Yankees prospects: Week 17 minor league review

All of the Yankees full-season affiliates are once again in first place heading into September. This does not assure them of a playoff spot though as special playoff rules are in place for this season. Down the stretch, each of the teams will be playing big games that can help propel them into their given playoff races.

Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre RailRiders

Record: 59-39, 1st Place in the Triple-A (Northeast); 2.0 GA

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

Upcoming: Home vs. Buffalo Bison (TOR); 57-41 – Eight-game series with doubleheaders on Tuesday and Saturday

The RailRiders have seen a lot of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs this year, and I’m sure at this point they would be fine not seeing them again for a longtime. The two teams were matched up exclusively in April during their time at the alternate training site. Due to the COVID related scheduling, the teams have also seen each other more than usual this season. During their run of alternate site games, things almost boiled over when IronPig pitcher David Paulino threw at Estevan Florial (they were teammates during the Dominican Winter League) in a game. Paulino was once again front and center, as after some trash talking and gestures by both sides, he took it upon himself to hit Scranton catcher Max McDowell in the head. A benches-clearing incident ensued that luckily for all involved did not get too ugly. In the end, Scranton won the series and regained sole possession of first place, and they will now take on second place Buffalo in an eight-game series this coming week.

Players of Note:

Greg Allen: 54 G; .323/.437/.481, 4 HR, 13 2B, 10 SB

Donny Sands: 25 G; .272/.349/.489, 6 HR, 2 2B

Matt Krook: 1 G; 0.00 ERA, 5 IP, 0 H, 4 BB, 0 R, 6 K

Brooks Kriske: 12 G; 0.00 ERA, 14.2 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 20 K

Double-A Somerset Patriots

Record: 59-42, 1st place in the Double-A (Northeast)

Past Week: 3-3 vs. Akron Rubber Ducks (CLE)

Upcoming: Away vs. Bowie Baysox (BAL); 59-41

The Patriots face another playoff rival this coming week as they take on a team that they are virtually tied with on the season in the Bowie Baysox. The Patriots received help from a pair of rehabbing Yankees this past week in Corey Kluber and Gleyber Torres, who both helped the team secure victories. The offense exploded for a six home run night on Sunday as they came back to secure a series split with Akron.

Players of Note:

Luis Medina: 1 G; 5.1 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 2 ER, 12 K

Josh Breaux: 9 G; .300/.310/.625, 3 HR, 4 2B

Johny Brito: 1 G; 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

Nick Ernst: 5 G; 10 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 ER, 14 K

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades

Record: 63-38, 1st place in the High-A East (Northern); 11.5 GA

Past Week: 3-3 vs. Winston-Salem Dash (CWS)

Upcoming: Away vs. Greensboro Grasshoppers (PIT); 64-38

The Renegades managed just a split against Winston-Salem. They will now move on to face a talented Greensboro team and one of the hottest hitters in the minors in Nick Gonzalez, who was a top-10 pick in the 2020 draft and has a 1.117 OPS with eight home runs in August.

Josh Maciejewkski returned from a stint with Triple-A Scranton to pitch brilliantly in the first outing back. Freicer Perez, who was once one of the Yankees’ top pitching prospects, is starting to find his footing in the bullpen, and tossed 3.1 perfect innings this past week.

Players of Note:

Anthony Volpe: 37 G; .301/.406/.580, 9 HR, 11 2B, 7 SB

Josh Maciejewski: 2 G; 0.00 ERA, 11.2 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K

Freicer Perez: 3 G; 0.00 ERA, 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

Elijah Dunham: 7 G; .333/.375/.467, 4 2B, 3 SB

Low-A Tampa Tarpons

Record: 67-33, 1st place in the Low-A Southeast (West Coast); 5.0 GA

Past Week: 3-4 vs. Clearwater Threshers (PHI)

Upcoming: Away vs. Bradenton Marauders (PIT); 62-38

Jasson Dominguez has begun to heat up as he is riding a nine-game hitting streak during which he has run a .324/.410/.471 slash line. Also finding his swing is Tyler Hardman, the team’s fifth-round pick from this year’s draft. Selected as a first baseman, he has also seen some time at third base recently after the team promoted Anthony Garcia from the FCL. The team holds a significant lead in their division heading into a series this week with second place Bradenton.

Players of Note:

Jasson Dominguez: 33 G; .258/.326/.391, 3 HR, 3B, 6 2B, 48 K

Blane Abeyta: 2 G; 0.93 ERA, 9.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 11 K

Tyler Hardman: 14 G; .298/.382/.489, 2 HR, 3 2B

Nicio Rodriguez: 1 G, 0.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K

Florida Complex League Yankees:

Record: 27-13, 2nd place in the Florida Complex League; 1.0 GB

Grant Richardson: 15 G; .333/.419/.611, 1 HR, 3 3B, 6 2B

Alex Guerrero: 20 G; .410/.500/.564, 1 HR, 3 2B

Yarison Ruiz: 3 G; 0.90 ERA, 10 IP, 3 H, 8 BB, 17 K

Florida Complex League Yankees: W, 10-7 vs. FCL Tigers West

CF Grant Richardson: 2-4, 2B, K
RF Stanley Rosario: 1-1, 3B
3B Marcos Cabrera: 0-4, 1 BB, 2 K
RF-CF Raimfer Salinas: 1-4, 2B, 2 K
C Agustin Ramirez: 2-4, 2B, 2 K
C Juan Crisp: 0-0
DH Alex Guerrero: 2-3, 2 2B
PH-DH Jose Martinez: 0-2
LF Kyle Battle: 1-3, 2B
1B Nelson Gomez: 0-1, 2 BB, K
2B Dionys Vallejo: 0-2, 2 BB, K
SS Angel Rojas: 0-3, BB, K

Yarison Ruiz: 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 5 K
Christian Sumoza: 3.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Kevin Milam: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
Edward Paredes: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Dominican Summer League Yankees 2: W, 4-2 vs. DSL Giants Orange

SS Dayro Perez: 1-3, BB, SB
2B Brenny Escanio: 0-2, 2 BB, SB, K
RF Daury Arias: 0-3, BB, 2 K
C Jesus Rodriguez: 0-3, BB, K
CF Ramiro Altagracia: 0-2, BB
CF Alex Garcia: 0-1
LF Nelson Medina: 0-2, BB
LF Osmany Fleitas: 0-1, K
1B Nicolas Garcia: 1-3, BB
3B Ronny Rojas: 0-4, K
DH Josue Gonzalez: 1-3, 3B

Franklin Corniel: 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Jan Pena: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Alejandro Gomez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

DSL Yankees 1: W. 8-5 vs. DSL Twins

SS Hans Montero: 0-5, 3 K
CF Fidel Montero: 1-4, 2B, 2 K
DH Felix Negueis: 2-5, K
RF Alan Mejia: 0-5, 4 K
C Manuel Palencia: 4-5, 2 2B
LF Christopher Familia: 3-5, 2 2B
1B Omar Martinez: 1-5, 3 K
3B Jared Serna: 2-5, 3B, 2B
2B Carlos Verdecia: 0-4, BB, 3 K

Allen Facundo: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 K
Miguel Pozo: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Sebastian Perrone: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Pedro Rodriguez: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER. 0 BB, 2 K
Yordi Pichardo: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K