“When it rains, it pours” – a saying that aptly describes the New York Yankees’ recent rollercoaster week. Tuesday and Wednesday saw the Bronx Bombers unleash an offensive onslaught, hitting 14 home runs in 25 hours in Tampa, Florida, after a nearly two-hour rain/lightning delay. This power surge seemed to signal an offensive resurgence, but the celebratory mood was quickly extinguished on Thursday when they returned home to face the Red Sox, who delivered a harsh dose of reality.
The contrast in the Yankees’ performance between the two-game set in Tampa and their home stand against Boston was stark and, honestly, perplexing. It’s one thing to see a developing player, such as a Yankees prospect on the GMS Field back field – affectionately known as “The Tank” – commit numerous errors in a season; their performance is still under development, and mistakes are part of the learning process. However, the same leniency cannot be extended to seasoned Yankees players in the Majors. The defensive lapses have become a concerning trend. Jazz Chisholm, Jr., for instance, recorded his 14th error of the year last night, while Anthony Volpe has accumulated an alarming 16 errors this season, just as he has the previous two years. These figures are not mere blips; they highlight a fundamental issue that needs immediate attention.
Yankees 3B Jose Caballero commits a fielding error with a missed catch on August 19, 2025, in Tampa, FL (John Brophy/John Brophy Baseball)
This week alone, the Yankees have committed a staggering seven errors in just four games. The defensive struggles began on Sunday with two errors in St. Louis, followed by one on Tuesday in Tampa, and a frustrating four errors last night in The Bronx. Of these, Jazz Chisholm, Jr. is responsible for two, both being throwing errors, further underscoring the team’s defensive vulnerabilities.
Jazz Chisholm says the four errors tonight don't concern him:
"I feel like we have great fielders on the team, we've got a bunch of Gold Glovers in the infield" pic.twitter.com/5z18DyckFu
The Yankees’ internal narrative, championed by manager Aaron Boone, dismisses any fundamental issues despite glaring on-field inconsistencies. The media struggles to challenge Boone’s strategic decisions, facing significant pushback when questioning the team’s performance. This resistance to scrutiny raises concerns among fans and analysts, who doubt the team’s self-assessment aligns with reality.
Boone said they liked the matchup with Jazz vs. Matz. That’s why they didn’t pinch hit. Asked why, Boone repeated he liked the matchup.
What seems more mind-boggling is how the Yankees’ offensive performance has been so wildly inconsistent. On Wednesday in Tampa, the Yankees managed 2 runs over 6 innings against Rasmussen, a pitcher who boasted a career ERA against the Yankees under 1 going into that game. The ultimate outcome was particularly frustrating, especially considering the near-perfect game bid by Schlittler on the Yankees’ side. The relief pitching left a lot to be desired, particularly that from the newly acquired David Bednar, who consequently blew the game but earned the win.
Aaron Judge gets the scoring started in Tampa on August 19, 2025, with a home run (40) to center field (John Brophy/John Brophy Baseball)
The Yankees’ dominant offensive performance against Baz on Tuesday, despite a rain delay, was somewhat expected. Baz had been struggling, allowing 23 runs in his previous 25 innings (an 8.28 ERA). However, the extent of the Yankees’ offensive explosion, 16-for-42, hitting .381, was unanticipated. This makes their subsequent struggle against Boston even more frustrating. The stark contrast is jarring: against the Red Sox, the Yankees regressed significantly, going a mere 8-for-35 for a paltry .229 batting average. The question remains: why can’t the Yankees find a consistent rhythm at the plate? This inconsistency, showcasing both offensive brilliance and perplexing futility within days, is a constant source of bewilderment for fans.
Aaron Boone addresses the media ahead of the game versus the Rays at Steinbrenner Field on August 20, 2025 (John Brophy/John Brophy Baseball)
The New York Yankees are at a critical point. Despite internal reassurances, their current performance is unacceptable, stemming from issues in the front office, analytics, or player execution. Fan patience is wearing thin after a disappointing 2023 season, plus there is a 15-plus year championship drought that is lingering. Two theories exist: either the Yankees know what adjustments are needed but fail to implement them, or they are actively experimenting to maximize the roster’s potential (my bet is on the latter). Individual successes like Trent Grisham’s and Giancarlo Stanton’s strong offensive performances this season suggest some positive analytical or coaching impacts, but these haven’t translated to overall consistent team performance. The organization’s future depends on identifying and solving these core issues before fan apathy takes hold.
I was fortunate to have been able to get a brief first look in the first half of a doubleheader in Tampa recently at some of the kids drafted by the Yankees in the 2025 MLB Draft. This isn’t the full class, of course; pitchers won’t make their professional debut until the 2026 season at the earliest (barring any potential injury or surgery), and a handful of position players like Kaeden Kent, Core Jackson and Robbie Burnett went straight to High-A Hudson Valley. Regardless, it was good to finally put faces with names, and see what some of them were capable of. Additionally, I was even more fortunate to have been able to see 1st rounder, Dax Kilby, record his first professional hit. It should be noted that I did not have access to batting practice, so I cannot comment on any power potentials.
I will grade Kilby, since he was who I paid the most attention to, but will have blurbs for the others that I saw. I will also include videos of the respective players (if available) from a YouTube video I have uploaded to the YS channel.
Kilby has a tall, thin frame with long levers and lots of room to grow. He stands with a very slight crouch at the plate, in the center-rear of the left-handed batter’s box, holding the bat at a nearly directly vertical angle with moderate bat waggle. Kilby has a quick, compact-ish swing given his frame, and has a small leg kick, only enough to pick up his foot an inch or so off the ground.
