Minor League & Prospects Thread

Danger is his business...

Met a few "Spicoli's" living in SoCal for a while. Serious culture shock, coming from NY.

Barclay got torched? He was body slammed, decimated, ruined, stomped on and crapped on… that was horrible…

Yankees MILB 6/21: Jace Avina Doubles, Homers

News:



RHP Yoendrys Gomez and Phil Bickford were promoted to MLB today. RHP Ron Marinaccio was demoted to Scranton while LHP Victor Gonzalez was designated for assignment. Gonzalez doesn’t have enough service time to refuse an outright assignment, nor has he been outrighted before. Hence, if he somehow clears waivers (unlikely), the Yankees could store him for depth. Gonzalez looked like a good replacement for Wandy Peralta, but it hasn’t worked out. In 27 games, he pitched to a 3.86 ERA (5.93 FIP) with an 11/13 K/BB ratio over 23.1 innings. His calling card (ground balls) was still a strength (52.9%)



I would like to see Gomez get an extended look. He is out of options in 2025, so the time is now for evaluation. That said, he threw a lot of pitches tonight. Will the Yankees replace him for tomorrow’s contest? It isn’t impossible, but I hope not.



When Bickford debuts, it will become his 4th MLB organization since 2020. Unlike other Yankees’ relievers, Bickford is not a ground ball pitcher (35.2% career GB). However, he can miss bats (26.6%). Last season, he pitched to a 4.62 ERA in 25.1 innings for the Mets.



Scranton (41-29) (Down to Buffalo, 11-0, in the third inning. This game is suspended and, unfortunately, will need to be completed)



2B Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-1, K

DH Jorbit Vivas: 0-for-1, K

3B Oswald Peraza: 0-for-1, K

1B Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-1, K

C Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-1

LF Jose Rojas: 0-for-1

RF Oscar Gonzalez: 0-for-0

CF Taylor Trammell: 0-for-0

SS Kevin Smith: 0-for-0



LHP Edgar Barclay: 2.2 IP, 12 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 3 HR

And you thought you had a bad day…

RHP Matt Sauer: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K



Somerset (32-35) (Lost to Erie, 8-2. I guess this game got a bit chippy, as an Erie pitcher was ejected in the 9th inning. Sounds like fun)



CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-3, BB, K

Jones has played well in June (21-for-73 (.288), 3 homers), though one still feels he hasn’t yet gone on a season-altering tear.

3B Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-3, RS, HBP

Rodriguez is 3-for-11 since his promotion (0 K in 14 PA)

SS Ben Cowles: 1-for-4, HR (5), 2 RBI, RS, K

Cowles has hit safely in three straight games after an 0-for-16 stretch. It’s a start!

C J.C. Escarra: 0-for-4, 2 K

DH Grant Richardson: 0-for-4, 3 K

LF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-3

2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-2, BB

RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, K

1B Max Burt: 0-for-3



RHP Zach Messinger: (L, 2-4) 4.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

3.89 ERA (74 IP, 61 H, 43 R, 32 R, 6 HR, 25 BB, 83 K). Messinger is a 6’6″ bulldog who is pitching well overall. As of this writing, he leads the Eastern League in strikeouts.

RHP Luis Velasquez: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

RHP Colby White: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

RHP McKinley Moore: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Moore is a project with a low-to-medium probability, but one that is likely worth investing in.

RHP Aaron Palensky: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Palensky is a position player. This was his second pitching appearance in 2024 (washes away a not-so-great first appearance!)



Hudson Valley (33-33) (Lost to Greensboro, 10-3)



2B Roc Riggio: 2-for-4, K

Riggio has a 5-game hitting streak (6-for-18, 1 double, 2 HR). It’s nice to see him compile some hits.

SS Jared Serna: 0-for-4, K

Serna is 0-for-15 since missing a game due to a HBP.

DH Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, RS

.295/.406/.486 in 219 PA. He has 17 multi-hit games (54 games played).

C Omar Martinez: 2-for-4, RS

.237/.376/.390 in 218 PA. He owns a 17.4% BB and 22.0% K. Last season, for Tampa, he hit .251/.367/.445 in 444 PA with a 15.1% BB and 24.8% K. He is fairly consistent, though his FB rate is down in 2024.

CF Jace Avina: 2-for-4, 2B (18), HR (7), 3 RBI, RS, K

.271/.349/.457 in 241 PA. He has a pair of doubles and homers in his last five games and has shown signs of breaking out of his slump.

