Pitching. Pitching. Pitching.
That’s been the strength of the Yankees’ farm system for the last few years, and this week was no different. With some key bats either currently on the shelf or joining the shelf late in the week, the focus was on the mountain of arms continuing impressive seasons or taking steps forward after disappointing starts to begin impressing.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Record: 3-3 (40-40), 2 GB in the International League East after a 3-3 week against the Indianapolis Indians (Pirates)
Run differential:
+8 (+11)
Coming up: Home vs. Norfolk Tides (Orioles)
It was another tremendously close series for the RailRiders in their trip to Indianapolis, as four of the six games were decided by two runs or fewer. The three losses were by four runs combined, something that’ll surely leave a sour taste in their mouths due to poor late-game execution.
With George Lombard Jr. still out and Oswaldo Cabrera promoted due to Ryan McMahon’s injury, the cupboards are bare for a once-stacked lineup, relying significantly on recent Double-A call-ups. While Tyler Hardman and Marco Luciano have been perfectly passable, the real star has been Garrett Martin, who’s 9-for-34 with five extra-base hits in his first eight games in Triple-A. He’s one of four players in all of MiLB with 24 home runs, and the 26-year-old former UDFA is quickly making a name for himself. Unfortunately, he was placed on the injured list on Monday.
It wasn’t a fun week for the rotation. Well, except for Brendan Beck, who stayed incredibly steady with another seven innings of one-run ball on Saturday. Dom Hamel, Adam Kloffenstein, and Alexander Cornielle combined for four starts, with only one of them completing five innings. Elmer Rodríguez’s command abandoned him in his Friday start, as he walked six in four innings despite not allowing an earned run.
In the bullpen, it wasn’t a fun week. Two of the three losses saw the RailRiders holding a late lead, but losing it in the final two innings. In the other loss, Rafael Montero blew it in the sixth. Eric Reyzelman hasn’t been effective since returning from his back injury, allowing three runs in the bottom of the ninth on Saturday before Carlos Lagrange had a miserable outing to close the week, allowing five runs in 0.2 innings to take the loss.
Players of Note:
George Lombard Jr.: .231/.381/.385, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 16 XBH, 8 SB, 109 wRC+ (injured)
Garrett Martin (AA/AAA): .270/.337/.570, 24 HR, 64 RBI, 18 SB, 135 wRC+
Brendan Beck: 7-2, 3.07 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 1.02 WHIP, 18.1 K-BB% (88 IP)
Elmer Rodríguez: 3-3, 2.78 ERA, 4.25 FIP, 1.25 WHIP, 11 K-BB% (55 IP)
Carlos Lagrange: 1-4, 4.55 ERA, 4.84 FIP, 1.36 WHIP, 17.8 K-BB% (63.1 IP)
Double-A Somerset Patriots
Record: 2-4 (39-36), 2 GB in the Eastern League Northeast after a 2-4 week against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays)
Run differential: +4 (+40)
Coming up: Home vs. Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies)
Somerset was able to come up with two strong wins during their first week of the second half, but they dropped the other four in all pretty close games, with the exception of a shutout loss on Tuesday. Their first-half stats don’t matter now, so bad weeks like this won’t go well.
It was a down week for guys like Jace Avina and DJ Gladney, something the offense can seldom afford with all of their big guns from April and May earning promotions. Coby Morales (7-for-20, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 2B, 3 BB) started to get his power stroke back, now having more home runs in 2026 than in his entire professional career prior, in almost 1,000 fewer plate appearances.
If anything, it was nice to see a good week overall from a rotation that had struggled all year. Cade Smith (6 IP, 1 R, 7 K) turned in a needed quality start on Tuesday, Xavier Rivas allowed one run in five innings, Jack Cebert (5.2 IP, 2 R, 6 K) was one out shy of a quality start, Ben Hess (4.2 IP, 1 R) had his longest outing since April, and Kyle Carr picked up another eight strikeouts. Struggles continued for Chase Hampton.
The bullpen was a bit rougher. Tony Rossi hasn’t been sharp since his promotion, while Trent Sellers has fully transitioned into a reliever with mixed results. Ben Grable continued his terrific month with more scoreless relief, while guys like Matt Keating and Harrison Cohen put up zeroes in big innings.
