For those of us who complained about the Yankees love for veterans, we’re sure getting our fair share of prospect promotions now. Twenty-four year old Corban Joseph was just called up from Triple-A to replace Kevin Youkilis who was sent to the DL (back).

Corban is a friend of NoMaas and we interviewed him in June 2012. If you haven’t read it, you should check it out.

Joseph had a breakout year in Triple-A last season, hitting .266/.366/.474 (134 wRC+). The success has continued so far this season with a .273/.347/.477 line (130 wRC+) — and he took home our April 21st Minor League Player of the Week Award (tip: You should be reading our weekly MLPW).

Congratulations to Corban for reaching the big stage!

The wrinkle in all of this is that Joseph is exclusively a second baseman. He last played third base in 2010 for High-A Tampa and he only did that for 6 games. The Yankees experimented with him at third base during Spring Training, but the reviews were poor.

So, although we’re very excited for Joseph, we’re a bit confused how he will fill in for Youkilis, and how he actually fits on the roster:

1. Will the Yankees put him at third anyway despite the complete lack of recent experience?
2. Will he just be a bat on the bench, while Jayson Nix gets all the time at third?
3. Was this just a move of logistical convenience, as Corban was already on the 40-man roster and no one had to be DFA’d (Ben Francisco is saved!).

He has played 1B a couple games this season for Scranton (his only time at 1B in his career), so maybe he gives Overbay a day off? Your guess is as good as ours.

Chances are though he’ll receive very little game action.

We saw the debut of Vidal Nuno, who went 3 scoreless innings, striking out two and allowing 4 hits. And what is typical for Vidal, he did not walk a batter.

For some some background on the newest Yankee, check out what we wrote in March.

4.1 IP, 7 ER, 10 H, 1 BB, 3 SO

Game 21: Cano HR rounds Yankees back into shape (Yankees 5, Blue Jays 3)
Game Notes:
- Kuroda struggled early on, surrendering 3 runs on 2 HR in the first 2 innings of the game, before settling down back into the smooth operator with pinpoint control we’ve all come to know and love
- Mark Buerhle’s 85-86 MPH fastball was tough to get by Vernon Wells, Robinson Cano, and Frankie Cervelli all of whom crushed long HR off the lefty veteran
- Cano toyed with Buehrle in the 3rd inning during his AB, taking the first 4 pitches to work the count 3-1 before demolishing an 86 MPH slowball
- Ben Francisco didn’t just start, he hit 2nd in the lineup. He was 1-4, elevating his slash line to .103/.188/.103. Just what you want from the top of the order.
- The bullpen held the Blue Jays down with Joba/Robertson/Mo allowing 1 H, 0 BB and 0 ER for the final 3 frames.
- Kevin Youkilis sat again with back issues.

YES Player of the Game: Robinson Cano (0.27 WPA)
Our Player of the Game: Robinson Cano (0.27 WPA)

Game 22: Yankees lose their battery, win anyway (Yankees 6, Blue Jays 4)
Game Notes:
- Frankie Cervelli, he of the surprisingly optimistic looking start to the season, fractured his right hand after getting hit by a Rajai Davis foul ball on the 5th pitch of the game. He’ll be out for at least 6 weeks.
- Ivan Nova was jealous that Cervelli got to leave the game, so he stumbled upon an injury of his own. Nova left the game in the 3rd with elbow soreness/stiffness. Thankfully it was only inflammation to his triceps. Still, Nova will be placed on the 15 day DL.
- The injuries to Cervelli and Nova allowed the Yankees to call up catching prospect, Austin Romine and LHP wunderkind, Vidal Nuno
- David Phelps made a strong, effective case to take Nova’s spot in the rotation, pitching 4 scoreless in relief while striking out 9.
- Kevin Youkilis sat again, for the sixth straight game
- BEN FRANCISCO STARTED AGAIN, this time hitting 9th. Believe it or not: he did not collect a hit.
- Former Blue Jay, Lyle Overbay had fun torturing his ex team, hitting a big go-ahead triple in the 4th.

YES Player of the Game: David Phelps (0.16 WPA)
Our Player of the Game: David Phelps (0.16 WPA)

Game 23: Someone Slips Something Useful Into Girardi’s Binder, Yanks win 3rd straight over TOR (Yankees 5, Blue Jays 4)
Game Notes:
- One of two things happened today: Joe Girardi either forgot that LHP JA Happ was pitching for Toronto and accidentally put Travis Hafner in the lineup…or Joe Girardi took our advice and sat the Ben Francisco Treat in favor of PRONKY.
- CC Sabathia once again pitched his B-game (at best), allowing 3 ER on 9 H in 8 IP, but was still good enough to keep the Yanks in the game and earn another win.
- Hafner rewarded Girardi’s (our) faith in him, hitting a huge 3-R HR off Happ in the bottom of the 4th to tie the game
- Hafner further rewarded Girardi’s (but really NoMaas’) faith by mashing the game-winning TRIPLE. It was only the 13th triple of the big fella’s career.
- For the record: Ben Francisco has 0 HR and 0 3B on the season.
- Joba Chamberlain came in to get the final outs of the 9th inning after Mo Rivera had worked 2 games in a row. Joba made it dicey but came away with the save, his first since 2010.
- Youkilis finally played again, for the first time in a week, going 0-3 with a BB.

