Yankees MILB 5/4: Zach Messinger: 5.2 Hitless Innings

News:

RHP Chase Hampton was transferred to the 60-day injured list today. This is unfortunate for a pitcher many thought could give the team some innings in 2024. We don’t know the reason for the transfer, though you instantly fear Tommy John Surgery.

Scranton (22-9) (Outlasted Jacksonville, 10-9. The Railriders crushed five home runs today. As you may suspect, they are at the top of their division and have one of the best (but not the best) winning percentages in the minor leagues)

LF Greg Allen1-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 RS, SB (5), BB
Allen is disruptive. You don’t want him starting often in MLB, but he provides a speed/defense combo that can be useful. Players like him were amongst the most screwed by MLB limiting September rosters.
RF Everson Pereira2-for-5, 2B (7), HR (8), 2 RBI, RS, K
Pereira’s homer was hit at 101.4 MPH. He is hitting .263/.333/.553 in 126 PA. 16 of his 30 hits have gone for extra bases (7 doubles, 1 triple, 8 HR). He has 16 homers in 63 Triple-A games.
1B T.J. Rumfield0-for-4, RS, BB, K
C Carlos Narvaez1-for-5, HR (3), 2 RBI, RS, 2 K
DH Oscar Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2B (1), HR (1), RBI, RS, BB, K
As long as he is healthy, I like the depth he provides the organization. He is a LF/RF, but the Yankees have given him a pair of starts at first base in Scranton (his only two career games there).
3B Luis Torrens2-for-4, RS, CS (1), K
   3B Caleb Durbin0-for-0
It is rare to see a minor league manager go the defensive substitution route but in a crazy game like this, I guess you don’t want a catcher at third base in the 9th!
SS Jeter Downs0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K
2B Kevin Smith1-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, RS, 3 K
CF Brandon Lockridge2-for-4, 2B (5), RS, SB (13), K
.208/.345/.278 in 87 PA (5 doubles, 10 RBI, 13 R, 13-for-14 SB). 

RHP Cody Poteet3.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HR
3.33 ERA (24.1 IP, 17 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 3 HR, 6 BB, 25 K). He has pitched very well, so we’ll toss this one.
RHP Duane Underwood Jr. (W, 2-0): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
1.76 ERA (15.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 HR, 6 BB, 17 K)
RHP Yerry De Los Santos2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Art Warren0.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
The 31-year-old had strikeout chops before his injury (29.5% K rate in 65 MLB games).
RHP Phil Bickford (S, 2): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K


Somerset (12-14) (Outpitched New Hampshire, 2-0. Somerset didn’t have a hit entering the 7th inning. New Hampshire didn’t earn a hit until the 6th inning)

DH Spencer Jones0-for-4, 2 K
.250/.311/.412 in 74 PA. He is in a 1-for-22 slump but he’s too good for that to continue for much longer (uh oh, why did I have to say that?)
C Ben Rice0-for-3, SB (4), CI
.277/.404/.532 in 115 PA. Rice is 20-for-24 stealing bases in his career.
SS Ben Cowles2-for-4, RS
Cowles broke up the New Hampshire no-hitter in the 7th. This is his 9th multi-hit effort (25th game). He is hitting .344/.421/.591 in 107 PA. How long can he maintain an OPS > 1.000?
CF Grant Richardson1-for-3, RS, BB, K
.297/.369/.486 in 84 PA (8 doubles, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 11 R, 5-for-6 SB, 8.3% BB, 22.6% K). He had a 31.1% K rate in 61 PA here last year. He’s having a solid season and he has more power to tap into.
3B J.C. Escarra0-for-3, 2 K
LF Elijah Dunham1-for-3, 2B (4), 2 RBI, K
8 of Dunham’s 13 hits have gone for extra bases.
RF Jared Wegner0-for-2, SB (4), HBP, K
2B Anthony Seigler0-for-3, 2 K
1B Spencer Henson0-for-3, 2 K
Henson’s first game since 4/19.

RHP Zach Messinger5.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K
Messinger threw 91 pitches today. This performance drops his ERA to 4.28 (33.2 IP, 25 H, 22 R, 16 ER, 4 HR, 13 BB, 37 K). 
LHP Ryan Anderson0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Leonardo Pestana: (W, 1-0) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
So far, Pestana is taking to a relief role. That would be par for the course with the Yankees if he developed into an MLB-quality bullpen arm.
RHP Jack Neely: (S, 3) 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HR
2.03 ERA (13.1 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 20 K)


Hudson Valley (14-10)

Their game against Wilmington was postponed.