Players of Note:
Jace Avina: .286/.364/.563, 15 HR, 42 RBI, 33 XBH, 30.1 K%, 144 wRC+
DJ Gladney: .255/.314/.481, 13 HR, 46 RBI, 11 SB, 111 wRC+
Coby Morales: .277/.357/.504, 14 HR, 57 RBI, 12 SB, 129 wRC+
Xavier Rivas: 4-3, 5.01 ERA, 5.03 FIP, 1.25 WHIP, 22.5 K-BB% (50.1 IP)
Kyle Carr: 6-5, 4.32 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 1.43 WHIP, 18.9 K-BB% (66.2 IP)
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades
Record: 4-5 (35-39), 3 GB in the South Atlantic League North Second Half after a 2-4 week against the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays)
Run differential: +14 (+23)
Coming up: Home vs. Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals)
Hudson Valley tried to salvage a miserable start to the week after three consecutive one-run losses, but didn’t quite get the split after losing the series finale in the nightcap of a Sunday doubleheader. Their four losses were by five runs, and their two wins were by 18 runs.
The hottest hitter in Hudson Valley isn’t the Kaeden Kent’s or Core Jackson’s of the world, but it’s actually Wilson Rodriguez (10-for-23, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 2 2B, 2 BB), who’s been one of the better hitters in the entire system after an ugly April:
Kent, Jackson, and Eric Genther had passable weeks of their own while Enmanuel Tejeda cooled off. Shoutout to Roderick Arias, whose bat has started to show some signs of life after seemingly looking like a lost cause entering the month. He’s slashing .379/.423/.655 with six home runs in June after hitting just two with an OPS under .600 in the first two months.
Bryce Cunningham has made it three good starts in a row with another five solid innings on Tuesday. Luis Serna tallied nine strikeouts in six innings on Wednesday, but coughed up four runs, being outdone by Allen Facundo (5.2 IP, 1 R, 10 K) a day later. Rory Fox went a career-high eight innings as his recent good stretch continued, while Franyer Herrera got a seven-inning complete game shutout on Sunday.
Players of Note:
Kaeden Kent: .313/.365/.451, 6 HR, 40 RBI, 27 XBH, 19 SB, 114 wRC+
Core Jackson: .252/.351/.461, 9 HR, 34 RBI, 18 SB, 111 wRC+
Eric Genther: .251/.378/.398, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 19 XBH, 111 wRC+
Luis Serna: 3-3, 4.02 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 1.22 WHIP, 16.5 K-BB% (65 IP)
Bryce Cunningham: 2-3, 4.34 ERA, 5.10 FIP, 1.23 WHIP, 12.7 K-BB% (37.1 IP)
Single-A Tampa Tarpons
Record: 6-3 (41-34), 0.5 GB in the Florida State League West after a 5-1 week against the Dunedin Blue Jays (Blue Jays)
Run differential: +4 (+27)
Coming up: Away @ St. Lucie Mets (Mets)
A very strong week for Tampa shook off a disappointing start to the second half, as they beat up on Dunedin by outscoring them by 13 runs on the week, dominating every game outside of a six-run defeat on Thursday.
Tampa had a strong week despite another slow week from Jackson Lovich and Hans Montero, as well as a so-so one from BMG. JoJo Jackson is really rounding back into form, but the biggest storylines have been the emergence of guys like Luis Puello and Luis Escudero. I want to focus on Escudero specifically, a 2023 international signing out of Panama who’s breaking out in a big way.
As the sample size gets bigger and bigger, his numbers continue to be eye-popping for a 5-foot-8 infielder. The 20-year-old is now slashing .297/.489/.672 with six home runs, 12 extra-base hits, and six stolen bases in 22 games. I’d say to keep an eye on him, but he sustained a left leg injury on Sunday and went on the injured list.
The pitching had another phenomenal week. Justin West got things started with eight strikeouts in five productive innings on Tuesday; Thatcher Hurd (4.2 IP, 0 R, 10 K) had the best start of his pro career on Wednesday; Henry Lalane was brilliant on Friday; Tyler Boudreau tossed six shutout innings on Saturday, and Brennan Stuprich was solid on Sunday. Wyatt Parliament was the lone weak link in a suddenly formidable rotation.
The bullpen bounced back in a big way. A hiccup by Greysen Carter notwithstanding, guys like Jose M. Rodriguez, Pedro Rodriguez, Jose Martinez, and Parker Seay settled back in after disastrous weeks last week. The real storyline, though, was Brian Hendry progressing in his rehab. The former 10th-round pick tossed three shutout innings on Saturday and has allowed just one run in 10 rehab innings across the FCL and Tampa.