YES Player of the Game: Travis Hafner (0.38 WPA)
Our Player of the Game: Travis Hafner (0.38 WPA)

Game 24: Yankees show no mercy to the Jays, sweep the series (Yankees 3, Blue Jays 2)
Game Notes:
- Marquee pitching matchup as reigning Cy Young Award winner, RA Dickey matched up against Guy Who Was Supposed To Be an Ace, Phil Hughes.
- Hughes pitched like a Guy Who Was Supposed To Be an Ace, allowing 2 ER, 7 H, 1 BB (intentional) in 6 IP, while striking out 9
- Girardi stressed that he didn’t care about sweeping the series, turning in a house money lineup that saw Gardner sit, Ichiro leading off, and Brennan Boesch hitting 5th.
- Boesch managed to justify his existence, hitting a short porch HR off Dickey in the bottom of the 2nd.
- Dickey seemed to be cruising until Lyle Overbay stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the 7th, hitting the game winning HR, continuing to abuse his former team.
- Youkilis sat for the 7th time in 8 days, making a potential DL trip more likely AND lengthy.
- Robertson and Mo came in for the bottom of the 8th/9th respectively to secure the sweep, sending the Jays home with nothing to be proud of.

YES Player of the Game: Lyle Overbay (0.44 WPA)
Our Player of the Game: Lyle Overbay (0.44 WPA)

After dropping a three game series in Tampa, the Yankees started their 10-game homestand with a weekend sweep of Toronto. They’ve improved to 15-9 on the season and begin a 3-game set today on Monday against the absolutely pathetic, new members of the AL, Houston Astros. Andy Pettitte takes the mound in the first game against Lucas Harrell in what could/should very well be another sweep for the Bronx Bombers.

We highlighted this over the weekend, but Phil Hughes is on a roll over his last three starts:

20 IP, 21 K, 3 BB, 19 H, 6 ER, 2 HR, 2.70 ERA

As always the case with the once-hyped Hughes, it’s a question of whether he can keep this up. If there’s been anything consistent over his career, it’s that he’s been consistently average to below-average.

In 662 career innings, he has an ERA+ of 98 (lower than 100 is below average) and FIP- of 99 (lower than 100 is above average).

And when you take out his stellar relief work (56.1 IP, 1.44 ERA, .172 /.237/.232), mainly accumulated in 2009, you’re looking at a below-average starting career to date.


- Buy Yankees Tickets

Congrats to Vidal Nuno and Austin Romine for being promoted to New York. Vidal Nuno dominated MLPW since last season, so keep reading this feature to stay updated on who’s who in the Yankees’ farm system.

Side note: Triple-A Scranton’s April 27th and 28th games were rained out. By our count, that’s 7 days of rainouts so far this season.

– Covering April 22nd – April 28th games —

Pitcher:
Gabe Encinas, 21, RHP, A
11 IP, 8 K, 3 BB, 9 H, 0 ER
Notable: 0.31 ERA in 29 IP

Gabriel (Gabe) Encinas was drafted by the Yankees in 2010 (6th round) out of St. Paul HS in Sante Fe Springs, CA. The 21-year old underwhelmed during his first two years in the organization, with a 5.08 ERA (although his FIP was 3.34) in Rookie Ball and then a 4.97 ERA (5.31 FIP) at Short-Season Staten Island.

Reportedly armed with an improved fastball, he’s pitching very well at Charleston. Through 5 starts, Encinas boasts a microscopic 0.31 ERA in 29 innings, which leads the South Atlantic League. His FIP heading into his April 28th start was 2.37, good for 10th among qualified pitchers.

The rest of his peripherals: 7.14 K/9, 2.80 BB/9, 2.55 K/BB, 0.0 HR/9

Certainly one to watch…

Hitter:
Robert Refsnyder, 22, RHB 2B, A+
.435/.518/.739 in 27 PA, 1 SB
Notable: Promoted to Tampa (A+) on April 18th

Robert Refsnyder was drafted in the 5th round of the 2012 draft out of the University of Arizona, where he won the College World Series (and was named the Most Outstanding Player). Unfortunately, Refsnyder (born in South Korea) was subjected to racist heckling during the CWS from fans of the University of South Carolina, Arizona’s opponent.

