Weekly Prospects Check In: Eric Ruth

One can never have too much starting pitching whether it be in the Major Leagues or down on the farm and the Yankees have been utilizing that philosophy for the past few years in the MLB Draft. One of those guys that the Yankees have drafted without much fan fair or recognition only to turn him into a solid MiLB producer and potential MLB player is Eric Ruth. At one point maybe two seasons ago Ruth was considered by man to be an organizational filler and an organizational prospect but not parts of two seasons later Ruth has put his name back on the map for the Yankees.

Ruth continues to impress and has reached the highest tier of MiLB, Triple-A. Ruth is one phone call away from the Bronx and if anyone doubts that, ask Conor Mullee. Ruth may see the Major Leagues this season and that is exciting, especially if you love baseball feel-good stories.

Year	Age	Lev	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9
2016	25	AAA-A+-AA	4	1	4.34	9	4	37.1	36	18	18	0	9	38	1.205	8.7	0.0	2.2	9.2
2016	25	A+	1	0	6.39	4	0	12.2	14	9	9	0	3	13	1.342	9.9	0.0	2.1	9.2
2016	25	AA	1	1	4.91	3	2	11.0	12	6	6	0	4	13	1.455	9.8	0.0	3.3	10.6
2016	25	AAA	2	0	1.98	2	2	13.2	10	3	3	0	2	12	0.878	6.6	0.0	1.3	7.9

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Weekly Check In: Brady Lail

The July 31^st trade deadline is fast approaching and the New York Yankees have a slew of talent not only on the field in the Bronx but in their various farm system affiliates. While the Yankees have stated that four of their top prospects, you all know the names by now, are untouchable at this year’s trading deadline there is still plenty of talent to pull from if the team decides to make a deal. The team is unlikely to trade much away from their Triple-A affiliate the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders but the team has just as much talent, if not more, down in Double-A with the Trenton Thunder and that talent begins and ends with starting pitcher Brady Lail.

Lail has quietly had one of the best seasons for the Thunder this season pitching alongside of Eric Ruth, Miguel Sulbaran and others in Trenton. Lail could easily be one of the arms that is sent to, for example’s sake and not an actual rumor, Miami for a Martin Prado or Cincinnati for a Mike Leake. Lail hasn’t been an ace by any means but does have the same makeup and ceiling in my opinion as a good Adam Warren or David Phelps.

Will Lail survive the deadline in Pinstripes? Stay tuned. 

Year	Lev	W	L	G	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9
2015	AA-A+	7	3	20	1	1	105.1	88	28	25	2	25	70	1.073	7.5	0.2	2.1	6.0
2015	A+	1	0	1	0	0	5.0	4	0	0	0	0	9	0.800	7.2	0.0	0.0	16.2
2015	AA	6	3	19	1	1	100.1	84	28	25	2	25	61	1.086	7.5	0.2	2.2	5.5

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Weekly Check In: Eric Ruth

As you may or may not know by now we like to leave Thursday wide open and as much of a revolving door as the Yankees bullpen was more much of the first half of the season. We’ve checked in on Ian Clarkin, Austin DeCarr, Austin Romine, Kyle Roller, Tyler Austin, Ramon Flores, Mason Williams, Slade Heathcott, Miguel Sulbaran, Brady Lail and a slew of other Yankees prospects and today we check in on a new guy, Eric Ruth.

Before the 2015 season Ruth was considered to be an organizational type prospect and one that I never really paid attention to much. Much like Jaron Long in the 2014 season I never really knew the name until Long and Ruth made me recognize their names and Ruth has done just that this season for Trenton. Now hopefully with his successes and maybe a weekly check in or two from us you all can know his name too and know just what he brings to the table for the Yankees. 

