BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — The Somerset Patriots have been a little light on position player prospects since Yankees rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. left for Triple-A in May.
They’ve been restocked some over the last few weeks with infielders Core Jackson and Roderick Arias coming up from High-A plus the Yankees acquiring catcher Omar Alfonzo in a trade with the Pirates.
They’re also getting good seasons out of two ranked prospects who have spent the entire season in Somerset, center fielder Jace Avina and third baseman Coby Morales.
Here are fresh scouting reports on the Yankees’ best Double-A position-player prospects from Somerset hitting coach Mike Fransoso:
CORE JACKSON, SS
Age: 23 (24 on Sept. 3, 2026).
Size: 6-0, 190.
Acquired: 2025 draft, 5th round (Utah). $147,500 signing bonus.
Bats: Left.
2026 hitting stats: Hudson Valley (High A), .259 average, 293 AB, 57 runs, 139 hits, 17 doubles, 5 triples, 12 HR, 47 RBI, 32 SB, 7 CS, 46 BB, 73 K, .841 OPS, 78 games. Somerset (AA), .214 average, 14 AB, 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 triple, 4 RBI, 2 SB, 2 BB, 3 K, .651 OPS, 4 games.
2026 fielding stats: 11 errors, .952 fielding percentage, 63 games (62 starts) at shortstop; 1 error, .808 fielding percentage in 8 games (8 starts) at 3rd base; 1 error, 1.000 fielding percentage in 2 games (2 starts) at 2nd base.
Career hitting stats: .240 average, 400 AB, 71 runs, 96 hits, 24 doubles, 7 triples, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 35 SB, 8 CS, 58 BB, 106 K, .773 OPS, 107 games in 2 seasons (2025-26).
Prospect ranking: MLB Pipeline, No. 11; Baseball America, No. 18.
MLB Pipeline tool grades (20/80 scale): Hit 45; Power 45; Run 50; Arm 60; Field 55; Overall 40.
The skinny: Promoted to Double-A on Aug. 11. … Was on injured list this season from May 11 to May 25 and from July 28 to Aug. 4. ... Wyoming, Ontario native was a self-described “poor skating” hockey goaltender who could “catch the puck” for a couple years as a youngster. ... Played college baseball at Nebraska, South Mountain (Ariz.) Community College and Utah.
Hitting coach Mike Fransoso’s take: “Core was doing well in Hudson Valley and we just got him in Somerset. I’m excited to see what he can do here at a higher level. Offensively, there’s a lot to like. He’s grown into some power that I think can play as he gets a little older, more mature and moves up. He has good bat-to-ball skills and the ability to use the whole field. He puts together really good at-bats. And once he gets on the bases, he can wreak some havoc there. His speed plays right into his game. He just has good instincts all around. Core can do a lot of a lot of good things defensively, too. He’s just a ballplayer. That’s how you label him because as far as that ballplayer mentality goes, he’s got it. I think that’ll carry him.”
JACE AVINA, OF
Age: 23 (24 on June 6, 2027).
Size: 6-0, 180.
Acquired: Traded to Yankees by Brewers with outfielder prospect Brian Sanchez for 1B Jake Bauers on Nov. 17, 2023.
Bats: Right.
2026 hitting stats: Somerset (AA), .255 average, 361 AB, 73 runs, 92 hits, 24 doubles, 3 triples, 19 HR, 55 RBI, 14 SB, 1 CS, 53 BB, 104 K, .855 OPS, 95 games.
2026 fielding stats: Somerset (AA), 1 error, .981 fielding percentage, 53 games (52 starts) in center field; 0 errors, 11 games (11 starts) right field; 0 errors, 14 games (14 starts) left field.
Career hitting stats: .252 average, 1605 AB, 73 runs, 92 hits, 24 doubles, 3 triples, 69 HR, 253 RBI, 37 SB, 11 CS, 217 BB, 527 K, .816 OPS, 448 games.
Prospect ranking: MLB Pipeline, No. 16; Baseball America, No. 26.
MLB Pipeline tool grades (20/80 scale): Hit 40; Power 50; Run 50; Arm 55; Field 50; Overall 40.
The skinny: Was on IL from June 3 to June 17. … Was Eastern League player of the month in May 2026 after hitting .339 with eight homers in 26 games. … Batting .200 with four homers in 36 games since June 30. … Hitting .341 with 4 homers and a 1.089 OPS against left-handers and .229 with 15 homers and a .784 OPS against righties. … Previous best homer season was 15 in Rookie level and Low a 64 games in 2023. … Nevada native was drafted in 2021 by Brewers in 14th round out of Spanish Springs High in Sparks, Nev.
