 starts at second base. The Yankees want their infield prospects to be versatile, and I agree with that strategy.
CF Grant Richardson: 2-for-4, 2B (13), CS (2), K
.273/.333/.441 in 159 PA. In his last 19 games, he has eight 2-hit games, a 1-hit game, and ten 0-hit games.
C J.C. Escarra: 1-for-3, 3B (3), RS, BB
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 3 K
3B Jordan Groshans: 1-for-3, RS, BB
LF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-3, SB (10), BB, K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-3, SF, RBI, K

RHP Bailey Dees: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, 2 HR
Dees struck out the first six batters he faced and tied his best for strikeouts in a game. Season: 3.75 ERA (57.2 IP, 52 H, 27 R, 24 ER, 7 HR, 19 BB, 59 K). He allowed 8 of those runs in 3.1 innings in his first start of the season (also his first professional start!). He has put himself on the radar.
RHP Danny Watson: (L, 0-2) 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Watson is still getting back into a groove. 
RHP Jack Neely: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
2.22 ERA (28.1 IP, 20 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 2 HR, 10 BB, 45 K). He has allowed runs in three of his last four games, but I am not worrying about that. 

Hudson Valley (27-25) (Split a doubleheader with Wilmington)

Game 1 (Won, 8-3)

2B Roc Riggio: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-4, K
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-2, SF, RBI, RS, SB (7), K
Don’t worry about Rodriguez being pulled, as he was the catcher for Game 2. 
  PH-3B Beau Brewer: 0-for-1
C Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, HR (4), 2 RBI, 2 RS, K
Flores has an 11-game hitting streak and five multi-hit games in his last seven games.
DH Omar Martinez: 0-for-1, RS, HBP, 2 BB
RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-4, RS, 2 K
1B Josh Moylan: 1-for-4, RBI, RS, K
Moylan has a 7-game hitting streak. During this stretch, he has increased his triple slash from .220/.352/.300 to .242/.368/.313.
CF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-2, 2 RBI, RS, SB (5), BB
LF Kyle Battle: 1-for-3, 3B (1), 2 RBI, 2 K

RHP Bryce Warrecker: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Warrecker’s High-A debut (he skipped Low-A). He stands 6’8″ and was the Yankees’ 20th-round pick in the 2023 draft out of Cal Poly. Despite his size, Warrecker isn’t a flamethrower (89-92). However, many prospects have ticked their velocity up under professional supervision. 
RHP Mason Vinyard: (W, 2-0)  2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
LHP Joel Valdez: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Game 2 (Lost, 4-0. This wasn’t the most exciting game in history)

2B Roc Riggio: 0-for-3
.199/.357/.331 in 171 PA. I think the hits will start coming…
SS Jared Serna: 0-for-2, BB
RF Jace Avina: 0-for-3, K
C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-3, 2B (13)
Hudson Valley’s lone hit. He is hitting .326/.408/.500 in 213 PA. Over his 234-game career, the 22-year-old is hitting .317/.406/.475 in 976 plate appearances. I say it every night (it appears): He doesn’t stop hitting while playing anywhere they ask him to play. I don’t know what the Yankees think of him, but the numbers are there.
DH Tyler Hardman: 0-for-3, 3 K
1B Rafael Flores: 0-for-1, BB, K
His hitting streak is snapped but his on-base streak lives on. He is hitting .307/.415/.504 in 164 PA. 
LF Garrett Martin: 0-for-2, 2 K
3B Kiko Romero: 0-for-1, BB, K
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-2, K

RHP Sebastian Keane: (L, 4-4) 3.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
4.86 ERA (46.1 IP, 46 H, 26 R, 25 ER, 3 HR, 25 BB, 43 K). His three starts before tonight were solid (18 IP, 13 H, 5 R, 5 BB, 16 K), so we’ll toss this one. 
RHP Luis Arejula: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K

Tampa (19-35) (Lost to Fort Myers, 9-4)

3B George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-3, 2 BB, K
Lombard Jr. has eight multi-walk games (only two since April). This is fine; you want to see your prospects swing the bat (as long as they are quality swings). Low-A walks aren’t getting him promoted.
SS Roderick Arias: 2-for-5, 2B (8), RBI, RS, SB (14), 2 K
Arias is off to a 6-for-21 (.286) start in June with a double, triple, and two stolen bases. Can he build off this? 
1B Dylan Jasso: 2-for-5, HR (6), 2 RBI, RS, K
Jasso is hitting .256/.350/.436 in 226 PA (15 doubles, 1 triple, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 28 R, 11.1% BB, 26.5% K). 
DH Christopher Familia: 1-for-5, K
CF Jackson Castillo: 3-for-4, K
Castillo is on a 6-game hitting streak (10-for-23) and is hitting .276/.399/.463 in 153 PA. After games of May 2, he was hitting .162/.262/.270. You have to figure he is under consideration for a promotion once they start handing them out in bulk. He has played 27 of his 37 games in CF (8 in LF, 2 as DH).
LF Willy Montero: 3-for-4, 2B (9), RS
Montero got off to a 2-for-21 start, dipping under .200 after his third game. He is finally back over that mark (.204/.266/.271 in 199 PA) thanks to a 6-for-11 stretch over the last three games.
RF Coby Morales: 0-for-4, K
2B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-4, RBI
C Edinson Duran: 0-for-1, HBP
Duran left the game after the HBP.
  PR-C Tomas Frick: 0-for-1, RS, BB

RHP Ryan Harvey: (L, 2-4) 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Aaron Nixon: 3 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Steven Fulgencio: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

FCL (14-10) (Defeated the Blue Jays, 4-3)

CF Brando Mayea: 0-for-3, SB (10), BB, K
Mayea has 32 stolen bases in 51 minor league games. A kid with his speed should be able to run at will at these lower levels.
1B Josue Gonzalez: 3-for-4, RS
.268/.435/.493 in 92 PA. He has five multi-hit efforts.
SS Enmanuel Tejeda: 3-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, RS, SB (1)
Tejeda should be back in Low-A Tampa soon enough. He wasn’t out for too long with his injury.
DH Antonio Gomez: 1-for-3, RS, 2 K
At one time, Gomez was my choice as the top catching prospect in the organization. It just hasn’t come together for him. He is here on a rehab stint.
LF Wilson Rodriguez: 1-for-3, RBI, CS (1)
3B Luis Ogando: 2-for-3, RS, 2 SB (6)

RHP Sabier Marte: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
The 6’5″ hurler has a 2.42 ERA (22.1 IP, 19 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 0 HR, 12 BB, 21 K). He hasn’t allowed a HR in 63 IP over the last two seasons

DSL Yankees (1-2) and DSL Bombers (1-1)

The Yankees lost, 11-2.

SS Dexters Peralta scored a run and drew a walk…3B Richard Matic and CF Gabriel Lara each had a pair of hits. The 5’9″ Lara is considered one of the fastest players in organized baseball and is an interesting long-term lottery ticket. Matic signed for $850,000. Baseball America noted that he was one of the youngest players in the 2024 class…17-year-old LHP Ronald Tejada was a bright spot on the hill (1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K).

The Bombers won, 10-2. They drew 11 walks and compiled 10 hits. Walks are a good thing, but it is hard to take the insane walk rates in the DSL seriously.

CF Francisco Vilorio went 2-for-3 with an RBI, run scored, and walk. The 17-year-old is one of the bonus babies at this level. He was signed for $1.7 million…DH Richard Meran went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and 3 RBI. The 17-year-old played 13 games at this level in 2023…RF David Carrera went 2-for-4 with a  pair of doubles and runs scored. He added a stolen base. This is the 17-year-old’s debut season…C Queni Pineda drew three walks and scored four runs. He is another 17-year-old in his debut year…2B Christofer Reyes had two hits, two RBI, two runs, and two walks. He is 16 years old…LHP Franyer Herrera allowed one run in five innings. He struck out five. Herrera is 19 years old and this is his third season at this level…LHP Marco Manzano (20) made his professional debut, allowing a run over two innings with four strikeouts.

Yankees MILB 6/4: Jackson Fristoe: 6 Scoreless Innings

News:

OF Brandon Lockridge was placed on the injured list for Scranton. Lockridge’s 21 stolen bases are second in the International League (teammate Caleb Durbin, also on the injured list, is tied for 3rd with 20).

OF Jasson Dominguez‘s rehab has moved to Scranton. Additionally, the stint has been extended by ten days. With the approval of MLB, teams are allowed to extend rehab stints three times at 10 days per pop. This is applicable if a player is rehabbing an elbow or shoulder injury. As you may suspect, this is most often used with pitchers rehabbing from Tommy John.

IF Enmanuel Tejeda has begun a rehab stint in the FCL. The 19-year-old hit .330/.374/.402 in 108 plate appearances for Tampa before his injury on May 2nd. Tejeda compiled back-to-back 4-hit games when the injury hit.

Scranton (34-24) (Lost to Toledo, 4-2)

CF Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-3
Sometimes, it is hard to remember that Dominguez has played only ten Triple-A games.
   CF Greg Allen: 0-for-1
SS Oswald Peraza: 0-for-4, K
Peraza is hitting .137 (7-for-51) for Scranton (1-for-27 slide). You figure that the bat will start clicking, but this is an ugly stretch.
2B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-4, K
C Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-3, RS, BB
Narvaez has an 8-game hitting streak (10-for-28; 5 walks)
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, 2B (9)
.278/.339/.397 in 168 PA since his promotion. 
RF Oscar Gonzalez: 2-for-4, RBI, K
.305/.359/.484 in 103 PA. 
LF Taylor Trammell: 0-for-4, K
3B Kevin Smith: 1-for-3, HR (2), RBI, RS
DH Josh VanMeter: 0-for-3, K

LHP Tanner Tully: (L, 1-4) 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
RHP Art Warren: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
LHP Clayton Andrews: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Duane Underwood Jr.: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
1.80 ERA (20 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 HR, 10 BB, 22 K)
RHP Phil Bickford: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
3.38 ERA (21.1 IP, 19 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 HR, 9 BB, 28 K). Both Underwood and Bickford are somewhere on the depth chart. You hope you don’t need to use them, but nowadays, a bullpen is “all hands on deck.”

