Who's Hot and Who's Not in the New York-Penn League

It's a little early in the season, but here are a few items of note after 13 games in the New York-Penn League.....

Who’s hot:

The State College Spikes have won five in a row and lead the Pinckney Division by 1 game. The Aberdeen IronBirds have also won five in a row and trail the Staten Island Yankees (9-2) by 2.5 games in the McNamera Division.

Joshua Lopez

Joshua Lopez of the State College Spikes is the leading hitter in the league. The Valencia, Venezuela native has a slash line of .500/.575/.853, 3 home runs, 9 RBI in 34 at bats.

Oliver Ortiz

Auburn Doubledays’ Oliver Ortiz was the NYPL player of week (June 19-26) and currently has a slash line of .333/.422/.692 with 4 home runs and 11 RBI in 39 at bats.

Oscar Gonzalez

Oscar Gonzalez of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers currently has a slash line of .375/.380/.542. Gonzalez had 2 HR and 5 RBI in the Scrappers win over Auburn on June 23.

Ivan Andueza

Vermont Lake Monsters pitcher Ivan Andueza is 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 8 SO, 2 BB, 0.72 WHIP in 9.2 IP.

Brenan Hanifee

Brenan Hanifee of the Aberdeen IronBirds is 2-0, 0.75 ERA, 12 SO, 2 BB, 0,83 WHIP in 12 IP.

The West Virginia pitching staff is the main reason the Black Bears have won 8 of 13 games. They lead the league in team ERA (1.85) and WHIP (0.97) and are third in SO with 122 in 117 IP. 

Who’s not:

The Auburn Doubledays have lost six in a row and are currently in the cellar of the Pinckney Division with a 3-10 record.

The Batavia Muckdogs are averaging 919 fans in four home dates this season.

The West Virginia Black Bears finally got above the Mendoza Line last night with a team batting average of .201.

The Tri-City ValleyCats are currently hitting .193 as a team.

Photo Credits: MiLB.com, The Stedler Report
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League.

New York-Penn League Transactions for July (thru July 2)

Juan Robles assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats from Greeneville Astros.

Matt Ruppenthal assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats.

Cristian Javier assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats from Buies Creek Astros.

Hunter Owen assigned to West Virginia Black Bears from West Virginia Power.

Yeremin Lara assigned to Batavia Muckdogs from GCL Marlins.

Weston Davis assigned to Auburn Doubledays from Hagerstown Suns.

Enmanuel Mercedes assigned to Batavia Muckdogs from GCL Marlins.

Max Engelbrekt assigned to Auburn Doubledays from GCL Nationals.

Miguel De Los Santos assigned to Batavia Muckdogs from GCL Marlins.

Nick King assigned to West Virginia Power from West Virginia Black Bears.

Cesar Rosado assigned to Quad Cities River Bandits from Tri-City ValleyCats.

Luis Vilorio assigned to Syracuse Chiefs from Auburn Doubledays.

Hunter Wells assigned to Greensboro Grasshoppers from Batavia Muckdogs.

Brigham Hill assigned to Auburn Doubledays.

Michael Osinski assigned to Lowell Spinners from GCL Red Sox.

Auburn Doubledays released Conner Simonetti.

Auburn Doubledays released Diomedes Eusebio.

St. Lucie Mets sent Chase Ingram on a rehab assignment to Brooklyn Cyclones.

Dylan Busby assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.

Chris Sharpe assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.

Bryan De La Cruz assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats from Quad Cities River Bandits.

Addison Russ assigned to Lakewood BlueClaws from Williamsport Crosscutters.

Josh Alberius assigned to Batavia Muckdogs from GCL Marlins.

Elih Villanueva assigned to Portland Sea Dogs from Lowell Spinners.

Trevor Stephan assigned to Staten Island Yankees from GCL Yankees East.

Bryce Howe assigned to GCL Marlins from Batavia Muckdogs.

Montana Parsons assigned to Batavia Muckdogs from GCL Marlins.

Source: MiLB.com
   
Logo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League

Strong pitching makes up for weak West Virginia Black Bears hitting

Despite a team batting average of .193, the West Virginia Black Bears find themselves in a three way tie for first place in the Pinckney Division with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and the State College Spikes with a 6-4 record.

Pitching is the bright spot thus far for the Black Bears with Scooter Hightower, Yoandy Fernandez, and Sergio Cubilete leading the way.

