It’s no secret that the New York Yankees quickly rebuilt their farm system, using trades, drafts and international signings.

The Yankees also scour the unwanted players in other organizations and snag them. Yefry Ramirez was one of them.

Buried for years with the Arizona Diamondbacks in their rookie leagues, he was eligible for the minor league Rule V draft after the 2015 season, and New York pounced.

Now the Yankees have another pitching prospect.

Ramirez (6-1) held the Portland Sea Dogs to one fluke hit over 52/3 innings Saturday as the Trenton Thunder won 13-1 before 6,739 at Hadlock Field.

Rafael Devers’ single in the first inning – on a fly ball lost in the sun in shallow right field –was Portland’s only hit against Ramirez.

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Ramirez, 23, shined in Class A last year and is now dealing in Double-A, with a 2.66 ERA.

Using a fastball in the mid-90’s, a hard curveball and good change-up, Ramirez struck out nine.

“He’s been great for us,” said Trenton Manager Bobby Mitchell. “In fact, he wasn’t as good today with his command (three walks) as he has been. He just makes pitches when he needs to.”

Portland’s pitching stumbled Saturday.

Starter Kevin McAvoy (1-3) had some tough luck but couldn’t limit the damage, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks over four-plus innings.

Trenton teed off on relievers Taylor Grover (four runs in 12/3 innings) and Ty Buttrey (three runs in 21/3 innings).

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Buttrey, with his 97 mph fastball and 82 mph change-up, did strike out six.

Portland’s run came in the sixth on Nick Longhi’s RBI single off reliever Cody Carroll.

Devers, after his single, struck out three times.

“He’s just trying to do too much,” Sea Dogs Manager Carlos Febles said. “He got out of his approach.”

McAvoy, who had been cruising in May with a 1.38 ERA, got clipped for two runs off three hits in the first inning.

He settled down for two scoreless innings, but with one out in the fourth, right fielder Jeremy Barfield lost a ball in the sun, giving Billy Fleming a triple.

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With the infield pulled in, Abiatal Avelino grounded a single past diving shortstop Tzu-Wei Lin and eventually scored. In the fifth, another lost ball in the sun – yes, that was the third one in the game – brought in another run.

In the sixth, Grover gave up a grand slam to Zak Zehner, and the rout was on.

NOTES: Buttrey now has 33 strikeouts in 22 innings. … The Sea Dogs wore pink jerseys as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Day. … Sunday is Superhero Day with a guest appearance from Iron Man. … For Monday’s 1 p.m. Memorial Day game, past or present military members are eligible to receive two complimentary tickets while they last. See seadogs.com for more information. … Voting for the Eastern League All-Star game has begun. See the Sea Dogs’ website for details. … The Kevin Youkilis appearance, which was rained out on Opening Day, has been rescheduled for Aug. 1.

Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: KevinThomasPPH


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