Somerset (25-27) (Lost to Hartford, 5-4)

CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-5, 2 K
Jones increases his on-base streak to 17. 
1B Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-5, K
.263/.364/.537. 
C Ben Rice: 2-for-4, 2B (9), RS, BB
Rice is hitting .261/.382/.511 and is 5-for-11 to start June with three doubles and two walks. 
SS Ben Cowles: 1-for-4, 2B (18), K
Cowles hit 18 doubles in 2022 and 2023 (many more games!)
DH J.C. Escarra: 2-for-4, 2B (10), RS, SB (1), K
3B Jordan Groshans: 1-for-4, K
RF Grant Richardson: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, BB, K
LF Jared Wegner: 1-for-3, CS (3), BB, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-3, HR (4), RBI, RS, SB (8), BB, 2 K
Seigler has homered four times in his last four games. 

RHP Gerrit Cole: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
Cole’s durability is known – this was his first minor league game since July 10, 2016. Supposedly, everything looked fine. Now we wait to see how he feels tomorrow.
RHP Zach Messinger: (L, 2-3)  4.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR
3.58 ERA (60.1 IP, 49 H, 35 R, 24 ER, 5 HR, 19 BB, 69 K).
RHP Jesus Liranzo: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Hudson Valley (25-24) (Crushed Wilmington, 10-2)

2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-4, HBP
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-5, HR (11), RBI, 2 RS
Serna hit zero HR in his first 28 High-A games and two in his first 47 games. He has 9 in his last 28 games.  
CF Jace Avina: 1-for-5, RS, 3 K
Avina owns an 8-game hitting streak (11-for-31).
C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-3, 3B (2), RBI, 3 RS, 2 BB
Rodriguez has three multi-walk games in his last five games. He drew 16 walks in May after drawing 6 in April. He is hitting .324/.412/.500 in 204 PA (12 doubles, 2 triples, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 33 R, 6-for-9 SB, 12.7% BB, 13.7% K). He just doesn’t stop producing.
DH Tyler Hardman: 2-for-5, 2B (2), HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 RS
As his stroke comes back, he should dominate this level. 
1B Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, HR (3), 4 RBI, RS, BB, K
Flores has four 2-hit games in his last five games played. He tied his career-best for RBI in a game and is hitting .308 with a .894 OPS (14 doubles, 3 HR, 25 RBI). 
LF Garrett Martin: 1-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, RS
Martin has homered twice in his last four games.
3B Josh Moylan: 1-for-4
Moylan is the proud owner of a 7-game hitting streak.
RF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3, BB, K

RHP Jackson Fristoe: (W, 1-2)  6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Fristoe’s longest career outing (previous: 4.1 innings). He owns a 3.72 ERA (29 IP, 20 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 1 HR, 21 BB, 31 K). It doesn’t take a baseball savant to recognize where his biggest issue lies. It is encouraging to see that he issued none of those tonight.
RHP Trent Sellers: (S, 1) 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Sellers’ first career save. 

Tampa (19-33) (Lost to Fort Myers, 4-2)

SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-4, SB (14), K
14-for-15 stealing bases. Lombard turned 19 on June 2nd. As stated before, the power has yet to show itself but that isn’t concerning. 
2B Roderick Arias: 0-for-4, 2 K
.203/.311/.313 in 225 PA. I would advise waiting to see what he does in the second half of the season. Can he adjust or will the struggles continue? 
1B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-4
LF Christopher Familia: 2-for-4, HR (1), RBI, RS, K
His rehab was moved here from the FCL. Your reminder that he hit 16 home runs in 57 games at this level between 2022-2023.
3B Max Burt: 0-for-2, K
Burt, a 27-year-old utility player, is here on a rehab stint. In 2022 and 2023, he reached double digits in homers and stolen bases.
  3B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-2, K
CF Jackson Castillo: 2-for-4, HR (4), RBI, RS, K
.259/.386/.457 in 145 PA. His triple slash went as low as .156/.283/.267 (May 5th) but he has taken off since then.
DH Hans Montero: 0-for-4, 2 K
RF Willy Montero: 1-for-3, 2B (8), K
C Edinson Duran: 0-for-3

RHP Caleb Smith:(L, 2-4)  7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, HR
2.96 ERA (48.2 IP, 34 H, 22 R, 16 ER, 2 HR, 22 BB, 57 K). Smith has gone seven innings twice this season (6+ innings four times)
RHP Kris Bow: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
3.13 ERA (23 IP, 18 H, 12 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 15 BB, 27 K)

FCL (12-10) (They are tied with the Blue Jays, 8-8, in the 7th. I am not going to wait this one out – heck, it may even be over already, knowing how slow GameCast sometimes is at this level!)

CF Brando Mayea: 2-for-3, 2 RS, 2 SB (7), BB
Mayea’s power hasn’t shown itself but he is hitting .341 with a .828 OPS and is 7-for-7 stealing bases.
DH Edgleen Perez: 1-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K
2B Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-3, K
  2B Gabriel Terrero: 0-for-0, SF, RBI
DH Engelth Urena: 1-for-4, HR (2, grand slam), 4 RBI, RS, K
SS Juan Matheus: 0-for-2, RS, SB (3), BB
LF Brian Sanchez: 1-for-3, 2 RS, SB (7), K

RHP McKinley Moore: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Eric Reyzelman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
It is only a matter of time before he shows up in Low-A Tampa.

DSL Yankees (1-1) and DSL Bombers (0-1)

The Bombers lost, 12-3, today.  17-year-old Francisco Vilorio had a pair of hits and RBI.

The Yankees won, 19-7. They had 8 hits and 20 (TWENTY) walks. This league isn’t real.
They scored 11 runs in the first inning, highlighted by a Luis Puello grand slam. The 18-year-old catcher drove home 6, doubling his previous best. SS Dexters Peralta (16 years old) went 2-for-3 with 4 runs scored and a pair of walks, RBI, and stolen bases. The Yankees have another Montero in the organization as Estivenzon Montero joins Willy, Hans, and Fidel (there could be more, for all I know). He is a 17-year-old outfielder who debuted today (1-for-4, RBI, SB).

The DSL doesn’t do much for me. I’ll highlight what I can, but getting a read on these players is impossible. A $10,000 kid could emerge while a $800,000 kid dies on the vine (then, the prospect community acts as if they knew the $10,000 kid was a sleeper all along)

Yankees MILB 6/2: Spencer Jones: 2B, RBI

News:

RHP Gerrit Cole, a good #6 starter, will start his first rehab in Somerset on Tuesday.

Scranton (34-23) (Lost to Toledo, 7-2)

2B Brandon Lockridge: 2-for-2, 3B (2), RS, SB (21)
.276/.404/.371. He had a strong May (.354/.475/.458) and is trying to build off that. However…
  PR-2B Kevin Smith: 1-for-2
After the stolen base, Lockridge left the game due to injury.
3B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-3, SF, RBI, K
SS Oswald Peraza: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
Since joining Scranton, Peraza has struggled (7-for-47, though he does have 11 walks to go along with the 15 strikeouts). 
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-3, RS, BB
.279/.341/.395 in 164 PA at this level (7.9% BB, 20.7% K)
RF Taylor Trammell: 2-for-4, K
LF Oscar Gonzalez: 1-for-4, RBI, K
DH Josh VanMeter: 0-for-4, 3 K
C Josh Breaux: 0-for-4, 2 K
The Yankees haven’t promoted or signed anyone, so the catching duties in Scranton belong to Carlos Narvaez with Breaux as the backup (for now).
CF Greg Allen: 0-for-4, K

LHP Edgar Barclay: (L, 3-4) 5 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HR
6.35 ERA (51 IP, 55 H, 39 R, 36 ER, 10 HR, 31 BB, 47 K)
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Yerry De Los Santos: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
4.01 ERA (24.2 IP, 32 H, 18 R, 11 ER, 4 HR, 10 BB, 20 K). De Los Santos pitched well in May (2.31 ERA in 11.2 innings with a 10/2 K/BB)

Somerset (25-26) (Lost to Bowie, 6-3)

DH Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, 2B (6), RBI, RS, 2 K
Last 3 games: 6-for-12 (1 double, 1 triple, 1 home run). He is up to .228/.317/.348 and has a 16-game on-base streak.
CF Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-2, 2 K
Since joining Somerset, Dominguez is 12-for-38 (4 HR, 2 BB, 11 K)
   PH-CF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-2, 2 RBI
1B Ben Rice: 0-for-3, BB
.256/.377/.506 in 213 PA (14.6% BB, 21.6% K, 8-for-8 SB).  He has a .831 OPS vs. LHP and .899 OPS vs. RHP.  Rice takes more walks against RHP (.395 OBP vs. .320), where much of the difference lies. 
C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-4, 2B (10), SB (12)
.271/.373/.553 in 201 PA (13.4% BB, 17.4% K, 12-for-12 SB). He hasn’t homered since May 14th (15 games without one)
SS Ben Cowles: 0-for-4, SB (8), 2 K
.310/.391/.515 in 202 PA (11.4% BB, 16.8% K, 8-for-8 SB (31-for-35 over the last two seasons))
3B J.C. Escarra: 0-for-4
LF Grant Richardson: 0-for-4, K
2B Jordan Groshans: 1-for-3, RS
RF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-2, RS, BB, K