There is a lot to like here, and I can see why the Yankees chose Kilby as their first round selection. His speed was the initial thing to impress: he nearly beat out a dribbler that ultimately went 6-3 by running from HP to 1B in 4.01 seconds. While it took him until his 4th game and 9th professional at-bat to record his first hit, Kilby hit it over second base at 96.7 MPH as a line drive into shallow center field. Kilby obviously has a good sense for swing decisions, considering that despite that hitless deficit he had yet to record a strikeout, and It’s difficult to gauge true power without having access to batting practice, so he earned an “average” there just to seem neutral. Kilby was quick on his feet to field balls hit to him and did not hesitate to quickly discard balls over to the first baseman.
OF Richie Bonomolo, Jr.
DOB: 10/30/2003 (21)
HT: 5-11
WT: 190
H/T: R/R
Acquired: 2025 7th Round (Alabama)
Highest Level: Low-A
ETA: 2029
2025 Rank: Unranked / 50 OFP
Yankees OF prospect Richie Bonomolo Jr. (John Brophy/John Brophy Baseball)
Bonomolo has a compact but muscular frame, similar to that of Brett Gardner (also 5-11, 195). He stands in the back corner of the right-handed batter’s box. Bonomolo has a high and prolonged leg kick, placing a lot of his weight on his back leg ahead of the swing. He also has the quickest swing speed of the group I saw, reminding me of when I saw Clint Frazier in Tampa.
Bonomolo put up solid power numbers with Alabama, but has yet to go yard professionally. Considering how high his leg kick is and his upper-body musculature, expectations are high for Bonomolo to put up 20+ HR/season. I didn’t get a spectacular look at Bonomolo, offensively speaking, but he’s mechanically sound and there is nothing of immediate concern to me with his game play. He ran good routes, but were not incredibly efficient and will need some work. Regardless, he executed plays well, and has an average arm. If the Yankees get even a significant fraction of the output that Gardner had as a 7th round pick, Bonomolo will become a solid prospect. He is unranked currently as there are other prospects more deserving of Top 30 placement, but I can see him landing on a list before too long.
1B Kyle West
DOB: 11/02/2002 (22)
HT: 6-4
WT: 195
H/T: L/R
Acquired: 2025 13th Round (West Virginia)
Highest Level: Low-A
ETA: 2029
2025 Rank: Unranked / 50 OFP
Yankees INF prospect Kyle West (John Brophy/John Brophy Baseball)
Like Kilby, West has a tall, thin frame (taller than Kilby at 6-4 vs 6-2) with long levers and room to grow in the torso. West’s frame reminds me of that of what Spencer Jones looked like shortly after he was drafted from Vanderbilt. I think that kind of musculature should be something that can be expected of West. West has a rather open, erect stance in the back of the batter’s box, holding his bat above his shoulder nearly parallel with the ground. He also has a moderate leg kick with what appears to be average swing speed.
The most impressive part of West’s game is his defense, and he made a difficult pick off of a very off-line throw to first base in one situation. West went 0-for-3 in this game, but the swing mechanics are sound, even if the swing decisions may not be just yet. It’s still incredibly early to offer offensive predictions, but he does appear to be a streaky hitter. However, he suffered an ankle injury in Saturday’s game and has since been placed on the 7-day injured list.
Martin-Grudzielanek has a tall, athletic build with room to grow, with a frame reminiscent of Derek Jeter (6-3, 195). Considering he has been playing 3B, I don’t know if building a lot more muscle is the way to go. Martin-Grudzielanek has an open stance with a slight crouch, standing at the back of the batter’s box. He has a very minor, and quick, leg kick with average bat speed.
Martin-Grudzielanek has been the most impressive of the group drafted considering the Yankees selected him at the end of the draft in the 20th round, and a lot of that may be attributed to the bloodline with his father, Mark. Martin-Grudzielanek has a good feel for the game at 3B, and his athleticism and ability to read plays is above-average. His arm is average to above-average, and he has good range, but he did make an off-line throw to 1B where the 1B had to really stretch to make the play. Despite this, Martin-Grudzielanek has well-below-average speed running down the line. Martin-Grudzielanek’s bat is average to above-average, and on the day of the game, he had the highest batting average (8-for-23, .348) of the team, and the second-highest OPS (.878) behind Marshall Toole (2024, 15th round).
The MLB trade deadline is less than a week away, and teams are typically scurrying around to various Minor League affiliates of the organizations they want to make deals with. In regard to the upcoming trade deadline, teams may seek to flip prospects they’ll have to protect by adding to the 40-man roster instead of losing them for essentially nothing in December. What tends to happen is that teams are more likely to part with Minor League Players that they’re hesitant to protect in potential trade talks with other teams in exchange for a Major Leaguer that can help the team now. It’s typically a huge risk for both the team sending the prospect away and the one taking on the responsibility of developing that prospect into a quality talent that can one day help the Major League team.
With rumors swirling as always this time of year, the Yankees have a number of decisions to make when dealing with other teams. In addition to the 32 players already “Rule 5” eligible, the Yankees have a number of other players soon to be eligible, as seen in the chart below. In regard to the upcoming Rule 5 draft, the Yankees have to urgently decide on 30 prospects, as we’ll get into below.
Of the 30 players that are Rule 5 eligible this December, a handful are recognizable among those who follow the system, and have the potential of getting called up when rosters expand in September.
Spencer Jones
OF Spencer Jones (John Brophy/Yankees Savant)
If there’s anyone with household name recognition of the prospects listed, it’s likely Spencer Jones. “The lefty Judge” has been demolishing baseballs (they have a mother, you know) in Triple-A. In Triple-A, he’s on such an insane home run hitting pace, that in a 162-game season, he would hit 110 home runs. I had to check my math a few times, but he has hit 13 homers in 19 games, which works out to .68 HR/game. While his K% is still high (25.8%), it’s the lowest since his very abridged time in Tampa.
Regardless, it feels fair to expect that either the Yankees flip him for a significant name that they can retain for a few years, or he gets protected by getting added to the 40-man around the beginning of December.