Scooter Hightower

Scooter Hightower has appeared in three games (two starts) this season and has a 0.00 ERA in 11 innings. He has 15 strikeouts and 0 walks, yielded four hits and has a WHIP of 0.36. The Clarksville, Tennessee native was drafted in the 15th round of the 2015 draft by the Pirates out of Columbia State Community College and was assigned to the Bristol Pirates in the Appalachian League (Rookie). He began the 2016 season with the Black Bears (38.1 IP, 2-5, 2.38 ERA, 37 SO, 7 BB, 1.38 WHIP) and was promoted to the West Virginia Power (South Atlantic League) on August 30, appearing in two games (7 IP, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.29 WHIP).


Yoandy Fernandez is 2-0, appearing in three games in relief this season. In seven innings of work he has a 0.00 ERA, 12 strikeouts, 0 walks and a WHIP of 0.57. The 29 year old was signed to a minor league contract as a free agent by the Pirates on April 11, 2017. Fernandez pitched in Cuba from 2007 until 2013, before defecting from Cuba to Mexico in 2014. He was eligible for the 2015 draft, but went undrafted.

Yoandy Fernandez

Sergio Cubilete

 

















Sergio Cubilete is 1-0 in two starts this season for the Black Bears. He has pitched a total of 11 innings and has a 1.64 ERA, 5 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.09. A native of the Dominican Republic, Cubilete was signed as a free agent by the Pirates February 16, 2016. He appeared in 15 games for the Dominican Summer League Pirates in 2016.

The Black Bears are back in action tonight at Monongalia County Ballpark against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers starting at 7:05pm. Ticket information at westvirginiablackbears.com.

Photo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League

By the Numbers: Scores, Standings, Attendance, and Transactions for June 24, 2017

 
Scores for June 24, 2017

Mahoning Valley Scrappers 9 - State College Spikes 2
Batavia Muckdogs 0 - West Virginia Black Bears 0 (suspended in 3rd)
Vermont Lake Monsters 4  - Tri-City ValleyCats 2
Staten Island Yankee 4 - Aberdeen IronBirds 3
Auburn Doubledays 7 - Williampsort Crosscutters 6 (11 innings)
Hudson Valley Renegades 10 - Brooklyn Cyclones 4
Connecticut 9 - Lowell Spinners 2

Standings after June 24 games

McNamara

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼
	Staten Island Yankees (NYY)	4	1	.800
	Hudson Valley Renegades (TB)	3	2	.600
	Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL)	2	3	.400
	Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM)	2	3	.400

Pinckney

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼
	West Virginia Black Bears (PIT)	4	1	.800
	Mahoning Valley Scrappers (CLE)	4	2	.667
	Batavia Muckdogs (MIA)	3	2	.600
	State College Spikes (STL)	3	3	.500
	Auburn Doubledays (WSH)	2	4	.333
	Williamsport Crosscutters (PHI)	1	5	.167

Stedler

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼
	Connecticut Tigers (DET)	3	2
	Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK)	3	3
	Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU)	2	3
	Lowell Spinners (BOS)	2	4

Attendance Figures thru June 24

Team	Yesterday	Total	Openings	Average
Brooklyn Cyclones	7,016	14,287	2	7,144
Hudson Valley Renegades	0	12,849	3	4,283
Lowell Spinners	5,030	12,770	3	4,257
Aberdeen IronBirds	0	4,099	1	4,099
Staten Island Yankees	4,031	4,031	1	4,031
Tri-City ValleyCats	4,011	15,244	4	3,811
Mahoning Valley Scrappers	3,022	14,692	4	3,673
State College Spikes	0	12,463	4	3,116
West Virginia Black Bears	0	5,261	2	2,631
Connecticut Tigers	0	9,179	4	2,295
Vermont Lake Monsters	0	6,789	3	2,263
Auburn Doubledays	1,576	4,200	2	2,100
Williamsport Crosscutters	0	6,836	4	1,709
Batavia Muckdogs	0	1,527	1	1,527

 
Transactions on June 24, 2017

West Virginia Black Bears activated LF Jared Oliva.

OF Reid Russell assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats.

2B Tristan Gray assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.

RF Bligh Madris assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.

SS Kevin Merrell assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters.

2B Ryan Gridley assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters.

OF Jack Meggs assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters.

3B Will Toffey assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters.

2B Payton Squier assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters.

RHP Alex House assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats.

RHP Hunter Martin assigned to Tri-City ValleyCats.

1B Aaron Arruda assigned to Vermont Lake Monsters.

3B Carl Stajduhar assigned to Brooklyn Cyclones.