LHP Brock Selvidge: (L, 4-4)  5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
3.25 ERA (52.2 IP, 39 H, 26 R, 19 ER, 3 HR, 27 BB, 53 K). The walk rate is up, but teams aren’t hitting for power off of him (.293 SLG). 
LHP Ryan Anderson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.79 ERA (19.1 IP, 18 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 22 K)
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
For Somerset: 2.19 ERA (12.1 IP, 12 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 14 K). He hasn’t allowed a home run in 22 innings between here and Hudson Valley (he allowed 10 HR in 54.1 IP in 2023).
RHP Jack Neely: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
2.03 ERA (26.2 IP, 18 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 9 BB, 43 K). This is the first time he has allowed multiple runs in a game this season. 
RHP Carlos Gomez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (24-24) (Lost to Aberdeen, 7-3)

SS Jared Serna: 1-for-4, SB (7), RS, BB, K
He is hitting .246 with a .833 OPS (14.3% BB, 18.4% K, 7-for-12 SB).
LF Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-5, SB (6), RS
Rodriguez is hitting .324 with a .898 OPS. He has 18 multi-hit games and is third in the South Atlantic League in batting average.
1B Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, BB
Flores, hitting .296 with a .863 OPS, is on an 8-game hitting streak (multiple hits in 3 of his last 4 games)
DH Tyler Hardman: 1-for-4, 2B (1), BB, 2 K
Hardman is 7-for-34 at this level. The double was his first extra-base hit (he hit 26 HR in 77 games for Somerset in 2023). It is possible (probable) that his stroke isn’t back yet.
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-4, BB, K
Martinez is hitting .237 with a .809 OPS. 
RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-4, HBP, K
3B Josh Moylan: 1-for-4, K
CF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-3, BB
2B Beau Brewer: 0-for-4, 2 K

RHP Cam Schlittler: (L, 3-2) 5 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
1.97 ERA (45.2 IP, 21 H, 18 R, 10 ER, 4 HR, 22 BB, 56 K). While the walks are a little high, there isn’t much to complain about for the 23-year-old.
RHP Matt Keating: 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
3.41 ERA (31.2 IP, 21 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 3 HR, 12 BB, 36 K).
RHP Huey Morrill: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Tampa (19-32) (Lost to Palm Beach, 9-4)

DH George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-5, SB (13), K
.213/.363/.268 in 157 PA (17.8% BB, 22.3% K, 13-for-14 SB). Righties have given him trouble (.196/.339/.237). He is comfortable vs. LHP (.267/.436/.367).
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-4, CS (7), 2 K
.207/.317/.319 in 221 PA (12.7% BB, 34.8% K, 13-for-20 SB). His struggles against left-handed pitching is known (7-for-41 with one walk and 19 strikeouts)
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
.251/.347/.426 in 213 PA (11.3% BB, 27.2% K). He is in a little 1-for-19 slump.
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-3, 2 RS, SB (9), BB
.250/.383/.429 in 141 PA (18.4% BB, 19.9% K, 9-for-10 SB). 
2B Hans Montero: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB
.232/.330/.378 in 94 PA. Montero had a hot streak going but is in a 1-for-23 slide. He has walked five times during this stretch,
RF Willy Montero: 2-for-4, RBI, K
.190/.255/.247 in 191 PA. 
LF Coby Morales: 1-for-3, RBI, CS (2), BB
C Tomas Frick: 0-for-4
3B Brenny Escanio: 2-for-3, RS, 2 SB (6), BB, K
Escanio has three multi-hit games during his 5-game hitting streak. He has four stolen bases during this stretch.

RHP Luis Serna: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, HR
4.87 ERA (40.2 IP, 33 H, 22 R, 22 ER, 2 HR, 13 BB, 46 K). Serna’s highest inning total is 41.1 (2022). 
RHP Aaron Nixon: (L, 1-1) 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Steven Fulgencio: 0.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

FCL (12-9)

Scheduled day off.

DSL Yankees (0-0) and DSL Bombers (0-0)

Their seasons get started tomorrow.

Yankees MILB 5/18: Jasson Dominguez is Heating Up

News:

I have nothing to offer you.

Scranton (28-13) 

Their game against Worcester was postponed. Instead of playing two tomorrow, they will attempt to make this up on Monday. The posted lineup is below.

2B Caleb Durbin: 0-for-0
.286/.405/.422 in 196 PA (14 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 30 R, 20-for-22 SB, 14.8% BB, 10.7% K). His SLG has, predictably, slipped (only four extra-base hits (all doubles) in May), but the rest of his profile has motored along. Starts, by position: 2B: 17; 3B: 10; SS: 7; LF: 4; CF: 1. 
SS Oswald Peraza: 0-for-0
Peraza’s rehab stint was moved here from Somerset.
RF Taylor Trammell: 0-for-0
1B Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-0
After a .215/.384/.354 April, Narvaez is hitting .275/.396/.475 in May.
DH Jose Rojas: 0-for-0
3B Jeter Downs: 0-for-0
.265/.358/.510 in 124 PA.  How souped up is this league? A .510 SLG is strong on paper. In the International League, it is good enough to be ranked 33rd. In the Double-A Eastern League (where Somerset plays), the 33rd-best slugging percentage is .394.
C Luis Torrens: 0-for-0
LF Greg Allen: 0-for-0
CF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-0

RHP Cody Poteet: 0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Somerset (18-19) (Lost to Portland, 2-1)

CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
.222/.298/.333 in 121 PA. He hasn’t homered since April 23rd (20 straight games without one). Eventually, you figure someone is going to pay.
1B Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-3, SF, RBI, 2 K
.285/.395/.618 in 147 PA. His hitting streak is at 7 (12-for-26).
SS Ben Cowles: 1-for-4, 2 K
.328/.405/.536 in 148 PA. 
C J.C. Escarra: 0-for-4, 2 K
3B Jordan Groshans: 0-for-4, K
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, BB, K
DH Elijah Dunham: 1-for-4, K
2B Anthony Seigler: 1-for-3, RS, K
LF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-2, BB, K

RHP Bailey Dees: (L, 2-3) 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
I was concerned when he only pitched three innings last time, but he is fine, it appears. Season: 3.99 ERA (38.1 IP, 33 H, 18 R, 17 ER, 17 BB, 41 K). His first 8 professional starts have gone as well as you can hope for.
RHP Kevin Stevens: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Josh Maciejewski: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Jack Neely: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
In his last five appearances: 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 13 K. Overall, he has a 1.45 ERA and 30/6 K/BB over 18.2 IP. In his career, he has 222 strikeouts in 137.1 innings. He is a legitimate high-leverage relief prospect.

Hudson Valley (19-16) (Lost to Jersey Shore, 14-8)

2B Roc Riggio: 0-for-4, RS, BB, HBP, K
His BB% (16.3) continues to be higher than his K% (15.4). I expect the bat to eventually get going.
SS Luis Serna: 1-for-5, HR (7), RBI, RS, SB (3), BB
Serna has homered in two of his last three games and is hitting .305/.406/.627 in May (4 doubles, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 12 R).  While many see him as a 2B long-term, he has started 26 games at SS and 8 at 2B.
RF Jace Avina: 3-for-4, 2B (11), HR (4), 3 RBI, 2 RS, SB (3), BB
.305/.407/.547 in 113 PA (11 doubles, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 17 R, 11.5% BB, 28.3% K). 
DH Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-3, RS, 2 BB, K
.313/.390/.500 in 146 PA (7 doubles, 1 triple, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 24 R, 10.96% BB, 15.1% K). He owns a 12-game on-base streak.
C Omar Martinez: 2-for-4, 2B (4), 2 RS, BB, K
Martinez has a 5-game hitting streak. He is at .240/.406/.413 in 133 PA (21.1% BB and 21.1% K).
1B Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, 2B (10), 2 RBI, BB, K
Flores is up to .281/.387/.461 in 106 PA (10 doubles, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 10 R, 14.2% BB, 23.6% K). He has five multi-hit efforts in his last seven games (12-for-24; 5 doubles, 10 RBI – he has at least one RBI in seven straight games). Before this streak, he was hitting .200/.307/.369.
3B Josh Moylan: 3-for-5, 2B (3), 2 RBI, CS (1)
In his last four games, Moylan is 6-for-15 with five RBI. It has lifted his triple slash from .205/.344/.295 to .237/.368/.323. It’s a start!
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-5, 2 K
LF Kyle Battle: 0-for-4, RS, SB (4), BB, K

LHP Kyle Carr: 4 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, HR
6.49 ERA (26.1 IP, 32 H, 27 R, 18 ER, 2 HR, 23 BB, 22 K). I won’t try to trick you into thinking that is a good line. I will say that this is his debut season and everyone develops at a different pace. How does he adjust? That is the question you want answered.
RHP Matt Keating: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Luis Arejula: (L, 1-3) 1.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
RHP Huey Morrill: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Joel Valdez: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Tampa (13-25) (Defeated Bradenton, 10-9, in ten innings)

