Gary Sanchez, C (Double-A Trenton Thunder)

Sanchez had one of the best five-day stretches of any player in the minor leagues this past week. Since last Friday, the catching prospect has gone 11-for-24 (.458 BA) with two doubles, four home runs, seven runs, and seven RBI which has lifted his average to .268 on the year. He also now has 12 home runs with a 488 slugging percentage and .814 OPS.  If we’re going to nitpick though, the one adverse effect of this newfound power approach is that Sanchez’ walk rate is down to 7.3 percent. That could indicate future issues if he doesn’t learn to maintain the plate discipline.

A major factor in Sanchez’s future value is his ability to stick behind the plate. The odds aren’t in his favor to remain behind the plate, but he has made marked improvements. After allowing 10 passed balls in 93 games last season, only two have gotten by him in 50 games this year and his caught-stealing percentage continues to be an above-average 37 percent. Sanchez’ bat should play anywhere on the diamond, but for him to be an above-average (or better) position player in the major leagues, he’ll have to stick behind the plate. He’ll head to the Future’s Game next week and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him called up to Triple-A soon after that.

Jose Campos, RHP (High-A Tampa Yankees)

It appears that Campos stands a chance to be the rare exception that climbs his way out of that deep, dark abyss which has claimed all too many once-highly touted Yankees prospects (Ravel Santana, Andrew Brackman…are you in there???).  He was one of the components coming back in the Jesus Montero-Michael Pineda trade and was viewed as an extremely high-ceiling, strikeout pitcher with an electric arm. He suffered a fracture in his elbow and though he seemed as if he was going to come back healthy, in the end, he had to undergo Tommy John surgery in 2014.

His rehab went well and, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, was “averaging about 92 mph and pitching in the mid-90s when he [needed] it” during last Friday’s start.  Campos lost a ton of development time and still has a ways to go, but keep in mind that he is just 22 years old and still may be capable of an impact in the big leagues.

Cale Coshow, RHP (High-A Tampa Yankees)

The 13th round draft pick in 2013 has shifted between starter and reliever while in the system, but is currently in the rotation for the Tampa Yanks. Cale is not exactly a picture of ideal health at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds (maybe a diet of kale would help), but he has had success as a starter in the short term.

Throwing a fastball that can reach the high 90’s, Coshow has allowed just 12 hits and four runs in his first four starts at High-A (20.1 innings).  Although the big man probably isn’t the second coming of CC Sabathia and is likely projected better as a reliever for the long-term, he may also have some untapped potential. He’s a wildcard and the Yankees still need to see what the righty is capable of doing in an extended stretch as a starter. He’ll be an interesting name to keep an eye on as the year progresses.

Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders (47-42)

Friday:

RailRiders 4, Red Sox 0

Saturday:

Bisons 4, RailRiders 2

Sunday:

Bisons 0, RailRiders 2

Bisons 6, RailRiders 4

Monday:

Bisons 6, RailRiders 2

Tuesday:

Chiefs 1, RailRiders 5

Wednesday:
Chiefs 6, Railriders 4

Thursday:

Chiefs 5, RailRiders 2

Notable Performances from the Week:

1B Greg Bird: 5-23 (.217), 2 2B, 2 BB, 6 K

2B Rob Refsnyder: 11-28 (.393), 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, 7 BB, 3 K

3B Cole Figueroa: 11-22 (.500), 2 2B, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, 2 SB, K

CF Ben Gamel: 8-31 (.258), 2 2B, 3B, 4 R, 5 RBI, SB, 3 K

RF Aaron Judge: 6-27 (.353), R, RBI, 3 BB, 7 K 

RHP Joel De La Cruz: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, 1 K, 53 pitches

RHP Luis Severino: 4.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 85 pitches

Trenton Thunder (47-39)

Friday:

Curve 4, Thunder 10

Saturday:

Thunder 9, Fightin Phils 2

Sunday:

Thunder 14, Fightin Phils 2

Monday:

Thunder 4, Fightin Phils 6

Tuesday:

Thunder 8, Fisher Cats 6

Wednesday:

Thunder 3, Fisher Cats 7

Thursday:

Thunder 1, Fisher Cats 2

Notable Performances From The Week:

C Gary Sanchez: 12-28 (.429), 3 2B, 4 HR, 7 R, 8 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K