Tampa (7-19) (Lost to Dunedin, 6-5)

CF Jackson Castillo1-for-5, 2B (3), RS, SB (3), K
SS Roderick Arias0-for-3, RBI, RS, SB (5), 2 BB, 2 K
Arias made up for a big error in the 6th by drawing an important walk in the 7th. Tampa couldn’t hold the lead though…
3B Dylan Jasso2-for-4, 2 HR (4), 3 RBI, 2 RS
Jasso had zero HR in his first 18 games this season and one in his first 39 professional games. He has four in his last six games. Baseball!
1B Coby Morales1-for-4, K
2B Hans Montero: 1-for-4, RS, 2 K
Montero’s first Low-A hit. Congrats!
C Tomas Frick0-for-3, HBP
Frick has started his career with an 11-game on-base streak.
LF Tayler Aguilar1-for-2 HBP, BB
DH Manuel Palencia1-for-4, RBI
RF Daury Arias0-for-4, 2 K

RHP Josh Grosz5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 12 K, 2 HR
Grosz struck out the first two hitters in the 6th before Dunedin took advantage of a costly error. Grosz generated 19 whiffs (10 with the slider, six with the 4-seamer) in his most impressive professional performance. Last two starts: 10.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 17 K. This is the 21-year-old’s debut season.
RHP Cade Austin: (L, 0-2)  2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR


FCL (0-1) (Lost to the FCL Tigers, 5-4, in ten innings)

I will do a full lineup today, but that is not how I will treat the FCL throughout the season. I will instead highlight anything interesting that happens.

RF Wilson Rodriguez2-for-5, RBI, RS, 2 K
Rodriguez was drafted in the 17th round in the 2023 draft out of Puerto Rico. The 19-year-old went 9-for-41 (.220/.360/.430) in last year’s debut season, hitting a pair of home runs.
C Edgleen Perez0-for-2, HBP, K
I don’t know why he was lifted, but the HBP is likely a clue. Only 17 years old, Perez hit .259/.389/.317 in 39 DSL games in 2023.
   3B Abrahan Ramirez0-for-2
The 19-year-old left-handed bat hit .311/.471/.379 in the DSL in 2023.
1B-C Josue Gonzalez3-for-5, 2B (1), RBI, K
The 20-year-old had a big season in the DSL last year. That earned him a shot at this level, which is all he can ask for. 
CF Fidel Montero: 0-for-4, BB, 3 K
All I want to happen is for Willy (Tampa), Hans (Tampa), and Fidel Montero to make it to MLB simultaneously!
LF Joel Mendez1-for-4, 2B (1), BB, K
Mendez is 21. He went 29-for-99 (.292/.363/.424) at this level in 2023.
3B-1B Luis Ogando1-for-4, RS, K
Ogando hit .352/.446/.541 in 148 DSL plate appearances in 2023. He is 20 years old.
DH Josh Tiedemann1-for-2, RS, 2 BB
The other 2023 draftee besides Rodriguez in today’s lineup was Tiedemann, the Yankees’ 13th-round pick out of an Arizona high school. The 19-year-old went 1-for-9 in his professional debut last year.
2B Gabriel Terrero0-for-4, RBI, BB, 3 K
The 18-year-old hit .299/.407/.533 in 37 games in his debut season (DSL) last year. He clubbed seven home runs, drove home 27,  and stole 14 bases in 20 attempts.
SS Juan Matheus: 1-fot-5, 3B (1), RS, CS (1), K
After hitting .252/.442/.472 in 45 DSL games in 2022, he only played in ten games in 2023 (he was on the 60-day injured list for most of the season).