2B Jorbit Vivas: 1-for-3, 2 RS, BB, HBP, K
Vivas is 1-for-7 since he restarted his rehab stint (he went 1-for-7 for Scranton during his first rehab stint)
   2B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-1, RS
DH Jasson Dominguez: 2-for-4, 2B (1), 2 RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
Dominguez’s double was hit 106.5 MPH. On his rehab stint: 5-for-11 (1 double, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K).
   PH Hans Montero: 1-for-1
Again, they probably told Dominguez his night was over after his 5th plate appearance, which is why he didn’t hit in the 10th inning.
3B George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-5, RBI, RS, HBP, K
He is hitting .210 with a .644 OPS.
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-4, 3B (4), SF, 3 RBI, RS, BB, K
Arias walked it off in the bottom of the 10th with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. 
1B Dylan Jasso: 2-for-4, 2 2B (12), BB, 2 K
Jasso has 20 doubles in 57 career games.
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-4, SF, 3 RBI, K
All 9 of Castillo’s RBI have come in his last ten games. In those ten games, he is 14-for-31 with four doubles and three homers.
LF Willy Montero: 2-for-5, 2 K
For a moment, he lifted his average over .200. At he end of the night, he settled in at .198.
RF Coby Morales: 0-for-4, 2 RS, BB, 2 K
C Manuel Palencia: 2-for-4, RS, BB

RHP Josh Grosz: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, HR
7.06 ERA (29.1 IP, 37 H, 32 R, 23 ER, 8 HR, 13 BB, 48 K). That line shows off his raw ability and things he needs to work on. His rate numbers show bad luck: Entering tonight, he had a .413 BABIP and 35% HR/FB. A 35% HR/FB is insane – something like that can’t be sustained. 
RHP Osiel Rodriguez: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
1.96 ERA (18.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 HR, 9 BB, 18 K). Rodriguez hit 96.3 with his 4-seamer and 95.1 with his sinker.
RHP Jordy Luciano: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
RHP Aaron Nixon: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
2.14 ERA (21 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 17 BB, 22 K)
RHP Kris Bow: (W, 1-0)  1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
He just comes at you with hard sinkers and sliders. They don’t always hit the zone, but there is no way Bow is a comfortable AB. Season: 3.94 ERA (16 IP, 9 H, 10 R, 7 ER, 1 HR, 13 BB, 19 K)

FCL (5-6) (Defeated the Blue Jays, 6-2)

1B Josue Gonzalez: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 RS, HBP, K
8-for-29 (2 doubles, 3 HR, 10 BB, 8 K, 2-for-2 SB)
DH Tyler Hardman: 0-for-2, 2 RS, BB, HBP, K
My thick skull finally figured it out: They send Hardman to the FCL for rehab on days Jasson Dominguez plays for Tampa. For now, both are only playing DH.
C Edgleen Perez: 1-for-3, 2B (3), 2 RBI, BB
7-for-22 (3 doubles, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 11 BB, 4 K). The 17-year-old (for one more week) is making an early impression.
SS Juan Matheus: 1-for-3, SF, 2 RBI
7-for-30 (1 triple, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2-for-5 SB)
3B Luis Ogando: 2-for-4, RS

RHP Bryce Warrecker: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Last year’s 20th-round pick stands 6’8″. His ERA wasn’t great at Cal Poly, but he kept the walks in check, which is unusual for a kid this big.
RHP Omar Gonzalez: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Sabier Marte (W, 2-0): 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
9.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 6 BB, 9 K
RHP Chris Kean: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. I doubt he will be in the FCL for long.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 5/15: It’s Serna Day!

News:

I have nothing to offer you.

Scranton (28-12) (Squeaked past Worcester, 1-0)

3B Caleb Durbin: 0-for-4, SB (18), BB, K
Durbin is second in the International League in SB (Steward Berroa (Buffalo) has 20)
LF Everson Pereira: 0-for-4, BB, K
.259/.339/.524 (8.5% BB; 33.9% K) in 165 PA. It’s an interesting profile that shows off his power (7 doubles, 10 HR) and swing-and-miss. 
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-5, SB (2)
Rumfield has hit safely in 8 of his last 9 games (13-for-34; .382). 
DH Taylor Trammell: 1-for-3, 2B (1), BB, K
Trammell is 4-for-16 with a double since joining the Railriders. 
RF Oscar Gonzalez: 0-for-3, HBP, 2 K
C Luis Torrens: 0-for-3, BB, K
2B Josh VanMeter: 0-for-3, SB (2), BB, K
SS Kevin Smith: 2-for-4, 2 2B (4), RS, K
CF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-2, RBI, CS (2), 2 BB
.229/.373/.325 in 102 PA (6 doubles, 1 triple, 0 HR, 12 RBI, 15-for-17 SB). Lockridge hit 39 HR between 2019-2022 (there wasn’t a season in 2020) but has only three in 2023-2024. I still think he can carve out an MLB career.

RHP Clayton Beeter: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 3 K
2.53 ERA (32 IP, 17 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 1 HR, 21 BB, 44 K). Is the wildness what makes him tough to hit? Or would he still be tough to hit if he curtailed the wildness?  
RHP Cody Morris: (W, 2-0) 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
1.40 ERA (19.1 IP, 12 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 11 BB, 26 K)
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Phil Bickford (S, 4): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
2.40 ERA (15 IP, 13 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 18 K). In MLB, Bickford has been a “meh” reliever with a high K rate (26.6%). This is mostly due to walks and fly balls. Whether the Yankees can find a way to work with this remains to be seen – but if you are a pitcher looking to find new ways to be effective, signing with the Yankees should be near the top of your list.

Somerset (17-17) (Win a pitching duel over Portland, 1-0. This follows a 11-10 loss last night. Baseball!)

CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-4, 4 K
.237/.306/.361 in 108 PA. There was a point early last year where people were wondering about Jasson Dominguez. We all know how that story ended up. So, we’ll see if Jones can build a similar story in 2024 (not that I expect him to march up to MLB regardless)
DH Oswald Peraza: 1-for-4, HR (2), RBI, RS, K
His home run in the 4th held up.
C Ben Rice: 0-for-3, 3 K
.246/.374/.467 in 148 PA (14.9% BB; 24.3% K). He is 9-for-41 (.220) in May (1 HR, 8 BB, 8 K).
1B Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-3, 2B (5), SB (8), K
.284/.403/.638 (15.8% BB; 18.7% K) in 139 PA. His BABIP, which I referenced last night, has normalized (.269). You can disparage “advanced” (not that BABIP is all that advanced) metrics all day – the data showed that a correction was coming for Ramirez and here it is. The Yankees need to decide whether his projected bat is too good to worry about catcher development, even if that development increases trade value.
SS Ben Cowles: 1-for-2, SB (5)
Cowles left the game after the stolen base.
   PR-3B J.C. Escarra: 0-for-1, K
3B-SS Jordan Groshans: 0-for-3
LF Jared Wegner: 0-for-3
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-2, SB (4), BB, K
RF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-2, SB (5), BB, 2 K

RHP Blane Abeyta: (W,2-3) 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
4.86 ERA (37 IP, 45 H, 29 R, 20 ER, 4 HR, 8 BB, 28 K)
RHP Yorlin Calderon: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Between Scranton/Somerset/Hudson Valley: 2.18 ERA (20.2 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 19 K)
RHP Kevin Stevens (S, 2): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (17-15) (Defeated Jersey Shore, 9-3)

2B Roc Riggio: 1-for-5, 2B (5), SB (6), K
.213/.343/.382 in 108 PA. Riggio is hitting .204 in his first 45 professional games, which is something to monitor. He makes a lot of contact and it is nice to see some extra-base hits in 2024.
SS Jared Serna: 0-for-1, 3 RS, 4 BB
Serna’s first career 4 BB game (not that it should be common). He is hitting .250/.375/.448 (15.97% BB; 13.9% K) in 144 PA. Going back to 4/28, he is 20-for-55 (.364) with 9 walks and 10 strikeouts. Interestingly, the only three homers he has during this streak were hit on the same day (5/1). Baseball!
CF Jace Avina: 1-for-3, 2B (9), RS, 2 BB, K
Avina now owns a 10-game hitting streak and is hitting .293/.404/.476 in 99 PA. This is the 20-year-old’s first taste of High-A, and he is holding his own. Last year, in A ball for the Brewers’ organization, he hit .233/.373/.442.  Avina’s .440 BABIP will come down, so we’ll have to see where he settles in. 
C Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-3, 3 RS, 2 BB
.322/.386/.517 (9.1% BB; 14.4% K) in 132 PA. He is second in the Sally League in average and 6th in slugging percentage. It is easy to see him in Somerset this season. Last year, the Yankees played him in 84 Low-A games before promoting him here. He is at 55 games at this level (his triple slash is a ridiculous .337/.422/.524).
DH Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, 2B (8), 3 RBI, RS, BB, K
Flores has three multi-hit games in his last four games played. 
1B Josh Moylan: 2-for-5, 3 RBI, RS, K
There’s a hot streak in Moylan somewhere…it hasn’t come out yet.
LF Nelson Medina: 1-for-4, 2B (2), 2 RBI, BB, 2 K
3B Beau Brewer: 0-for-4, K
RF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-3, BB, K

RHP Baron Stuart: (W, 1-1)  6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
4.13 ERA (24 IP, 23 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 16 K)
RHP Matt Keating: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
3.60 ERA (20 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 24 K). Keating (23) struck out 93 in 65.1 IP for Low-A Tampa last year.
RHP Luis Arejula: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Tampa (11-24) (Defeated Bradenton, 5-0)

SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-4, K
DH Tyler Hardman: 0-for-4, K
Hardman started his rehab here, went to the FCL for one game, and is now back. It makes sense to somebody, and that is all that matters.
3B Roderick Arias: 1-for-3, 2B (5), 2 RS, 2 SB (9), BB, K
I am asked what my honest assessment of Arias is. The answer? I don’t have one. We have to see how he progresses as the season goes along. Earlier in 2024, he was generating some power without the walks. Now, he is walking more but the power has drifted away (only two extra-base hits in May after compiling eight in April). It’s all a part of a process that will take a while to play out.
1B Dylan Jasso: 1-for-4, RBI, RS, 2 K
Jasso has 16 RBI in 13 May games.
LF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB
Castillo is 10-for-36 with 14 walks in May. As is the case with Jasso, he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
CF Willy Montero: 1-for-2, RBI, RS, 2 BB, K
Montero has hit safely in eight of his last nine games.
2B Hans Montero: 2-for-3, 2B (2), 2 RBI, BB, K
13-for-37 (.351). Last 6 games: 9-for-19. He has four multi-hit games in his last five starts.
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-4, K
RF Daury Arias: 0-for-3

RHP Luis Serna: (W, 2-2)  6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K
Brilliance. Season: 5.40 ERA (26.2 IP, 23 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 1 HR, 8 BB, 31 K). Three May starts: 15.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 15 K.  Don’t forget that Serna is only 19 years old.
RHP Jordy Luciano: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K
RHP Aaron Nixon: (S, 2) 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
2.33 ERA (19.1 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 HR, 16 BB, 21 K)

FCL (4-4) 

Scheduled day off.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 4/6: Omar Martinez: 4 Hits, HR

News:

No news is good news, except when it isn’t.

Scranton (3-4) (Lost a doubleheader to Syracuse)

Game 1 (Lost, 4-2)

RF Greg Allen: 1-for-1, RS, SB (3)
Allen left the game early.
   RF Josh VanMeter: 0-for-3
LF Caleb Durbin: 0-for-3, RS, SB (5), BB
C Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-2, SB (1), 2 BB, K
Narvaez is 3-for-19 with eight walks. That is how you turn a .158 batting average into a .393 OBP.
DH Everson Pereira: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
1B Luis Torrens: 0-for-2, RBI, BB, K
SS Kevin Smith: 0-for-1, SF, RBI, BB, K
2B Jeter Downs: 0-for-3, K
3B Jordan Groshans: 0-for-3, 2 K
CF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-2, 3 SB (7), BB, K

RHP Will Warren: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Warren didn’t pitch well in not-so-ideal Opening Day conditions. He bounced back tonight.
LHP Tanner Tully (L, 0-1): 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 0 BB, 3 K
Tully cleared waivers and was outrighted to Scranton, where he will eat some innings as needed.

Game 2 (Lost, 9-6, in eight innings. Remember that minor-league doubleheaders are 7-inning games. Syracuse scored five in the 7th to take the lead, only for Scranton to answer with three. However, Syracuse pulled away in the 8th).

CF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-2, RBI, RS, 2 SB (9), 2 BB
Lockridge has nine stolen bases in six games. He stole 40 in 92 games in 2023.
SS Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, K
Durbin is 11-for-26 (2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R, 6 BB, 2 K, 5-for-5 SB). So far this season, he has already played 2B/SS/3B/LF/DH. This kid has serious “fan favorite” ability because he can do so many things.
DH-1B Jose Rojas: 1-for-4, HR (3), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
The 31-year-old depth piece has three homers in five games.
RF Everson Pereira: 1-for-4, 2 K
6-for-26 (.231) with a pair of home runs. He has four walks and 11 strikeouts.
1B-2B Luis Torrens: 1-for-3, RS, BB
LF Luis Gonzalez: 0-for-4, K
3B Jeter Downs: 1-for-2, RBI, RS, BB, K
C Josh Breaux: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB, K
2B-P Josh VanMeter: 0-for-2, RS, BB, K

RHP Clayton Beeter: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 5 K
As usual, Beeter was fastball/slider-heavy. He topped out at 94.5 MPH but averaged 91.8. On a good note: He generated 12 whiffs. There’s talent here – I still wonder where that talent is best utilized.
LHP Clayton Andrews: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Yerry De Los Santos (L, 0-1): 0.1 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
De Los Santos is throwing hard (95.9 MPH sinkers). With the injuries happening with the big club, there will be opportunities for some of these relievers to shine. That can change once Tommy Kahnle/Scott Effross/Lou Trivino emerge from their injuries.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Josh VanMeter: 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
VanMeter was forced into some relief duty. It isn’t foreign to him, as he has three games of MLB experience on the hill. Those games didn’t go much better.

Somerset (1-1) (Lost to Richmond, 13-3)

C Ben Rice: 1-for-5, RS
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-3, 2B (1), BB, K
Rumfield’s HR spiked from four homers in 2021-2022 to 17 in 2023. If the power game continues to develop, he will become interesting.
DH Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
After his promotion last year, he hit two home runs in 31 games. This year? Two home runs in two games. You will hear about whether the 22-year-old can stick behind the plate. Remember this: We heard that about Austin Wells since day one. I like that Fangraphs said that he isn’t ready to be an MLB catcher YET instead of making a decisive prediction on his future position.
RF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-2, 2 K
I think many were hoping that Dunham would get some MLB at-bats last year. However, he had a tough year. I don’t know why he was pulled today.
  RF Jared Wegner: 1-for-2, 3B (1), RS
LF J.C. Escarra: 1-for-3, 2B(1), BB, K
Typically a 1B/DH, this is Escarra’s first career game in the outfield. He was signed to a minor league contract over the winter.
3B Ben Cowles: 1-for-4
CF Grant Richardson: 0-for-4, 3 K
2B Aaron Palensky: 0-for-1, 2 BB, HBP, K
Anthony Seigler at 2B yesterday…Aaron Palensky (typically an OF) today! He played one game at 2B in 2023.
SS Max Burt: 0-for-4, 2 K

RHP Bailey Dees (L, 0-1): 3.1 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 5 BB, 3 K
Dees is undergoing a role change, it appears. With that will come growing pains, as we saw tonight. He is listed at 6’8″, 255 pounds.
LHP Clay Aguilar: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 K
Typically reliable, Aguilar had a tough time today in his Double-A debut (he pitched four games for Scranton last year). 
RHP Kevin Stevens: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Stevens (26) was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He didn’t pitch in 2023. This is only his sixth career game.
RHP Carlos Gomez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (1-1) (Walloped Bowling Green, 14-2)

2B Jared Serna: 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI, 3 RS, 2 BB
I wrote last night about his lack of home runs since joining Hudson Valley last year. It must feel good to get that first one out of the way finally.
 PH-2B Beau Brewer: 0-for-1, K
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-6, RS, 2 K
C Omar Martinez: 4-for-5, HR (1), 2 RBI, 3 RS, BB
The left-handed hitting catcher hit .291/.367/.445 with 18 HR in 105 games for Tampa last year. He was one of the few performing prospects who did not receive a promotion, but I wouldn’t read into that. 
RF Garrett Martin: 2-for-5, 2B (1), 3 RBI, 2 RS, K
  RF Kyle Battle: 0-for-0, HBP
LF Anthony Hall: 0-for-5, RS, BB, K
DH Rafael Flores: 3-for-5, HR (1), 3 RBI, 2 RS
The 23-year-old C/1B spent the entire season here last year, hitting .259/.346/.366 with eight home runs.
1B Kiko Romero: 1-for-4, RBI, RS, SB (1), HBP, 2 K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-4, RBI, BB
Vargas has the glove to stick at SS. However, the bat has yet to develop.
CF Cole Gabrielson: 1-for-5, RBI, RS, SB (1), K
Gabrielson was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023. MLB shortened the draft a few years ago, so talented kids will slip through. 

LHP Kyle Carr: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Carr (21) is receiving a lot of buzz. This represented the professional debut for the 21-year-old, who was drafted in the third round in the 2023 draft out of Palomar College.
RHP Trent Sellers: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
Professional debut for the 24-year-old Sellers, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023. In 15 starts for Oregon State, he posted a 4.86 ERA and 106/32 K/BB over 74 innings. It looks like he continued the strikeout tradition tonight.
RHP Leonardo Pestana: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
LHP Joel Valdez: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Tampa (1-1) (Lost to Fort Myers, 6-4)

2B George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
SS Roderick Arias: 1-for-4, 3B (1), RS, K
A homer and triple in his first two games? We’ll take it.
3B Enmanuel Tejeda: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, SB (1)
This looks like it will be the infield configuration early. It is smart, as Arias should play a lot at SS. It should change as players eventually move around levels. Plus, there will be off days, DH days, etc. Back to Tejeda: He stole 24 bases in 30 attempts in the FCL last year.
LF Coby Morales: 1-for-4, RS, 3 K
1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-3, BB, 3 K
CF Jackson Castillo: 0-for-4, RS, K
DH Willy Montero: 0-for-3, RBI, SB (1), BB, K
Montero was productive last season, but only stole five bases. In 2022, he stole 16 in 53 games.
RF Daury Arias: 0-for-4, RBI, 2 K
The toolsy Arias didn’t perform well here last season (.217/.335/.318 with six home runs)
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-3, 2B (1), RS, BB, K
The 21-year-old played ten games at this level in 2023 (11-for-35). 

RHP Ryan Harvey: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
The 23-year-old was the Yankees 11th round pick in the 2022 draft. He pitched to a 3.94 ERA with a 48/22 K/BB ratio over 45.2 innings last year (his debut year).
LHP Allen Facundo: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Fucando threw one of his 4-seamers 96.1 MPH. His sinker? Maxed at 97.4. That will get my attention, as will the 127 strikeouts in 80.2 career innings.
RHP Jordy Luciano (L, 0-1): 2.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Throughout his brief career, the 22-year-old’s issue has been control. 
RHP Kris Bow: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
The Yankees drafted Bow in the 14th round of the 2022 draft. He is a sinker/slider type, who threw one sinker 94.8 MPH tonight. Control has been an issue in his short career.