RHP Andrew Potter assigned to West Virginia Power from West Virginia Black Bears.

DH Deon Stafford assigned to West Virginia Black Bears.
 

Source: MiLB.com

Note: I will be traveling the next few days and will have limited Internet access. Please follow me on Twitter @1blackbear53 (NY-Penn League News). I will be following league news on Twitter and get back to blogging in a few days. Thanks. 

Logo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League

Who's Hot; Results and Standings from June 23

 

Who's hot: The West Virginia Black Bears have won three in a row and lead the McNamara Division.

Results from Friday, June 23, 2017

West Virginia Black Bears 5 - Williamsport Crosscutters 3
Staten Island Yankees 8 - Hudson Valley Renegades 6
Vermont Lake Monsters 5 - Brooklyn Cyclones 4
State College Spikes 13 - Batavia Muckdogs 7
Mahoning Valley Scrappers 5 - Auburn Doubledays 4
Aberdeen IronBirds 7 - Connecticut Tigers 2
Lowell Spinners 7 - Tri-City ValleyCats 2

Standings thru games played on Friday, June 23, 2017

McNamara Division

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB
	Staten Island Yankees (NYY)	3	1	.750	-
	Aberdeen IronBirds (BAL)	2	2	.500	1.0
	Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM)	2	2	.500	1.0
	Hudson Valley Renegades (TB)	2	2	.500	1.0

Pinckney Division

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB
	West Virginia Black Bears (PIT)	4	1	.800	-
	Batavia Muckdogs (MIA)	3	2	.600	1.0
	Mahoning Valley Scrappers (CLE)	3	2	.600	1.0
	State College Spikes (STL)	3	2	.600	1.0
	Auburn Doubledays (WSH)	1	4	.200	3.0
	Williamsport Crosscutters (PHI)	1	4	.200	3.0

Stedler Division

	CLUB	W	L	PCT▼	GB
	Connecticut Tigers (DET)	2	2	.500	-
	Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU)	2	2	.500	-
	Lowell Spinners (BOS)	2	3	.400	0.5
	Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK)	2	3	.400	0.5

Source: MiLB.com

Note: I will be traveling the next few days and will have limited Internet access. Please follow me on Twitter @1blackbear53 (NY-Penn League News). I will be following league news on Twitter and get back to blogging in a few days. Thanks. 
 
Logo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League

New York-Penn League Transactions for June 23, 2017

RHP Luis Araujo assigned to AZL Indians from Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

RF Teddy Hoffman assigned to Connecticut Tigers.

RHP Jean Carlos Mejia assigned to AZL Indians from Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

1B Bryan Tejeda assigned to GCL Tigers East from Connecticut Tigers.

RF Julio Martinez assigned to GCL Tigers East from Connecticut Tigers.

SS Isrrael De La Cruz assigned to GCL Tigers East from Connecticut Tigers.

RHP Eli Morgan assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

2B Ernie Clement assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

RHP James Karinchak assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

SS Jesse Berardi assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

OF Garrett McCain assigned to Connecticut Tigers.

C Joey Morgan assigned to Connecticut Tigers.

SS Cole Peterson assigned to Connecticut Tigers.

CF Luke Burch assigned to Connecticut Tigers.

CF Ariel Serrano assigned to GCL Tigers East from Connecticut Tigers.

Source: MiLB.com

Logo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League

New York-Penn League Attendance Figures thru June 22

Here are the attendance figures for New York-Penn League teams, including last night's games. Staten Island's home opener on June 19, was postponed due to rain. They will play their first home game on Saturday, June 24, against the Aberdeen IronBirds.

Team	Yesterday	Total	Openings	Average
Brooklyn Cyclones	0	7,271	1	7,271
Hudson Valley Renegades	3,833	8,603	2	4,302
Mahoning Valley Scrappers	3,287	8,503	2	4,252
Aberdeen IronBirds	0	4,099	1	4,099
Lowell Spinners	0	7,740	2	3,870
Tri-City ValleyCats	2,758	7,406	2	3,703
State College Spikes	3,194	9,445	3	3,148
West Virginia Black Bears	0	5,261	2	2,631
Auburn Doubledays	0	2,624	1	2,624
Vermont Lake Monsters	2,441	4,952	2	2,476
Williamsport Crosscutters	1,676	5,212	3	1,737
Connecticut Tigers	1,302	4,917	3	1,639
Batavia Muckdogs	0	1,527	1	1,527
Staten Island Yankees	0	0	0	0

Source: MiLB.com

Logo Credits: MiLB.com
 
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League