Rafael Flores
C Rafael Flores (John Brophy/Yankees Savant)
An undrafted free agent in 2022, the same year that Jones was signed, out of a junior college southeast of LA, Flores broke into pro baseball with a literal bang. While he only spent 4 regular season games in the Florida Complex League (Rookie-level), he slashed .429/.429/.929/1.358 with 6 RBI, then in 3 postseason games where the FCL Yankees won the League Championship, he slashed .545/.583/1.182/1.765 with 3 RBI. The Yankees apparently liked that performance enough that he skipped Low-A Tampa entirely and started 2023 in High-A Hudson Valley.
The Yankees have been playing Flores like a lot of their other catchers in the system (think Ben Rice) in that he also plays 1B in addition to catcher, but he has nearly 5x the time behind the plate compared to at 1B this season. Of the group listed, Flores is the most likely candidate to get traded unless the Yankees trade Escarra, then he may be protected and possibly called up in 2026 (they would likely defer to calling up Jesus Rodriguez first since he’s already on the 40-man).
Chase Hampton
RHP Chase Hampton (Courtesy: Somerset Patriots)
It’s a little difficult to predict what the Yankees may do with Hampton or how they value him considering the injuries he’s dealt with in the past 18 months. Hampton missed significant time last season, only pitching in 18-2/3 innings in 2024, with 13 of those innings on rehab. It was then announced this March that he would have to have season-ending Tommy John surgery, so likely we won’t see him until around April. However, Hampton has still put up decent numbers in his time with the organization, throwing a combined 3.63 ERA, along with a 12.23 K/9 and 3.12 BB/9.
Hampton may be a part of trade discussions, but it’s unclear whether they may or may not protect him.
Jace Avina
OF Jace Avina (Courtesy: Somerset Patriots)
Avina was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in November 2023 as part of the trade that sent them Jake Bauers, and he’s done well since he’s been with the Yankees. Nothing particularly stands out about Avina other than he has solid bat-to-ball skills and has a good sense of his speed (which he has plenty of). Avina isn’t much of a power hitter, but in 61 games, he has already matched the amount of homers hit last season (10).
Avina may be a small part of trade discussions because of the consistency he’s provided to the Yankees, but otherwise don’t expect him to go anywhere.
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (Courtesy: Hudson Valley Renegades/Dave Janosz)
Rodriguez-Cruz, or ERC as he’s affectionately called by many on social media, has been an outstanding return in exchange for C Carlos Narváez from the Red Sox. While he’s struggled early after getting promoted to Double-A, Rodriguez-Cruz posted a 2.26 ERA in High-A, along with a 10.65 K/9 and 3.98 BB/9 in 83-2/3 IP. He mostly throws a fastball/sinker combo that sits high-90s and reaches 97 MPH, along with a low-90s change-up and a high-70s 12-6 curveball, and has good command of the zone.
I would expect that if Rodriguez-Cruz is dealt, it’s likely as part of a package (like with Jones) for someone that the Yankees can hang on to for a few years, considering he seems like a sure bet to be a Major Leaguer some day. I would also expect that the Yankees protect him in whichever way possible.
Geoffrey Gilbert
Yankees LHP prospect Geoffrey Gilbert winds up to throw a pitch (John Brophy/Yankees Savant)
Gilbert threw in only 7 IP last year before landing on the 60-day, then full-season, IL, but he only allowed a hit and two walks in that span. Fast-forward to this year, and while Gilbert doesn’t have that kind of quality, he’s still throwing exceptional, reliable relief innings as a setup man: 2.42 ERA, 13.15 K/9, 4.15 BB/9. In his heyday, Mariano Rivera wasn’t throwing strikes anywhere near that rate. Of note, Gilbert somehow isn’t on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 (he would be on my Top 30), so it’s unclear how the Yankees value him.
I would imagine, though, considering he was used in a relief inning this past February during Spring Training, that he’s valued at least somewhat high. At the same time, most prospects can be moved for the right price/player, and I suspect that’s the case here.
Allen Facundo
LHP Allen Facundo (John Brophy/Yankees Savant)
Facundo is only just returning from a lengthy Tommy John recovery and rehab, but given the numbers he’s put up in the few outings since being back, it’s likely that he’s on someone’s radar. In his most recent outing in Dunedin, Facundo was averaging mid-90s on his heater, with velos nearly reaching triple digits (99.7), something new for him. He also threw a mid-80s slider, which I recall moving like a Wiffle Ball, along with one change-up which was thrown at 90 MPH.
Like Gilbert, I’m unsure how the Yankees value Facundo, as like Gilbert, he’s missed the last year so he’ll need some time to get re-ranked in the system. I suspect he stays put until at least next season, where he’ll be moved up and exposed to scouts in the Northeast.
Below you can find all (or most at least) players that are Rule 5 eligible, along with those having eligibility nearing, in PDF form. Data is courtesy Fangraphs.
Carsten Charles (CC) Sabathia Jr. is only a few days away from immortality, with his Baseball Hall of Fame induction only a little over a week away. The ceremony will be held on July 27, 2025, in Cooperstown, NY, a quiet hamlet a few hours west of Albany, tucked away in the Catskills.
Sabathia had an incredible career: A 6-time All-Star (3 consecutive years, 2010-2012, with the Yankees), Cy Young winner (2007, Cleveland), 2009 ALCS MVP, 2009 World Series champion, MLB wins leader in 2009 & 2010, over 3,000 strikeouts (3,093) and 251 career victories. Sabathia also ended his career with a career ERA of 3.74 and a win-loss record of 251-161 (61%)
Cleveland Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia throws a pitch during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics Monday, June 25, 2007, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland. Sabathia was credited with his 11th win of the season in the Indians’ 5-2 victory. Photo Credit: Jeff Glidden/AP
Originally drafted by the (then) Cleveland Indians in 1998 as their first round selection (20th overall), Sabathia made his Major League debut on April 8, 2001, as the youngest player in the Majors at 20 years old, where he pitched in 5-2/3 innings versus the Orioles, allowing 3 hits and 3 earned runs while walking 2 batters and striking out 3. Later in 2001, he would end up 2nd voting for the AL Rookie of the Year behind fellow Class of 2025 Hall of Famer, and former fellow Yankee, Ichiro Suzuki.