FCL (0-0)

The season starts on 5/4.

DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 9/19: Trey Sweeney Doubles, Homers

News:

I have nothing interesting to report.

Scranton (71-72; 37-32 in the second half) (Defeated Syracuse, 10-5, thanks to a 7-run 9th inning)

1B Carlos Narvaez: 2-for-5, 2B (12), RBI, BB, 2 K
RF Franchy Cordero: 2-for-5, RBI, RS, BB, K
2B Jamie Westbrook: 2-for-5, RBI, RS, CI, K
3B Andres Chaparro: 3-for-6, 2 2B (23), RBI, RS, K
Chaparro’s 6th 3+ hit game this season (including a 5-hit game). 
DH Jake Lamb: 1-for-2, HR (6), 3 RBI, 2 RS, 3 BB
Lamb’s 3-run HR in the top of the 9th gave Scranton the lead.
C Josh Breaux: 2-for-5, 2 HR (4), 3 RBI, 2 RS, 2 K
Four of Breaux’s eight hits at this level have gone over the fence. This is his first multi-HR game since 7/10/2021 (he hit three that day).
SS Jesus Bastidas: 0-for-4, HBP, 2 K
LF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
CF Nelson Medina: 2-for-5, 3B (1), RS, K, SB (2)
Medina earns his first two Triple-A hits after starting 0-for-19. Again, not surprising as he was placed here straight from Tampa.

RHP Clayton Beeter: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 2 HR
This is likely his final start of 2023 (unless he is brought up to MLB, or they allow him to pitch in the season finale on Sunday). If it is, he finishes with a 5.32 ERA in 66 IP with an 82/40 K/BB at this level. Overall, in 126.2 IP between here and Somerset, he pitched to a 3.77 ERA with a 158/71 K/BB. Unless he is traded, Beeter will be protected from the Rule 5 this winter.
LHP Matt Krook: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
LHP Josh Maciejewski: (W, 4-1)  2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K

Somerset (84-53; 42-27 in the second half) (Lost to Binghamton, 9-2. They are down 1-0 in the best-of-three semifinals. They will need to win the final two games to move on – the games are at home)

SS Trey Sweeney: 2-for-4, 2B (1), HR (1), RBI, RS
Sweeney compiled multiple hits in three of his last four regular-season games – good to see him keep it up tonight. 
C Ben Rice: 1-for-3, BB, K
CF Spencer Jones: 0-for-3, BB, K, CS (1)
DH Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-2, K
  PH-DH Mickey Gasper: 1-for-2
I am not sure why Ramirez was pulled.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-4, K
2B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-4, K
LF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-4, HR (1), RBI, RS, 2 K
RF Grant Richardson: 0-for-3, K
3B Max Burt: 0-for-2, 2 K
  PH Jeisson Rosario: 1-for-1
  3B Eduardo Torrealba: 0-for-0

RHP Blane Abeyta: (L, 0-1)  3.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HR
RHP Anderson Munoz: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Zach Messinger: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Messinger mostly pitched for Hudson Valley this season (one late-season start for Somerset). At all levels (including tonight’s playoff game), he had a 126/56 K/BB over 105.1 IP. An arm to watch next year.

Hudson Valley (70-62; 31-35 in the second half)  (Lost to Greenville, 7-3. They fell in the championship series, 2-0. There were a lot of success stories at this level – they promoted a lot of players up to Somerset and that is the overall goal)

2B Jared Serna: 0-for-4, 3 K
Serna, so consistent during the regular season, went only 2-for-18 in the playoffs. He wasn’t striking out much until tonight. Overall, there is nothing to complain about in 2023. 
3B Ben Cowles: 0-for-4, 3 K
C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K
One of the most consistent bats in the entire system this season, Rodriguez went 5-for-18 in the postseason.
LF Christopher Familia: 2-for-3, 2B (3), RS, BB
Familia went 6-for-20 with three doubles in the postseason. In 73 games this season (including the playoffs), he compiled 14 doubles, 2 triples, 22 home runs, 63 RBI, and 58 runs scored. Successful, that is.
1B Rafael Flores: 1-for-3, HR (1), RBI, RS, BB, K
Flores went 5-for-13 in the playoffs with two doubles and a home run. He started to show off some pop in the second half of the season. He will be an intriguing story entering 2024.
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-4, 3 K
DH Anthony Hall: 1-for-4, 2B (1)
Hall hit .194/.282/.296 in 24 games after his promotion. I am not going to worry about that, for now – just hope he enters 2024 healthy and ready to go.
SS Alexander Vargas: 1-for-4
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K, SB (1)

RHP Cam Schlittler: 3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
At three levels during the regular season (including one start here), Schlittler pitched to a 4.11 ERA in 46 innings with a 50/21 K/BB. This is enough for the 6’6″ 22-year-old to build on heading into 2024.
RHP Yorlin Calderon: (L, 0-1) 3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
While he has only reached High-A, Calderon could be a sneaky Rule 5 pick this winter. He is 22 years old and compiled a 106/28 K/BB over 90 innings this season (including this postseason). Would he stick if he is chosen? That’s a different story.
RHP Matt Keating: 1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, HR
Shake it off and move on to 2024.
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Tampa (61-69; 30-34 in the second half) 

Their season is over.

FCL Yankees (35-22; 1-2 in the playoffs)

They lost to the Braves in the championship series. Their season is over.

DSL Yankees (33-19)

Their season is over, as they missed the playoffs by a half-game.

DSL Bombers (27-26)

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/15: Richard Fitts Ks 11

News:

I have nothing interesting to report.

Scranton (69-71; 35-31 in the second half) (Defeated Buffalo, 4-2)

RF Franchy Cordero: 1-for-3, 2B (13), 3 RBI, BB, K
3B Jamie Westbrook: 0-for-4, 3 K
C Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K
DH Andres Chaparro: 0-for-4, 2 K
1B Jake Lamb: 2-for-4, HR (5), RBI, RS
SS Jesus Bastidas: 0-for-2, RS, BB, HBP
LF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-3, RS, HBP, 3 K
Palensky’s Triple-A debut.
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-4, 2 K
2B Wilmer Difo: 0-for-1, RS, 2 BB, K, 2 SB (22)

RHP Mitch Spence: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
4.50 ERA (156 IP, 155 H, 86 R, 78 ER, 28 HR, 50 BB, 150 K)
RHP Zac Houston: (W, 3-1) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
RHP Aaron McGarity (S, 4): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Somerset (82-53; 40-27 in the second half) (Defeated New Hampshire, 3-1)

SS Trey Sweeney: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
1B Ben Rice: 0-for-3, 2 HBP, K, CS (3)
Rice has 11 HBP in 71 games. He is hitting .324/.396/.638 in 212 PA at this level.
C Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K
At this level: .211/.276/.309 in 30 games. I stand by what I said when he was first promoted: I am not concerned about him struggling here. 
CF Spencer Jones: 2-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, RS, K, SB (7)
Jones has 47 extra-base hits (28 doubles, 4 triples, 15 HR) and 42 stolen bases (53 attempts). Tonight’s HR was hit off of LHP Ricky Tiedemann, the top prospect in the Blue Jays system (Pipeline). No, he won’t be in the mix for the CF job in 2024 with Jasson Dominguez out – but a hot first half will get people talking.
DH Mickey Gasper: 0-for-3, RS, BB, K, SB (8)
LF Jeisson Rosario: 0-for-3, BB
3B Eduardo Torrealba: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K
RF Grant Richardson: 0-for-3, 2 K
2B Max Burt: 1-for-2, BB, 3 SB (21)
Burt sets personal bests for both stolen bases in a game and in a season.

RHP Richard Fitts: (W, 11-5) 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K
Fitts sets a new personal best for strikeouts in a game (he struck out exactly ten batters three times this season). This is probably his last regular season start of 2023 unless they give him one up in Scranton. If it is, he posted a 3.48 ERA in 152.2 IP with a 163/43 K/BB. I would say that is something to build on and Fitts should be in the 2024 mix at some point.
RHP Tanner Myatt: (S, 7)  2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR

Hudson Valley (70-62; 31-35 in the second half)  (Defeated Jersey Shore, 3-2, to win the best-of-3 series. They will play Greenville (BOS) in the championship series. It starts on Sunday)

3B Ben Cowles: 2-for-3, 3B (1), RBI, RS, BB
A nice night for Cowles, who hit .254/.356/.393 in 444 regular-season plate appearances. He stole 23 bases in 27 attempts.
2B Jared Serna: 0-for-3, BB, CS (1)
LF Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-3, BB
Rodriguez went 4-for-10 with two walks and only one strikeout in the series.
DH Christopher Familia: 0-for-4, K
1B Spencer Henson: 0-for-4, 3 K
C Rafael Flores: 2-for-3, 2 2B (2), 2 RS, K
Flores went 4-for-8 with two doubles and three walks in the series.
RF Anthony Hall: 1-for-3, 2 K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-2, SF, RBI
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-1, 2 BB

LHP Brock Selvidge: (W, 1-0) 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Selvidge pitched to a 3.45 ERA in 127.2 IP during the regular season between Tampa and Hudson Valley (116 H, 56 R, 49 ER, 5 HR, 35 BB, 137 K). He compiled a 25.5% K and 6.5% BB. In 2022, his BB% was 9.4. He is developing the way you would want him to develop and there isn’t a long line of left-handed starting pitching prospects in the system.
RHP Cole Ayers: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert: (S, 1)  1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
In a key moment in the 8th, Gilbert came out of the bullpen with the bases loaded and one out. He promptly struck out back-to-back hitters.

