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The end of the Yankees¡¯ road trip on Wednesday marked their 25th game, which -- believe it or not -- means the regular season is already 15 percent complete.
The organization¡¯s Minor League campaigns are also in full swing as we approach the end of the first month, which makes this an appropriate time to check in down on the farm and highlight players who have come out of the gates hot at each level.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Infielder/outfielder Jorbit Vivas, who was recalled by the Yankees this week when outfielder Trent Grisham was placed on the paternity list, earned an opportunity to make his Major League debut by swinging the bat well for the RailRiders.
In 20 games, Vivas was 25-for-73 (.342) with five doubles, two home runs, 14 RBIs and four stolen bases. He is the Yankees¡¯ No. 20 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
Vivas was tied for third in the International League in hits entering play Wednesday. He¡¯d also struck out just four times, with 10 walks, good for a .432 on-base percentage.
Double-A Somerset Patriots
Right-hander Brendan Beck has been stellar, holding opponents scoreless through his first three starts, spanning 15 innings. Beck has permitted just five hits and two walks, striking out 13 over that stretch. He leads the Eastern League in WHIP (0.47) and in opponents' batting average (.098).
Beck¡¯s performance, including six hitless innings against the Altoona Curve on April 15, prompted his selection as the Eastern League¡¯s Pitcher of the Week for April 14-20. Beck was a second-round pick from Stanford in 2021 and missed all of last season due to right elbow issues.
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades
After impressing with the big league club during Spring Training, infielder George Lombard Jr. has carried that performance into his second full professional season, entering play Wednesday with 13 hits in 43 at-bats (.302).
The 19-year-old Lombard -- the club¡¯s No. 1 prospect and the No. 98 prospect in baseball -- has a double, a triple, a homer and seven RBIs, with seven stolen bases already. Lombard¡¯s .466 on-base percentage ranks second in the South Atlantic League entering play Wednesday.
Lombard was the Yankees¡¯ first-round selection in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Gulliver Prep in Miami.
Single-A Tampa Tarpons
Left-hander Griffin Herring is off to a strong start in his first professional season, posting a 2-0 record and a 0.55 ERA with 22 strikeouts through three starts.
Entering play Wednesday, Herring leads the Florida State League in ERA, is tied for second in innings (16 1/3), ranks third in strikeouts and fifth in opponents' average (.172). The 21-year-old has permitted 10 hits and seven walks, striking out 22.
Herring, the club¡¯s No. 26 prospect, was a sixth-round pick from Louisiana State in last year¡¯s MLB Draft.