ICYMI: Yankees Release Jaron Long, Five Others

Every week the guys and crew over at Baseball America bring us the minor league transactions from the week that used to get overlooked in years past. If it weren't for Baseball America we wouldn't know that the Yankees released six more prospects this week including one pretty big name in my opinion in Jaron Long.

All told the Yankees released Long, the son of former hitting coach Kevin Long, along with KJ Alexander (C), Jake Hernandez (C), Chris Breen (OF), Frank Frias (OF) and another bit of a shocker in outfielder Taylor Dugas.

For the complete list CLICK HERE. 

Yankees Release Jaron Long, Five Others

Every week the guys and crew over at Baseball America bring us the minor league transactions from the week that used to get overlooked in years past. If it weren't for Baseball America we wouldn't know that the Yankees released six more prospects this week including one pretty big name in my opinion in Jaron Long.

All told the Yankees released Long, the son of former hitting coach Kevin Long, along with KJ Alexander (C), Jake Hernandez (C), Chris Breen (OF), Frank Frias (OF) and another bit of a shocker in outfielder Taylor Dugas.

For the complete list CLICK HERE. 

Weekly Check In: Jaron Long

Picture courtesy of Pinstriped Prospects

The New York Yankees pitching depth will be under more scrutiny in the next few weeks with the team in contention for a playoff spot, the teams behind them in the division stacked and ready to make a run at the American League East crown and with the likes of Michael Pineda injured. New York has already called up Luis Severino to the Major Leagues and he made his Major League debut last night while Bryan Mitchell has been moved back to the bullpen after his first start of 2015. Who becomes the new “go to” pitcher if the Yankees need to make another move? Is it Jaron Long?

Long, the son of former Yankees hitting coach and current New York Mets hitting coach Kevin Long, is currently in Triple-A with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and may now be at the top of the pitching depth chart. Danny Burawa is working out as a starter now but he couldn’t conceivably be relied on for huge lengths of time if a player was to go on the disabled list so the rotation may all hinge on Long if someone goes down.

The good news for the Yankees is Long has followed up his breakout campaign of 2014 with another solid season in 2015 that garnered his promotion to Triple-A. Now Long is knocking on the door hoping to sit on the same bench that his father sat on for all those years inside Yankee Stadium. 

Year	Lev	W	L	ERA	G	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9
2015	AAA-AA	8	8	4.58	22	110.0	140	67	56	8	27	70	1.518	11.5	0.7	2.2	5.7
2015	AA	3	2	3.33	5	24.1	25	12	9	1	4	17	1.192	9.2	0.4	1.5	6.3
2015	AAA	5	6	4.94	17	85.2	115	55	47	7	23	53	1.611	12.1	0.7	2.4	5.6
3 Seasons		21	14	3.23	56	265.0	274	118	95	12	52	201	1.230	9.3	0.4	1.8	6.8
Rk (1 season)	Rk	1	0	0.00	4	6.2	4	1	0	0	1	7	0.750	5.4	0.0	1.4	9.4
A (1 season)	A	3	1	1.64	11	49.1	44	15	9	0	8	46	1.054	8.0	0.0	1.5	8.4
A+ (2 seasons)	A+	2	3	3.60	8	30.0	24	13	12	2	5	28	0.967	7.2	0.6	1.5	8.4
AA (2 seasons)	AA	10	4	2.60	16	93.1	87	34	27	3	15	67	1.093	8.4	0.3	1.4	6.5
AAA (1 season)	AAA	5	6	4.94	17	85.2	115	55	47	7	23	53	1.611	12.1	0.7	2.4	5.6

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

What Other Prospects Will Debut in 2015?

The 2015 season can easily be described as the year of the prospect as many of the best and top prospects across the league have made their major league debuts this season. While New York has not called up a prospect that could come close to the hype that surrounds Byron Buxton, Kris Bryant and others the team has called up many of their own prospects and plugged them into key spots and situations. The impressive list of players that the Yankees have called up include 2014 MLB Draft top pick Jacob Lindgren, outfielders Slade Heathcott, Mason Williams and Ramon Flores and a plethora of pitchers including Danny Burawa, Nick Rumbelow, Branden Pinder, Diego Moreno, Jose De Paula, Bryan Mitchell, Jose Ramirez and a slew of others. What other prospects could the Yankees call up in 2015?

If the revolving door surround the Yankees bullpen continues to swing open and closed the team may eventually call up Nick Goody. Goody is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery and is the next in line to be called up to Triple-A before the All-Star Game setting him up for a potential call up to the Bronx. The team may also decide to call up their top prospect Luis Severino in your typical "keeping up with the Jones's" type move to get his feet wet and plug him into the bullpen to limit his innings on his arm going forward. There are other bullpen options including Tyler Webb, James Pazos and reunions with Joel De La Cruz and Jose Ramirez if need be giving Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi plenty of options to build a bullpen on the fly.

