DotF: Solak’s big game helps Tampa clinch postseason spot

Some quick notes to get us started:

• SS Gleyber Torres had his Tommy John surgery today and it seems everything went well. He posted a photo on … something. I can’t keep track of all the social media sites anymore. The injury is to his non-throwing elbow and Torres is expected to be ready in time for Spring Training.
• I mentioned yesterday that 3B Nelson Gomez is currently suspended and I didn’t know why. Turns out he’s serving a five-game suspension stemming from a heated argument with an umpire at the end of last season. Gomez must have bumped the ump pretty good to get five games.
• RHP Jorge Guzman hit 100 mph ten times in last night’s start, according to Josh Norris. Velocity is no issue for Guzman, who commands his heater better when he scales it back to 95-97 mph. The Yankees got him from the Astros in the Brian McCann trade.

Triple-A Scranton (5-2 loss to Syracuse)

• RF Jake Cave: 1-4, 2 K
• CF Dustin Fowler: 2-4, 1 R — multiple hits in six of his last eleven games
• 1B Tyler Austin: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 K — second straight game with a homer
• LF Clint Frazier: 0-4, 1 K
• 3B Miguel Andujar: 2-3, 1 BB — 5-for-10 in three Triple-A games so far
• C Kyle Higashioka: 0-3 — left the game after the seventh with a back issue according to Donnie Collins, and he’ll see a doctor tomorrow … that’s not good, losing catching depth stinks
• RHP Domingo Acevedo: 5.1 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 Balk, 5/5 GB/FB — 67 of 98 pitches were strikes (68%), plus he picked a runner off first … tough second start in Triple-A … no big deal, shake it off and get back out there in five days
• RHP J.P. Feyereisen: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 3/1 GB/FB – 25 of 37 pitches were strikes (68%) … 33/16 K/BB in 31.1 innings
• LHP Tommy Layne: 1 IP, zeroes, 3/0 GB/FB — nine pitches, six strikes

Double-A Trenton (2-1 win over Altoona) I was wrong about the Derby jerseys yesterday … they’re going to wear those next Monday

• SS Thairo Estrada: 1-4
• 2B Abi Avelino: 0-4, 2 K
• RF Billy McKinney: 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B — 12-for-33 (.364) with four doubles and three homers in his last ten games
• CF Rashad Crawford: 0-3, 1 K
• RHP Ronald Herrera: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1 HB, 10/3 GB/FB — 55 of 89 pitches were strikes (62%) … first outing since his MLB debut in Anaheim last week … the long layoff could explain the uncharacteristic wildness
• RHP Colten Brewer: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 4/0 GB/FB — 18 of 30 pitches were strikes (60%)

High-A Tampa (13-4 win over Florida) the win clinches the first half division title and a postseason spot … they won their last seven games to mount a comeback and make that happen

• SS Jorge Mateo: 1-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 K, 2 E (both fielding) — exactly one hit in five straight games
• LF Tito Polo: 2-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K
• RF Trey Amburgey: 1-5, 1 R, 4 K, 1 SB
• 2B Nick Solak: 4-5, 3 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 SB — he’s up to .310/.417/.452 on the season … I imagine the Yankees will look to get him to Trenton at some point in the second half
• 3B Kyle Holder: 0-3, 2 R, 2 BB
• RHP Brody Koerner: 7 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HB, 10/4 GB/FB — 61 of 88 pitches were strikes (69%)

Low-A Charleston is off until tomorrow for the All-Star break.

Short Season Staten Island (3-2 win over Hudson Valley)

• SS Wilkerman Garcia: 1-5, 1 RBI, 2 K
• CF Dom Thompson-Williams: 1-4, 1 K, 1 HBP
• 2B Oswaldo Cabrera: 1-5, 1 K
• RF Leonardo Molina: 2-4, 1 R — I’m still a believer, but it would be nice to see have a good year at some point
• C Jason Lopez: 2-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 E (throwing)
• RHP Drew Finley: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 5/4 GB/FB — 50 of 83 pitches were strikes (60%) … he is technically on a rehab assignment here after dealing with an elbow issue late last season … I imagine he’ll be activated and added to their active roster at some point … right now he doesn’t count against Staten Island’s official roster

Rookie Pulaski begins play tomorrow. Here’s the roster. The notables: OF Brayan Emery, 3B Dermis Garcia, RHP Rony Garcia, OF Pablo Olivares, RHP Jio Orozco, C Saul Torres, and RHP Gilmael Troya. Orozco is being sent down from Charleston.

The two Rookie GCL Yanks affiliates begin play Monday. No word on their rosters yet though. We probably won’t see them until Monday morning.