Sabathia had an incredible career with the Indians over the course of the next 7 years, amassing an ERA of 3.83 and 1,265 strikeouts in 1528-2/3 innings of work over 237 games, including being named to the All-Star team 3 times (2003, 2004, 2007).
Sabathia spent one year in Milwaukee after being traded by the Indians on July 7, 2008, helping the Brewers clinch the NL Wild Card by pitching a complete-game against the Cubs, allowing only 4 hits, a walk and a run, while striking out 7 batters. He only pitched in one postseason game that year, allowing 5 runs (all earned) on 6 hits, 4 walks and a home run in 3-2/3 innings pitched. However, despite that poor postseason showing, Sabathia recorded a 2.70 ERA in 35 starts between both Cleveland and Milwaukee going into free agency.
The Yankees signed Sabathia to a seven-year, $161 million contract on December 18, 2008, the largest contract for a pitcher in MLB history (at the time). It’s probably fair to say that most readers here can remember where they were when the deal was announced, and again when Sabathia was introduced to the media while wearing the Yankee Pinstripes for the first time.
Sabathia was the starter for the 2009 season, where he went on to pitch 230 innings, and recorded 197 strikeouts (a figure he would also record two more times over the next three years), while ending the regular season with a 3.37 ERA. In 36-1/3 innings of work in the 2009 postseason, Sabathia threw a 1.98 ERA, allowing only 8 earned runs, while striking out 32 batters. This led him to be named the 2009 ALCS MVP.
Sabathia’s best season with the Yankees was in 2011, where he tossed a neat 3 ERA in 237-1/3 innings pitched, while striking out 230 batters, the most strikeouts he would record in pinstripes. However, he was one of the most consistent starters the Yankees had during the 2010s. In 1688 innings between 2010 and 2019, Sabathia threw an ERA of 3.87 (725 ER), while recording 1,503 strikeouts (8.01 K/9) and 509 walks (2.71 BB/9).
Sabathia may be best known by Yankees fans for his “bulldog” attitude, though. He was nearly always fired up on the mound, and the Yankees haven’t had that kind of presence out there since he retired at the end of the 2019 season. Probably most memorably for fans was the moment in 2018 where Sabathia forwent a $500,000 bonus as a result of hitting Jesus Sucre after the Rays zipped a fastball by Austin Romine’s ear.
An 11-0 margin in the final game between the @RaysBaseball and the Yankees this season. Sure, go ahead and intentionally hit a person. Today's game is live on FOX Sports Sun and FOX Sports Go. #RaysUppic.twitter.com/p4tPs06CHo
— FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun (@FanDuelSN_FL) September 27, 2018
Ironically, Sabathia’s 3,000th strikeout came on former Yankees prospect John Ryan Murphy on April 30, 2019, the final year of the career. The Baseball Hall of Fame have a fantastic interview conducted by the BBHOF after that moment to read for those interested.
Since being retired, Yankees fans most commonly see Sabathia as an invited guest to Spring Training, where this past year, he met with current Yankees starters Carlos Rodón and Max Fried, along with retired starters Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. Sabathia works with pitchers during bullpens and stands behind the netting the Yankees place behind the mound on the main field at Steinbrenner Field with other guests and Yankees coaches.
L tor R: Carlos Rodón, Roger Clemens, Steve Donohue, Andy Pettitte, Max Fried, and CC Sabathia (John Brophy/John Brophy Baseball)
During Sabathia’s media availability earlier this afternoon, he noted that right after he was named an inductee as part of this year’s class, he had to keep reminding himself why people were congratulating him, saying “Every time I see somebody they, like, they say, congratulations. And I’m like, “for what?” So, you know, just, you know, having that, you know, since January to now, you know, it’s kind of been like a celebration, you know? Every time you see somebody, it’s you know, “Congratulations”, and “How’s the speech coming along?” And so, you know, you get the daily reminder every day.”
Sabathia also noted about how he’s looking forward to Hall of Fame Weekend: “Um, you know, for me, it’s, uh, just exciting to be able to have my family there. Have so many different people from my hometown, um. So, I’m just I’m ready to be, you know, up there and be present. And you know, I’m not, you know, I have a lot of anxiety about the speech, obviously. If anybody knows me, I don’t like to really talk in front of people. So, a 10-minute speech in front of a crowd is gonna be, uh, interesting, but I’m ready to be in the moment and be excited and be with my family, and, and, uh, and celebrate the moment.”
Sabathia also stated that other Hall of Famers have been in contact with him lately, offering congratulations and other words, from teammate Derek Jeter, to Chipper Jones, whom he met in Atlanta during the All-Star festivities, to Ferguson Jenkins, Ken Griffey Jr. and Eddie Murray.
Sabathia also discussed what it meant to him to be a black ace pitcher and the third Black pitcher with 3,000 strikeouts, and how he’s helping the next generation of Black pitchers through The Players’ Alliance. Sabathia named Rays pitcher Taj Bradley, and Reds pitchers Chase Burns and Hunter Green, saying that he doesn’t want to be the last Black pitcher to win 20 games or last Black pitcher Hall of Famer and that he was excited to help motivate the next generation of Black starting pitchers.
Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe asked about his most memorable Yankees vs. Red Sox game, to which Sabathia noted “probably the Tyler Austin fight”.
