Weekly Look at the Yankees Minors

AAA-Scranton

Scranton is 26-11, in first place by four-and-a-half games.

Kevin Russo is batting .449. The Yankees like this guy and are trying to turn him into a super utility player.

Austin Jackson is hitting .342, but he doesn't have a home run and has 13 RBI. The power is usually the last to come, but he is a great athlete and has done a good job in AAA. He could be with the Yankees at the end of the year or next year.

Shelly Duncan is the big power guy down there, batting .313 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI. I wonder if he may get a shot again at some point. I don't think they will keep Angel Berroa and Ramiro Pena both around forever.

Juan Miranda and John Rodriguez both have six home runs. Miranda really doesn't have a place on the big-league roster, since he plays first base and Tex is there now for a long time. John Rodriguez is another guy like Shelly Duncan, but we will see what the Yankees do.

Pitching-wise, Kei Igawa started bad, but rebounded to go 3-0 with a 3.70 ERA. He has pitched 41-and-one-third innings, giving up 36 hits with eight walks and 25 strikeouts. I wonder if someone will want him if he puts up another good year in AAA, because this guy won't sniff NY again.

Casey Fossum has pitched well since being claimed off waivers, posting a 1.78 ERA in five games.

Zachary Kroenke is lights out, going 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA. He has pitched 16-and-two-thirds innings and gave up 10 hits and 10 walks with 10 strikeouts.

Mark Melancon is 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA and Dave Robertson is 0-2 with a 1.54 ERA.

AA-Trenton

Trenton is 16-18 on the year, three games out of first place.

Jorge Vasquez, a prospect they signed out of Mexico, is hitting .329 with six home runs and 26 RBI.

Colin Curtis is batting .291. Reggie Corona is batting .282.

Pitcher Zach McAllister is 2-1 with a 2.38 ERA. He has pitched 34 innings with 12 walks and 22 strikeouts.

George Kontos was pitching well in AA, earning a promotion to AAA. I will wait a little longer to see how he does there.

Wilkins Arias is 0-1 with a 2.95 ERA.

Wilkin De La Rosa is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA. He has thrown 11 innings and given up 12 hits with four walks and 16 strikeouts, moving from class-A to AA.

A-Tampa

The Tampa Yankees are 15-21 and in last place, nine-and-a-half games out of first.

Catcher Jesus Montero is one of the Yankees’ brightest prospects, hitting .318 with five home runs and 25 RBI.

Austin Romine, another catcher, is hitting .275 with three home runs and 16 RBI.

Mitch Hilligoss is hitting .316.

Austin Krum, an outfielder drafted last year, is hitting .284.

Pitcher Jeremy Bleich is 2-2 with 3.13 ERA. He has pitched 46 innings, giving up 41 hits with 15 walks and 31 strikeouts.

Dellin Betances, one of the Yankees’ top prospects, is 2-3 with a 4.19 ERA. He has pitched 38-and-two-thirds innings, giving up 41 hits with 20 walks and 39 strikeouts.

A-Charleston

Charleston is 20-17 and one-and-a-half games out of first.

David Adams is batting .291 with 16 RBI. Corbin Joseph is batting .321.

Pitcher Manny Banuelos is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He has pitched 26-and-two-thirds innings, giving up 24 hits with nine walks and 31 strikeouts.

Andrew Brackman is 0-4 with a 4.01 ERA. He has pitched 42-and-two-thirds innings, giving up 42 hits with 17 walks and 40 strikeouts.

Pat Venditte is 2-1 with a 1.06 ERA. He has pitched 17 innings, giving up 13 hits with one walk and 26 strikeouts for 10 saves as closer.