Yankees Fast-Track Former First-Round Pick

REHABBING DJ

DJ LeMahieu played two games at second base for Somerset this weekend after missing three games with a hip injury. He appeared in four games last week after starting the season on the injured list due to a calf injury.

Through six rehab games, LeMahieu is hitting .438 (7-for-16) with a home run and three RBIs. His on-base percentage is .500.

Jonathan Loáisiga has appeared in three games for Single-A Tampa. The reliever has given up one run and two hits while striking out seven over 3 1/3 innings.

TRIPLE-A SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE

The RailRiders are 16–16, good for fourth place in the International League’s East Division. They open a seven-game homestand Tuesday night against Rochester.

WORTH WATCHING

Considered a light-hitting catcher, Alex Jackson has put together a solid offensive start. He is hitting .289 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in 11 games.

Jake Woodford appears to be rounding into form after going a season-high 5 2/3 innings Sunday against Syracuse, allowing one run on four hits with seven strikeouts. He is 1–1 with a 3.63 ERA over six starts.

DOUBLE-A SOMERSET

The Patriots are 12–15 and in fourth place in the Eastern League’s Northeast Division. Somerset visits Akron for six games beginning Tuesday night.

WORTH WATCHING

Spencer Jones hit his Eastern League-leading ninth home run — an opposite-field shot at 112.8 mph — on Friday night against Richmond. Jones is batting just .228, due in part to 41 strikeouts in 92 at-bats. However, his 20 walks in 26 games have helped lift his on-base percentage to .372. He’s also 6-for-7 in stolen base attempts.

Catcher Rafael Flores leads the Eastern League with 26 RBIs. He is hitting .292 with six home runs but has struggled at times throwing out baserunners.

Brendan Beck is 2–0 with a 0.93 ERA in four starts. He has 19 strikeouts and just three walks over 19 1/3 innings.

CLASS A HUDSON VALLEY

The Renegades are 18–8 and in second place in the North Division of the South Atlantic League. They open a six-game series Tuesday night at Wilmington.

WORTH WATCHING

Parks Harber was promoted from Single-A Tampa this week and went 6-for-21 (.286) with a home run and three RBIs in his first five games.

Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (2.25 ERA) and Bryce Cunningham (2.10 ERA) are both 3–1 through five starts. Rodriguez-Cruz has 35 strikeouts in 28 innings, while Cunningham has 34 in 30 innings.

CLASS A TAMPA

The Tarpons are 11–16 and tied for fifth in the Florida State League’s West Division. They begin a six-game series at Daytona on Tuesday night.

WORTH WATCHING

Griffin Herring was named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week for April 21–27. The left-hander is 3–1 with a 0.60 ERA over five starts, with 39 strikeouts in 30 innings.

Reliever Brady Kirtner is 1–0 with a 1.69 ERA in nine appearances covering 16 innings.

FLORIDA COMPLEX LEAGUE YANKEES

The rookie-league FCL Yankees lost their season opener 3–1 to the FCL Tigers on Saturday. They play five games this week, beginning Monday against the Tigers, followed by two games each against the FCL Phillies and FCL Blue Jays.

Trystan Vrieling struck out seven while allowing one run and three hits in 3 2/3 innings Saturday. Reliever Sunayro Martina added six strikeouts over 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Vrieling is on a rehab assignment after going 13–7 with a 4.58 ERA last season for Somerset.

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