Sabathia: “I remember, I feel like my kind of, like, “Welcome to the Yankees”, when I became a Yankee moment happened against the Red Sox, um, late in 2009, I had to start against them early August. It’s a big series. I think we were kind of chasing. I don’t think we were in first place yet. And I went out, I got through eight innings, gave up one run, and um. That picture that I that, you know, Ari (Ariele Goldman Hecht) took the Yankee photographer. It’s kind of like, my favorite picture, um, that I’ve had as a Yankee, you know, walking off, like, kind of being hyped, and um, I feel like that was my like, “Welcome to the Yankees”. I became a Yankee in that moment, so that that’s the the biggest moment I think I’ll take away from the rivalry was being able to have a big game, and you know, pitch well.”
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge puts Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Joe Kelly in a headlock after Kelly hit Yankees’ Tyler Austin with a pitch during the seventh inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Wednesday, April 11, 2018. (Charles Krupa/AP)
“But yeah, I mean, I’m serious about the Tyler Austin fight because in 2000… I think that was in 2017, um, we had that fight with Boston, and then we had a, another fight with the Tigers in Detroit. And I was, you know that team was young. That was a young Aaron Judge, that was a young Gary Sanchez, and you know, after, we kind of, you know, took up for each other in those moments, I’m like, “Oh yeah, this team has a chance to be really good.” And you know, that was a year we went off to the ALCS, so play in game seven. So, um, you know, you have those moments, and it kind of brings you together. And you know, that moment we had in Boston 2017 with that team was one of those.”
Saturday’s Yankees versus Red Sox game came under scrutiny when DJ LeMahieu hit the chalk on the 1st base foul line, but the play was called “foul”. It’s a judgment call, initially. Yankees manager Aaron Boone later argued that that judgment call set a poor standard for the potential of the call getting overturned. After the game, Yankees beat writers mused that MLB should implement something like how tennis has done for the same kind of in/out-of-bounds kind of play.
Aaron Boone was ejected after the umpires didn't overturn this foul ball call pic.twitter.com/HtT3oCuZem
It’s not like the technology doesn’t exist. HawkEye is the same system used both in tennis as in baseball. It’s the system used for pitch placement with ABS, skeletal frames you may see replays of, plus lots of other data. Goodness, HawkEye has been upholding and overturning in/out calls since being implemented in 2001 with cricket.
In the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader in Tampa, I saw the first check swing challenge. Home plate umpire called no swing, field ump confirmed; upheld.
Two pitches later, it happened again. Same swing: umpire said batter swung, no challenge because Clearwater ran out of challenges (you only get the one challenge). I spoke to two scouts about this yesterday, and they noted that they didn’t like the challenge because of the inconsistency.
Our mutual thought was, “why have the challenge if the rule is inconsistent? If it’s the same swing, you have to call them the same.” I think only having the one challenge to use is an issue, especially if an umpire is being inconsistent like this. Further, I think it’s frustrating for many parties with these judgment calls, whether it’s the check swing or other plays, when there’s only one umpire on the field in these Low-A and FCL games in Florida.
It seems that MLB is trying to create a firm rule for where there used to be a judgment call. I was surprised to learn that that wasn’t actually a rule but instead a judgment call by the umpires. The unwritten rule is that the bat can’t break the front plane of the plate. However, MLB/MiLB has it in the Florida State League where anything past a 45-degree angle from the front plane of the plate. They note in this article that “the previous wiggle room has led to some wide interpretations of a swing over the years. Every so often, online clips go viral from Game 7 of the 1965 World Series of Don Mincher nearly bringing the bat around his entire body on pitches from Sandy Koufax, only to be called as non-swings.”
The first test (seen above) was implemented in the 2024 Arizona Fall League season, and maybe it makes more sense if it’s visualized as the video shows. At “The Tank”, the Tarpons’ home field for 2025, there is no video scoreboard, only a primitive scoreboard like you’d see at a high school or D-III college. Perhaps at any of the other stadiums across the Florida State League where they also display pitch challenges it may make more sense, but without visuals it’s difficult to wrap your head around. Before ABS calls were shown on the scoreboard, you could still see the pitches come in via the Baseball Savant site.
LHP Brock Selvidge throws a pitch for the Tampa Tarpons (John Brophy/John Brophy Baseball)
One of the tests that baseball has done the past few years is the “pie slice”, which prevents too much of a shift and puts a 45-degree angle around second base. It led, in a way, to the current shift rules implemented by Major League baseball where teams have to have two infielders on each side of second base, except for when an outfielder is brought in. It provides more defensive strategy, but the pie slice was supposed to encourage more offense so that if the batter were to hit a ball over the “pie slice”, there wouldn’t be a defender in the way to stop the ball.
In case you haven’t watched a Low-A game anytime recently, most batters cannot control the ball as well as a Major Leaguer, like say Aaron Judge, can, so the point of creating more offense is rather limited.
Some rules tested in the FSL, like the shift rule, have been implemented in the Majors. Most notably, the larger bases, increased to 18 inch squares from 15 inch squares, were a test in late 2022. Apparently both teams and players liked the change, especially in regard to player safety, and it was implemented in the Majors in 2023.
In 2021, alongside ABS testing, MLB/MiLB tested limiting pickoffs in the FSL like what we see now in the Majors where pitchers are limited to 2 pickoff attempts per at-bat with a third failed pickoff resulting in a balk. Also in 2021, the pitch timer was implemented, again like what is currently used in the Majors.
Revisiting the original discussion, I think most fans would agree that MLB should use the technology already installed in stadiums and actively used by the league and teams and have a system in place to be able to challenge calls like what we saw on Saturday. The video above that discussed HawkEye noted that it is accurate on dirt and clay, despite not being used at Roland Garros. And of course it is, since it’s been used in cricket for over two decades.
I should also add that the commentators on the Dodgers/Padres game on Monday night were discussing how awful of a check swing call they saw in the top of the 1st inning. As the inning went on, they kept griping about how it should have been strike 3, preventing a Padres run from coming in. They also mentioned that there should be a rule instead of being a judgment call.