RHP Angel Benitez: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
The 20-year-old stands 6’7″. In the DSL last year (his debut season), he pitched to a 1.06 ERA in 17 innings with a 24/7 K/BB.
RHP Omar Gonzalez2.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Gonzalez was likely one of the youngest players in professional baseball in 2022 when he compiled a 0.44 ERA in 20.1 innings in the DSL. He was 16 years old when he made his debut on June 11th. He only tossed 11 innings in 2023.
RHP Chris Kean1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
The 21-year-old was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Louisiana-Monroe last year. This is his professional debut. He stands a mere 6’5″, making him a backup point guard for the Yankees Pitching Trees rec basketball league.
RHP Mason Vinyard1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Vinyard pitched in 24 games for Hudson Valley last season, compiling a 2.97 ERA. He is here on a rehab assignment.
RHP Hansel Rosario2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Control has been Rosario’s issue in his brief career. Let’s see if this is the start of turning the corner.
RHP Alejandro Gomez (L, 0-1): 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Now 21, he spent 2021-2023 in the DSL. 


DSL (0-0)

It will be a while before their season starts!

Yankees MILB 8/10: Ben Rice: 4 Hits, HR, 3 RBI

News:

There will be no report on Friday, August 11th. Please hold back your tears.

That was fast: RHP Deivi Garcia was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox were among the first teams to get a crack at him. That ends his frustrating Yankees tenure, a tenure that included a start (for one inning) in an important playoff game and a complete collapse in 2022 that makes no sense to this day.

In the regular season, Garcia posted a 4.84 ERA (90 ERA+) over 48.1 IP with a 43/14 K/BB ratio. Good luck, and don’t fall asleep in the bullpen.

Baseball America updated its Top 100 Prospects list today, with seven Yankees prospects making the list. All of them are in the lower 50, but that makes sense as the system is more about its strong depth than having that one stud player who is about to invade MLB. That doesn’t mean we have a bunch of quality players and no future superstars. You never know when someone will surge and become a consistent MLB All-Star. The important thing, for now, is seeing the recognition.

Late update: MLB Pipeline wasn’t as favorable to Yankees prospects, listing only three prospects – all of whom are in the 79-81 range (Spencer Jones, Jasson Dominguez, Everson Pereira)

Scranton (51-57; 17-17 in the second half) (Lost to Syracuse, 10-1)

SS Oswald Peraza0-for-4
C Austin Wells1-for-3, 2B (7), K
Wells has seven doubles in 17 games since his promotion.
  C Rodolfo Duran1-for-1, 2B (13)
I am not sure why Wells left the game – it was 9-0, so that hopefully explains it.
LF Everson Pereira0-for-4, 2 K
.324/.372/.559 in 111 PA since his promotion. I get it: Triple-A is souped up. What is Pereira supposed to do about that, exactly? All he can do is hit under the conditions before him. And he is doing that.
3B Andres Chaparro1-for-4, K
RF Franchy Cordero1-for-4
DH Carlos Narvaez0-for-3, BB, 2 K
2B Jamie Westbrook2-for-4, HR (16), RBI, RS, K
1B Jake Lamb1-for-4, 2B (3)
CF Brandon Lockridge0-for-3, 2 K

RHP Clayton Beeter: (L, 1-3) 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 2 HR
Since promotion: 6.25 ERA (31.2 IP, 32 H, 23 R, 22 ER, 9 HR, 16 BB, 37 K). There is no sugarcoating how rough of a line that is – Triple-A is souped up big time and we are seeing some pitchers having trouble adjusting (Will Warren also fits in that category)
RHP Michael Gomez2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Zach Greene1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Zac Houston0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Ron Marinaccio1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Wilmer Difo1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
The utility guy gets on the hill.

Somerset (61-42; 19-16 in the second half) (Destroyed Binghamton, 14-0)

LF Jasson Dominguez2-for-5, 2 RS, SB (36)
Dominguez has a 9-game hitting streak (17-for-39, 8 stolen bases) and has multiple hits in five straight games. He was on the verge of reaching.250 tonight but settles in at .247/.365/.396.
C Ben Rice: 4-for-5, 2B (3), HR (6), 3 RBI, 4 RS
Rice, who has a pair of 4-hit games this season (both of which were a triple away from the cycle), has a 1.049 OPS in 78 PA since his promotion (3 doubles, 1 triple, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 15 R, 8 BB, 12 K, 4-for-5 SB). Overall, he has 41 RBI and 37 runs scored in 42 games. At 24, I can see the Yankees giving him a late-season taste of Triple-A. He is likely a hit-first type of prospect, and the bar goes up if he is more of a first baseman than a catcher. We’ll see.
1B Agustin Ramirez2-for-5, RBI, 2 RS, K
His first multi-hit game since his promotion. I can’t emphasize enough how big of a season this kid is having. Anyway, tonight was his first career start at first base. It doesn’t hurt to get him experience there.
CF Elijah Dunham: 3-for-5, HR (6), 3 RBI, 2 RS, SB (14), CS (3)
Personally, I would get Dunham back up to Scranton. If the idea to send him back down to Somerset was to allow him to regain some confidence, it has worked. He has 6 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 27 games. Overall, he has 12 home runs and 26 stolen bases in 32 attempts.
DH Anthony Seigler: 1-for-3, 2 SF, 2 RBI, K
The master of productive outs.
SS Jesus Bastidas1-for-5, RBI, K
RF Jeisson Rosario1-for-4, SF, RBI, RS, K
2B Max Burt1-for-4, 2B (10), RBI, RS, K
3B Eduardo Torrealba: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 RS