Stephen Drew sucks, if you follow us on Twitter you know that I feel that because I say it at least once in every single game. While the Yankees top second baseman prospect Robert Refsnyder is not exactly tearing it up on the offensive side of the ball I truly believe a lot of that has to do with how the Yankees like to "over-groom" their players and leave them in the minor leagues for too long. Refsnyder seems bored and unchallenged in Triple-A and a call up to the major leagues could wake him up and re-energize him both offensively and defensively. The infield is actually the least of the Yankees worries for once which is great since the team lacks upper level infield options once again in 2015.

Finally if the Yankees need to upgrade their starting pitching a bit the team can always call up left hander Miguel Sulbaran who was acquired in the deal that sent Eduardo Nunez to the Minnesota Twins. Sulbaran has made it all the way to Triple-A in his minor league career. Joining Sulbaran in the "solid but not top prospect" category is Brady Lail, Jaron Long and possibly Eric Ruth who are both enjoying stellar breakout seasons in the upper levels of the Yankees farm system.

Trades are going to happen over the next month or more so a lot can change between now and then but if the Yankees needed a call up at any of these top positions today these men would likely lead the charge.

Predicting First Round of Spring Cuts

Any day now, honestly I don't know the exact date but I know it has to be soon, minor league spring training camps will start opening up which means a ton of Yankees prospects will leave camp and head there. I am going to take a snag at predicting those players right here, can I do it? Probably not. Let's try anyway, it's Friday the 13th, because we may get lucky.

Gary Sanchez

Cito Culver

Jake Cave

Tyler Wade

Taylor Dugas

Michael O'Neill

Jaron Long

Dante Bichette Jr.

Mark Montgomery

Zach Nuding

These players have no shot at making the team and can benefit more from consistent at bats than riding the Yankees crowded bench. It's in their best interests honestly so let's see if it happens or not.

Yankees Have Added 13 to Spring Training Camp

The New York Yankees have added a total of 13 players to their major league spring training camp this week presumably to help with split squad games and the everyday grind of the schedule. Many "wrongs" have been righted with these call ups although many of these players are expected to go back down as soon as tomorrow. According to the transactions page on Yankees.com the following players have been added to Yankees camp:

LHP Matt Tracy

3B Dante Bichette Jr.

OF Michael O'Neill

OF Taylor Dugas

C Alvaro Noriega

RHP Caleb Cotham

RHP Mark Montgomery

3B Eric Jagielo

RHP Jaron Long

RHP Cesar Vargas

LHP Fred Lewis

SS Tyler Wade

RHP Taylor Garrison

Charleston’s Luis Niebla Named Season’s Final SAL Pitcher of the Week

Becomes Third RiverDog in 2014 to Take Home League’s Pitcher of the Week Award

CHARLESTON, SC - Charleston RiverDogs pitcher Luis Niebla received the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week Award on Monday for games played August 25-September 1. Niebla spun a career-high seven scoreless innings and earned a win in his only outing of the season’s final week on Thursday, August 28 against the Greenville Drive.

A right-handed pitcher from Obregon, Mexico, Niebla started the RiverDogs home finale and fanned seven batters in a 10-0 Charleston victory over the Drive last Thursday. He allowed only three hits and did not walk anyone.

Niebla joins fellow pitchers Caleb Smith (April 21-27) and Jaron Long (May 26-June 1), as well as outfielder Dustin Fowler (June 9-15), as RiverDogs honored as either SAL Pitcher or Player of the Week this season.

Jaron Long Named Thunder's Pitcher of the Year

Jaron Long being honored as the Thunder Pitcher of the Year as voted on by the fans
— Matt Kardos ⚾ (@mattkardos) September 1, 2014

Jaron Long has been named the Trenton Thunder's Pitcher of the Year as voted by the fans. The real question is though, can he hit? On a serious note though congratulations to Jaron, his teammates, and his family. What an honor and definitely one that was deserved and earned through hard work.

Thunder Announce 2014 End of Season Award Winners

The Thunder announced today that Starting Pitcher Jaron Long has been named the winner of the Smith's ACE Hardware Pitcher of the Year award, Catcher Tyson Blaser is the recipient of the 2014 Samuel Plumeri, Sr. Community Service Award and outfielder Ben Gamel is the winner of the 2014 Oxi Clean "Dirtiest Uniform of the Season" Award. The awards were presented in an on-field ceremony prior to the season finale against Reading on Monday afternoon at ARM & HAMMER Park.

The Smith's ACE Hardware Pitcher of the Year award was voted on by the fans during the final month of the season. This year's winner, Jaron Long, had a 7-2 record with a 2.35 ERA in 11 games for Trenton this season. Starting Pitchers Nik Turley (2013) Brett Marshall (2012), Schaeffer Hall (2011), and Relief Pitcher Josh Schmidt (2010) are the previous winners of the honor.

Samuel Plumeri, Sr. Community Service Award winner Tyson Blaser has been a frequent participant in activities for Trenton Thunder Charities. He helped coach at Thunder youth clinics and camps and has been a regular volunteer for outreach opportunities around the ballpark and in the community including Trenton Thunder HOPE Week. The Samuel Plumeri Sr. Community Service Award winner is chosen by Thunder Management.

