Yankees prospects Rafael Flores, Spencer Jones impressing


ATLANTA — The Yankees promoted one of their top prospects on Saturday, moving Rafael Flores from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The catcher, considered the eighth-best player in the Bombers’ farm system by Baseball America, hit .287/.346/.496 with 23 doubles, 15 home runs and 56 RBI over 87 games prior to his promotion. Flores, who crushed 15 home runs for Somerset last year as well, impressed Yankees coaches this spring training, as the undrafted junior college product was a first-time invitee to big league camp.

Asked what stood out about the 24-year-old on Saturday, Aaron Boone said “power” and “presence.”

“Loves the game,” Boone continued. “Like you can tell he likes all the things that go into baseball, the behind-the-scenes stuff that you gotta be in love with a little bit, in my opinion, if you’re going to be really good at this.

“I really enjoyed being around him. Spent a lot of time talking to him too. So I think he’s got a chance to be a really good one.”

Boone added that Flores has the skills to be “a really good catcher,” echoing sentiments shared by Tanner Swanson, the Yankees’ director of catching.

Rafael Flores

However, it’s certainly possible that Flores never receives for the Yankees. They’ve already got three controllable catchers on their big league roster in Austin Wells, J.C. Escarra and Ben Rice, and the trade deadline is right around the corner.

With the Yankees earning a strong reputation for their catching development in recent years, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see other teams ask about Flores with Brian Cashman in search of a third baseman, rotation help and multiple relievers.

JONES EARNS RAVE REVIEWS, TOO

Spencer Jones, the sixth-best prospect in the Yankees’ system, is another youngster teams are likely asking about in trade talks.

Reviews and results have been mixed for the 2022 first-round pick since he made his pro debut, but Jones has bounced back nicely this season after setting a Yankees minor league record with 200 strikeouts at Double-A last year.

The 24-year-old began this season back at Somerset, hitting .274/.389/.594 with 16 homers and 32 RBI over 49 games before earning a promotion to Triple-A. Jones has been on fire with the RailRiders, hitting .362/.426/.776 with seven homers and 15 RBI over his first 14 games. He then recorded four hits and homered on Saturday.

“It’s been a great year for him,” Boone said, noting Jones had his season briefly interrupted by an intercostal injury. “Since being promoted, he’s kind of gone off in Triple-A. So all good signs.”

At 6-7, 240 pounds, Jones has made numerous tweaks to his swing in an attempt to cut back on his strikeouts and maximize his frame. It’s been a process, but what he’s doing lately has yielded impressive results.

“As a bigger guy, I think it’s harder to master mechanics and skills as a hitter,” Boone said. “But when you can, and you do, obviously, I think you have advantages just with your strength and your leverage and things like that. So he’s made a lot of adjustments over the last couple of years, and it’s good to see that those adjustments in Double and Triple-A have paid off for him so far.”

SCHLITTLER UNCONCERNED ABOUT SORENESS

Cam Schlittler isn’t worried about the bicep soreness he experienced over the All-Star break. He called it “a little bit of inflammation” and “insignificant” before throwing a bullpen session on Saturday. Assuming he bounces back well from that, he is expected to make his second big league start in Toronto on Tuesday.

“Everything’s clean,” Schlittler said. “I think they’re just helping me out by giving me a couple days to kind of reset.”

Meanwhile, blistered ace Max Fried is scheduled for a bullpen session on Sunday. If that goes well, Boone said he would likely start in Toronto on Wednesday.

SMALL MOVES

Prior to Saturday’s game against the Braves, the Yankees designated Rico Garcia for assignment and promoted Allan Winans. Garcia struggled in his Yankees debut on Friday, walking two and allowing a three-run homer to Ozzie Albies.

Meanwhile, Yerry de los Santos (right elbow discomfort) began a rehab assignment at Double-A.

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