Romine extends hit streak in Trenton win

Got a ton of info to pass along, most of it coming from Josh Norris…

• Dellin Betances is about ten days away from coming off the disabled list, but there’s no timetable for Manny Banuelos’ return yet.
• Jorge Vasquez had an appendectomy like Banuelos, and isn’t too far off.
• Paul Bush is rehabbing in Extended Spring Training from who knows what, but George Kontos isn’t close to a return yet.
• Pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras mentioned Adam Warren and Hector Noesi as guys that could get promoted to Double-A Trenton soon, but when asked about Pat Venditte, he replied “not unless somebody gets hurt.” Contreras also said Graham Stoneburner’s slider is not an average big league pitch, which contradicts what we heard yesterday.
• Stoneburner did get an Honorable Mention on Baseball America’s Prospect Hot Sheet, while Andrew Brackman showed up in the Not So Hot section. I think he’s going for the all-time record.

Also, biggest news of the day: the Yanks signed Justin Christian out of the independent Atlantic League and assigned him to Double-A Trenton. He spent 2004-2008 in the Yanks’ system, and even got some big league time in 2008. Dude stole 220 bases (caught just 36 times, 85.9% success rate) during that time, and was always a personal fave. Good to have him back.

Triple-A Scranton (9-3 loss to Durham)
Kevin Russo, RF, Eduardo Nunez, SS & Jon Weber, DH: all 1 for 4 – Russo doubled, scored a run & K’ed … Nunez drove in a run & K’ed
Reegie Corona, 2B: 0 for 4
David Winfree, 1B: 0 for 2, 1 R, 1 BB – hmmm, two straight games with no Juan Miranda … not sure what that’s about
P.J. Pilittere, 1B: 0 for 1 – just activated from the phantom DL … pinch hit for Winfree when things got out of hand in the top of the 9th
Jesus Montero, C: 0 for 1 – got taken out of the game in the 3rd inning for an unconfirmed reason, but it’s believed that he didn’t run out a grounder … he warmed up pitchers in the bullpen later in the game, so it’s unlikely to be an injury
Chad Moeller, C: 0 for 3 – took over for Hey-Zeus
Chad Huffman, LF: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K – he doesn’t make contact often, but when he does …
Robby Hammock, 3B: 1 for 3
Greg Golson, CF: 0 for 2, 1 BB, 2 K – he got there pretty quick, huh?
The Ghost of Kei Igawa: 4 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1-6 GB/FB – 49 of 74 pitches were strikes (66.2%) … he was pressed into action because Romulo Sanchez was supposed to start tonight, but he’s with the big league team now
Amaury Sanit: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 2-2 GB/FB – 26 of 47 pitches were strikes (55.3%)
Royce Ring: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GB/FB – 18 of 31 pitches were strikes (58.1%)
Kevin Whelan: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0-2 GB/FB – exactly half of his 30 pitches were strikes

Double-A Trenton (1-0 win over Bowie)
Dan Brewer, LF: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB
David Adams, B & Marcos Vechionacci, DH: both 0 for 3, 1 K – Adams got hit by a pitch & got picked off first on a snap throw by the catcher, who just so happens to be Corban Joseph’s brother
Austin Romine, C: 1 for 4, 1 RBI – hit streak is up to 16 games … drove in the only run they would need way back in the 1st inning
Brandon Laird, 3B, Reid Gorecki, CF, Kevin Smith, 1B, Edwar Gonzalez, RF & Luis Nunez, SS: all 1 for 3 -Smith K’ed twice … Edwar doubled & stole a base
David Phelps: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HB – 28-6 K/BB ratio in 29.2 IP
Josh Schmidt: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1-2 GB/FB
Eric Wordekemper: 1 IP, zeroes, 2 K, 1-0 GB/FB

High-A Tampa (8-3 loss to Brevard County) for the second time in a week, they’re facing a former big leaguer rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery
Jack Rye, RF: 2 for 5, 1 2B – avg holds steady at .397
Corban Joseph, 2B: 2 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K – 16 for his last 36 (.444)
Bradley Suttle, 3B, Neil Medchill, LF & Myron Leslie, C: all 1 for 4, 1 K – Medchill scored a run … Leslie allowed two passed balls
Melky Mesa, CF & Trent Lockwood, 1B: both 0 for 4 – Lockwood K’ed twice
Addison Maruszak, SS: 2 for 3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 E (throwing)
Mitch Abeita, DH: 1 for 3, 2 RBI, 1 BB
Jairo Heredia: 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 10-2 GB/FB – well, at least he’s getting them to hit the ball on the ground
Brandon Braboy: 0.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K – just off the DL, but I bet he wishes he was still on it after this gem
Phil Bartlewski: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 21 GB/FB
Jon Ortiz: 1 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 0-2 GB/FB

Low-A Charleston (6-4 win over Delmarva) faced last year’s fifth overall pick
Jimmy Paredes, SS & Luke Murton, 1B: both 3 for 5 – Paredes scored three runs & committed a throwing error … Murton doubled, drove in two & K’ed
Justin Milo, LF, Zoilo Almonte, RF & Rob Lyerly, 3B: all 1 for 4 – Milo drew a walk, stole a base, scored a run & K’ed … Almonte walked, drove in a run & K’ed thrice … Lyerly walked, K’ed & got caught stealing
Kyle Higashioka, C:  2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 E (pickoff)
Garrison Lassiter, DH & Ray Kruml, CF: both 0 for 4 – Lassiter K’ed twice, Kruml once
Kelvin Castro, SS: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB
Jose Ramirez: 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 8-3 GB/FB – easily his worst outing of the season
Gabriel Tatis: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 4-0 GB/FB
Ryan Flannery: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1-1 GB/FB – can’t ask for much more out of your bullpen