Yankees and Minor League News.

The Yankees were rained out yesterday, but there were minor league games and other news, and some news wasn’t good.

The Yankees await word on Chad Green’s injury but it appears that word won’t be good. Meanwhile, Luis Gil will need Tommy John surgery.

AAA: SWB (13-26) lost 6-2 as Deivi Garcia’s regression continues.
SS Oswald Peraza (#2 prospect) 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2-run HR. .207
1B Ron Guzman 2 hits.

Garcia (L, 0-3) 2 1/3 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 2 W, 3 K. 2 HBP. 9.90 #29 prospect
Nittoli 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 7.94
Sears 4 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 1 W, 7 K. 0.83 This guy deserves to come back up soon. #24 prospect.
Greene 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K. 5.40

AA: Somerset (24-12) won 6-2.
CF Blake Perkins 2 hits, RBI
C Rodolfo Duran 2-run HR (3)
2B Oliver Dunn 2 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR (2).

Randy Vasquez 5 1/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.19 #16 prospect
Ernst (W, 2-0; BS, 1) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1 WP. 1 HBP 3.32
Loseke (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.74
Mujica 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 0.00

High A: Hudson Valley’s game ppd.

Low A: Tampa (15-21) won 7-3.
3B Benjamin Cowles 2-run HR (3)
LF Grant Richardson 2 hits.

Carela 5 2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 6 H, 4 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.43
Watson (W, 2-2) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1 HBP. 3.32
Neely 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 WP. 6.38

Minor League Report. Gil Injured, and Prospect Sanford released in shame.

OF minor league prospect Jake Sanford was released by the New York Yankees yesterday. Here is the NY Post report. (edited)

Following in the footsteps of the infamous Ruben Rivera, another Yankees prospect has been released for allegedly stealing from his teammates. 

The Yankees cut 2019 third-round pick Jake Sanford last Thursday for allegedly stealing from his minor league teammates and scamming people for money online, The Post confirmed. 

According to a source, the 24-year-old outfielder was released last week after a team investigation found Sanford had stolen from teammates, including equipment that he would then try to sell online, as first reported by NJ Advance Media. 

Additionally, a source said Sanford, who played college baseball at Western Kentucky, also accepted money from prospective buyers for the equipment then failed to deliver the products. 

Sanford spent last year at A ball, both Low-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley. He hit .285-16-61 combined in 101 games.

Yankees’ #10 prospect, Luis Gil, injured his elbow in his start last night for AAA SWB. He called for the trainer and said “I’m done”. Gil has started 7 MLB games for the Yankees, including one this year. We’ll see how bad it is and if he needs TJ surgery.

AAA: SWB (13-24) lost 5-2.
CF Estevan Florial 2 hits, solo HR (4). ( #30 prospect .266)
3B Miguel Andujar 2 hits (.310)
DH Greg Bird 2 hits (.169)

Gil 4 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 3 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 7.89 #10 prospect. INJURED. SEE ABOVE.
M. Gomez (L, 1-2) 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.91
Lane 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.29
Marinaccio 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.70

AA: Somerset (23-11) won 7-6.
SS Anthony Volpe 2 hits (#1 prospect, but off to slow start, hitting just .183)
RF Elijah Dunham 2 hits, 2 RBI (#27 prospect, .226)
DH Josh Breaux 2-run HR (6) (#26 prospect, .195)
CF Brandon Lockridge 2 RBI (#18 prospect .236)
1B Chad Bell 2 hits
3B Max Burt 2 hits, solo HR (3)

The purpose of the batting averages above is to emphasize the point I have made that a lot of the Yankees’ top prospects, and even ex-major league players now in the minors, are not hitting so far this year. And it’s not just the ones listed here.

