Yankees prospects: Week 19 minor league review

Heading into the last week of the season, the Yankees’ minor league affiliates are chasing the postseason. In a modified set of playoffs, only the two teams with the best record will participate in the playoffs at the Double-A, High-A and Low-A levels. The Tampa Tarpons have clinched their spot, while Somerset has the inside track on a spot of their own. Despite winning their own division, Hudson Valley is still chasing a spot, but will get the chance to play the team they are chasing over the final week.

Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre RailRiders

Record: 64-47, 2nd Place in the Triple-A (Northeast); 4.5 GB

Past Week: 5-1 vs. Rochester Red Wings (WSN)

Upcoming: Away vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI); 50-62

After a nine game losing streak, the RailRiders returned to the form that they have played at all season this past week. Only a Sunday afternoon late inning meltdown by the bullpen cost the team an undefeated week. Matt Krook and Adam Warren have been amazing over the last few weeks, while Estevan Florial has paced the offense with a big week at the plate. This week the RailRiders will close out the regular season against Lehigh Valley. Last time these teams played, benches cleared after Scranton catcher Max McDowell was hit in the head by a pitch following a significant amount of trash talking from both teams. There is no love lost between these two as they head into a Triple-A postseason where every team will play 10 total games and the team with the best record will be declared the winner.

Players of Note:

Matt Krook 4 G; ERA, 21.1 IP, 13 H, 9 BB, 2 ER, 23 K

Adam Warren: 8 G; 0.00 ERA, 10.1 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 0 ER, 11 K

Estevan Florial: 7 G; .310/.394/.586, 2 HR, 2 2B

Brian Keller: 5 G; 1.93 ERA, 9.1 IP, 7 H, 4 BB, 2 ER, 16 K

Double-A Somerset Patriots

Record: 69-44, 1st place in the Double-A (Northeast); 3.5 GA

Past Week: 6-0 vs. Hartford Yard Goats (COL)

Upcoming: Away vs. Akron Rubber Ducks (CLE); 70-42

Somerset has been on fire over the last two weeks and has put their magic number to reach the playoffs at four entering this week’s play. They will square off with an Akron team that has the best record across both divisions in the Double-A Northeast. The Patriots’ closest competition is also in Akron’s division, where the Bowie Baysox are just a game behind the Patriots for the second playoff spot. This past week Hayden Wesneski stepped up big, allowing just a second inning home run before striking out 11 of the last 12 batters he faced in a seven inning, 14 strikeout performance. Oswald Peraza has been crushing Double-A pitching for the last month and is helping to carry the team towards a playoff berth.

Players of Note:

Hayden Wesneski: 6 G; 2.23 ERA, 36.1 IP, 26 H, 8 BB, 9 ER, 47 K

Oswald Peraza: 26 G; .355/.404/.536; 5 HR, 5 2B

Brandon Lockridge: 37 G; .331/.387/.547, 8 HR, 8 2B, 12 SB

Luis Medina: 3 G; 2.12 ERA, 17 IP, 12 H, 6 BB, 4 ER, 27 K

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades

Record: 67-46, 1st place in the High-A East (Northern); 9.0 GA

Past Week: 3-3 vs. Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM) Greensboro Grasshoppers (PIT)

Upcoming: Home vs. Greensboro Grasshoppers (PIT); 71-43

The Renegades wrapped up the High-A East division title, but their postseason chances are still up in the air. Because of how the postseason format is arranged for this season, the Renegades will have to surpass the Grasshoppers’ regular season record in order to advance. Fortunately, they play their competition head-to-head to close out the year, so their fate is in their own hands — even if they’re facing an uphill climb. Anthony Volpe continues to pace the offense, and should the Renegades not clinch a postseason berth, it will be interesting to see if the organization allows him to help out the Patriots or RailRiders to close out his stellar season.

Players of Note:

Anthony Volpe: 49 G; .295/.392/.600, 13 HR, 17 2B, 11 SB

Everson Pereira: 22 G; .261/.359/.693, 12 HR, 2 2B, 5 SB

Andres Chaparro: 32 G; .281/.410/.570, 8 HR, 3 3B, 3 2B

Josh Maciejewski: 1 G; 0.00 ERA, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 K - High-A Northeast Pitcher of the Week

Low-A Tampa Tarpons

Record: 72-40, 1st place in the Low-A Southeast (West Coast); 2.5 GA

Past Week: 2-4 vs. Dunedin Blue Jays

Upcoming: Away vs. Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (MIN)

The Tarpons wrapped up a playoff spot earlier this week and will meet Pittsburgh’s Low-A affiliate the Bradenton Marauders in the playoffs. The regular season division title still hangs in the balance as the Tarpons head to Fort Myers for their last series. The top of the lineup remains potent as Jasson Dominguez, Trey Sweeney and Anthony Garcia have continued to play well over the last few weeks.

Players of Note:

Jasson Dominguez: 20 G; .293/.398/.467, 3 HR, 4 2B

Anthony Garcia: 14 G; .306/.443/.653, 5 HR, 2 2B, 5 SB

Clay Aguilar: 21 G; 2.15 ERA, 46 IP, 27 H, 11 BB, 66 K

Trey Sweeney: 17 G; .294/.368/.603, 4 HR, 3 3B, 3 2B

Florida Complex League Yankees: L, 6-9 vs. FCL Blue Jays

CF Grant Richardson: 1-5, SB
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-5, K, E
C Agustin Ramirez: 0-2, 2 BB, K
DH Raimfer Salinas: 0-4
3B Marcos Cabrera: 0-4, 2 K
SS Miguel Marte: 1-4, K
LF Kyle Battle: 2-4, 2 2B
1B Jose Martinez: 2-3, BB
C Hemmanuel Rosario: 1-2, 2B
C Juan Crisp: 1-1, BB , E

Alfred Vega: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
Starling Perez: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 5 H, 5 H, 4 BB, 1 K, WP
Christian Sumoza: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Dominican Summer League Yankees 1: W, 6-5 vs. DSL Angels

SS Hans Montero: 1-4, BB, R, K, CS
LF Felix Negueis: 2-5, HR, CS
3B Enger Castellano: 1-5,
RF Christopher Familia: 1-4,
DH Alan Mejia: 2-3, BB
C Omar Martinez: 0-0
C Manuel Palencia: 1-4, SB
2B Jared Serna: 1-3, BB, 3 SB
SS Darwin Castillo: 2-3, K, CS
1B Gabriel Bersing: 1-4, 2B, 2 K

Daniel Guerrero: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Miguel Vargas: 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 3 K, WP
Diego Cordero: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 K, WP

DSL Yankees 2: L, 5-7 vs. DSL Pirates Gold

SS Brenny Escanio: 0-3, BB, 4 SB, 2 K
DH Dayro Perez: 0-3, 2 BB, SB
C Josue Gonzalez: 0-3
C Edinson Duran: 1-2, HR
RF Daury Arias: 1-4, HR
LF Nelson Medina: 0-4, K
CF Ramiro Altagracia: 0-1, 4 BB, K
3B Ronny Rojas: 0-4, 3 K
1B Miguel Torres: 0-3, BB, K

Brian Arias: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Carlos Rosario: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Luis Urbano: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Ernesto Borges: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Riordan Oropeza: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Juan Espana: 1.0 IP, 0 H , 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K