Year	Lev	W	L	ERA	G	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9
2015	AA-A+	7	2	2.20	17	98.0	75	29	24	5	31	66	1.082	6.9	0.5	2.8	6.1
2015	A+	1	0	3.27	4	22.0	16	8	8	2	6	16	1.000	6.5	0.8	2.5	6.5
2015	AA	6	2	1.89	13	76.0	59	21	16	3	25	50	1.105	7.0	0.4	3.0	5.9

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Five Thunder Players Named to Eastern League All-Star Team

Press Release:

The Thunder, in conjunction with the Eastern League, announced today that RHP Nick Goody, RHP Eric Ruth, OF Jake Cave, 3B Eric Jagielo and C Gary Sanchez have been selected to play in the 2015 Eastern League All-Star Game onWednesday July 15 at Hadlock Field in Portland, ME.

RHP Nick Goody is in his first full season with the Thunder after debuting with the team on June 21, 2014. Goody, a former sixth round draft pick out of Louisiana State University in 2012, is first in the Eastern League among active, qualified relief pitchers with 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings and fourth in the league in opponents batting average with a .193 mark. Overall in 27 appearances, Goody has compiled a 1-1 record with four saves and a 1.63 ERA. The 23-year-old has recorded at least one strikeout in all but one of his appearances this season for the Thunder.

RHP Eric Ruth, a native of Harleysville, PA, was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 25-31. In that week, Ruth went 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and struck out seven in 13 innings pitched. As of July 1, Ruth leads the Eastern League with a 1.97 ERA, among active and qualified pitchers, and has compiled a 5-1 record. Ruth leads the Thunder with seven quality starts (at least six innings, three runs or less) in his ten starts this season.

OF Jake Cave has been named to an All-Star team for the third time in his minor league career. In 2014, he was named a mid-season and post-season All-Star in the Florida State League while playing for the Tampa Yankees. This season with the Thunder, Cave has batted .281 with two home runs and 21 runs driven in. He has played in a team-high 72 games this season and entered the season as the No. 17 prospect in the New York Yankees system according to Baseball America.

3B Eric Jagielo, the former 26th overall selection of the New York Yankees in 2013, is second in the Eastern League in extra base hits with 31. The Downers Grove, IL native is batting .284 with nine home runs and 35 RBI this season. He entered the 2015 campaign as the No. 11 prospect in the New York Yankees system according to Baseball America.

C Gary Sanchez has been named an Eastern League All-Star for the second straight season. Sanchez, who was activated off the disabled list on June 29 (hand), is batting .251 this season with eight home runs and 29 RBI. Prior to his injury, Sanchez had driven in 22 runs in his last 24 games and was batting .284 over his previous 37 games. He entered the 2015 season as the No. 5 prospect in the New York Yankees system according to Baseball America.

The Eastern Division is comprised of the Binghamton Mets, New Britain Rock Cats, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Portland Sea Dogs, Reading Fightin' Phils and the Thunder while the teams in the Western Division include the Akron RubberDucks, Altoona Curve, Bowie Baysox, Erie SeaWolves, Harrisburg Senators and Richmond Flying Squirrels.


The five players from the Thunder heading to the All-Star game are tied for the most by a single team in the Eastern League. For the full roster for each team, please CLICK HERE.

Eric Ruth Named EL Pitcher of the Week

Starting pitcher Eric Ruth has been named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 25-31.


Ruth went 2-0 with 2.08 ERA in his two starts this week. On Monday night at Erie, the right-hander from Harleysville, PA fired six innings and surrendered two runs on nine hits in a 6-3 Thunder victory. Saturday night saw Ruth deliver seven innings of one-run ball against the Portland Sea Dogs, aiding the Thunder to an 8-2 win.


For the season, Ruth is 3-0 with a 2.04 ERA in six starts with the Thunder. In 35.1 innings, he's allowed 28 hits, 12 walks and struck out 20.


Ruth is the first Thunder player to be named an Eastern League weekly award winner this season. Bryan Mitchell, Kyle Roller, Jeremy Bleich, Rob Refsnyder and Greg Bird were all honored as Eastern League Player of the Week in 2014.


Your Thunder have an off-day today and will embark on a three-game road trip to Binghamton on Tuesday night. The Thunder return home for a six-game homestand beginning on Friday, June 5 against the Harrisburg Senators. Tickets can be ordered online at Trentonthunder.com/tickets or by phone at 609-394-3300.