I don’t necessarily agree that the “no swing” determination should be greater than 45-degrees past the front plane of home plate. I think it should go off of what is the unwritten rule of not going past that front plane. What happens when these players get promoted to High-A where they go back to the unwritten rule guidance? I suppose the same can be said with how the size and shape of the strike zone is different in the Florida State League compared to the “traditional” strike zone. The strike zone is 20 inches wide (1.5″ wider on each side of the plate) with a two-dimensional rectangle at the midpoint of the plate. The top and bottom of the strike zone is set at 53.5% and 27% of the batter’s height, respectively.
Do you like the changes that MLB has made lately, and do you agree with the various tests that are being done in the Minors?
I had the opportunity to catch up on Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Carson Coleman earlier today after a brief appearance in Tampa, FL on rehab.
To catch things up, Coleman was signed as a free agent during the pandemic in June 2020, and didn’t debut until May 5, 2021 with Low-A Tampa. He spent the full season there, struggling throughout, ending the 2021 season with an ERA of 6.11.
Coleman turned heads the following season after posting a 0.47 ERA in 19-1/3 innings with High-A Hudson Valley, then a 2.86 ERA with AA Somerset. He missed the 2023 season after having Tommy John surgery, then was selected by the Texas Rangers on December 6, 2023 during the Major League portion of the Rule 5 draft. Coleman told me, “It was great. I mean, I got to have the opportunity to be around a big league club. Obviously, injuries didn’t go the way I would like, but that was awesome. I mean, it was a great experience. Texas was an amazing organization, and I was thankful for the opportunity, but happy to be back with the Yankees too.
Coleman then missed all of 2024 with a right shoulder surgery via his MiLB profile, which Coleman said was a nerve transposition surgery, but that is actually a surgery that’s typically done in the elbow. It involves surgically relocating the ulnar nerve from a position where it’s compressed, typically behind the elbow, as a result of cubital tunnel syndrome.
Coleman noted that he was happy to be back in Tampa, where the Yankees have been “very welcoming”. He added that, “when you come back to a place [the Yankees] that loves and respects you, and, you know, looks at you in a good way. It’s nice to be back”
After missing two years due to injury, Coleman has thrown four perfect innings on rehab assignment, split evenly between Rookie-level Florida Complex League and Low-A Tampa. Coleman added, “I feel good getting back to it. It’s been nice to finally get back on a game mound for the first time in a long time.” Today, Coleman threw a mix of a sinker and a curveball, hitting 97 on the sinker while sitting in the upper 70s with the curveball.
RHP Carson Coleman (John Brophy/Yankees Savant)
Coleman noted that the mound at “The Tank”, the field that the Tarpons are playing on this year, is similar to that of the main field at Steinbrenner Field. He noted that, “It’s always fun, especially having [Aaron] Bossi as a manager. One of my coaches in, uh, in Somerset. Bossi’s the man, so it’s always good to pitch for him.” Bossi was previously the Defensive & Baserunning Coach for Somerset.
Coleman was unsure what the next steps were, but said he expected to be going up to Hudson Valley in the next week or two to continue the rehab.
If he continues pitching how he did today, and has so far while on rehab assignment, he could very well be in line for a late-in-the-season call-up.
It was announced earlier today that LHP Griffin Herring and OF Tyler Wilson were both named (in a sweep!) the Florida State League Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively.
#Yankees No. 25 prospect Griffin Herring spun six hitless innings, yielding a pair of walks while striking out 10 for @TampaTarpons.
It’s rare to see a prospect perform the same or better in the pros compared to his collegiate career, but that’s exactly what Tarpons LHP Griffin Herring has done in the first two months of his pro career with the Yankees. The LSU alum was recently named to MiLB’s Prospect Team of the Week after throwing 6 no-hit innings versus the Dunedin Blue Jays (Low-A Toronto). Dunedin only reached base twice on two walks, and the team’s batters were struck out 10 times in the 6 inning appearance.
Herring does it AGAIN 🔥 x2 Griffin Herring is your FSL Pitcher of the Week 5/19–25 👉 6 hitless innings, 10 K’s in Dunedin!💪
Herring has without a doubt been Tampa’s best pitcher, holding an ERA around or under 1 through 8 games. Surprisingly, Herring started 1 game with LSU out of the 39 he threw in for them, recording 8 saves between 2023 & 2024. That said, Herring has a lower opposing batting average (.153 vs. 209), lower WHIP (1.03 vs. 0.90), lower BABIP (.227 vs. .314) and the same K% (33.3%) compared to last season with LSU.
Herring doesn’t seem to fade like other pitchers do as they start to fatigue. He was pulled from the no-hitter after 6 innings because of a pitch limit, but I suspect that if he was in the Majors, or possibly a bit higher up in the system, he may have been able to pull off a full no-hit game. He was in line for over 100 pitches; he ended the day with 86 pitches and 53 strikes.
It should be noted as well that Herring held a 0.39 ERA in the month of April; 23.1 IP, 1 ER on 12 H, 1 HB, 10 BB, and 28 SO.
Tarpons playing better in May
The Tarpons look like a completely different team compared to the one I saw in the first few weeks of the season. There’s a lot more cohesion and, to be frank, more teamwork, instead of just playing for oneself’s benefit. The pitching has looked better, with Herring being the “ace” of the starting rotation, and the bullpen has also cleaned things up to. We haven’t seen this good of a team since this time in 2021, when players like Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells and Andres Chaparro were with the Tarpons.
Tyler Wilson, the Florida State League’s Player of the Week for May 19-25, batted 12-for-20 (.600) with 2 doubles, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 5 K and was 1-for 2 on stolen bases. Wilson also recorded 23 total bases.
OF Tyler Wilson (John Brophy/John Brophy Baseball)
The Tarpons still have an uphill climb out of what was last place, but are only 2.5 games back of Lakeland and face Lakeland in a 3-game split week because of the schedule adjustments to accommodate the Rays (they’re home vs. Fort Myers this weekend). The possibility exists that Tampa can get up to first place in the West Division before the end of the week. Tampa’s record to date in May is 15-7 (.682) versus 9-14 (.391) in April. They have a combined record of 24-21 (.533).
