Yankees' Medina spins five hitless frames
Gerardo Casadiego found himself in a tough spot Tuesday night.The Pulaski pitching coach watched as Luis Medina zipped through 15 outs in a seven-inning game, and he knew he was going to have to pull the 18-year-old fireballer sooner than either of them would like."I was in big trouble because,
Gerardo Casadiego found himself in a tough spot Tuesday night.
The Pulaski pitching coach watched as Luis Medina zipped through 15 outs in a seven-inning game, and he knew he was going to have to pull the 18-year-old fireballer sooner than either of them would like.
"I was in big trouble because, for the most part, we want to keep him at five innings," Casadiego said. "We're looking out for his future. We're focused on that. For us, it doesn't matter if he goes out and throws a no-hitter every time he pitches [at this level]. We're much more focused on his future."
For that reason, New York's No. 28 prospect was done after working five hitless frames, earning his first Appalachian League win while striking out seven and walking two as the Rookie-level Yankees' 6-0 shutout of the visiting Bristol Pirates in the nightcap.
Box score
"The guy had great focus in this outing. He put it all together," Casadiego said. "He was able to transfer the work we did between outings into this start -- he did a good job transferring thiat. Everything that we worked on between outings, he put in place in the game. It was huge for him to be able to do that."
Medina (1-1), who signed out of the Dominican Republic at age 16 in July 2015, made his stateside debut with 4 1/3 scoreless frames for Pulaski on July 26. Things proved dicier for him over the next two starts, as he surrendered a total of 10 runs -- nine earned -- without getting out of the third in either outing. He learned from those experiences, leaning less on his 75-grade, triple-digit fastball in Tuesday's gem.
"The focus is the main thing and keep his body working on the control, finish over the throw side consistently," Casadiego said. "Everything was under control. We know he can hit 100 miles per hour, but we want him to slow down, work with the ball down and work on his control. Tonight, he was at 96-99. He's working on the control and [eventually] he'll be able to hit 100 [with precision]. We want him working with less effort and to let the body work."
Medina started the game by striking out the side in order in the first inning, and he cruised from there. After punching out the first two in the fifth, he walked Nelson Jorge on four pitches. Casadiego was pleased when Medina rebounded with another whiff.

"That was good to see, a young kid be able to make the adjustment. That's something we worked on: 'Try to make the adjustment in the game.' He was able to do that," the veteran of 11 pro seasons said. "I had a lot of confidence he was going to be able to, because we work on that a lot, but that was good to see in an 18-year-old kid."
After 61 pitches -- 36 strikes -- Medina was done.
"He gets it, but at the same time, I made sure he understands what we're trying to do," Casadiego. "I know in the future he's going to be able to throw a no-hitter if he stays healthy and everything goes well. It's not going to be his [only chance]. He has the stuff to do it, and he understands that we're not the most focused on the results right now."
Wellington Caceres gave up Bristol's only hit to start the sixth when Luis Perez lined a single to left field. He picked up his first save by shutting the door after that as Pulaski swept the doubleheader after edging Bristol, 11-10, in the first game.
• Get tickets to a Pulaski game »
Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka, rehabbing a rib cage injury that put him on the disabled list in June, swatted two long balls to plate three runs, and he caught all seven innings.
"Higgy, he's a great receiver," Casadiego said. "We know that. That [boosts] the confidence [for Medina] a little bit. It's good to have him here."
Josh Jackson is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @JoshJacksonMiLB.
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring
'Hungry' Alcántara hoping to pounce on big league prey in '25
MESA, Ariz. -- The thing about jaguars is, you don’t want to see one when it’s hungry. So when Cubs legend Sammy Sosa spoke to the organization’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and the No. 89 prospect overall -- the former slugger gave him some apt advice. “His
Rainiers broadcaster Pay talks historic role on MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Prospect Santos 'electric' in Spring Breakout start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch. In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more
Switch-pitcher Cijntje deals from both sides in Spring Breakout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening. The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,”
Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Chandler adds mix to upper-90s heat in stellar Spring Breakout start
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.