A Yankees Day in the Life: Justus Sheffield

To steal a few words from Scott Fiedler, which I guess were technically borrowed from myself in the first place, “Sonny Gray Sucks.” Yeah, I am a Sonny Gray fan and yeah, I am a wee bit disappointed in his performance since donning the Yankees pinstripes at the expense of three really good Yankees prospects. It sucks, but I am not worried. You know why? Because the Yankees have a deep farm system with more than a few blue-chip prospects in it including possibly their best starting pitching prospect that was last seen dominating Double-A pitching. His name is Justus Sheffield and he came to the New York Yankees via a trade with the Cleveland Indians involving Andrew Miller. Could 2018 be the year we see Sheffield reach the Major League level and the Bronx? Unfortunately, we will have to stay tuned for that, but while we wait we can all watch this amazing documentary as we try to see what it is like to spend a Yankees day in the life as Justus Sheffield.

Enjoy the video!

Four Yankees Named to Double-A’s Eastern League All Star Team

Four Players Named To Eastern League All-Star Team

The Eastern League announced Wednesday that four players, RHP Yefry Ramirez, LHP Justus Sheffield, INF Thairo Estrada and 1B Mike Ford have been named to the Eastern League All-Star Game, taking place on Wednesday July 13 at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, New Hampshire.

2017 marks the second mid-summer classic for Ramirez, in 2015 with the Missoula Osprey (Rookie, Pioneer League) he was named a mid-season All-Star. In his first season at Double-A, Ramirez has gone 7-3 with a 3.48 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 64.2 innings pitched. Ramirez was named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ending May 21 and enters play on June 28 ranked tenth in the league in ERA (3.48), tied for second in wins (7), fourth in batting average against (.232), and first in strikeouts per nine innings (9.19) among starting pitchers.

Sheffield earns the honor in his first full season as a member of the Yankees organization. In 14 starts for the Thunder he's compiled a 6-5 record with a 3.28 ERA. Sheffield has twice been named Eastern League Player of the Week and on Sunday, June 18 against the Erie SeaWolves, Sheffield threw his first career shutout. Entering play on June 28, Sheffield's 3.28 ERA ranks seventh in the League and his 69 strikeouts are third highest in the league. 2017 marks the third straight mid-season All-Star award for the left-hander from Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Thairo Estrada has been a staple atop the Thunder lineup and will play in his second All Star game as a professional in July. Estrada's .324 batting average entering play on June 28 ranks him fourth in the Eastern League. In addition to the high batting average, Estrada has been an on-base machine, reaching in 62-of-68 games played this season, in those 62 games he's reached 119 total times (89 hits, 23 walks, 7 hit by pitches).

Ford has been named a mid-season All-Star for the third time in his career following appearances with Charleston in 2014 and with Tampa in 2015. Ford enters play on Wednesday as the Eastern League leader in on-base percentage (.404), and walks (47). In 64 games played with the Thunder, Ford has hit eight home runs and driven in 40 runs with a .277 batting average.

The Thunder continue their series with the Richmond Flying Squirrels tonight at ARM & HAMMER Park at 7pm. For tickets and the latest information on Thunder baseball visit www.TrentonThunder.com.

--THUNDER--

Jorge Mateo Named Eastern League Player of the Week

Don’t look now but Jorge Mateo may be back after earning Eastern League Player of the Week. Here is the press release from the Trenton Thunder: 

Jorge Mateo Named Eastern League Player of the Week

The Eastern League announced Monday and INF Jorge Mateo was named the League's Player of the Week for the week of June 26th - July 2nd.

In his first six games  in Double-A, Mateo has matched his career-high with four walks in a game and set a new career-high with five RBI's in the Thunder's 14-2 defeat of New Hampshire in game one of Sunday's doubleheader.

Overall, the Yankees #3 rated prospect according to Baseball America, batted .522/.621/.913 with three doubles, one home run and two stolen bases in his first week with the Thunder. The 22-year-old infielder had five games this week in which he had at least two hits. Combined between Tampa and Trenton, Mateo is batting .262/.318/.440 with five home runs, 16 doubles, 11 triples and 30 stolen bases in 36 attempts.

Mateo's honor provides a new franchise record for the Thunder by becoming the seventh weekly award winner this season. In 2006, three different Thunder players (Shelley Duncan, Tyler Clippard, and Randy Ruiz) were honored a combined six times.

The Thunder have also set a new record for the most players named to the league's weekly award with five different players Chance Adams (April 6-16), Yefry Ramirez (May 15-21),, Justus Sheffield (May 22-28 and June 12-18), Billy McKinney (June 12-18) and Mateo earning it in 2017.

The Thunder return to ARM & HAMMER Park on Tuesday July 4th for a series with the Reading Fightin Phils. Tuesday's game features post-game firewroks presented by the U.S. Army. For tickets and the latest information on Thunder baseball visit www.TrentonThunder.com.

