Gades Greatness: Counting down top 12 moments of 2024, #9-7
As we have hit the final month of the 2024 calendar, the time has come for our annual review of the Top 12 moments from the previous Hudson Valley Renegades season. The 2024 season was one of the most-memorable seasons in the 30 years of Renegades baseball, so much so
As we have hit the final month of the 2024 calendar, the time has come for our annual review of the Top 12 moments from the previous Hudson Valley Renegades season. The 2024 season was one of the most-memorable seasons in the 30 years of Renegades baseball, so much so that moments like Jackson Castillo's seven-RBI game, D.J. LeMahieu's MLB rehab, and Rascal & Rosie's wedding didn't make the cut.
If you missed the first part of the countdown, you can read the article here.
12. Single-Game Attendance Record Broken Twice
11. Rafael Flores Becomes All-Time Hit King
10. Moving On To The Championship Series Once Again
9. Trent Sellers Dominates in July
Trent Sellers began the year as a valuable member of the Renegades bullpen, frequently throwing multiple innings and shutting down opponents with an array of pitches that kept opponents guessing. When Ben Shields was promoted to Double-A Somerset in early July, Sellers was moved from the bullpen into the starting rotation and he took his season to the next level.
He started the month by allowing one run and one hit across 2.1 innings at Brooklyn on July 3, and gave up one unearned run on one hit and two walks across 3.1 innings out of the bullpen at Jersey Shore on July 9. He made his first start of the year in the final game before the All-Star Break on July 14 at the BlueClaws, and after he hit leadoff man Erick Brito with a pitch, he settled down to retire the next nine batters in a row to end his day.
That was the start of a special run for Sellers, who was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent out of Oregon State University in 2023. He threw 3.0 perfect innings out of the bullpen on July 19 against Rome in the first Renegades no-hitter of the season, and followed that up with 3.2 perfect innings in a start on July 24 at Wilmington. By the time he allowed a fourth inning single to Zach Arnold of Jersey Shore on July 30, Sellers had retired an amazing 35 consecutive batters. He went 30.2 innings without allowing an earned run from June 25 through August 11 (Game 2).
He was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Month for July, leading all qualified full-season MiLB pitchers in ERA (0.00), Opponent's Batting Average (.067) and WHIP (0.41) in six games while striking out 24 and walking four and allowing four hits. Sellers allowed just two earned runs across his last 46.1 innings of the season (beginning June 25), good for a 0.38 ERA.
8. The Juan Crisp Game - Craziness in Greensboro
Catcher Juan Crisp with a K! pic.twitter.com/c037fAefvZ
— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) June 23, 2024
The Renegades' first trip to Greensboro since 2022 was a memorable one, but not always for the right reasons. After losing the first five games of the series, the 'Gades faced being swept in a six-game series for the first time in team history. At the beginning of the Sunday series finale on June 23 things looked bleak. Already short-handed on pitching, starting pitcher Jackson Fristoe exited the game with one out in the bottom of the first inning with an injury which ultimately ended his season.
The Renegades fell behind 1-0, but took a 4-1 lead in the top of the fourth on back-to-back home runs by Garrett Martin and Josh Moylan. The offense continued to have a strong performance as Hudson Valley led 9-4 after the sixth. Joel Valdez, who had just thrown 42 pitches two days earlier, faced two batters in the bottom of the seventh: striking out Maikol Escotto and walking Mitch Jebb before departing the game due to his pitch count. With the team out of available pitchers, reserve catcher Juan Crisp was summoned from the bullpen to pitch.
Crisp immediately allowed a home run to Jack Brannigan to cut the lead to 9-6, but retired the side after that, including a strikeout of Josiah Sightler. After two walks in the bottom of the eighth, Crisp allowed a game-tying, three-run homer to Luke Brown which cleared the wall in right field, and hit the apartment building on the other side of the street on the fly.
In the top of the ninth, Martin and Moylan hit back-to-back home runs for the second time in the game to give the Renegades a 12-9 lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Crisp struck out Hudson Head and Sightler, who was so frustrated he broke his bat over his leg, before walking P.J. Hilson. South Atlantic League home run champion Shawn Ross flew out to left field to end the game and give Crisp a win across 2.2 innings. The wild victory made Crisp the first Renegades position player to win a game as a pitcher in team history.
Bo Jackson is that you??? (Wait for it) pic.twitter.com/2ghWvkW1Xl
— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) June 23, 2024
7. Doubleheader Sweep Of Wilmington On August 22
Over the past three seasons, doubleheaders had been an Achilles' Heel of the Renegades. On Thursday, August 22, the Renegades played a twin bill with the Wilmington Blue Rocks at Heritage Financial Park as part of a seven-game series (more from that series as the countdown continues), and won both games, the team's first doubleheader sweep since April 27, 2022.
Game one was a strong come-from-behind win. Wilmington took an early 3-0 lead before Garrett Martin tied the game with a three-run home run in the bottom of the third. 18-year-old catcher Edison Vivas drove in two runs later in the game in his second career game outside of the Dominican Summer League, and the bullpen held off a late Blue Rocks charge to take the first game 7-6.
In the second game, Trent Sellers took the mound and fired 4.2 hitless innings while striking out five and allowing just one baserunner. This time it was the 'Gades who scored first, with Martin whacking another three-run home run in the bottom of the first off Wander Arias. He added another home run -- his third of the day -- as part of a four-run fourth inning to give the Renegades a 6-0 advantage.