Tampa had also increased their run differential to +34 from -22 on April 30. They went from 93-115 to 246-212, scoring 153 runs and allowing 97 runs for a run diff of +56 in May.
OF Dillon Lewis (John Brophy/John Brophy Baseball)
A lot of that has to do with Tampa’s offense waking up. They’re making better swing decisions and are working more pitches until they get one they can hit. We’re getting to that point in the season where we’re going to start seeing movement throughout the system. Prospects like Dillon Lewis (2024,13th round) and Juan Matheus (IFA, Venezuela) are hitting .313/.389/.689 and .298/.354/.357, respectively in May. We’ve seen improvements throughout the offense as a whole for the most part, but those two stick out in particular, given their performances of late.
RHP Sean Hermann (John Brophy/John Brophy Baseball)
The pitching is a lot more consistent as well, and the Tampa bullpen has improved significantly. Sean Hermann has looked even better than he did in 2023 with Tampa as he returns from Tommy John surgery (ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction surgery). They’ve also moved Hermann from starter to reliever, which may be the route the Yankees go in the long term; he’s improved from a 4.93 ERA in 22 games in 2023 to a 1.61 ERA in 12 games in 2025.
As noted previously, the Tarpons start the week tonight on the road versus the Lakeland Flying Tigers (Low-A Detroit), spending the next 3 nights there, and return home for a 3-game weekend series versus the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (Low-A Minnesota). The rotation in Lakeland should be something like Kirtner, Flatt, Herring based on what they’ve had the past two weeks, but Brock Selvidge is rehabbing with Tampa so they may sneak him in there for an inning or two someplace.
Tampa usually doesn’t announce their starter until just prior to first pitch; Lakeland has rehabbing RHP Tyler Mattison starting tonight. Mattison missed all of 2024 to injury, but was last with AA Erie in 2023, throwing a 1.62 ERA in 33.1 IP.
The Low-A Tampa Tarpons opened the 2025 season at home in their new digs, dubbed “The Tank”, versus Detroit’s Low-A affiliate, the Lakeland Flying Tigers.
The Tarpons and the associated employees of the team have had a lot to adjust to since they also didn’t have a lot of time to work with given the schedules of both the Yankees Spring Training and the Rays holding their regular season opening series. The Tarpons are making the situation as enjoyable as they possibly can, but it’s definitely far from ideal.
INF Roderick Arias approaches the plate (John Brophy/John Brophy Baseball)
Here are a few things to keep on mind if you plan on attending a Tarpons game this season:
Seating is general admission in two sets of bleachers. Capacity is set to 1,000, but Friday’s game looked like it was pretty well sold and attendance wasn’t even at 500.
You should bring a tush cushion or towel since the seating is aluminum so it will be hot under the sun for most games.
Concessions are limited to hot dogs, bottled beverages and on-tap alcoholic drinks (margarita, etc.). A hot dog was $6.50 and was a good size.
The team store is limited in variety, but they have some hats, shirts, etc., and the register is the same as that of the concession cart.
Tickets are $5 for most games, and they strongly urge purchasing tickets online since there really isn’t a box office. Tarpons aren’t permitted to use the regular GMS box office since the Rays have “ownership” of the stadium currently.
The Tarpons Team Store and concession stand set up at home for 2025 (John Brophy/John Brophy Baseball)
Even still despite the above, I enjoyed my time at “The Tank” this weekend. There are different angles to experience the game, both on the 1B side, and the situation is both good and bad, but the organization is helping out a local MLB team after their roof was torn off in Hurricane Milton. Your opinion may vary depending on how you view the Tampa Bay Rays organization, but kudos to the Yankees and Tarpons for being so accommodating.
All of that aside, we saw a handful of both pitchers returning from TJS along with some that made their respective professional debuts this weekend. Tarpons pitching combined for 26 strikeouts this weekend, including 15 K in Saturday’s walk-off win.
Greysen Carter was originally slotted in as the Opening Night starter, but he was moved to the Sunday noon matinée start and instead 2024 6th rounder Griffin Herring took the bump. And for good reason too. Herring had the best outing of the 3 pitchers, throwing a 4-hit, 5-⅔-inning shutout, striking out 7 of the 22 batters faced.
We’re not fortunate enough to get full Savant data in Tampa this year, so we’ll have to depend on away sites (excluding Daytona) for advanced stats & pitch velos. Just going off of the extremely limited data, it seems like Herring has a three-pitch mix: a fastball that sits in the lower-90s (91-93), a slider that sits in the upper 80s (86-87) and a change-up that sits in the low-mid 80s (83-84).
Yankees 2024 9th round selection Tanner Bauman got the start on the odd Saturday matinée game (3 PM start), and his stuff was just as electric, if not a bit more so. Bauman went 4 innings of four-hit, one-unearned-run ball, where he walked 3 batters and struck out 7. Again looking at the limited pitch data, it seems that Bauman also has a three-pitch mix: an upper-70s/low-80s (78-83) change-up, a mid-80s (85) slider and an upper 80s/low-90s fastball (89-92). Bauman’s control seemed better than that of Carter’s, especially for a pro debut start, but it’s apparent that like all the other pitchers, there’s a lot to work with.
I didn’t get the opportunity to see Greysen Carter’s debut, but he had the most limited appearance of the three starters, only going 3 innings and 71 pitches (versus 5.2/83 for Herring and 4/70 for Bauman). While it wasn’t a bad performance by any stretch, he had the weakest in some regard by allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit, walking 5 batters and striking out 4 in those 3 innings of work. Carter showed the most velo of the three starters, throwing a 96.5 MPH fastball in a strikeout versus Lakeland’s Akil Baddoo, and regularly reached the mid-90s. He also showed a pitch that went into the upper-70s/low 80s (79-82), presumably a change-up but could have been a slider, too.