Blaser joins Brad Tweedlie (1999), Marty McLeary (2000), Josh Garrett (2001), Mike Griffin (2002), Brian Myrow (2003), Jason Grove (2004), Ben Julianel (2005), Jason Brown (2006), Jason Jones (2007), Joe Muich (2008), Noah Hall (2009), Ryan Baker (2010), Cory Arbiso (2011), Craig Heyer (2012), and Aaron Dott (2013) as winners of the Sam Plumeri Sr. Community Service Award.

The winner of the Trenton Thunder Oxi Clean "Dirtiest Uniform of the Season" award is Outfielder Ben Gamel. Gamel’s grit, determination and hustle in the field and on the basepaths, saw him coming off the field with the dirtiest uniform night after night. He has won a year's supply of Oxi Clean products. Slade Heathcott (2013) and David Adams (2012) are the previous winners of the "Dirtiest Uniform" award.

Jaron Long, Chris Smith Heading to Tampa

Jaron Long, Chris Smith Heading to Tampa

Single-A Tampa Yankees receive two RiverDogs right-handers via promotions

CHARLESTON, SC – The New York Yankees have announced that Charleston RiverDogs right-handed pitchers Jaron Long and Chris Smith have been promoted to the Single-A Tampa Yankees. Long leaves the RiverDogs as the South Atlantic League leader in earned run average while Smith had a strong start to his debut in affiliated baseball.

In a pair of corresponding moves, Charleston receives left-handed pitchers Evan Rutckyj and Chaz Hebert from Tampa. The RiverDogs will maintain their maximum of 25 active players.

Long, a non-drafted free agent out of Ohio State in 2013, currently tops the Sally League with a 1.64 earned run average and also shares the league lead with one shutout. Long owns a 3-1 record for Charleston and recently recorded a streak of 22.2 consecutive scoreless innings.

Smith joined the Yankees in 2013 after playing in Australia for the Pine Hills Lightning and the Brisbane Bandits. The Louisville, KY native won his affiliated baseball debut on May 12 and earned a save on May 16 in a doubleheader opener. Smith has 1-1 record with a 4.50 ERA.

Rutckyj and Hebert, a pair of southpaws, are added to Charleston roster. This is the third season that Rutckyj has been a member of the RiverDogs, featuring his team-high ten wins in 2013 for Charleston. This season, Rutckyj has one win over 12 relief appearances with Tampa. Hebert went 0-2 in three Tampa starts to begin this season and joins the RiverDogs for the first time.

Charleston starts a four-game homestand against the Savannah Sand Gnats at 7:05pm tonight. Budweiser Thirsty Thursday, presented by 95SX, offers $1 drafts and DJ Natty Heavy in the Ashley View Pub. Tickets may be purchased at the Riley Park Box Office, (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or on-line at www.riverdogs.com. If fans cannot make it to the ballpark, they are encouraged to tune in to all the action this year both home and away worldwide on www.riverdogs.com and locally on 1250 WTMA, the new radio home for RiverDogs baseball.

Jaron Long Named SAL Pitcher of the Week

Jaron Long Named SAL Pitcher of the Week

Righty hurler receives RiverDogs’ second pitcher of the week award for 2014

CHARLESTON, SC - Charleston RiverDogs right-hander Jaron Long received the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week Award for games played May 26 – June 1 on Monday. For the week, Long went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 2 appearances and allowed only four hits, 1 run/0 earned runs, and one walk with 14 strikeouts over 11.1 IP.

Jaron Long pitched in two games last week for Charleston, one as the starting pitcher and one in relief. He threw the first complete game of the season for the RiverDogs tossing a seven-inning, two hit, nine strikeout shutout gem while earning the victory at home against the Greenville Drive on May 27. Then, on June 1 he came out of the bullpen and allowed one unearned run on two hits in 4.1 innings pitched against the Asheville Tourists, also in front of his home crowd. Long struckout five, walked zero batters, and earned a no-decision versus Asheville.

The 22-year-old righty was signed by the New York Yankees as an undrafted free agent last summer after finishing his amateur career at Ohio State University. A 6'0", 190 lb. right-handed pitcher, Long is the second RiverDog to take home SAL Pitcher of the Week honors this season. Lefty Caleb Smith previously won the award for games played April 21-27.

The RiverDogs are in Hickory, NC taking on the Hickory Crawdads through Wednesday. Charleston returns home Thursday to begin a four game homestand at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park against the Savannah Sand Gnats, the final four home games of the first half for the RiverDogs. Tickets may be purchased at the Riley Park Box Office, (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or on-line at www.riverdogs.com. If fans cannot make it to the ballpark, they are encouraged to tune in to all the action this year both home and away worldwide on www.riverdogs.com and locally on 1250 WTMA, the new radio home for RiverDogs baseball.