--THUNDER--

So it Seems Miguel Andujar is Learning First Base

The New York Yankees have a good problem on their hands, the team has too many good prospects and not enough positions to play them all at. The Yankees have Gleyber Torres scratching at the door of the Major Leagues presumably at third base leaving their next best third baseman to potentially learn a new position. Miguel Andujar, once thought to be the future in the Bronx at the hot corner, was seen last Friday taking reps at first base before his game with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders.

The Yankees have the third-worst production at first base this season and Andujar may be the Yankees answer to the potential problem rather than acquiring someone outside the organization. With prospects you have to make the organization see you and you have to force the organization’s hands by producing and Andujar has done just that as he crushed the ball in Double-A.

Let’s be real, the long term plan for Andujar can’t be first base. His arm and defense is just too strong and too good (eventually anyway since he does lack true consistency in the field) to be wasted at first base. I truly think Andujar would be traded before he was moved to first base full time. Part time first base? Maybe, especially given the Yankees dire needs this season. I guess we will all just have to stay tuned.

Justus Sheffield to Triple-A?

The New York Yankees youth movement is in full swing as the team boasts a number of MLB-ready or soon-to-be MLB-ready players in Triple-A. More on those Triple-A players later, for now we will focus on a Double-A player that may be ready to join said Triple-A players. His name is Justus Sheffield and he came to the Yankees last season from the Cleveland Indians alongside Clint Frazier in the Andrew Miller trade.

In his first nine starts of the 2017 season Sheffield has posted a 4-2 record with a 3.28 ERA. Sheffield has struck out 44 batters and walked just 18 in 49.1 innings. Sheffield has been especially strong lately giving up just one run combined in his last two starts earning him the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Award for May 22 – May 29. All this at just 21-years old. Can this carry over to Triple-A and how soon can it? Yes, and very soon.

Sheffield boasts a mid-90’s fastball that gets as high as 96 MPH, a slider that he throws around 85 MPH and a developing changeup that keeps batters off-balance at the plate. The Yankees have shown a willingness to be aggressive with their prospects lately, although they are still a bit cautious with their arms and the last two seasons for James Kaprielian will only make the team more cautious, so it is not out of the realm of possibilities to see Sheffield reach Scranton at some point this season if he continues to pitch well.

Scouts say Sheffield has all the makings of a middle-of-the-rotation type starter but warn that he has plenty of room to grow and develop into more. Sheffield has a simple delivery and great command which are two things that many coaches struggle to teach. All the makings of a great MLB starter are there he just has to put it all together first. Well that and reach Triple-A first which could be coming sooner than we all expect or think. Stay tuned. 

Source: Gleyber Torres Could Unseat Chase Headley THIS SEASON

According to an unnamed source, and you all reading this likely know my thoughts on the whole unnamed source thing but it’s Friday so just roll with it, the New York Yankees are grooming Gleyber Torres not to come up sometime in 2018 but to come up with the Major League club as soon as July of 2017. Yes. Next month! Which position would Torres play and which current Yankees bomber would he bounce out of the starting lineup? Well reportedly that player will potentially be Yankees third baseman Chase Headley.

Torres, just 20-years old, is seemingly being groomed and fast-tracked to the Major Leagues by the Yankees and could be up with the team as early as July of this season. Torres is a natural shortstop but has been playing short, third base and second base all season long in Double-A and Triple-A as the team looks to add versatility and flexibility to his game. If the Yankees call Torres up it would likely be at the expense of Headley who would be demoted to utility infielder playing third base and first base off the bench.

Torres is off to a slow start in Triple-A with the bat, at the time of this writing he was barely above the Mendoza line of .200, but was hitting .273 with five home runs and 18 RBI in 32 games for Trenton leading me to believe that this is more of an anomaly than anything.

Torres is ready defensively at any of the three positions described above and the source claims that the Yankees organization feels as though Torres will be MLB ready in the next two months. Could we see Torres by the end of July? Could Torres be one of potentially many Yankees additions at the July 31^st trade deadline a la Luis Severino from a couple seasons back? Well if you believe in anonymous sources found on the internet…. Then yes. Stay tuned. 

So it Seems We May See Chance Adams in 2017

The New York Yankees are in first place in the American League East Division and while the Boston Red Sox are creeping up and the Toronto Blue Jays are quietly climbing out of their early season cellar they stuck themselves in the Yankees don’t seem phased. New York has a plan and they are sticking to the plan, period, and that plan is the youth movement. The Yankees already have Aaron Judge potentially starting an All Star Game for them if the voting ended today, Gary Sanchez taking over the league behind the dish and the prospect of Gleyber Torres (more on him later) reaching the Major Leagues sooner rather than later. Having positional players is great but if the Yankees from the early to mid-2000’s taught us anything it’s that you need pitching because you simply won’t win enough of those 12-10 games to stick around in the postseason. That’s where Chance Adams comes in.

