Yankees Lose Five Players In The Rule 5 Draft

For a Yankees farm system that so many think are terrible the Yankees lost five players in this years Rule 5 Draft. Pitcher Tommy Kahnle is going to the Colorado Rockies, Ravel Santana is heading to the Houston Astros, Mikey O'Brien is heading to the Cincinnati Reds, Kelvin Castro is headed to the Miami Marlins, and Felipe Gonzalez is headed to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Surprisingly the names not on the board were Chase Whitely and Danny Burawa. How many of them actually stick is another thing.

I can see Tommy Kahnle sticking in Colorado on the roster all season so I cannot see him being given back and is essentially gone.

One thing I did not know is players cannot be given back on the minor league phases of the Rule 5 draft.So Santana, Mikey O'Brien, Kelvin Castro, and Felipe Gonzalez are all but gone for good. I had originally written that I thought O'Brien and Gonzalez would be returned but now that point is moot. O'Brien was a AA pitcher for us, Castro was a infielder turned pitcher, and Gonzalez never made it out of the Dominican Summer League so they are not huge losses in the Yankees system. Santana used to be considered a pretty good prospect but injuries has all but derailed his career. Losing five players is never good but it could have been a lot worse.

Vidal Nuno Headed To The Arizona Fall League

According to Vidal Nuno himself on his Facebook page, yeah I have Vidal as a friend on my Facebook so be jealous, that he is officially heading to the Arizona Fall League this year. He will be joining the likes of Mikey O'Brien, Mason Williams, Tyler Austin, and a few more unnamed pitchers yet to be determined. Vidal looks to be a big part of the Yankees 2014 plans after a strong, yet cut short, 2013 season.

Thunder Take Game 2 with Later Double, 2-1

TRENTON, NJ - Thunder pitching retired 15 of the final 16 batters they faced which held the Binghamton Mets at-bay long enough for Ali Castillo's game-winning double in the 7th inning in Trenton's 2-1 win Thursday night.

After taking Game 1 of the Eastern Division Championship Series in dramatic fashion Wednesday, the Thunder responded with a two-hitter of the B-Mets in front of 2,877 at ARM & HAMMER Park.

With the ballgame tied 1-1 in the 7th inning, Trenton used a one out single by Mason Williams to begin their go-ahead rally. Reegie Corona was the next batter and lined-out to left field which brought Castillo to the plate. Castillo worked a full-count which put Williams in motion at first base. Castillo lined the offering by Binghamton starting pitcher Darin Gorski to right-centerfield and past centerfielder Darrell Ceciliani to the wall for a 2-1 lead.

Starting pitcher Mikey O'Brien got the no-decision but kept Trenton in the ballgame early. He allowed just one run on a solo home run by Binghamton's Josh Rodriguez to begin the fourth inning. Aside from that, O'Brien allowed just one other hit and struck out four.

Trenton leads the best-of-five series over the Binghamton Mets, 2-0.

Following their second-straight win to begin the series, the EDCS continues Friday with a 7:05 p.m. game against the Binghamton Mets at NYSEG Stadium. RHP Shane Greene (8-4, 3.18) pitches for the Thunder against RHP Logan Verrett (12-6, 4.25) for Binghamton. Tickets are available for 2 of the series by going towww.trentonthunder.com/tickets or by calling (609)394-3300. Radio coverage of Friday's game on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and coverage online begins at 6:45 p.m.

Being posted with permission from the Trenton Thunder organization. The original article can be seen HERE. 

Thunder Fall Victim to Long-Ball, Sea Dogs 8-1

Thunder Fall Victim to Long-Ball, Sea Dogs 8-1

Three HR for Portland pace strong offensive night

PORTLAND, ME - The Thunder would have locked up an East Division Wild Card berth with a win Friday night, but the Portland Sea Dogs defeated Trenton 8-1 in front of 7,368 at Hadlock Field to keep the Thunder out of the playoffs for at least one more day.

With Trenton leading the Sea Dogs by 4.0 games with five games to play, a loss would have ended Portland's chance at catch the Thunder before the season ended. However, Portland scored a run in the 4th inning to take a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the 6th before widening the margin further with three runs in both the 6th and 7th.

Trenton pitching allowed three home runs on the night including two in the 6th inning by starting pitcher Mikey O'Brien. O'Brien drops to 7-8 on the season with the loss after allowing four runs- all earned- in 6.0 innings. He struck out six on the night and has now struck out 35 batters in his last 28.2 innings pitched.

Trenton scored a lone run in the ballgame in the top of the 8th inning when Ramon Flores doubled and Jose Pirela singled him home. Flores finished the night 2-for-4 and is now 7-for-16 in his last three games played.