Spence 5 IP, 6 R, 7 H, 1 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR 5.46
Coleman 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 0.00
Ramirez (W, 2-0) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.00
Espinal (S, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.25

High A: Hudson Valley (15-19) lost 5-4.
1B Spencer Henson 2 hits
DH Eric Wagaman 2 hits.
LF Aaron Palensky 2-run HR (2)

Warren (L, 1-3) 3 2/3 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.41
Myatt 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 3 K. 1 WP 1.20
C. Gomez 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 2 K. 0.00

Low A: Tampa (14-20) lost 9-3.
SS Alexander Vargas 2 hits, 2 RBI
CF Jasson Dominguez 2 hits, RBI. (#3 prospect, .240)
DH Anthony Garcia 2 hits.

Castro (L, 0-2) 4 1/3 IP, 7 R, 7 H, 1 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 HBP 4.09
Anderson 1 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 2 W, 2 K. 2.50
Messinger 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 4.26
Watson 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.60

One final note. I haven’t seen any Yankees games on WPIX Channel 11, New York, this year, nor do I see any games scheduled for them. If so, it’s sad a long tradition has ended. Channel 11 and Yankees games go back to before I was even born, and that was a little over 60 years ago. I grew up on Yankees’ games on WPIX Channel 11.

Game 32. 10-4, Good buddy! Yankees win 17th of last 19 games behind 4 HR.

The Yankees (24-8) won for the 17th time in their last 19 games, beating the Chicago White Sox 10-4 Friday night.

The Yankees hit 4 HR in the game, and Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton did it again, and became the third pair of Yankees teammates to each have 10 or more HR in the team’s first 32 games of a season, following Ruth and Gehrig in 1930 and Mantle and Berra in 1956.

Before the game, Luis Gil sent back down, Clarke Schmidt brought up.

Stanton got the ball rolling with a 2-run HR in the first inning (10).

Yankees’ starter Gerrit Cole got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the first. In the top of the second, the Yanks scored three runs, and with Cole on the mound, you knew that was the ballgame. With one out, Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled, and Jose Trevino then singled IKF to third. Aaron Hicks doubled in IKF and Trevino scored on a groundout by D.J. LeMahieu. After Judge walked, Josh Donaldson doubled in Hicks to make the score 5-0.

Judge hit a solo HR, his MLB leading 12th, in the top of the fourth to make the score 6-0.

Chicago got a run in the bottom of the fourth when Cole balked home a run.

Joey Gallo homered in the top of the fourth (4) to put the Yanks up 7-1.

Cole gave up a 2-run HR in the bottom of the sixth and the White Sox had cut the score to 7-3.

In the top of the ninth, with one out, Judge singled and Donaldson hit a 2-run HR (4), to make it 9-3. Stanton and Gleyber Torres followed with singles, then Joey Gallo loaded the bases with another single. IKF hit a SF to make it 10-3.

Chicago got a run off of Michael King in the bottom of the ninth. Final score, 10-4.

Judge 2 hits, solo HR (12) Leads MLB in HR
Donaldson 2 hits, 3 RBI. 2-run HR (4)
Stanton 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (10)
Torres 2 hits
Gallo 2 hits, solo HR (4)
Kiner-Falefa (IKF) 2 hits, RBI

Cole (W, 3-0) 6 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 W, 9 K. 1 WP. 1 balk. Gave up 1 HR. 2.95
King 2 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1.59

With the win, the Yankees have a 4 1/2 game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East, and are 7 1/2 up on third place Toronto. They have the best record in baseball.

Minor League action from May 12, 2022.

AAA. #10 prospect Luis Gil was the emergency starter for the Yanks last night. SWB (11-21) lost 4-0.
SWB only got 3 hits in the game. Their lineup has really been scuffling, hence the record.

Banuelos (L, 0-2) 6 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 W, 5 K. 1 HBP 2.88
M. Gomez 1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1 WP 2.63
Nittoli 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 9.31
Marinaccio 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 0.00 (#28 prospect) Was sent down for Gil.

