Yankees Minor League Report: Rising Stars Game features Baby Bombers
It’s time to catch you up on the happenings in winter league baseball and other notable events in the New York Yankees farm system.
Last week, we reported on players in the Arizona Fall League and a few of those players were a part of the Rising Stars game Saturday. Typically the game is filled with prospects that have the best potential for future success, not necessarily those who are lighting up the AFL.
David Adams, who has been playing both second and third base with the Scottsdale Scorpions, played the entire game at second. He went 1-for-4 for the East squad; the hit was a two-run double.
Austin Romine started at catcher and tripled in two plate appearances while scoring two runs.
Relief pitcher Mark Montgomery was dominant in his one inning of work striking out the side; all on swinging strikes.
Melky Mesa received a cup of coffee this year after reaching Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre. He showed some pop this season but needs to cut down on his strikeouts. He is currently playing in the Dominican Winter League. (Image: Anthony Gruppuso-US PRESSWIRE)
Around other winter leagues
Jose Pirela finished the regular season playing second base at Double-A Trenton producing a slash line of .293/.356/.448 with 19 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 33 RBI in 343 plate appearances. He added nine stolen bases. Thus far in the Venezuela Winter League Pirela sits at .308/.402/.436 with one homer and 12 RBI in 88 plate appearances. Pirela is the #15 prospect in the Yankees organization according to MLB.com.
Vidal Nuno, who split time with High-A Tampa in the Florida State League and Trenton (9-5, 2.45 ERA, 100 K’s in 114 IP) this season, is also putting up some impressive winter numbers. He is 2-1 with a 0.93 ERA in six appearances covering 9 2/3 innings. He’s struck out 10 batters and walked zero.
Jose Ramirez started 18 games for Tampa this year going 7-6 with a 3.19 ERA in 98.2 total innings. He registered 92 strikeouts and held batters to a .239 average. He is currently playing in the Dominican Winter League where he has appeared in three games logging seven innings. He holds a 2.57 ERA and has six strikeouts. Ramirez is #13 on the MLB.com list of Yankees prospects.
Melky Mesa received a cup of coffee this year after splitting time with Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In the minors he hit a cumulative .264/.325/.480 with 23 HR, 67 RBI and 22 SB. Mesa is participating in the DWL as well, sporting a .261/.346/.565 line with two HR and four RBI in 26 plate appearances. Mesa hasn’t played since Oct. 23.
Austin garners MiLB award
Tyler Austin was named the MiLB Breakout Player of the Year for 2012. Austin hit a collective .322/.400/.960 with 17 home runs and 80 RBI while moving from Single-A Charleston to High-A Tampa and eventually receiving a call-up to Double-A Trenton where he could potentially begin the 2013 season.