OF Tyler Wilson (John Brophy/John Brophy Baseball)
The star of the weekend was the Yankees’ top offensive draft pick last year, OF Tyler Wilson. Wilson went 5-for-10 in the 3-game set: 2-for-2 on Friday, 2-for-4 on Saturday, including that walk-off RBI, and 1-for-4 on Sunday. With 15 PA, the math is pretty easy to figure out with his BB% and K%; 13.33% K% and 33.33% BB%, although to be honest, with a slash line of .500/.667/.500/1.167, those numbers seem irrelevant. Still, while it seems obvious that Wilson may not keep this trend, he’s not a prospect many are talking about, and he’s a name that you should follow given how he looked this weekend.
Wilson Walk-Off
#8 Tyler Wilson singles on a line drive to LF. Josue Gonzalez scores! 💪
The Yankees’ 14th round selection in the 2024 draft, 2B Austin Green, showed some pop and grit this weekend, including a 3-for-5 game on Sunday where he drove in 2 runs. In the top of the 8th of Friday’s game, Green was credited for getting the 1-4 out in a caught stealing, when really it was a 1-4-6-5-4-6-5-4 pickle kind of play (not sure if that’s what the actual scoring should be, but it’s pretty close). It was quite the play too as both the runner, Lakeland’s Jackson Strong and Green dove toward 2B, but Green was the one that won the battle.
OF Brian Sanchez instantly went out swinging (literally) and went 3-for-4 in the opening game and 4-for-13 overall in the series, driving in 3 RBI including an RBI single on Friday and a 2-RBI triple on Sunday. Sanchez was half of the acquisition by the Brewers for Jake Bauers (Jace Avina was the other half; he did well in HV this weekend as well).
Sanchez Shines🌟
CF Brian Sanchez collected three hits on the night, including the game-deciding RBI-single in the bottom of the 5th inning! pic.twitter.com/MfLPMvZN9P
Tampa, FL – Taj Bradley kicked off the finale to the Rays’ Opening Weekend, as they slid into a 6-4 win over the Rockies. The Denver-based team got off to a rocky start and their defense was a big sore spot after a number of errors and misplays occurred in the 6th inning.
Bradley performed consistently, particularly in the latter part of his appearance, where he maintained his velocity by throwing a 98.6 MPH four-seam fastball in the top of the 6th inning. Bradley’s fastball showed a slight increase in spin over last year (up 50 RPM), while his cutter, used about a quarter of the time, decreased by 30 RPM.
The 24-year-old pitcher did not allow any runs for the first four innings. In the top of the fifth inning, a Michael Toglia double and a Nick Martini RBI single to right field resulted in the first run allowed by Bradley. Bradley then had some traffic on the bases in the 6th inning following a hit-by-pitch, a single, and an RBI single, marking his second run allowed in today’s game.
1B Yandy Díaz got things going early for the Rays with a lead-off double, followed by a 409-ft home run to right-center field by Brandon Lowe, scoring 2 runs.
Several singles and errors led to the Rays scoring 3 runs in the 6th inning. Jonathan Aranda was hit by a pitch, Taylor Walls hit a ground ball single, Junior Caminero came in as a pinch hitter, scoring Aranda on a groundball RBI single that was bobbled by Rockies SS Ezequiel Tovar.
José Caballero followed up with an RBI single on a misplayed bunt; Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings bobbled the play, allowing Walls and Caminero to score. Ben Rortvedt then reached on a fielder’s choice, allowing Caballero to score.
Colorado’s Nick Martini had three hits in four at-bats today: an RBI single in the 5th inning, a single in the 7th, and another single in the 9th. He also grounded out in the 2nd inning.
“Stay in the process. Stay patient. Stay ready.” That’s the mindset that Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham has had these past few weeks, and it paid off in spades for him tonight as he drove in both Yankees runs and got the Yankees their first win since Saturday vs. Boston, and only the second this month. Grisham also recorded a clutch out in the bottom of the 8th on a fly ball by Yandy Diaz, getting Tommy Kahnle out of a jam with runners on the bases.
The pitching tonight, however, really dazzled despite a lot of traffic on the bases, with the lone run by the Rays scored on a 5th inning Yandy Diaz 5-4 RBI force ground out, allowed by starting pitcher Marcus Stroman.
Stroman said after the game that “the work ethic from every guy, the confidence, hasn’t changed one bit. It’s a long season, we play 162 games, so we’re going to go into skids like this. We’re definitely glad to get the win. It was a full team effort tonight.”
Stroman also gave kudos to the bullpen; Hill, Weaver, Kahnle and Homes combined to allow only 3 allowed hits tonight and 3 walks while striking out 6. The 5th inning is where things began to fall apart for Stroman. He allowed a single by former Yankee Ben Rortvedt, a single by Taylor Walls, which advanced Rortvedt to third base, the force ground out by Diaz, a single by Brandon Lowe and a walk by Isaac Paredes finished his night.
Hill came in with two runners on (Paredes at first and Lowe at second), where he threw a mix of sinker, slider and a four-seamer. Hill noted after the game that the slider is new and that he has been working on it with the coaching staff. He added that he’s enjoyed being with the Yankees, saying there are a lot of resources available and “that could be helpful for a lot of players”. Boone echoed what Stroman said, saying that “he’s thrown the ball really, really well for us.”
Boone said during the press conference that DJ LeMahieu, who was beaten up pretty badly with a hit-by-pitch on his pinky and a foul ball that ricocheted and hit him in his Adam’s apple area, is “100%”. Given that he’s only played 34 games of the 94 that the Yankees have played, LeMahieu may earn a rest day tomorrow ahead of the weekend series in Baltimore.
The Yankees and Rays play the rubber match tomorrow night at the Trop, with LHP Nestor Cortes starting for the Yankees and RHP Shane Baz starting for Tampa Bay. First pitch is scheduled for 6:50.