AA: Somerset (19-10) won 7-2.
1B Derek Dietrich 2 for 2, RBI. Solo HR (6)
RF Michael Beltre 2 RBI
C Rodolfo Duran 2 hits.
2B Jesus Bastidas 2 hits, 2 RBI

Boyle (W, 1-1) 6 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 9 K. 1 HBP 4.07
Zurak 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 0.00
Ernst 1 IP, 0 r, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.30

High A: Hudson Valley (15-14) lost 7-2, getting just 3 hits.
DH Austin Wells solo HR (6) (#4 prospect)
1B Spencer Henson solo HR (2)

Warren 4 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 6 K. 1 HBP 2.49
J. Munoz (L, 1-1) 2 2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 W, 3 K. 1 WP 6.19
Diaz 2 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 W, 3 K. 4.76

Low A: Tampa (13-16) lost 7-3.
2B Luis Santos 2 hits.

Fitts (L, 0-2) 5 1/3 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 2 HR. 1 Balk. 6.41
Cortijo 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K. 4.61
Milam 1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.46

Game 31. Yanks’ bats explode in 15-7 win over White Sox.

Before the game, Luis Gil was brought up and Ron Marinaccio sent down. The move was made because the Yanks needed an emergency starter after the rains last week forced a doubleheader last Sunday.

I was a bit concerned about the move because Gil, although he did ok with the Yanks last year, wasn’t brought up on merit, but because his turn in the rotation lined up. After all, his ERA at SWB was 9.53. I was hoping for a few innings, and for him to keep us in the game. Which is what Gil did. And it was a good night for the Yankees bats to explode as they (23-8) beat the White Sox 15-7.

Giancarlo Stanton hit a 2-run HR in the top of the first after a D.J. LeMahieu double. He was just warming up.

Gil gave up 3 runs in the bottom of the second as the White Sox took a 3-2 lead.

The Yanks came right back with three runs in the third to go up 5-3. With one out, Aaron Judge walked, Anthony Rizzo tripled him home and Stanton hit another 2-run HR (9).

With two out in the top of the fourth, Kyle HIgashioka singled and then LeMahieu doubled him home. 6-3.

A walk, a couple of singles and a WP by Gil let Chicago score in the bottom of the fourth and it was 6-4.

Judge hit his 11th HR, a 456-ft. blast, to make it 7-4 in the top of the seventh.

Even though the Yanks are now 23-8, everything isn’t clicking on all cylinders (Scary isn’t it?). Jonathan Loaisiga is not the Loaisiga of last year, and that is very concerning. Of all the bullpen guys outside of Marinaccio, Loaisiga has performed the worst so far. He gave up a 3-run HR that tied the game at 7 in the bottom of the seventh. Loaisiga had a 2.17 ERA last year, when he may have been the Yanks’ best reliever, but now it is 5.93. I hope nothing is physically wrong but he needs to get straightened out.

The Yanks exploded for seven runs in the top of the eighth, and it all happened with two out. Three straight walks, to Marwin Gonzalez, PH Gleyber Torres, and LeMahieu, loaded the bases. Judge got an infield single to make it 9-7, and put runners on first and second. A PB moved the runners up. Rizzo walked to load the bases, and Stanton singled in two runs to complete a six-RBI night for him and make the score 11-7. Josh Donaldson then hit a 3-run HR (3) to make it 14-7.

In the ninth, Judge hit a SF with the bases loaded to make it 15-7.

LeMahieu 3 hits, RBI
Judge 2 hits, 4 RBI. Solo HR (MLB LEADING 11th)
Stanton 3 hits, 6 RBI. Two 2-run homers (9)
Donaldson 2 hits, 3 RBI. 3-run HR (3)
Higashioka 2 hits.