LF Christopher Familia: 0-for-4, 2 K

Familia is having trouble so far, as he is 4-for-26 without an extra-base hit since joining this level. Remember: He got off to a late start due to injury.

RF Garrett Martin: 0-for-4, 2 K

1B Kiko Romero: 1-for-4, K

3B Brenny Escanio: 1-for-4, 2B (3), 2 K



LHP Kyle Carr: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

I am not sure why Carr was pulled after only 40 pitches.

LHP Joel Valdez: (L, 1-2) 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, HR

RHP Cole Ayers: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K

2.54 ERA in 39 IP (30 H, 15 R, 11 ER, 1 HR, 14 BB, 47 K).

RHP Trent Sellers: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K

RHP Huey Morrill: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HR



Tampa (24-42) (Lead Palm Beach, 2-0, in the bottom of the 4th. The game was suspended due to lightning/rain. They will try to finish it up tomorrow)



DH Enmanuel Tejeda: 0-for-2

SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-2, K

2B Roderick Arias: 0-for-1, SB (18), BB

1B Dylan Jasso: 0-for-2

CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-2, RS

3B Hans Montero: 1-for-1, RS, BB

RF Willy Montero: 2-for-2

LF Coby Morales: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, SB (14)

C Oscar Silverio: 0-for-0, BB



RHP Luis Serna: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K

The weather cuts Serna’s start for the second consecutive time. While the stats aren’t official until the game concludes, this effort will lower his ERA below 4.00 (3.98 in 52 IP (37 H, 23 R, 23 ER, 2 HR, 15 BB, 61 K)). His ERA was 10.32 in his first three starts and 6.97 after five starts. He has been on quite a roll and is still under 20 (until July 20th).



FCL (22-13) (Defeated the Blue Jays, 8-1. I am still not sure how playing the same three teams is helpful, but I guess playing time is the most important thing)



CF Brando Mayea: 2-for-3, RBI, RS, 2 SB (15), CS (3), 2 BB

15 SB in 23 games. The league leader (Staryln Caba (PHI)) has 28 in 32 games.

DH Edgleen Perez: 0-for-2, RS, SB (3), 3 BB

2B Abrahan Ramirez: 2-for-4, 2B (8), RBI, 2 RS

Ramirez is hitting .400/.517/.589 in 119 PA. He leads the FCL in average, OBP, and OPS (third in slugging percentage). The Yankees signed him for $30,000.

LF Brian Sanchez: 1-for-5, 3B (3), 2 RBI, SB (11), 3 K

Sanchez is first in slugging percentage (.629) and second in OPS (1.071)

3B Luis Ogando: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, RS, SB (8), K

SS Sebastian Gomez: 1-for-3, 2 SB (8), HBP

RF Fidel Montero: 1-for-3, 2B (3), BB, K



RHP Harrison Cohen: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Rehab appearance for Cohen, who pitched to a 3.61 ERA in 52.1 IP between Tampa/Hudson Valley/Somerset in 2023.

RHP Danny Flatt (W, 1-0): 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 3 K

2.67 ERA (27 IP, 22 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 15 BB, 30 K). The 20-year-old is a candidate for Low-A Tampa when the promotions start happening.

RHP Yoljeldriz Diaz: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

RHP Alejandro Gomez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K



DSL Yankees (4-10) (Lost to the DSL Rockies, 6-1)



C Luis Puello: 3-for-3, 2B (2)

Puello had three of the team’s five hits. The 18-year-old is 10-for-22 (2 doubles, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K)

SS Ovandy Frias: 1-for-3, HR (2), RBI, RS

Frias hit one home run in 35 games last year. He has two in three games this year.



RHP Alexander Almonte: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K

10 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 10 K. He is only 17.



DSL Bombers (8-5) (Defeated Mets Blue, 4-1)



SS Christofer Reyes: 2-for-4, RS, SB (6)

CF Richard Meran: 1-for-2, 2B (3), 2 RS, SB (1), HBP, BB



RHP Mariano Salomon (W, 2-0): 5.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K

A strong performance by the 21-year-old. I doubt it is common that both DSL starters go 5+ innings on the same day.