RHP Richard Fitts: (W, 9-5) 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
3.38 ERA (119.2 IP, 101 H, 46 R, 45 ER, 17 HR, 30 BB, 130 K). Tremendous season and I hope he gets to Scranton before too long.
RHP Tanner Myatt1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
LHP Josh Maciejewski1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
RHP Jesus Liranzo1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (57-46; 18-18 in the second half) (Lost to Jersey Shore, 2-1)

CF Spencer Jones1-for-3, RS, BB
I am going to be fascinated to see what he does when he gets to the Double-A level. His season has been a tad uneven – but the end results are still encouraging. He is a big kid and goes through the stuff big kids go through. Patience will be key.
2B Jared Serna1-for-4, RBI
Serna’s first RBI since his promotion and 72nd overall.
3B Ben Cowles: 2-for-3, 2B (16), BB
.261/.352/.409 in 355 PA, He has hit safely in every August game (8; 11-for-28, 3 doubles)
1B Rafael Flores0-for-4, 3 K
SS Alexander Vargas0-for-4, 2 K
DH Anthony Hall0-for-4, 2 K
C Antonio Gomez1-for-4, K
LF Grant Richardson0-for-2, BB, 2 K
RF Jared Wegner0-for-2, BB, K

RHP Tyrone Yulie: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Yulie’s stay on the IL wasn’t too long. He owns a 4.86 ERA in 82.2 IP with a 91/45 K/BB ratio.
RHP Luis Velasquez: 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Since promotion: 2.59 ERA (24.1 IP, 15 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 HR, 15 BB, 29 K). You may think that all organizations are filled with big-arm relief prospects. That isn’t really true – the Yankees are above average in this category. You don’t need too many of them to pan out.
LHP Clay Aguilar: (L, 3-2): 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Tampa (49-56; 18-21 in the second half) (Lost a doubleheader to Clearwater)

Game 1 (Lost, 12-4)

2B Roc Riggio1-for-4, 2B (1), K
Riggio’s first career extra-base hit.
3B Kiko Romero: 0-for-2, BB
DH Josh Moylan0-for-3, 3 K
LF Daury Arias0-for-3, 2 K
SS Brenny Escanio: 1-for-3, HR (3), RBI, RS
.216/.335/.285 in 404 PA.
RF Cole Gabrielson1-for-3, RS, K
Gabrielson’s first Low-A hit.
CF Tayler Aguilar: 2-for-3, 2 HR (7), 3 RBI, 2 RS
Aguilar has two career 2-HR games – on 8/10/22 and 8/10/23. 
C Manuel Palencia0-for-3
1B Beau Brewer1-for-3, K

RHP Hayden Merda: (L, 2-6) 3.2 IP, 7 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 2 HR
LHP Edwar Polimir1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
The Low-A debut for the 22-year-old. He pitched to a 4.43 ERA in 20.1 FCL innings with a 26/10 K/BB ratio.
RHP Nolberto Henriquez2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
The Low-A debut for the 23-year-old. These promotions are likely doubleheader related.