I have been talking about Adams since the year he was drafted and the young righty had finally reached Triple-A. It’s time to seriously get the discussions about him and his future with the organization started because Adams finds himself just one shuttle ride away from the Major Leagues. Who knows when that call from Yankees GM Brian Cashman will come but if he keeps dominating Triple-A hitters like he has since his call up that call may come sooner rather than later.

Adams, just 22-years old, is now considered to be the Yankees best pitching prospect and top pitching prospect in an absolutely stacked minor league system. As Adams continues to learn how to be a starter, remember the Yankees drafted him as a relief pitcher and converted him to a starter just a couple seasons ago, the right-hander is seemingly getting better and stronger the closer he gets to the Major Leagues. This week Adams made his fourth Triple-A start and he dominated Columbus holding the Clippers to just one hit and no runs with two walks and 12 strikeouts in six innings of work. The RailRiders won the game 6-0. Adams is 3-1 with a 1.57 ERA in Triple-A this season after posting a 4-0 record with a 1.03 ERA while in Double-A with the Trenton Thunder.

Adams is dominating and he is showing the Yankees that he has little to nothing left to prove and learn in the Minor Leagues. If CC Sabathia and Jordan Montgomery continue to struggle we just may see Chance Adams in the Major Leagues before July, you can bet on it. 

So it Seems Gleyber Torres is ONE Step Away

The New York Yankees are being super aggressive with their top prospect and honestly it is a sight for sore eyes. The Yankees organization announced over the weekend that top prospect Gleyber Torres was promoted from Double-A Trenton to Triple-A Scranton leaving the infielder just one step from the Major Leagues. Congratulations to Gleyber.

Torres is just 20-years old and at the time of his promotion was hitting .273/.367/.496 with five home runs, 17 walks and 21 strikeouts in just 32 games with the Trenton Thunder. That includes him missing a little over a week with a shoulder injury.

Just in case you have been living under a rock and haven’t heard of or don’t know much about Torres here is the scouting report from MLB.com who ranks Torres as the second best prospect in all of Major League Baseball behind Chicago White Sox star Yoan Moncada.

Torres has exceptionally quick hands that allow him to excel at the dish and in the field. He's very advanced at the plate, recognizing pitches well, displaying patience and using the entire field. His power projections seem to increase each year as he adds strength and experience, and he now looks like he'll deliver 20-plus homers on an annual basis in his prime.

Scouts also seem to gain a greater appreciation for Torres' defense with each passing season. Though he's just an average runner, he definitely has the actions, hands and arm strength to play shortstop for a long time. Chapman may have helped Chicago win the World Series, but Torres may help New York win the trade.

With this promotion is it out of the realm of possibility that Torres could be an injury away from a call up to the show? Or at the very least a September call up? I would think that Tyler Wade would stand ahead of him on the depth chart but honestly I won’t be the one to count him out. Not anymore.

Have a great day everyone. Especially you. Hey you. 

Meet a Prospect: Giovanny Gallegos

The New York Yankees youth movement continues and it is not only for positional players but for some of the young arms down on the farm as well. During the Yankees off-day yesterday rumor had it that the team would be sending down Chad Green to Triple-A, which they did, only to call up a fresh arm in Giovanny Gallegos. Gallegos is set to make his debut in the Bronx this week against the Houston Astros so since it’s his first weekend in the bigs we may as well meet him, right? This is Meet a Prospect: The Giovanny Gallegos Edition.

Gallegos was added to the team’s 40 man roster this winter in order to find protection from the Rule 5 Draft after posting impressive numbers at every stop during his minor league tenure. The 25-year old pitcher is currently pitching to a 3.86 ERA in Triple-A at the time of this writing along with a 16.7 K/9 ratio with Scranton. Batters are slashing just .189/.271/.358 off him this season after impressive numbers in High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in 2016. At both stops last season Gallegos posted sub-2.00 ERA’s and struck out nearly 15 batters per nine innings.

Gallegos sports a 92 MPH fastball that can touch 95 MPH when he needs it to along with three different off-speed pitches including a high-70 MPH slider, a low 80 MPH curveball and a changeup. Gallegos has four pitches he can get you out with and has solid command to go along with it making him an intriguing part of the Yankees future either as a reliever or as a starter.

I’m not exactly sure how long Gallegos will be here as the Yankees are running with a short bench right now so enjoy him while you can. Welcome to the big leagues Giovanny and more importantly, welcome to the family.