Players of Note:
Jackson Lovich: .283/.362/.532, 13 HR, 47 RBI, 26 XBH, 17 SB, 132 wRC+
Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek: .270/.379/.435, 9 HR, 31 RBI, 22 SB, 120 wRC+
Hans Montero: .243/.367/.443, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 24 XBH, 15 SB, 117 wRC+
Tyler Boudreau: 4-2, 3.19 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 1.06 WHIP, 21.4 K-BB% (62 IP)
Henry Lalane: 3-1, 3.09 ERA, 2.86 FIP, 1.07 WHIP, 21.4 K-BB% (55.1 IP)
FCL Yankees
Record: 21-21, 8 GB in the FCL North after a 2-3 week.
Run differential: +27
Both of the FCL Yankees’ wins this week were against the North-leading Blue Jays, but they lost the other three games and are now in danger of falling back to third in the division. It’s not fun.
Wilberson De Pena continues to lead the FCL in home runs, bashing his 12th of the season on Monday. Dexters Peralta is the only other player with even double digits in the entire league. Jose Castro cooled off a bit, Richard Matic continues to be a balanced hitter, and Leni Done is still hitting above .300. The one player especially struggling is one-time seven-figure bonus baby Francisco Vilorio, who’s below the Mendoza Line.
On the pitching side, Sabier Marte is sneakily becoming the most effective starter on the roster after another recent blowup by Omar Gonzalez. Blake Gillespie is injured, so the rotation is quite thin right now. Edinzo Marquez tossed a strong outing on Monday in relief, but the star in the bullpen continues to be 2025 UDFA Austin Breedlove out of Tennessee.
Players of Note:
Wilberson De Pena: .352/.407/.667, 12 HR, 50 RBI, 27 XBH, 17 SB, 143 wRC+
Jose Castro: .303/.505/.553, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 19 SB, 166 wRC+ (107 PA)
Richard Matic: .321/.436/.494, 18 XBH, 24 RBI, 10 SB, 132 wRC+
Sabier Marte: 30.1 IP, 5.64 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 1.45 WHIP, 18.5 K-BB%
Austin Breedlove: 19.1 IP, 1.86 ERA, 2.96 FIP, 1.09 WHIP, 20.0 K-BB%
DSL Yankees & Bombers
DSL Yankees:
Record: 12-8, 2.5 GB in DSL East after a 3-1 week
Run differential: +84
DSL Bombers:
Record: 9-11, 3.5 GB in DSL Southeast after a 2-3 week
Run differential: -21
Players of Note:
Isaias Castillo: .363/.485/.763, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 17 XBH, 8 SB, 176 wRC+ (99 PA)
Juan Torres: .370/.436/.679, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 16 XBH, 8 SB, 151 wRC+ (94 PA)
Stiven Marinez: .307/.447/.613, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 13 SB, 151 wRC+ (94 PA)
Fredy Penuelas: 20 IP, 14 H, 1 ER, 7 BB, 29 K
Yunior Jerez: 17 IP, 1.59 ERA, 3.68 FIP, 0.65 WHIP, 19.4 K-BB%
Prospect of the Week: Henry Lalane
Weekly Stats: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K
Season Stats: 3-1, 3.09 ERA, 2.86 FIP, 1.07 WHIP, 21.4 K-BB% (55.1 IP)
Lalane’s resurgence has been a treat to watch.
Once a DSL darling with exciting velocity as a teenager, he fell off the map after injuries stole much of his next three seasons. From 2023-25, he tossed just 53.1 combined innings in the FCL and Tampa, pitching with diminished stuff and velocity. It seemed like his stock had completely disintegrated. But similar to fellow Dominican native Carlos Lagrange, he bounced back after injuries derailed his status and now promises to become one of the most promising pitchers in the entire system yet again.
After a mediocre start to the season, Lalane has allowed just five earned runs across his last six starts, striking out 50 batters in 35.1 innings with just 10 walks to lower his season ERA to 3.09. His most recent start was his best as a pro, tossing seven shutout innings with a career-high 12 strikeouts.
His slider and changeup both registered whiff rates over 60 percent, but the most promising aspect might be his fastball’s velocity. This was the best his four-seamer has looked in years, registering an average velocity of 95.6 with 17 inches of induced vertical break. He even dialed it all the way up to 98.4 for a second-inning strikeout of Adam Hackenburg.
Full stop, this is a guy who’s shot himself firmly back into a top 10 prospects list, and with guys like Spencer Jones, Elmer Rodríguez, and maybe Carlos Lagrange potentially graduating by year’s end, we could be talking about a top 5 guy in the system again.