Game 2 (Lost, 3-1)

DH Roc Riggio0-for-2, BB, K
LF Coby Morales0-for-3, 2 K
C Omar Martinez1-for-3, 2B (12), 2 K
.263/.376/.478 in 343 PA.
1B Josh Moylan0-for-2, BB, K
SS Brenny Escanio1-for-3, K
RF Garrett Martin1-for-3, 2B (3), RS
5-for-22 with three doubles and three runs batted in
CF Daury Arias0-for-2, BB, K
3B Beau Brewer0-for-3
2B Jose Colmenares0-for-2, K

RHP Kris Bow: (L, 2-5)  1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
RHP Yorlin Calderon3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, HR
3.45 ERA (62.2 IP, 57 H, 27 R, 24 ER, 5 HR, 18 BB, 77 K)
RHP Alex Bustamante1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
3.35 ERA (48.1 IP, 34 H, 22 R, 18 ER, 1 HR, 31 BB, 53 K)
RHP Matt Keating1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
3.53 ERA (51 IP, 48 H, 26 R, 20 ER, 4 HR, 27 BB, 72 K)

FCL Yankees (26-19) (Doubled up the Phillies, 6-3)

SS Keiner Delgado0-for-3, 2 RS, 2 BB, K
.277/.385/.452 in 195 PA. Delgado has more career walks (84) than strikeouts (54) and has stolen 60 bases in 73 tries (82.2%).
2B Enmanuel Tejeda2-for-4, 2B (4), RS, SB (21)
.311/.475/.452 (21-for-27 SB) in 179 PA after hitting .289/.463/.493 (11-for-17 SB) in 188 PA down in the DSL in 2022. This is exactly what you want to see.
RF Willy Montero3-for-4, 3B (2), 3 RBI, SB (5)
.325/.373/.435 in 169 PA. Montero hit .262/.396/.382 in 235 PA down in the DSL in 2022.
3B Hans Montero1-for-4, 2 K
DH John Cruz0-for-4, K
1B Dylan Jasso2-for-4, 2B (4), RS
8-for-18 with four doubles and three runs batted in.
CF Wilson Rodriguez2-for-3, 2 HR (2), 3 RBI, 2 RS, BB
Since top pick George Lombard Jr. has yet to make an appearance, Rodriguez is taking over as the high school draftee to drool over (8-for-20, 2 doubles, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4 BB)

RHP Jackson Fristoe4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
4.88 ERA (24 IP, 17 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 3 HR, 22 BB, 26 K). Last year’s 12th-round pick hasn’t allowed a run in his last three appearances (9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 9 K). Five of those six walks occurred in one of the starts.
LHP Allen Facundo (W, 5-0): 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
If you want to win a lot of games, find a job as a middle-inning reliever in the rookie leagues. The starters don’t typically get to five innings, which opens the door!  Facundo has a 1.91 ERA in 28.1 IP with a 37/12 K/BB

DSL Yankees (27-15) (Lost to Phillies White, 6-0)

CF Brando Mayea0-for-4
RF Jose Castro1-for-4, K, SB (15)
19 RBI, 19 R, 15-for-16 SB in 27 games in his debut season.
C Josue Gonzalez2-for-3, 2B (12), BB
It just feels as if hitting is contagious amongst many of the organization’s catchers in 2023. Gonzalez (who is 19 and repeating the level, which is important to note) is hitting .367/.556/.620 in 117 PA

RHP Jerson Alejandro4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
4.32 ERA in 33.1 IP (28 H, 17 R, 16 ER, 3 HR, 15 BB, 31 K). He is 17 so the goal is to get his feet wet and hope he can stay healthy.
LHP Pedro Rodriguez2.1 IP, 0 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
The pure definition of a DSL pitching line.

DSL Bombers (21-23-1) (Defeated Mets Blue, 7-6)

CF Gabriel Lara3-for-5, 2B (6), RS
Lara’s fourth 3-hit game this season. The most impressive thing for me is the hit tool he is showing, as he is at .269/.401/.423 in 162 PA (6 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 28 R, 15-for-21 SB). The immense speed is there. The defense will benefit from the immense speed. If there is a bat to tap into, he can be a top prospect in the system within a few years. We will not get ahead of ourselves, though.
LF Abrahan Ramirez1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 RS, BB, K
Ramirez has 27 walks and 16 strikeouts in 116 PA.
2B Geyber Blanco2-for-4, SF, RBI, RS
.344/.418/.479 in 110 PA for the 17-year-old.
3B Adrian Gonzalez2-for-5, 2B (3), 2 RBI

RHP Mariano Salomon4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, HR
The 21-year-old has three 8-strikeout games this season (58 in 42 IP to go along with his 3.43 ERA)
RHP Jose Julian Rodriguez1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Only the second career appearance for the 19-year-old.