SS Ali Castillo: 9-26 (.346), 2 2B, 6 R, 3 RBI, 3 SB, CS, 5 BB, 5 K

CF Jake Cave: 11-27 (.407), 2B, 8 R, 6 RBI, SB, BB, 5 K

RHP Brady Lail: 6.1 IP, 2 R/ER, 3 H, 3 BB, K, 90 pitches

RHP Eric Ruth: 5.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 3 K, 98 pitches—7.0 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 4 H, BB, 4 K, 93 pitches

Tampa Yankees (41-43)

Friday:

Yankees 0, Threshers 3

Saturday:

Tortugas 0, Yankees 2

Sunday:

Tortugas 4, Yankees 5

Monday:

Tortugas 6, Yankees 7

Tuesday:

Manatees 4, Yankees 6

Wednesday:

Manatees 10, Yankees 2

Thursday:

Manatees 5, Yankees 3

Notable Performances From The Week:

2B/SS Tyler Wade: 10-21 (.476), 2B, 3B, 4 R, 2 CS (2 PO), 5 BB

CF Dustin Fowler: 6-21 (.286), 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 SB, CS, 2 BB, 4 K

RF Michael O’Neill: 6-21 (.286), 2B, HR, 3 R, 6 RBI, CS, 3 K

RHP Jose Campos: 5.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K—1.2 IP, 8 R/ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 50 pitches

RHP Cale Coshow: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, 7 K, 83 pitches—5.0 IP, 5 R/ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 65 pitches

Charleston RiverDogs (40-45)

Friday:

RiverDogs 5, Tourists 3

Saturday:

Braves 1, RiverDogs 0

Sunday:

Braves 4, RiverDogs 2

Monday:

Braves 1, RiverDogs 0

Tuesday:

Braves 2, RiverDogs 3

Wednesday:

Intimidators 2, RiverDogs 0

Thursday:

Intimidators 0, RiverDogs 1

Notable Performances From The Week:

SS Jorge Mateo: 6-20 (.300), 2 2B, 3B, 2 R, 3 SB, 3 CS (2 PO), 4 BB, 3 K

2B/SS Vincente Conde: 5-22 (.227), 2 2B, 2 R, 2 SB, CS, 1 BB, 3 K

RHP Matt Marsh: 5.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 66 pitches (rain shortened outing)

LHP Justin Kamplain: 6.0 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 7 K, 89 pitches

RHP Matt Wotherspoon: 5.0 IP, 1 R/ER, H, 3 BB, 6 K, 89 pitches

LHP Rony Bautista: 5.0 IP, 3 ER/R, 5 H, 4 BB, 6 K, 86 pitches—5.2 IP, 1 R/ER, H, 7 BB, 5 K, 86 pitches

RHP Jordan Foley: 5.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K, 75 pitches

Staten Island Yankees (11-8)

Friday:

Yankees 5, IronBirds 1

Saturday:

Renegades 3, Yankees 1

Sunday:

Renegades 2, Yankees 3

Monday:

Renegades 7, Yankees 5

Wednesday:

Yankees 5, IronBirds 3

Notable Performances From The Week:

SS Kyle Holder: 2-20 (.100), 2B, R, 2 BB, 2 K

2B/ SS Thairo Estrada: 6-15 (.400), 2 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB, K

LF Griffin Gordon: 8-18 (.444), 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 2 BB, 3 K

RHP Kolten Mahoney: 4.2 IP, 1 R/ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 55 pitches

RHP Domingo Acevedo: 5.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 7 K, 63 pitches

RHP Luis Cedeno: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 75 pitches

Pulaski Yankees (5-6)

Friday:

Yankees 4, Blue Jays 2

Saturday:

Blue Jays 4, Yankees 7

Sunday:

Braves 4, Yankees 6

Monday:

Braves 1, Yankees 2

Tuesday:

Braves 6, Yankees 4

Wednesday:

Yankees 6, Rays 3

Thursday:

Yankees 6, Rays 0

Notable Performances From The Week:

CF Carlos Vidal: 11-31 (.355), 3 2B, 3 HR, 8 R, 5 RBI, 2 SB, 2 CS, 2 BB, 12 K

2B Gosuke Katoh: 6-22 (.273), 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 SB, 2 BB, 8 K

LHP Nestor Cortes: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 6 K

RHP Adonis Rosa: 5.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 7 K—5.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K

(Photo: Kim Klement-USA Today Sports)