With the win by Portland, Trenton's lead in the East Division Wild Card reduces to 3.0 games over the Sea Dogs and with Binghamton's 3-0 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, New Hampshire is eliminated from the playoff picture which leaves Trenton and Portland as the only two teams remaining still in contention for the Wild Card.

Trenton continues their final series of the regular season Saturday with a doubleheader at Hadlock Field against Portland featuring two, seven-inning ballgames separated by 30 minutes. Game 2 will begin at 5:00 p.m. and have RHP Shane Greene (7-4, 3.48) pitching for the Thunder against LHP Mickey Pena (1-0, 3.29) for Portland, with Trenton's LHP Caleb Smith (NR) making his Double-A debut against RHP Terry Doyle (1-5, 3.94). Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and streaming online begins at 4:45 p.m.

Being posted with permission from the Trenton Thunder organization. The original article can be seen HERE. 

Thunder, Flores Walk-off with Series Split with Portland

Thunder, Flores Walk-off with Series Split with Portland

Thunder LF with game-winning single in 10th inning

TRENTON, NJ - After relinquishing a 2-1 lead in the 9th inning, the Trenton Thunder rallied for a walk-off win over the Portland Sea Dogs in the 10th inning to keep their Wild Card lead in tact as the 2013 regular season rolls towards the finish line.

The Thunder entered the bottom of the 10th inning tied 2-2, and Reegie Corona collected his third hit of the night to lead it off. He then advanced to second base on a well-executed sacrifice bunt by Mason Williams to put Corona in scoring position with one out.

That was when Flores, who hadn't recorded a hit in his first four plate appearances on the night, delivered a single that skipped off the mound as it found its way into center field. Portland's center fielder Shannon Wilkerson charged the ball that was slowing down as it arrived to him and gunned to the plate. The ball sailed just high above the catcher Christian Vazquez and Corona slid safely to secure the win.

Starting pitcher Mikey O'Brien picked up a no-decision despite pitching well in 6.2 innings. It was the second longest start of the season for O'Brien who set an Eastern League career high with nine strikeouts while not walking a batter. He allowed a lone run which came in the second inning on a lead-off homer by Michael Almanzar to tie the game at that point, 1-1.

Danny Burawa entered the game for the Thunder in the bottom of the 9th inning with Trenton clinging to a 2-1 lead. The bases became loaded with no outs when Deven Marrero tried to get the lead for the Sea Dogs with a safety squeeze bunt. Instead, Marrero bunted it straight back to Burawa who threw to the plate and catcher Gary Sanchez fired to first base for a 1-2-3 double play.

That put runners at second and third base with two outs, but Burawa walked the next two batters to force in a run and tie the game 2-2. He ended the inning by freezing Michael Almanzar on strike three and strand the bases loaded.

With the win and a win by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Reading, Trenton's lead in the East Division Wild Card remains 3.0 games over the Fisher Cats but increases to 5.0 over the Sea Dogs with 9 games remaining in the regular season.

The Thunder welcome the New Britain Rock Cats to ARM & HAMMER Park for the first time this season in Trenton's final regular season home series of 2013. The four-game series begins Monday at 7:05 p.m. Trenton sends RHP Shane Greene (7-3, 3.22) to the mound against RHP Trevor May (8-9, 4.67) for the Rock Cats. Limited tickets available atwww.trentonthunder.com/tickets or by calling (609)394-3300. Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and streaming online begins at 6:45 p.m.

Being posted with permission from the Trenton Thunder organization. The original article can be seen HERE. 

Corey Black Promoted To AA Trenton Thunder

Corey Black was drafted in last years ML First Year Players Draft and has been bumped up to AA Trenton to play for the Thunder today. Corey has a 4.08 ERA this season in 57.1 IP while striking out over ten guys per nine innings. Corey will be inserted into a Trenton rotation that is already log jammed with Nik Turley, Jose Ramirez, Zach Nuding, Mikey O'Brien, and Matt Tracy so I do not believe this will be the end of the Yankees minor league roster shake up for the week.

Yankees Cut Six Pitchers From Spring Training Camp

The Yankees have announced that they have cut six minor league pitchers from camp. Zach Nuding, Corey Black, Nick Goody, Shane Green, Mikey O'Brien,  and Bryan Mitchell have been cut from the spring training squad. None of these men had a legit shot at making the roster so this is not much of a shock or news but it is worth bringing to you. The closest to the majors is Bryan Mitchell but he is probably still two years away. It is unfortunate for Nick Goody because his spring was cut short with a sprained ankle acquired in a car accident. Goody and Black both could be quick movers through the Yankees system this year and look to be in the Yankees bullpen as early as September to mid 2014.