Continue the Youth Movement, Call up Mike Ford

Newsflash for those who have been living under a rock for the past six-or-seven months, the New York Yankees are in the midst of a rebuild. The Yankees aren’t just rebuilding though and are not content with their fan base watching a subpar team for the next two-or-three seasons though, this team is built to at least compete and win games now while they rebuild which is pretty unique if you ask me. With the youth movement in mind and with the continuation of the youth movement in my intentions I have one suggestion to make to the New York Yankees organization right now, stop playing Chris Carter and Matt Holliday at first base and call up a member of the farm system in Mike Ford.

Ford does not bring the notability of a Gary Sanchez or an Aaron Judge with him to the ballpark every single night but he may bring just as big of a bat with him. Ford is currently with the Double-A affiliate the Trenton Thunder but don’t let his lack of Triple-A experience scare you away from the fact that he is an absolute big bopper with the bat who can hold his own at the first base position. In his first 103 at-bats this season Ford, the Thunder’s cleanup hitter, is hitting .320 with an OPS of .907 and two home runs protecting the likes of Gleyber Torres and others on the team.

Ford has a left-handed swing, like any left-handed swing in the Bronx, that is tailor made for Yankee Stadium and he has an impressive 6’0” and 225-pound build that I could totally see knocking a few over the fence in the Bronx while Greg Bird’s ankle mends. Ford is also a patient hitter that will take his walks which always helps on any team, he has more walks (193) than strikeouts (192) in his minor league career.

Ford isn’t a baby BOMBER but he’s a Yankees prospect that could far exceed the production of Chris Carter right now so make the move, score some more runs and let’s win some more games. Shall we?

Quick Hit: Gleyber Torres Bobblehead Night Scheduled for August 25th in Trenton!

If you love bobbleheads like I do and you are in the Trenton, New Jersey area then this post is for you.

Press release from the Trenton Thunder for immediate release: 

Following six weeks of fan voting, your Thunder are pleased to announce that INF Gleyber Torres will be the final bobblehead giveaway of the season taking place on Friday, August 25 when the Thunder host the Richmond Flying Squirrels. TICKETS

Ranked as the #2 prospect in all of Minor League Baseball by MLB.com, Torres is batting .292 with a .393 on-base percentage in 13 games with the Thunder. On Saturday against the Erie SeaWolves, Torres hit his first home run with Trenton.

Fans had the opportunity to vote during the months of March and April for one player from a selection of Thunder stars Tyler Austin, Rob Refsnyder, Chance Adams, Bryan Mitchell, and Torres. Now the first 2,000 fans, ages 14 and up, through the gate on August 25 will receive the Gleyber Torres bobblehead giveaway.

The selection of Torres rounds out the set of three bobbleheads that will be given away during the 2017 season at ARM & HAMMER Park. On Friday, July 21, the first 2,000 fans will receive a Gary Sanchez bobblehead when the team hosts the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. On Friday August, 4, when the Thunder host the Altoona Curve, the Thunder will giveaway a combination Reggie Jackson/Derby bobblehead. To view the entire promotions schedule, click here.

Your Thunder are back in action at ARM & HAMMER Park tonight against the Harrisburg Senators at 7pm. For tickets and the latest information on Thunder baseball, visit www.TrentonThunder.com or call 609-394-3300.

--THUNDER--

Is It Time for Me to Eat Crow on Tyler Wade?

If you guys and girls have been reading me long enough you know that I am not all that high on Yankees infield prospect Tyler Wade. To be completely honest I have never been that high on Wade as I feel like, at the time anyway, he was just another run-of-the-mill defensive-minded shortstop with little in the way of power and hitting in general. In terms of the future and blue chip prospects I still feel this way about Wade but the New York Yankees organization may have found a way to make him useful again, even in my skeptical eyes, and that may be the reason that the team is now so suddenly willing to part with Robert Refsnyder. The Yankees ultimate plan may have been to make Wade the super utility player that Refsnyder simply failed to be defensively.  

So is it time for me to eat crow on Wade and my thoughts of him as a top Yankees prospect? I mean, maybe, but that doesn’t mean I am going to. I’m stubborn like that and I still don’t see the “need” for a guy who can’t hit but can defend at multiple positions. The Yankees have that in Refsnyder already and they also have Ronald Torreyes on the roster making three types of “no-bat but plus-defense” players redundant in my opinion hence the Refsnyder trade rumors. To be completely honest though I am not sure I am ready to eat crow on Wade just yet, not because the Yankees think highly of him. I would eat crow when I think highly of him, and I still don’t. 

At the time of this writing the Yankees had played in 18 spring training games as a part of their Grapefruit League schedule and Wade has been in 13 of them collecting a .429/.478/.524 triple slash. That’s great, don’t get me wrong, but when a veteran on a minor league deal does this the media is the first to temper expectations and remind us that spring training stats don’t matter and yada, yada, yada. Why isn’t that the case with Wade? Because those same media outlets and journalist want you to click their articles that tease the Refsnyder trade rumors and the idea of the “next big thing” prospect in New York, that’s why. Wade isn’t even ready for the Major League level after spending the entire 2016 season at Double-A with the Trenton Thunder so I don’t get the direct correlation between him and Refsnyder, yet, but hey… what do I know? I’m just a guy with a blog that’s watched baseball since I was two-years old and who has watched religiously since 1994. 