Yankees Southpaw Prospect Showing Of Nasty Repertoire In Minor Leagues
lastwordonsports.com/baseball/2024/06/22/yankees-prospect-henry-lalane-closer-look/

The New York Yankees have an intriguing arm in development, with pitching prospect Henry Lalane holding heavy weight on his projections and analytics.

The Yankees farm system has been fairly impressive over the years. Various names have emerged to become truly reliable players in the current big-league lineup. Homegrown talent is one thing the Yankees pride themselves on.

From Oswaldo Cabrera and Anthony Volpe to Clayton Beeter, Luis Gil, and now Ben Rice, the prospect development in the New York farm system is noticeable. Looking forward to the future, there is a stockpile of talented individuals to come. A big lefty originally from the Bronx is one of them.

Yankees Prospect Henry Lalane: Background and Notes
The international free agent market is a gold mine for Major League Baseball. Clubs find some of the best players in the world, outside of the amateur scope. MLB’s international signing period is always a shopping spree for valuable prospects.

Yankees southpaw pitching prospect Henry Lalane is a U.S. citizen by birth and an international prospect by move. He is a home-bred player, originally born in the Bronx, New York. Lalane moved from the Bronx to his parent’s home country, the Dominican Republic.

Both of his parents were athletes. His mom played volleyball for the Dominican Republic national team and his dad played Division I college basketball before playing for the Dominican national team. Lalane played and developed his baseball skills in one of the national hubs for this game.

At 14 years old he took the mound and never looked back. He focused on his craft and utilized his dual citizenship to compete for Perfect Game in Gunter, Texas. In 2021, the Yankees noticed his talents and offered him a contract. Lalane signed for $350,000.

Scouting Report and Analysis
The first noticeable thing anyone with a half-decent vision can see is the physical makeup of the pitching prospect Henry Lalane. His vertically rich figure has him boldly standing out on the bump. Standing 6’7” at 211 lbs, Lalane towers down the hill with a slim-build shape.

He has long limbs and a wild stride towards the dish. His reach and drive down the hill cut distance off the 60 feet to the plate, pumping heat and popping the catcher’s glove. Lalane’s windup and delivery are consistent and repeated. His arm stays low on separation, which is semi-concerning, but he turns it over well with a whipping arm action.

The ball flies out of his hand well and he maintains good control of most of his pitch options. His fastball is well-commanded and it brings run and heat. The heater ranges between 93-94 mph, topping out at 97 mph. It has some good run, rides the zone, and slips arm side to paint corners.

Of the two off-speed options, naturally, his changeup is more dependable. The change floats low in the zone and runs downward in the low 80s range. He locates this pitch well and it lives below the knees.

The slider is his last option but has the potential to be his put-away pitch. What needs to improve is the velocity on the slider, better horizontal run, and better command. His ability to locate this pitch is an issue.

Lalane’s key to success is count control. So far in three seasons, he’s struck out 125 hitters, only walking 43 of 474 batters faced. He has a 3.56 ERA in 111 1/3 innings of work.

Projection and Comparison of Prospect Henry Lalane
Various comparisons draw Lalane to Randy Johnson. This makes total sense with regard to physical relations, makeup, and delivery from the left side. Their pitch arsenals are simple, similar, and very effective.

Another comparison based on makeup and pitch-like tendencies is Aroldis Chapman. Lalane projects to be a starter as it stands, but definitely could be considered for late relief. His velocity will naturally increase and his pitch repertoire will develop.

He’s estimated to reach the major league level in 2027. However, he’s expected to climb the ranks quickly. Currently, he sits on the injured list.

The ball flies out of his hand well and he maintains good control of most of his pitch options. His fastball is well-commanded and it brings run and heat. The heater ranges between 93-94 mph, topping out at 97 mph. It has some good run, rides the zone, and slips arm side to paint corners.

Of the two off-speed options, naturally, his changeup is more dependable. The change floats low in the zone and runs downward in the low 80s range. He locates this pitch well and it lives below the knees.

The slider is his last option but has the potential to be his put-away pitch. What needs to improve is the velocity on the slider, better horizontal run, and better command. His ability to locate this pitch is an issue.

Saturdays farm report from Tom Kosensky. Rain wreaks havoc on three of the games. Jesus Rodriguez hits his first AA homer (when official), Ben Shields K's 9 in five innings and Santiago Gomez hits a grand slam and gets the save.

tomkosensky.com/2024/06/22/yankees-milb-6-22-jesus-rodriguez-hits-first-double-a-homer/