Manny Banuelos struggled in his Double-A debut at a wet Waterfront Park in Trenton last night, allowing six runs in 5.2 innings in the Thunder’s 6-0 loss to New Hampshire.
Banuelos, who was officially called up from High-A Tampa earlier in the day, allowed the six runs (all earned) on seven hits, striking out six, walking three and allowing two home runs. The 19-year-old left-hander made it through the first two innings unscathed, he nearly did the same in the third before allowing a two-out RBI single, followed by a two-run homer.
He gave up two more runs to New Hampshire in the fifth before leaving with two outs in the sixth after giving up a home run to the final batter he faced, Adam Loewen. If you think Loewen’s name sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Loewen is a former pitcher for the Orioles who, after several arm injuries, is trying to make it back to the majors as a hitter.
Banuelos, who entered the season ranked as the sixth best prospect in the Yankees’ system by Baseball America, is now 0-4 with a 2.95 ERA in 13 starts between the GCL Yankees, where he spent a short rehab assignment, Tampa and Trenton. He went 0-3 with a 2.23 ERA in 10 starts in High-A, striking out 62 and walking 14 in 44.1 innings. He didn’t make his debut until the end of June after undergoing an appendectomy just before the start of the season.
Former Phillies prospect Kyle Drabek was dominant for New Hampshire. The right-hander, who was acquired as part of the Roy Halladay trade, scattered two hits and three walks across seven innings, striking out nine.
The other top prospect to be promoted with Banuelos yesterday, right-hander Dellin Betances, will make his debut against New Hampshire tonight.