I get the idea and mindset behind Wade, I truly do. He is a skilled shortstop who has played third base and all three of the outfield positions but the fact remains that I could probably get out from behind my computer and hit the ball better than Wade does over the course of a 162-game season. That’s not me bragging that’s just me exaggerating heavily to show my point that Wade just isn’t projected to be and hasn’t been a huge hitter at the minor league or major league level. Period. Refsnyder has struggled since his first season in the majors but he was at least a near .300 hitter in the minor leagues before coming up to the show. Wade cannot say that and likely never will. 

This isn’t the National League people, the Yankees need offense. Even late in games and even off the bench. That’s not Wade. That’s not Refsnyder right now either to be fair but at least Refsnyder projects to show some offensive prowess in his career and has at least shown an ability to handle MLB caliber pitching. Wade hasn’t and until he does I will not admit defeat on Refsnyder nor will I admit I was wrong on Wade, because I wasn’t. 

Kyle Higashioka Learns Japanese Just to Talk to Masahiro Tanaka

Yesterday I discussed a few men that could be vying for open roster spots with the New York Yankees this spring training, especially as many key members of the team are off representing their respective countries in the World Baseball Classic, and one such player I specifically mentioned by name was catcher Kyle Higashioka. Well here we are in a new day but we are once again talking about Higashioka and for a whole new reason. Apparently Higashioka, born in California but obviously of the Japanese decent, learned the language of his grandfather and family before him this winter and into the spring with one main goal in mind…. Talking to Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka.

Now while I may be embellishing just a little when I say he learned the language to talk to Tanaka, his father has reportedly pushed him for years to learn Japanese, having Tanaka this year and potentially players like Shohei Otani next season and beyond the Yankees catching prospect thought it could only help his chances in reaching the Major Leagues with the club.

Higashioka, a seventh round draft pick by the Yankees in the 2008 MLB First Year Players Draft, lost an important year of development in 2014 after undergoing Tommy John surgery but seemed healthy in 2016 when he finished his age-26 season with 21 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A. Higashioka is out to prove that the power spike is not a fluke in 2017 and is well on his way to doing that after hitting a home run in his first spring training at bat of the Grapefruit League this season. Higashioka altered his swing before last season and has definitely seen an uptick in power and his line drive hitting which should only improve this season as Higashioka continues to put himself on the Yankees map.

Also, since I am feeling educational this morning, if you ever wanted to know how to say a few key words in Japanese for a catcher like Kyle Higashioka you’re in luck. Daniel is here. Enjoy and you’re welcome.

sutoreeto (fastball)

suraidaa (slider)

supuritta (splitter)

kattaa (cutter)

takamei (high)

hikamei (low)

nikakoo (inside)

gikakoo (outside)

Trenton Thunder 2017 Coaching Staff Released

Yankees Set 2017 Thunder Coaching Staff

The New York Yankees today announced that Bobby Mitchell will return to lead your Thunder for the 2017 season at ARM & HAMMER Park.

Mitchell, who managed the team to an 87-55 record and berth in the Eastern League Championship Series in 2016, will be joined by Pitching Coach Jose Rosado, Hitting Coach Tom Slater, Bullpen Coach JD Closser, Defensive Coach Lino Diaz, Athletic TrainerJimmy Downam, and Strength & Conditioning Coach Anthony Velazquez.

"I am looking forward to returning," said Manager Bobby Mitchell. "We had lots of success last year because of my coaches, players, front office staff, and the great fan base in Trenton. I look forward to being part of it again in 2017."

The Thunder made their sixth appearance in 23 seasons in the Eastern League Championship Series under Mitchell during the 2016 campaign. The 87 regular season victories is the second-highest total in franchise history and the team's winning percentage of .613 was the third-best mark all-time. Three members of the team went on to make their Major League debut during the season with INF/OF Tyler Austin and RHP Jonathan Holder reaching the Yankees in 2016, while RHP Vicente Campos made his major league debut following a mid-season trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Pitching Coach Jose Rosado returns for his third season with the Thunder. The team has ranked in the top-3 in ERA in the Eastern League in each of his first two seasons as Pitching Coach. In 2016, the Thunder led the league in strikeouts with 1,239 and set the franchise record for lowest team ERA in a season with a 3.12 mark that led the league by 0.36. In his tenure, Rosado has presided over a combined no-hitter thrown by Ronald Herrera and Jonathan Holder on April 26, 2016, and nearly a dozen pitchers who have already gone on to big league careers. The Puerto Rican native was twice named to the American League All-Star team in 1997 and 1999 as a left-handed starter while with the Kansas City Royals.

