Hendrix, Solak promoted after deadline dash
Reinforcements have arrived.
The Yankees announced that second baseman Nick Solak, outfielder Jeff Hendrix and pitcher Jose Mesa Jr. have been promoted to Double-A in the wake of the club’s flurry of trade deadline activity.
Solak, a 22-year-old second baseman, was the Yankees’ second round pick in 2016 out of Louisville. He batted .301/.397/.460 with 10 homers, 17 doubles, 44 RBIs and 13 steals in 100 games for HighA Tampa.
Hendrix, a 24-year-old outfielder, was a fourth round pick in 2015 out of Oregon State. The left-handed hitter slashed .271/.408/.335 with two homers, 47 RBIs and 13 steals in 67 games.
Mesa, the son of former big league closer Jose Mesa, should add depth to the Thunder’s bullpen. He has DoubleA experience already, making a pair of appearances earlier this season.
Left-hander Nestor Cortes has also returned, but only after striking out seven in 4.2 hitless innings in a spot start for Triple-A Scranton. Cortes, 22, is in the midst of a fantastic season in which he’s logged 50 innings with a 5-0 record and 2.70 ERA at Double-A.
The Thunder, leading the EL East by 12 games, began a three-game at second-place Binghamton on Tuesday night. The Yankees dealt away three key players from the Thunder roster over the last two days to acquire Jaime Garcia from the Twins and Sonny Gray from the Athletics.
Jorge Mateo, the organization’s No. 8 prospect, was the center piece of the Gray trade on Monday, which also sent Dustin Fowler and James Kaprielian to Oakland. In a separate deal Monday, Yefry Ramirez, an EL All-Star who was 10-3 with a 3.41 ERA, was sent to Baltimore for international signing money.
Ramirez was assigned to the Orioles’ Double-A club in Bowie and very well could pitch against the Thunder later this month when they travel to Maryland for a four-game set.
Zack Littell was 5-0 with a 2.05 ERA in seven starts when he was traded to Minnesota on Sunday.