Tampa (61-69; 30-34 in the second half) 

Their season is over.

FCL Yankees (35-22; 1-2 in the playoffs)

They lost to the Braves in the championship series. Their season is over.

DSL Yankees (33-19)

Their season is over, as they missed the playoffs by a half-game.

DSL Bombers (27-26)

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 8/13: Christopher Familia: HR, 5 RBI

News:

Nothing to report.

Scranton (54-57; 20-17 in the second half) (Defeated Syracuse, 6-2)

LF Everson Pereira: 0-for-5, 3 K
Since promotion: .311/.368/.533 in 136 PA. 
C Austin Wells: 0-for-4, K
Since promotion: .257/.356/.365 in 87 PA with eight doubles, ten walks, and 20 strikeouts. 
3B Oswald Peraza: 1-for-3, RS, BB, K
.261/.354/.470 in 271 PA (8 doubles, 1 triple, 13 HR, 33 RBI, 42 R, 28 BB, 48 K, 12-for-16 SB). His season doesn’t shout at you, but he is still doing more than enough to earn a consistent MLB shot.
RF Franchy Cordero: 1-for-3, 2B (11), RS, BB
1B Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-1, 2 RS, 2 BB
Since promotion: .262/.396/.426 in 227 PA (6 doubles, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 33 R, 38 BB (16.7%), 54 K (23.8%))
DH Jake Lamb: 1-for-3, HR (1), 3 RBI, RS
Lamb’s first HR as a member of the Yankees organization.
2B Jamie Westbrook: 1-for-3, HR (17), 3 RBI, RS, BB
Westbrook is two away from tying his career-best for homers in a season. His .524 SLG is the best number in his career. I hope this grinder at least earns a cup of MLB coffee. He has been doing the minor-league thing for years.
CF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-4, 2 K, SB (15)
For Scranton: .286/.348/.365 in 138 PA. Overall: .297/.369/.428 in 252 PA (12 doubles, 4 triples, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 32 R, 25 BB, 61 K, 32-for-36 SB (88.9%))
SS Wilmer Difo: 0-for-3, BB

LHP Edgar Barclay: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, HR
Since promotion: 4.97 ERA (12.2 IP, 14 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 3 HR, 8 BB, 11 K). Overall: 2.31 ERA in 46.2 IP (40 H, 15 R, 12 ER, 4 HR, 19 BB, 62 K)
RHP Michael Gomez: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Zach Greene: (W, 2-0) 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Aaron McGarity: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
LHP Nick Ramirez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Somerset (63-43; 21-17 in the second half) (Shut down Binghamton, 8-0 – remember, Somerset is already in the playoffs)

LF Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-5, K
After his insane hot streak, Dominguez is 0-for-12 with a pair of walks in his last three games. Correct – three games is about as small of a sample size as you can get. He is hitting .240/.743 OPS in 474 PA (14 doubles, 2 triples, 13 HR, 58 RBI, 74 R, 74 BB (15.6%), 122 K (25.7%), 36-for-43 SB)
DH Ben Rice: 2-for-3, BB, K
Since promotion: 27-for-79 (90 plate appearances; .342; 5 doubles, 1 triple, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 16 R, 9 BB (10%), 16 K (17.8%), 4-for-5 SB)
C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-3, 2B (1), BB
Ramirez notches his first extra-base hit since his promotion. As he is moving up, the BB rate has gone down (18.5% for Tampa; 6.6% for Hudson Valley; one walk in 26 PA (3.8%) for Somerset). Is that worrisome? Not really – he was smoking the ball in Hudson Valley and the sample size is still quite small in Somerset.
1B Josh Breaux: 1-for-4, RS, K
2B Jesus Bastidas: 1-for-1, 2 RS, 3 BB, SB (1)
Bastidas draws three walks for the first time in his career.
CF Jeisson Rosario: 0-for-3, SF, RBI
RF Aaron Palensky: 2-for-3, 2B (9), HR (6), 3 RBI, 3 RS, BB, K
Palensky has 18 doubles and 18 HR between here and Hudson Valley.
SS Max Burt: 1-for-4, HR (10), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
The utility guy reaches double digits in homers for the second straight year.
3B Eduardo Torrealba: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, K

RHP Blane Abeyta:(W, 7-6)  6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K
5.65 ERA (100.1 IP, 102 H, 65 R, 63 ER, 13 HR, 40 BB, 103 K). His K rate has jumped up from his time in Hudson Valley last year, though the same is true of the home run rate. It makes me wonder if they have changed anything with his pitch mix.
RHP Jesus Liranzo: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Danny Watson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Since promotion: 1.33 ERA (27 IP, 12 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 HR, 11 BB, 31 K). Overall, Watson is up to 70 strikeouts in 51.1 innings.
RHP Alex Mauricio: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
3.38 ERA (40 IP, 36 H, 16 R, 15 ER, 4 HR, 12 BB, 39 K)

Hudson Valley (59-49; 20-22 in the second half) (Lost two games to Jersey Shore – remember, Hudson Valley is already in the playoffs)

Game 1 (Lost, 12-10. Since this game was the conclusion of a suspended game, it went all nine innings)

CF Spencer Jones: 3-for-5, 2B (26), RBI, 2 RS, K, 2 SB (30)
Jones joins Jasson Dominguez and Brandon Lockridge in the organization’s 30+ SB club. He has 12 3+ hit games this season.
2B Jared Serna: 2-for-3, RBI, RS, 2 BB, SB (4)
Serna’s hitting streak (split between here and Tampa) reaches eight. He has 23 stolen bases in 29 tries between the two levels.
SS Ben Cowles: 1-for-4, 2 RS, BB, 2 K
LF Christopher Familia: 3-for-5, 2B (4), HR (8), 5 RBI, 2 RS
Familia has two 5-RBI games in 2023 and has 19 homers and 52 RBI in 50 games between here and Tampa. His up-to-the-minute triple slashes: Overall: .317/.390/.678. For Hudson Valley (128 PA): 259/.328/.500.
C Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, 2 2B (14), RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
A much-needed game for Flores, who entered action 3-for-32 in August.
3B Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-3, SF, 2 RBI, BB
7-for-13 with four RBI and five walks since his promotion.
RF Anthony Hall: 1-for-5, K
3-for-21 with a double since his promotion.
DH Antonio Gomez: 1-for-5, RS, 2 K
1B Spencer Henson: 0-for-5, 3 K

RHP Leonardo Pestana: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
RHP Mason Vinyard: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Harrison Cohen: 2 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
LHP Clay Aguilar: (L, 3-3)  2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Aguilar did allow three inherited runners to score.
RHP Cole Ayers: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Game 2 (Lost, 6-1. Since this was Game 2, it was a 7-inning game)

CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, K
.264/.333/.451 in 418 PA (26 doubles, 4 triples, 12 HR, 52 RBI, 55 R, 38 BB, 124 K, 30-for-38 SB)
SS Jared Serna: 1-for-3, BB
Serna extends his hitting streak to nine and is 8-for-24 since his promotion. So far, the pitching here isn’t overwhelming him. 
LF Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-4, 2 K
2B Alexander Vargas: 2-for-3, 2 2B (14), RS, 2 SB (13)
Vargas is 6-for-9 in his last two games with three doubles, a home run, four runs batted in, and three stolen bases. 
C Antonio Gomez: 0-for-2, K
3B Ben Cowles: 0-for-2, BB, K
1B Rafael Flores: 1-for-3, RBI, K
.273/.357/.363 in 353 PA (14 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, 31 RBI, 40 R, 40 BB, 90 K, 3-for-4 SB). A bit of a slump took him away from his chase for .300, but he is still having a solid year. I keep asking the same question about many: Is he a catcher? Plus, do the Yankees think there is power for him to tap into? He isn’t a small kid (6’4″, 220) so maybe they think he can grow into some additional pop.
RF Grant Richardson: 0-for-3, K
DH Jared Wegner: 0-for-2, BB

RHP Brendan Beck: (L, 0-1)  3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Beck tossed 61 pitches tonight.
Pitches by start: 37, 45, 48, 57, 54, 53, 59, 61.
Stats (not including his one FCL start): 1.71 ERA in 26.1 IP (22 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 7 BB, 29 K)
RHP Luis Velasquez: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Since promotion: 2.33 ERA (27 IP, 16 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 HR, 16 BB, 30 K)
RHP Shane Gray: 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR

Tampa (52-56; 21-21 in the second half) (Knocked off Clearwater, 11-5)

SS Roc Riggio: 1-for-4, RS, BB, K
Since promotion: 3-for-13 with a double and four walks.
1B Kiko Romero: 1-for-5, 2 RS, K
Romero is 8-for-38 in nine games since his promotion.
DH Omar Martinez: 3-for-4, 2 2B (14), 3 RS, BB, K
.269/.382/.485 in 353 PA (14 doubles, 1 triple, 16 HR, 59 RBI, 55 R, 52 BB, 94 K, 8-for-9 SB). It is likely frustrating when your teammates get promoted and you are left behind. That is human nature, after all. All Martinez can do is continue to perform and learn.
LF Coby Morales: 3-for-5, 3 2B (6), 3 RBI, 2 RS
The 21-year-old left-handed bat has six doubles and a homer in nine games. That is a nice way to get your career started.
RF Garrett Martin: 1-for-4, BB, K
6-for-26 with three doubles, four walks, and eight strikeouts. He was sent right to this level after being signed as an undrafted free agent.
C Manuel Palencia: 3-for-5, 4 RBI, RS
At this level: 5-for-12. He sets a new personal best for RBI in a game (this was only his 96th career game)
CF Daury Arias: 0-for-3, RS, 2 BB, SB (10)
Arias stole home and the back end of a double steal. He is hitting .222/.321/.321 in 361 PA.
3B Beau Brewer: 1-for-4, RBI, RS, BB, K, SB (3)
Brewer is 10-for-29 (.345) in August.
2B Jose Colmenares: 1-for-3, RBI, BB, K

RHP Ryan Harvey: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Since promotion: 3.38 ERA (16 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 12 K)
RHP Montana Semmell: (W, 1-0) 2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR
Since promotion: 10 IP, 13 H, 9 R, 5 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 7 K
RHP Anderson Munoz: 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
RHP Ocean Gabonia: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Nolberto Henriquez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

FCL Yankees (28-19; first place by 2.5 games over the Phillies)

Day off

DSL Yankees (29-15; first place by 0.5 games over DSL Colorado)

Day off

DSL Bombers (21-24; 9 games behind the DSL Yankees)

Day off

Yankees MILB 7/19: Spencer Jones Goes Yard

News:

Nothing to report.