Ironically, Refsnyder kicked off his Yankee career by playing in Charleston and appeared in 46 games for the Riverdogs (.241/.319/.364 in 182 PA). The Yankees kept him in Charleston to begin 2013, but after he hit .362/.455/.468 (165 wRC+), he was quickly promoted to High-A Tampa. Since arriving in Florida, he’s continued to smack the ball, hitting .410/.510/.615 in 47 PA — not too mention, he’s had a hit in every game since his promotion.

This kid is really raking at the moment.

Honorable Mentions:

Rafael De Paula, 22, RHP, A
5 IP, 6 K, 2 BB, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 HR
Has a ridiculous 15.7 K/9.

Jose Ramirez, 23, RHP, AA
4 IP, 6 K, 1 BB, 2 H, 0 ER
Double-A debut, will be part of Trenton’s new 6-man (temporary?) rotation

Charlie Short, 24, RHP, A
3 IP, 5 K, 1 BB, 0 H, 0 ER
Ex-independent leaguer has 17 K in 10.2 IP at Charleston

Dellin Betances, 25, RHP, AAA
7 IP, 7 K, 2 BB, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 HR
His first good start of the season (4 starts total)

Preston Claiborne, 25, RHP, AAA
2.2 IP, 3 K, 0 BB, 1 H, 0 ER
Reliever invited to big league spring training, has had a nice little minor league career to date.

JR Murphy, 22, RHB C, AA
.300/.500/.500 in 14 PA
Hitting .308/.418/.569 on the season, back in the the future catcher conversation?

Claudio Custodio, 22, RHB 2B, A
.467/.556/.667 in 18 PA, 3 SB
2010 international free agent, hitting .286/.375/.476

Jack Cave, 20, LHB OF, A
.346/.407/.500 in 27 PA
Made his season debut this week, after missing 2012 to knee surgery (broken kneecap)

Backed by a solid Phil Hughes performance (6 IP, 9 K, 1 BB, 7 H, 2 ER) and this go-ahead two-run HR by Lyle Overbay, the Bombers swept Toronto, driving the Canadians to 9-17 on the young campaign.

With a 3-2 victory, the Yankees move to 4-0 in one-run games.

Phil Hughes over his last 3 starts: 20 IP, 21 K, 3 BB, 19 H, 6 ER, 2 HR, 2.70 ERA

OaklandAthletics.com:

The Oakland A’s reinstated outfielder Yoenis Céspedes from the 15-day disabled list and designated outfielder Casper Wells for assignment, the club announced today.

Wells was acquired from Toronto Monday for cash considerations and joined the A’s Tuesday in Boston. He went 0 for 5 in three games, including one start in left field on Friday. Wells was with Seattle this spring, was designated for assignment March 31, claimed off waivers by Toronto April 10, reported to the Blue Jays April 12, and did not appear in a game before he was designated for assignment April 15.

Will the third time (being DFA’d, that is) be the charm for Casper Wells? He would be an upgrade over Ben Francisco.

Casper “The Friendly” Wells (28) vs. LHP (career): .261/.345/.482 in 317 PA, 122 OPS+, 129 wRC+

Not the biggest sample size, but significantly better than the Ben Francisco Treat’s numbers versus lefties: .244/.323/.397 in 612 PA, 94 OPS+, 96 wRC+

Defensively, UZR loves him and fans think he’s about average.

Starting Hafner against a left-handed pitcher (finally) turned out to be a good idea.

Pronky went 2-4, including a game-tying 3-run HR (against a lefty) and a go-ahead triple, leading the Bombers to a 5-4 victory over their north-of-the-border division mates.

Does this signal an end to the Ben Francisco experiment?

While they were called up due to unfortunate injuries to Ivan Nova and Francisco Cervelli, it’s still great to see prospects getting a chance. Congratulations to Austin Romine (24) and Vidal Nuno (25) for getting the call to the Boogie Down.

It was only on April 16th when we suggested that Nuno would make the jump soon. And less than 2 weeks later…BOOM!

And for the fans, have some patience. When Adam Warren made his debut last season and got blown up in his only appearance, many fans called for his head, even though he was the right choice for promotion. And with that bad start behind him, Warren has been great in limited work for the big club in 2013.

Nuno in 2013 at Triple-A Scranton: 23.1 IP, 26 K, 2 BB, 13 H, 2 HR, 1.54 ERA, 2.34 FIP

Romine in 2013 at Triple-A Scranton: .333/.391/.405 in 46 PAs, 129 wRC+

The only question that remains is what will Girardi call them? Romy? Vidaly?