Tom Slater returns to Trenton as the Hitting Coach after spending the 2015 and 2016 seasons as the Hitting Coach for High-A Tampa. Entering his ninth season as a coach or manager in the Yankees system, Slater served as the Hitting Coach for the Thunder in 2012; aiding a club that led the Eastern League in home runs and slugging percentage.

Bullpen Coach JD Closser returns to the Thunder for a second season in 2017. A former major league catcher with the Colorado Rockies, Closser contributed to one of the most successful regular seasons in the Thunder's history. Closser oversaw the development of catcher Kyle Higashioka as well as aided in the development of a pitching staff that set the franchise record for ERA in a season and led the Eastern League in strikeouts.

Lino Diaz spent the past two seasons as the Defensive Coach for the Gulf Coast League Yankees 1. Diaz enters his fourth season as a coach in the Yankees system following 11 seasons with the Cleveland Indians in various roles and the 2013 and 2014 seasons as the Cultural Development Manager for the Chicago White Sox, traveling with the Major League club for all games as part of the dugout staff. A native of Panama, Diaz will focus on infield defense while coaching with the Thunder. Diaz was a 30th round selection of the Kansas City Royals in the 1993 Amateur Draft and batted .284 in five seasons in the Royals minor league system.

Athletic Trainer Jimmy Downam was born in Somers Point, NJ and spent the last three years as the Trainer for the Single-A Charleston Riverdogs. Downham enters his fifth season as a trainer with the Yankees, joining the Staten Island Yankees in 2013. Downham spent the 2012 season as an intern with the Philadelphia Phillies organization at the team's rehabilitation facility in Clearwater, Fla. A 2009 and 2012 graduate of Liberty University (Va.), Downam resides in Lynchburg, Va.

Anthony Velazquez spent the previous three seasons as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Charleston Riverdogs. Velazquez spent the 2013 season in the same position with the Clearwater Threshers, a Single-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Prior to his positions in minor league baseball, Velazquez held strength and conditioning positions at the University of Michigan, University of South Florida and University of Maryland.

The 2017 season, the 24th in franchise history, will begin at ARM & HAMMER Park on April 13 when the Thunder host the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox) at 7:00 p.m. Single game tickets will go on sale in March 2017. For more information on the Thunder, visitwww.TrentonThunder.com or call 609-394-3300.

Support The Children's Home Society of New Jersey with Ticket Purchases This Holiday Season

The 12th annual Trenton Thunder Gift of Baseball program begins today, giving fans the chance to share the experience of cheering on the hometown team with underprivileged families in our community. For each Season Ticket, Pic-A-Plan and Mini Plan purchased before January 2, the Thunder will provide tickets for families in the Holiday Gift Outreach program run by the Children's Home Society of New Jersey to attend a 2017 Thunder game.

"Sharing the experience of a baseball game with family and friends is special and we are thrilled to partner with the Children's Home Society of New Jersey to provide that opportunity to deserving families," said Thunder GM/COO Jeff Hurley.

In the first 11 years of the Gift of Baseball program, the Thunder have donated 7,924 tickets to CHSofNJ.

"Trenton Thunder continues to be a strong and caring community partner," praised Donna Pressma, President & CEO of CHSofNJ. "The Children's Home Society of New Jersey is honored to have the opportunity through their generosity to offer the Gift of Baseball to so many of our children and families.

The emphasis on family values that the Thunder and CHSofNJ shares has remained a high priority for both organizations throughout their 11-year partnership.

"Family outings are often too rare for our children," said Pressma. "Spending a day at the ballpark watching our home team play with determination and heart gives hope and makes memories that our children will keep for the rest of their lives. Thank you Trenton Thunder and all of your caring fans who make this possible."

2017 Mini Plans are on sale now. Mini plans include five or six of the most popular games on the schedule, free food at each a game, a free Thunder gift, complimentary tickets to Opening Night and a select night in the picnic area, and start as low as $60. More information about Mini Plans can be found here: MINI PLANS
Pic-A-Plans allow fans to choose any 10 or more games that best fit their schedule. This flexible plan includes, a $1 savings on every ticket, a free food option, free tickets to Opening Night and a complimentary ticket in the Picnic Area as well as a limited edition Thunder gift. More information can be found here: PIC-A-PLANS

Season Tickets are available as either a full (70 games) or half (35 games) and include added value like early entry, a picnic with the players, bus trips and more. More information about Season Tickets can be found here: SEASON TICKETS

The Children's Home Society of New Jersey provides at-risk children and their families with a range of services that empower them to achieve their potential. They are child-oriented, family focused, community based and outcome-oriented.

The 2017 season, the 24th in franchise history, will begin at ARM & HAMMER Park on April 13 when the Thunder host the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox) at 7:00 p.m. Single game tickets will go on sale in March 2017. For more information on the Thunder, visit www.TrentonThunder.com or call 609-394-3300.