Gil 4 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 2 W, 5 K. 1 WP 9.00
Castro 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1.46
Luetge (H, 3) 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.66
Loaisiga (W, 1-1; BS, 1) 1 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR. 5.93
Green 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.38

Yanks’ minor leaguers on 5-5-22

AAA: SWB’s hitting woes continued in a 2-0 loss. SWB is now 9-16.
SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits (#2 prospect)
CF Estevan Florial 2 hits (#30 prospect). SWB had 5 hits total.

Gil (L, 0-3) 5 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 9 K. Gave up 1 HR. 9.53 (#10 prospect)
Sears 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 4 K. 1.17 (#24 prospect)

AA: Somerset (16-8) won 5-3.
1B Derek Dietrich 2-run HR (5)
SS Jesus Bastidas 2 hits, 2 RBI

Vasquez 3 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 3 K. 2.63 (#16 prospect)
Jennings 3 2/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 W, 4 K. gave up 1 HR. 1 WP 2.25
Zurak (W, 2-0) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 4 K. 0.00

High A: Hudson Valley (13-11) won 7-4
SS Trey Sweeney 3 hits, RBI (# 5 prospect)
2B Cooper Bowman 2 hits (#25 prospect)
LF James Nelson 2 RBI
1B Spencer Henson 2 hits, 3 RBI. 3-run HR (1)

Way 4 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 0 W, 3 K. 3.93
J. Munoz (W, 1-0) 3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 HBP 6.08
Coleman (S, 4) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 0.00

Low A: Tampa (12-11) won 10-4.
SS Alexander Vargas 2 RBI. 2-run HR (2)
LF Madison Santos 2 hits
3B Marcos Cabrera 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (3)
DH Anthony Seigler 4 RBI. Grand Slam (3)
2B Roberto Chirinos 2 RBI

Fitts 4 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 W, 5 K. 1 HBP 6.28
Milam (W, 3-1) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K. 3.27
Dees 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.86
Holloway 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 3.18

Minor League Report. SWB loses 2 to LV

AAA: SWB (9-12) lost both games of a doubleheader to Lehigh Valley.
Game 1: Lost 11-3.
3B Phillip Evans 2 hits, 2 RBI . 2-run HR (1)

Gil 4 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 3 W, 5 K. gave up 2 HR. 12.00 (#10 prospect)
Bristo (L, 0-1) 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 2 W, 2 K. 7.71
Mujica 1 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. 1 WP Gave up 2 HR. 18.00
McClain 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K. 5.63

Game 2: Lost 7-3.
3B Armando Alvarez solo HR (1)

Sears 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 4 K. 3.86 (#24 prospect)
Miller (L, 0-2) 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.25
Greene 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 W, 1 K. gave up 1 HR 6.10
Weissert 2 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 2 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR 4.66

AA: Somerset (12-7) won 7-1.
2B Derek Dietrich 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (3)
RF Blake Perkins 2-run HR (6)
3B Chad Bell w-run HR (2)

Medina (W, 1-1) 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 6 K. 2.31 (#12 prospect)
Maciejewski (S, 1) 4 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 W, 4 K. 4.40

High A: Hudson Valley (11-8) won 9-2.
SS Trey Sweeney solo HR (3) (#5 prospect)
DH Austin Wells 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (2) (#4 prospect)
3B Tyler Hardman 2 hits, 3 RBI. 2-run HR (1)
1B Eric Wagaman 2 hits, 2 RBI.
CF Aldenis Sanchez 2 hits, RBI

Way (W, 1-0) 5 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 6 K. 3.77 (#22 prospect)
Correa 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 W, 6 K. 0.00
Ruegger 2 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.50

Low A: Tampa PPD.

Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB (4-1) suffered their first loss of the season, losing 4-3 in 10 innings.
CF Estevan Florial (Yanks #30 prospect) 2 hits.
SS Oswald Peraza (#2 prospect) 4 hits, RBI
LF Miguel Andujar 2 hits

Gil 3 2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.91 (#10 prospect)
Lane 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K. 0.00
Bristo 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 1 K. 3.00
Greene 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 4.50
Miller (L, 0-1) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00

AA: Somerset (2-0) won 11-2.
LF Elijah Dunham 2 hits (#27 prospect)
DH Josh Breaux 2 hits, 4 RBI. A 3-run HR (2) (#26 prospect)
3B Andres Chaparro 3 hits
1B Chad Bell 2 hits, 3 RBI
C Rodolfo Duran 3 hits, RBI; Solo HR (1)
2B Oliver Dunn 3 for 3, 3 RBI

Waldichuk (W, 1-0) 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 W, 7 K. 0.00 (#6 prospect) 1 WP
Ernst 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 W, 1 K. 2 WP 5.40
Espianal 1 IP ,1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 1 K. 9.00
Zurak 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0W, 2 K. 0.00

Waldichuk put up a great year last year and off to a good start here. A lefty to watch.

High A: Hudson Valley (1-1) won 8-6 in 10 innings.
DH T.J. Rumfield 3 RBI, 2-run HR (1)
LF Aldenis Sanchez 2 hits, 2 RBI
3B Eduardo Torrealba 3 hits.

Way 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 W, 7 K. 2 WP. Gave up 1 HR, 6.23 (#22 prospect)
Myatt 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 W, 2 K. 0.00
Munoz 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.86
Mauricio (W, 1-0) 1 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K. 5.40
Blanton (S, 1) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00

Tampa (1-1) lost 5-1.
3B Marcos Cabrera 2 hits, solo HR (2)

Panacual (L, 0-1) 3 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 W, 6 K. 5.40
C. Gomez 3 1/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 5.40
Neely 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 0.00

S.T. Game 17. Yanks fall to Toronto, 7-5.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Josh Donaldson each hit a 2-run HR, but Luis Gil struggled as the Yanks (7-9-1 in spring training) lost to Toronto 7-5 Sunday afternoon.

Besides Donaldson having two hits, Max McDowell also had a two-hit game for the Yanks.

Pitching Line:

Gil 2 1/3 IP, 5 R, 8 H, 1 W, 2 K. Also a WP, Balk, and an error.
Schmidt (L) 4 1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR
Gomez 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Miller 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.

S.T. Game 11. Yanks beat Tigers 11-7.

It was a good day Monday for a lot of players in Yankees camp who had something to prove, as the Yanks (4-6-1 in Spring Training) beat Detroit 11-7.

We will start with Gleyber Torres, who homered. After two great seasons in 2018 and 2019 where Gleyber hit 24 and 38 HR, Gleyber has had only 12 HR since. I don’t think he’ll hit 38 again, but if he can get back to 20-25 HR that would be great. The OPS+ of 122 and 128 dropped to 103 and 93 the past two seasons (100 is average). Gleyber is still only 25 years old, but here is hoping that OPS+ can get to 115 or above.

Deivi Garcia (#29 Yankees prospect), 23 in May, had an atrocious 2021. Today he pitched 3 innings, only giving up 1 run as he tries to get back to 2020 form.

Luis Gil (#10 Yankees prospect), who turns 24 in June and who started six games for the Yankees last season, pitched three scoreless innings.

22 year old Cooper Bowman (#25 Yankees prospect) who was in low A Tampa last year, went 2 for 2 with a 3-run HR.

Tim Locastro, trying to make the team as a backup outfielder, had two hits.

Ex-Texas Ranger 1B Ronald Guzman, probably ticketed for AAA, had three hits and drove in five runs. But if anything happens to Anthony Rizzo, Guzman could get a call.

With Ben Rortvedt maybe unlikely to be ready to start the season due to an oblique strain, a few catchers are looking at that backup catcher job. One is Max McDowell, who had two hits.

The Pitching Line:

Garcia 3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K, Gave up 1 HR.
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Gil (H) 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 4 K.
Semple 1 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 1 W, 1 K. Gave up 2 HR.
Craft 1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K.