Hitting coach Mike Fransoso’s take: “We made some changes there to Jace’s swing path and he’s hitting more line drives. He’s back-spinning the ball a little bit more. He did it to cut down on his miss. He had a little bit of miss in his game last year that I know he wanted to get rid of. The changes really complement his skillset. They’ve limited some of that swing-and-miss while still being able to do some damage. It’s still there. He has a career high in home runs. He’s driving the ball over the field and hitting a lot of doubles as well. He’s got a really good eye, too. He knows the strike zone really well. He has some strikeouts, but they’re inflated from the beginning of the year when it was a little bit of struggle in April and May. When he turned it around in June, we’ve seen those strikeouts go lower than what they’ve been in his career. So he’s sitting really well right now in terms of having quality at-bats and driving the ball hard and taking his walks. Jace has had a lot of good at-bats the whole year.”
OMAR ALFONZO, C/1B
Age: 23 (24 on Aug. 3, 2027).
Size: 6-1, 242.
Acquired: Traded to Yankees by Pirates with outfielder prospect Luis Cruz for reliever Camilo Doval and cash on Aug. 1, 2026.
Bats: Left.
2026 hitting stats: Somerset (AA), .105 average, 38 AB, 4 runs, 4 hits, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 16 K, 9 games. Season stats, .218 average, 248 AB, 34 runs, 54 hits, 10 HR, 38 RBI, 32 BB, 90 K, .697 OPS, 71 games with FCL Pirates (Rookie, 1 game), Bradenton (Low A, 1 game), Altoona (AA, 60 games) and Somerset (AA, 8 games).
2026 fielding stats: 5 errors, 6 passed balls, 72 steals, 12 CS in 40 games (40 starts) at catcher. 1 error, .990 fielding percentage in 13 games, (12 starts) at 1st base.
Career hitting stats: .237 average, 1411 AB, 200 runs, 334 hits, 60 doubles, 4 triples, 45 HR, 201 RBI, 7 SB, 3 CS, 244 BB, 453 K, .736 OPS, 429 games in 6 seasons (2021-26).
Prospect ranking: MLB Pipeline, No. 24; Baseball America, No. 28.
MLB Pipeline tool grades (20/80 scale): Hit 40; Power 50; Run 20; Arm 50; Field 45; Overall 40.
The skinny: Hit three-run, walk-off homer in ninth inning of Somerset’s win over New Hampshire on Aug. 14. ... Known for power, plate discipline and high exit velocity. … Mother and 16-year-old sister died following earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June 2026. … Comes from a catching family that includes older brother Eliezer Alfonzo Jr., a Triple-A catcher in the Dodgers’ system who debuted in the majors this season, and Eliezer Alfonzo Sr., who spent parts of six MLB seasons with Giants (2006-08), Padres (2009), Mariners (2010) and Rockies (2011).
Hitting coach Mike Fransoso’s take: “We’re excited about the bat that we just added to the org. Omar has real power with bat speed through the roof. That’s a real skillset that I think is going to carry him. Being a catcher, he’s got a lot of things to worry about with the pitching staff. We’re watching to see what we’re working with, but we’re really excited about what he can provide and what he could become going forward. There’s a few things that we’ve approached him and talked to him about, like hitting the ball in the air more. That’s nothing new for him. He’s been hearing that since he was with Pittsburgh. He hits the ball incredibly hard and you want to be productive with it. That we’ll work on, but right now we’re just excited to see him play and get him in the org and get him adjusted.”
COBY MORALES, 3B/1B
Age: 24 (25 on Dec. 5, 2026).
Size: 6-1, 225.
Acquired: 2023 draft, 18th round (Washington). $150,000 signing bonus.
Bats: Left.
2026 hitting stats: Somerset (AA), .273 average, 381 AB, 66 runs, 104 hits, 20 doubles, 4 triples, 19 HR, 74 RBI, 18 SB, 9 CS, 55 BB, 111 K, 105 games.
2026 fielding stats: 9 errors, .930 fielding percentage, 59 games (57 starts) at 3rd base; 0 errors, 1.000 fielding percentage in 43 games (40 starts) at 1st base.
