Yankees prospects: Week eight minor league review

The Yankees’ minor league affiliates continued their winning ways this past week, with every team retaining a share of first place. As an organization. the Yankees have the highest minor league winning percentage in all of baseball right after eight weeks of action. The Florida Complex League also debuted on Monday, with number one prospect Jasson Dominguez and six other prospects ranked in the organization’s top-30 making their season debuts.

Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre RailRiders

Record: 32-13, 1st place in Triple-A (Northeast); 4.5 GA

Past Week: 4-2 vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies)

Upcoming: Away vs. Worcester Red Sox; 29-19

Chris Gittens returned to Triple-A after his first taste of the major leagues and immediately started building his case for another shot at the big league club. Hoy Jun Park continued his impressive showing on the season and combined with his one home run from earlier this year with Double-A Somerset now has a career high with eight after just 40 games played. As a team, the RailRiders have the best record in all of minor league baseball and stretched their division lead to 4.5 games ahead of second-place Worcester heading into next week’s six-game showdown.

Players of Note:

Chris Gittens: 4 G, .526/.591/1.105, 3 HR, 2 2B – Triple-A Northeast Player of the Week

Trey Amburgey: 27 G; .356/.407/.663, 6 HR, 12 2B, 3B

Hoy Jun Park: 30 G; .360/.503/.631, 7 HR, 3B, 7 2B

Trevor Lane: 12 G; 1.84 ERA, 14.2 IP, 16 K

Double-A Somerset Patriots

Record: 31-16, 1st place in Double-A (Northeast); 5.0 GA

Past Week: 4-2 vs. Portland SeaDogs (Red Sox)

Upcoming: Away vs. Harrisburg Senators (Nationals); 18-29

Somerset continued its winning ways this week, taking four of six games from the second-place Portland SeaDogs. Hayden Wesneski, Janson Junk, and Ken Waldichuk put together outstanding pitching performances against a talented SeaDogs offense. Diego Castillo continued his amazing offensive output and has now matched in 35 games his career total for home runs (8) entering this season. Castillo has 20 extra-base hits against 20 strikeouts so far this season.

Players of Note:

Janson Junk: 9 G; 1.07 ERA, 42 IP, 46 K, 0.79 WHIP

Diego Castillo: 35 G; .338/.390/.609, 8 HR, 12 2B, 13.7% K rate

Michael Beltre: 31 G; .292/.361/.550, 7 HR, 4 3B, 2 2B

Hayden Wesneski: 1 G; 6 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 R, 7 K

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades

Record: 30-17, 1st place in High-A East (Northern); 4.5 GA

Past Week: 4-2 vs. Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals)

Upcoming: Away vs. Jersey Shore Blue Claws (Phillies); 20-27

Down but not out, the Renegades came from behind time and again this week with Anthony Seigler recording three-game winning hits including two walk-offs. Unfortunately, Seigler was hit in the head during his first plate appearance on Sunday and left the game after initially staying in to run the bases. Overall the Renegades scored 44 runs in their six game series and have stretched their lead in the division to a season high 4.5 games.

Players of Note:

Josh Smith: 17 G; .349/.468/.651, 2 HR, 3 3B, 7 2B, 9 SB

Anthony Seigler: 8 G; .286/.382/.536, HR, 4 2B

Josh Breaux: 10 G; .395/.478/.711, 3 HR, 3 2B

Barrett Loseke: 5 G; 0.67 ERA, 13.1 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 22 K

Low-A Tampa Tarpons

Record: 32-15, 1st place in Low-A Southeast (West Coast); 0.5 GA

Past Week: 4-1 vs. Lakeland Flying Tigers

Upcoming: Home vs. Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins); 22-26

The Tarpons battled the weather as much as their opponents over the last week, as they saw rain and thunder change their schedule on four consecutive days. While they were on the field Eric Wagaman proved to be a force in the lineup, providing plenty of backup for Anthony Volpe. The standout shortstop now leads the Low-A Southeast in home runs (9), triples (4) and doubles (18). He is putting together a great season and earning a ton of prospect buzz from the scouts who have seen him in action so far this year.

Players of Note:

Eric Wagaman: 9 G; .353/.378/.706 2 HR, 3B, 4 2B – Low-A Southeast Player of the Week

Anthony Volpe: 21 G; .413/.537/.893, 7 HR, 3 3B, 9 2B, 8 SB

Edgar Barclay: 1 G; 5 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 0 ER, 7 K

Sean Boyle: 10 G, 27.1 IP, 2.30 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 31 K

Rookie Florida Complex League Yankees: W, 4-0 at FCL Tigers East — 2021 opener

CF Jasson Dominguez 0-2, 1 BB, 1 K — stateside debut
PH-CF Madison Santos 1-2, 3 SB, 1 R — stole home
SS Alexander Vargas 0-3, 1 K
PH-SS Angel Rojas 0-1, 1 BB, SB
DH Kevin Alcantara 1-4, 2B, SB
LF Everson Pereira 0-2, 1 BB
PH-LF Raimfer Salinas 0-1
C Antonio Gomez 1-3
C Hemmanuel Rosario 0-1
RF Ryder Green 0-1, 2 BB
RF Anthony Garcia 0-1
2B Roberto Chirinos 0-3
2B Jose Colmenares 0-1
3B Marcos Cabrera 1-2, 2B, BB, SB, 2 R
PH-3B Dionys Vallejo 0-1
1B Jose Martinez 1-2
PH-1B Alex Guerrero 1-1

P Juan Carela 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
P Leonardo Pestana 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K (win) — 32 BB in 39 IP for Pulaski in 2019
P Nick Paciorek 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K (save)