Yankees prospects: Week seven minor league review

The Yankees’ minor league affiliates continued their winning ways over the past week, combining to go 16-7, with all four teams continuing to hold onto first place in their respective divisions. Some of the Yankees top prospects up the middle such as Oswald Peraza, Ezequiel Duran, Josh Smith, Anthony Volpe, and Austin Wells continue to play very well. Let’s take a look at he week that was across the Yankees minor league system.

Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre RailRiders

Record: 28-11, 1st Place in Triple-A (Northeast); 1.5 GA

Past Week: 5-0 vs. Syracuse Mets

Upcoming: Away vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies); 19-23

The RailRiders were down but never out of it this past week, as they came from behind four times to sweep a Syracuse Mets team that was bolstered by rehabbing major leaguers Michael Conforto and Jeff McNeil. Hoy Jun Park continued his hot hitting and apparently became a guy that the Mets just wanted to pitch around for most of the week. He went 4-for-4 in the opening game of the series and then earned eight walks over the next three games, as the Mets wanted nothing to do with the Triple-A East’s leader in OPS. Park justified their caution by taking advantage of a pitch to hit as he finished the series with a walk-off home run on Sunday afternoon.

Players of Note:

Hoy Jun Park: 25 G, .360/.509/.663, 6 HR, 25 BB

Nick Nelson: 3 G, 0.82 ERA, 11.0 IP, 9 H, 2 BB, 11 K

Albert Abreu: 2 G, 0.00 ERA, 4 IP, 10 K, 3 BB

Trey Amburgey: 22 G, .366/.400/.683, 6 HR, 8 2B

Double-A Somerset Patriots

Record: 27-14, 1st Place in Double-A (Northeast); 3.5 GA

Past Week: 5-1 vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants)

Upcoming: Away vs. Portland SeaDogs (Red Sox); 24-17

Somerset continued to stretch its lead in the division with another winning series over the past week. The rehabbing Luke Voit helped the Patriots get going, as he belted a pair of home runs and knocked in six runs on the week. Donny Sands launched four home runs in a three-game stretch that included a walk-off in the series opener. Luis Medina, Ken Waldichuk, and Hayden Wesneski all made their debuts at the Double-A level, but the talented trio of starters took a back seat to incumbents Janson Junk and Glenn Otto who combined for 19 innings pitched while allowing just 2 runs on the week.

Players of Note:

Janson Junk: 8 G, 1.03 ERA, 35 IP, 43 K, 0.86 WHIP

Glenn Otto: 2 G, 0.69 ERA, 13 IP, 19 K, 4 BB, 0.77 WHIP

Oswald Peraza: 9 G, .371/.450/.629, 2 HR, 3B, 2B

Donny Sands: 5 G, .316/.333/1.000, 4 HR, 2B

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades

Record: 25-16, 1st place in High-A East (Northern) 1.5 GA

Past Week: 4-2 vs. Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies)

Upcoming: Home vs. Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals); 21-19

The Renegades did not blink after seeing three-fifths of their starting rotation promoted to Double-A this past week. Josh Smith and Josh Breaux picked up the offense with the latter hitting a walk-off home run on Tuesday night in the series opener. Long known for his aggressive approach at the plate, Ezequiel Duran has shown improved patience walking 12 times in the last 16 games after walking just once in the first 22 games of the season.

Players of Note:

Jhony Brito: 8 G, 36.2 IP, 2.70 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 36 K, 5 BB

Ezequiel Duran: 28 G, .303/.415/.607, 6 HR, 3 3B, 7 2B

Josh Smith: 5 G, .529/.600/1.235, HR, 2 3B, 2 2B

Josh Breaux: 7 G; .333/.387/.556, HR, 3 2B

Low-A Tampa Tarpons

Record: 28-14, 1st place in Low-A Southeast (West Coast) 1.0 GA

Past Week: 2-4 vs. Bradenton Marauders (Pirates)

Upcoming: Away vs. Lakeland Flying Tigers (Pirates) 15-26

The Tarpons lost their first series of the season, as the team dropped four of six to a Bradenton team that is now just one game back of the Tarpons. The Yankees’ last two first round picks, Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells, continued to lead the offense with big production at the top of the order. Volpe now leads Low-A Southeast in home runs with eight. He is also tied for the lead in triples and is among the top five in doubles, walks and stolen bases.

Players of Note:

Anthony Volpe: 16 G; .421/.535/.912, 6 HR, 2 3B, 6 2B, 5 SB

Austin Wells: 24 G; .333/.457/.567, 4 HR, 3B, 7 2B, 3 SB

Jake Sanford: 7 G; .370/.433/.519, HR, 2B

Michael Giacone: 10G; 3.42 ERA, 23.2 IP, 36 K, 12 BB