Career hitting stats: .257 average, 1225 AB, 186 runs, 315 hits, 59 doubles, 8 triples, 31 HR, 188 RBI, 69 SB, 21 CS, 164 BB, 378 K, 344 games in 4 seasons (2023-26).
Prospect ranking: MLB Pipeline, No. 25; Baseball America, Not in top 30.
MLB Pipeline tool grades (20/80 scale): Hit 40; Power 50; Run 40; Arm 50; Field 45; Overall 40.
The skinny: Downey, Calif., native was tied with teammate DJ Gladney for most RBI in Eastern League through Aug. 13. … Has 19 homers in 2026 after hitting 12 in 844 AB over first three seasons. … Was 3-for-4 with 2 RBI for Yankees in 2026 Spring Breakout game. …
High school third baseman began pro career as outfielder, then switched to first base in 2024 and back to third base. … Only previous college or pro experience at third base was six games as a college sophomore in 2022.
Hitting coach Mike Fransoso’s take: “It’s been a really good year for Coby. He’s hitting the ball harder, which is good, and we’ve seen power to all fields. Earlier in the year, it was a lot of opposite field home runs and now we’ve seen him turn it on to the pull side a little bit. That’s really encouraging. I think it’s just a testament to the work that he put in the offseason and then continuing it throughout in the season every day. He’s put in a ton of work. He’s very diligent and his exit velo has like gone up. His bat speed has gone up. He’s hitting the ball in the air, which we know is a productive outcome when you hit the ball hard. To his credit, Coby hasn’t wavered from his work and he’s getting rewarded for it.”
RODERICK ARIAS, INF
Age: 21 (22 on Sept. 9, 2026).
Size: 6-0, 178.
Acquired: Signed as international free agent out of Dominican Republic for $4 million on Jan. 15, 2022.
Bats: Both.
2026 hitting stats: Hudson Valley (High A), .271 average, 340 AB, 54 runs, 92 hits, 18 doubles, 2 triples, 12 HR, 61 RBI, 29 SB, 10 CS, 40 BB, 116 K, 93 games. Somerset (AA), .282 average, 39 AB, 6 runs, 11 hits, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 3 SB, 2 CS, 3 BB, 14 K, .811 OPS, 10 games.
2026 fielding stats: 17 errors, .898 fielding percentage, 71 games (71 starts) at 3rd base; 5 errors, .868 fielding percentage in 11 games (9 starts) at shortstop; 0 errors in 16 games (16 starts) at 2nd base.
Career hitting stats: .236 average, 1455 AB, 256 runs, 343 hits, 68 doubles, 16 triples, 42 HR, 232 RBI, 130 SB, 43 CS, 231 BB, 510 K, .739 OPS, 388 games in 5 seasons (2022-26).
Prospect rankings: Unranked byMLB Pipeline and Baseball America.
MLB Pipeline tool grades (20/80 scale): Hit 40; Power 45; Run 60; Arm 60; Field 50; Overall 40.
The skinny: Having breakout season as hitter after dropping from a top 10 Yankees prospect two years in a row to out of their top 30 rankings in 2026. … Promoted to Double-A for first time on Aug. 4 and hit safely in his first eight games with Somerset for an 12-game hitting streak that began in High A. … Has struggled throughout his career defensively and has 22 errors this season. ... Ranked Yankees No. 3 prospect in 2024 and No. 7 in 2025 by MLB Pipeline. … Received second-highest signing bonus in 2022 winter international signing class behind Cuban outfielder Cristhian Vaquero, who received $4.925M from the Nationals.
Hitting coach Mike Fransoso’s take: “I haven’t been around Arias a ton, but from the few games he’s been here and following his year in High-A, he started out slow and then really turned it on. I think it’s important to remember that development isn’t linear. Player development, especially. You have no idea when certain things click for young guys, so it’s kind of unfair to put timetables on them. I think we’re really starting to see Roderick now turn that corner and become the player that we thought he could be and still believe that he can be. It’s really exciting to see this from Roderick. He’s still only 21 years old. He’s one of the youngest players in the league. He’s still learning the game. But I see maturity and I see skills. The way he swings the bat from both sides of the plate, he’s so athletic. He really is. You can absolutely see why he can turn out to be a phenomenal big-league player. He has to keep plugging away. We have to keep encouraging the guy and working with him on the things that he needs to work on. Obviously, this has been a big year for him and we’re really excited to see what he can continue to do.”
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