Scranton (43-46; 9-6 in the second half) (Lost to Worcester, 11-5)

CF Greg Allen: 1-for-5, HR (3), 3 RBI, RS, K, CS (1)
He has one home run for Scranton (hit two as a member of the Worcester roster earlier this season)
RF Everson Pereira: 1-for-4, RS, BB
Pereira has at least one hit in all nine games since his promotion (14-for-39)
C Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-4, RS
Narvaez now has a 6-game hitting streak (7-for-23)
3B Andres Chaparro: 1-for-3, BB, K
1B Jake Lamb: 0-for-2, RBI, 2 BB
Lamb is 4-for-17 with a pair of doubles and four walks since signing.
DH Jamie Westbrook: 0-for-3, RBI, CI
LF Michael Hermosillo: 1-for-4, 2 K
SS Jesus Bastidas: 2-for-4, RS
2B Wilmer Difo: 2-for-4, RS, K

LHP Tanner Tully: (L, 5-4) 4 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Deivi Garcia: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
4.74 ERA (38 IP, 36 H, 22 R, 20 ER, 6 HR, 27 BB, 38 K)
LHP D.J. Snelten: 0 IP, 1 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 0 K
This is not one for the scrapbook.
RHP Michael Gomez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Somerset (49-35; 7-9 in the second half) (Lost a tough one to Hartford, 10-9. Hartford scored three in the 9th to earn the win)

SS Trey Sweeney: 1-for-5, 2B (16), 2 RBI, RS, BB, 2 K, SB (13)
A night after hitting a 3-run triple, Sweeney contributes a 2-run double. He has seven RBI in his last three games and is hitting .244 with 16 doubles, 2 triples, 12 HR, 45 RBI, 54 runs, and 13 stolen bases in 19 attempts.
LF Jasson Dominguez: 0-for-5, K
This snaps his stretch of four straight 2-hit games. Now the goal is to not let it snowball.
C Austin Wells: 0-for-4, RS, HBP, 3 K
Wells is 11-for-54 in July.
3B Tyler Hardman: 2-for-4, RS, BB, K, CS (3)
1B T.J. Rumfield: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, HBP
Rumfield, who had some terrible BABIP luck in the first half, is 7-for-18 with three doubles since the break.
CF Elijah Dunham: 2-for-4, 3 RS, 3 SB (6)
Dunham is hitting .306 (11-for-36) since his demotion. Overall, he has 18 stolen bases in 23 attempts.
DH Ben Rice: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, RS, K
Rice earns his first two Double-A hits in his Somerset debut.
2B Mickey Gasper: 2-for-4, RBI, RS, BB
RF Jeisson Rosario: 3-for-5, 2B (7), RS, K, SB (8)
Rosario’s second 3-hit game this season. 

RHP Blane Abeyta: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, HR
5.87 ERA (79.2 IP, 84 H, 54 R, 52 ER, 10 HR, 35 BB, 88 K)
RHP Jesus Liranzo: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HR
RHP Tanner Myatt: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Alex Mauricio: (L, 1-2) 0.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR

Hudson Valley (49-37; 10-10 in the second half) (Defeated Brooklyn, 6-4)

CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, HR (12), RBI, RS, K
Jones has homered in back-to-back games and owns a .267/.340/.483 line over 332 PA. I love baseball: Before these two home runs, he hadn’t homered since June 18th. There’s hope for Anthony Rizzo! Anyway, he is 11-for-34 in July with eight walks.
2B Ben Cowles: 1-for-3, 2 RS, BB, K
DH Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-3, RS, BB
He continues to maintain his .400+ average since his promotion (23-for-57; .404). His hitting streak is up to seven (11-for-27).
1B Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, 2B (12), HR (3), 4 RBI, 2 RS, 2 K
.290/.359/.381 in 281 PA. He is listed at 6’4″, 220 so I have wondered in the past if the Yankees think he will grow into some pop. Regardless, he signed as an undrafted free agent last year so anything they get is a bonus.
C Antonio Gomez: 0-for-4, 3 K
SS Alexander Vargas: 1-for-4, RBI, K
.214/.260/.347 in 292 PA. He has shown marginal improvement from his 2022 stat line, but is nowhere near his encouraging 2021 season down in the FCL.
LF Anthony Garcia: 0-for-3, BB
RF Aldenis Sanchez: 0-for-4
3B Marcos Cabrera: 0-for-3, K

RHP Brendan Beck: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
Beck finally gives up his first professional run. In five starts, he owns a 0.66 ERA over 14.2 IP (7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 17 K). Before you ask: He is averaging less than three innings per start because he is just coming back from an injury.
RHP Shane Gray: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
High-A debut.
RHP Jack Neely (W, 5-2): 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
2.68 ERA (40.1 IP, 24 H, 14 R, 12 ER, 4 HR, 14 BB, 64 K)

Tampa (42-44; 11-9 in the second half) (Lost to Clearwater, 8-7. By the way, Clearwater has been a beast in 2023. The Threshers are 58-27)

SS Jared Serna: 1-for-3, 2 RS, 2 BB, K, CS (6)
.290/.354/.509 in 373 PA. Serna has scored at least one run in ten straight contests and has 64 RBI and 64 runs scored. When does he get a taste of Hudson Valley? He should get there for at least a little while before the season comes to a close.
C Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-4, 2B (14), RBI, RS, BB
Rodriguez is up to .297/.375/.442 in 286 PA (14 doubles, 2 triples, 6 HR, 35 RBI, 43 R, 31 BB, 43 K, 13-for-15 SB). He has three straight multi-hit games (four of his last five games)
2B Brenny Escanio: 0-for-3, RS, 2 BB, 2 K, CS (6)
1B Omar Martinez: 1-for-3, SF, RBI, RS, BB, 2 K
.243/.364/.413 in 261 PA. He is 14-for-47 (.298) in July with four home runs and 16 runs batted in.
CF Daury Arias: 0-for-3, 2 BB, 3 K
3B Brett Barrera: 0-for-4, SF, RBI, BB, 2 K
LF Jake Palmer: 0-for-2, RBI, RS, 2 BB
DH Ronny Rojas: 1-for-4, HR (7), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
Rojas has three home runs in his last five games. 
RF Felix Negueis: 0-for-3, RBI, BB, K

RHP Justin Lange: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 2 HR
5.28 ERA (58 IP, 38 H, 38 R, 34 ER, 7 HR, 49 BB, 92 K)
RHP Matt Keating: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
RHP Adam Stone (L, 1-3): 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Osiel Rodriguez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
He pitched here in 2022, so this is not his Low-A debut. According to BaseballSavant, he hit 93 MPH on the one sinker he threw. Signed back in 2018 for over $600,000, he is only 21 years old. 

FCL Yankees (16-11) 

Day off.

DSL Yankees (19-10)

Day off.

DSL Bombers (13-17) (Defeated DSL Seattle, 8-2. This was the conclusion of a suspended game from Monday)

CF Richard Meran: 1-for-5, 2B (1), RBI, RS, 3 K
Meran’s professional debut. He was a part of last year’s class that included the Brando Mayea signing, leaving not much left for everyone else.
2B Gabriel Terrero: 1-for-5, 3B (1), RS, 2 K
Terrero maintains his 1.000+ OPS (.329/.410/.603)
DH Edgleen Perez: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, RS, BB, K
LF Gabriel Lara: 1-for-3, RS, 2 BB, 2 K, SB (12), CS (4)
With Lara’s crazy speed, he should be running as much as possible to get himself accustomed to the art of base stealing.
RF Ramiro Altagracia: 1-for-3, RS, 2 BB, 2 K, 3 SB (5)
3B Kevin Verde: 3-for-4, 2B (5), 2 RBI, RS, K
1B Adrian Gonzalez: 1-for-3, 3B (1), RBI, RS, BB, K
Something tells me that the baseballreference.com linker isn’t going to link to this kid…

RHP Chalniel Arias: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
The kind of outing that sticks out. Speaking of sticking out: He has a 2.18 ERA in 33 IP with a 49/6 K/BB ratio. At 19 (20 in September), you do want to see him start to move.
RHP Angel Sanchez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Sanchez is already 22 years old, but this is his professional debut. He was signed back in 2019 but had some injury issues. By the way, according to MILB, he was signed as a LHP but is now listed as a RHP. That would be intriguing if no mistakes were made.