Trenton Thunder Set “Fireworks Nights” for 2017

Fireworks Nights Set for 2017 Season

The 2017 season promises to a summer filled with family-friendly entertainment at ARM & HAMMER Park, and today the Thunder announced dates in which post-game fireworks will take place during the summer.

"Before we know it, winter will be in the rearview mirror and we look forward to seeing all of our friends again at ARM & HAMMER Park," said Thunder GM/COO Jeff Hurley. "Fireworks are one of our most popular attractions each year and we look forward to having shows throughout the summer."

There will be 23 nights of fireworks planned for the season including three special shows following Wednesday night games. Wednesday May 24 (vs. Reading), Wednesday June 28, (vs. Richmond), and Wednesday July 5 (vs. Reading) will feature a post-game fireworks show.

The Thunder will celebrate the birth of our nation with a week-long July 4th Fireworks Spectacular. ARM & HAMMER Park will host fireworks shows on July 4, 5, 6, and 8.

"Our show on July 4th will be the most spectacular display in all of Mercer County and we look forward to honoring our nation with a great week of celebration at ARM & HAMMER Park," said GM/COO Jeff Hurley.

Labor Day Weekend 2017 will also feature a pair of fireworks shows when the Thunder host the Reading Fightin Phils. Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3 will be the final two fireworks shows of the campaign.

The dates below are scheduled to have post-game fireworks during the 2017 season:
Saturday, April 29 @ 7pm
Thursday, May 11 @ 7pm
Saturday, May 13 @ 7pm
Saturday, May 20 @ 7pm
Wednesday, May 24 @ 7pm
Thursday, June 1 @ 7pm
Thursday, June 8 @ 7pm
Saturday, June 10 @ 7pm
Saturday, June 17 @ 7pm
Wednesday, June 28 @ 7pm
Thursday, June 29 @ 7pm
Tuesday, July 4 @ 7pm
Wednesday, July 5 @ 7pm
Thursday, July 6 @ 7pm
Saturday, July 8 @ 7pm
Thursday, July 20 @ 7pm
Saturday, July 22 @ 7pm
Saturday, August 5 @ 7pm
Thursday, August 17 @ 7pm
Thursday, August 24 @ 7pm
Saturday, August 26 @ 7pm
Saturday, September 2 @ 7pm
Sunday, September 3 @ 7pm

Your Thunder will begin the 2017 campaign in Erie, PA and will open the home season at ARM & HAMMER Park on Thursday, April 13when the team hosts the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox). Season tickets, Pic-a-Plans and group tickets are on-sale now by phone at 609-394-3300. Single game tickets will be available beginning in March of 2017.

Fans can stay current on all the latest news and information about the Thunder's 2017 season by signing up for Fun on Deck, the team's bi-weekly newsletter. CLICK HERE to sign up.

ICYMI: The Post That Damned the Yankees 2016 Season

This was written after a Yankees seven game winning streak. New York was riding high on the emotions of many victories and I had the team written into the postseason this year. Ever since then the team has struggled and I feel personally responsible. If so, I'm sorry.

The American League should be shaking in their boots right now because the New York Yankees are the train and the rest of the league are standing on the tracks right now. Now before I start this post I want to preface this with the fact that I do not believe the Yankees will win the World Series and sweep through everyone like they did in years like 1998 for example but what I will say is that New York may be the most dangerous team right now, the hottest team right now and the team who is best built for a one-game playoff game. Here’s why I think that.


The Yankees may have had a blessing in disguise when they decided to sell off pieces at the August 1st trade deadline because the youth has taken over in the Bronx. There are a few reasons why youth is important at this stage in the game for New York. First and foremost you would have to think that most veteran teams are starting to feel the wear and tear of a 162-game schedule and are starting to slow down or at the very least are starting to need a day off here or there. Do you think Gary Sanchez, Tyler Austin, Rob Refsnyder, Aaron Judge and crew need or necessarily want days off at this point? I don’t. You think Luis Severino is okay with pitching once a week? I don’t


Secondly I don’t believe the Yankees youth knows that they are supposed to be nervous and such right now. Many of the Yankees minor league affiliates have either played for or won a minor league championship in recent years and this playoff push is nothing new to this young core. They are used to winning, they were brought up to win and dammit when they need a win, they get a win. This team is too ignorant, and if you know the definition of the word you know I mean no malcontent when I say that, to be scared, nervous or worried about winning and losing. They are simply going out there and playing the game like it’s supposed to be played and they are doing damn good at it too.


The offense is back, Masahiro Tanaka hasn’t pitched this well since coming over from Japan, the bullpen is once again being pieced together and the team just simply refuses to lose. Joe Girardi has finally woken up and decided he wants to play the youth and the maybe the most exciting part of all this is that more reinforcements could be on the way. Triple-A’s Governors Cup will be handed out soon, the Double-A playoffs will soon be over and more talent could be on the way to the Bronx. You never know.


This may be one of the most dangerous teams heading into the postseason in 2016 assuming they make it, I truly believe that in my heart of hearts. The American League better do everything they can to keep this team out of October baseball because if they don’t they may end up fearing this team before it’s all said and done. Excitement has returned to the Bronx and it’s a hell of a feeling.

Who Wants to Talk About Beer?

Fall Selections Highlight Pork Roll Festival Draft Selection

The 2016 Trenton Thunder World Famous Case's Pork Roll Eating Championship will host a wide variety of fun-filled activities, including a corn hole tournament presented by Sonic, and a draft beer selection for the ages when it takes place on Saturday, September 24 from 12-4pm at ARM & HAMMER Park.

The Ultimate Beer Special will allow fans of age to purchase a 12oz cup for $15 and refill the cup for just $1 throughout the festival. The craft selections for the event are:
- Double Nickel IPA (Pennsauken Township, NJ)
- Double Nickel Vienna Lager (Pennsauken Township, NJ)
- Blue Point Oktoberfest (Patchogue, NY)
- Blue Point Pumpkin Ale (Patchogue, NY)
- Brooklyn Oktoberfest (New York, NY)
- Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale (Seattle, WA)
- Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest (Munich, Germany)
- Shipyard Pumpkinhead (Portland, ME)
- Spatan Oktoberfest (Munich, Germany)
- Strongbow Gold Apple Hard Cider (London, England)
- Victory Festbier (Downingtwon, PA)
In addition to the craft selections, Bud Light (draft and bottles), Budweiser (draft and bottles), and Michelob Ultra (draft) will be available at ARM & HAMMER Park.

For full descriptions of the craft selections and The Ultimate Beer Special, CLICK HERE.

The Trenton Thunder World Famous Case's Pork Roll Eating Championship will take place on Saturday, September 24 from 12-4pm at ARM & HAMMER Park. For tickets and information on the fun and games happening during the festival, visit www.EatPorkRoll.com.

Weekly Prospects Check In: Jordan Montgomery

Jordan Montgomery has made leaps and bounds this season for the New York Yankees and may be knocking on the door to the Bronx as soon as next season because of it. Montgomery has quietly become one of the best starting pitching prospects the Yankees have down in the minor leagues and was last seen starting Game One of the Triple-A Championship series for the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders. Even in the minor leagues and even at an affiliate like Scranton who is fighting for the Governors Cup that has to mean a lot in terms of what the team, the manager and the organization thinks of you, right?

Montgomery has opened some eyes finally and it looks like his season is over after a stellar 2016 campaign. Here is the official stat line for the Yankees stud right-hander. Enjoy and hello Saturday!

Year	Age	Lev	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9
2016	23	AA-AAA	14	5	2.13	25	25	1	1	139.1	122	39	33	5	45	134	1.199	7.9	0.3	2.9	8.7
2016	23	AA	9	4	2.55	19	19	1	1	102.1	94	35	29	5	36	97	1.270	8.3	0.4	3.2	8.5
2016	23	AAA	5	1	0.97	6	6	0	0	37.0	28	4	4	0	9	37	1.000	6.8	0.0	2.2	9.0

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Weekly Prospects Check In: Justus Sheffield

Justus Sheffield was promoted from High-A Tampa with the Tampa Yankees to the Double-A Trenton Thunder just in time for their playoff push and the Thunder have to be absolutely loving the decision by the Yankees organization. Sheffield has been all he has been advertised to be and then some thus far this season for the Yankees after coming over from the Cleveland Indians in the deal that sent Andrew Miller to the American League Central.

His velocity is good, his command is better and his stuff is just purely awesome right now for a team that is contending for a Double-A Eastern League Championship. You cannot put a stat to or a number on the importance of what is happening right now for all the young guys in the Yankees system right now, not just Sheffield. They are learning how to win and learning how to deal with and cope with the pressure and expectations that come along with being a playoff and championship team.

In other words they are learning how to be Yankees. 

Year	Age	Lev	Aff	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9
2016	20	A+-AA	CLE-NYY	10	6	3.09	25	25	125.1	107	47	43	6	53	129	1.277	7.7	0.4	3.8	9.3
2016	20	A+	CLE	7	5	3.59	19	19	95.1	91	40	38	6	40	93	1.374	8.6	0.6	3.8	8.8
2016	20	A+	NYY	3	1	1.73	5	5	26.0	14	6	5	0	10	27	0.923	4.8	0.0	3.5	9.3
2016	20	AA	NYY	0	0	0.00	1	1	4.0	2	1	0	0	3	9	1.250	4.5	0.0	6.8	20.2

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table