After Sellers exited the game, Mason Vinyard and Thomas Balboni, Jr. finished off the final 2.1 innings of the no-hitter. Wilmington only managed one baserunner in the game, coming in the second inning. It was the second no-hitter thrown by the Renegades in a five-week span, and the fourth in franchise history. The team left that doubleheader feeling invincible and with a two-game lead for first place in the SAL North.
Check back next week as we continue the countdown with moments 6-4!
Party On: Renegades Fest Returns to Heritage Financial Park on Saturday, March 29
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (March 4, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are thrilled to announce the return of Renegades Fest to Heritage Financial Park on Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. This year’s event will be bigger than ever
Renegades & HFCU announce Pine Bush Little League as 2025 Youth Field Betterment recipient
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (March 28, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and Heritage Financial Credit Union, a local Credit Union serving communities in and around the Hudson Valley for over 85 years, have announced today that Pine Bush Little League has been
YES Network & The Gotham Sports App to air six Renegades games in 2025
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (March 26, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, will have a package of six games televised live on the YES Network and streamed live on The Gotham Sports App during the 2025 season. YES is the exclusive regional media
Hitting The Books: Renegades launch 'Rascal's Reading Challenge'
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (March 7, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are thrilled to announce during Read Across America Week the establishment of “Rascal’s Reading Challenge,” a new educational program aimed at encouraging students throughout the Hudson Valley to pick up a
Spring Breakout: Renegades place 17 alumni on Spring Breakout Rosters
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (March 6, 2025) – Rosters for the 2025 Spring Breakout games were announced by Major League Baseball this morning, and 17 former Hudson Valley Renegades players were named to Spring Breakout Rosters, including placing 14 alumni the New York Yankees Spring Breakout Roster. The Yankees prospect team
Shining A Light: Mike Hill, Tyree Hayes and Greg Jones made their mark on the field and off
As part of MLB's The Nine initiative designed to honor and celebrating the historic impact of Black ballplayers, the Hudson Valley Renegades are taking a look back at three notable contributors from throughout the team's 30-year history. The three chosen players come from the first three decades of Renegades baseball,
Break A Leg!: Renegades announce 2025 theme nights and promo schedule featuring original musical
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Feb. 24, 2025) –The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, will make history in 2025 as they become the first team in baseball to stage an original musical which will be performed in between innings. The still to be named Renegades Musical
Fields Of Dreams: Youth Field Betterment Program Applications Now Open
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Feb. 7, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have announced today that applications for the Youth Field Betterment Program presented by Heritage Financial Credit Union are now open. Applications will be accepted by the Renegades from Feb. 1 through
Making Fetch Happen: Renegades announce all-new Retrievers alternate identity
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Feb. 3, 2025) – In honor of National Golden Retriever Day being celebrated today, the Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are excited to announce an all-new alternate identity for the team to begin play in the 2025 season, the Hudson Valley
Super Cooper: Yankees name James Cooper manager of the Renegades
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Jan. 24, 2025) – The New York Yankees announced their minor league field and support staffs for the 2025 season on Friday. James Cooper will take over as the manager of the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Yankees’ High-A affiliate. Cooper becomes the 20th manager in team history,
Welcome!: Renegades announce Tom Denlinger as new General Manager
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Jan. 17, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and their ownership group, Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), the club’s owner and operator, announced today that Tom Denlinger will become the eighth General Manager of the Renegades. Denlinger joins the Renegades
Ball Foxes: Heritage Financial Park to host several Marist University baseball games in 2025
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Jan. 10, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and Marist University Athletics are proud to announce today an agreement for Heritage Financial Park to host eight games during the upcoming NCAA Division I baseball season. The first contest to
Top Of The Heap: Former Renegade Stephen Vogt named 2024 AL Manager of the Year
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Nov. 21, 2024) -- Former Hudson Valley Renegades player Stephen Vogt has been announced as the 2024 American League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. In his first season as a Major League Manager, Vogt led the Cleveland Guardians to a 92-69
How 'Bout Them Apples?: Renegades announce Big Apples alternate identity
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As we have hit the final month of the 2024 calendar, the time has come for our annual review of the Top 12 moments from the previous Hudson Valley Renegades season. We have already gone through half of the top 12 list, which means we start to hit the home
Renegades hosting Seasonal Staff Job Fair at Heritage Financial Park on February 15
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Feb. 6, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and Professional Sports Catering (PSC) have announced that they will be holding a seasonal job fair at Heritage Financial Park on Saturday, February 15 in anticipation of the 2025 season and
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As we have hit the final month of the 2024 calendar, the time has come for our annual review of the Top 12 moments from the previous Hudson Valley Renegades season. The 2024 season was one of the most-memorable seasons in the 30 years of Renegades baseball, so much so
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Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Nov. 7, 2024) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have announced their game start times and fireworks show dates for the 2025 South Atlantic League season today. Following the success of earlier, fan-friendly start times in 2024, the Renegades are
Fall Stars: Martin, Durbin leave their mark on Arizona Fall League
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Solid As A Roc: Riggio ignited crowds in Hudson Valley
Dirtbag. If you were to have 2024 Renegades infielder Roc Riggio describe himself in a word, that would be his choice. Outside of baseball, that might not sound like a compliment, but in baseball it is the ultimate compliment for a player like Riggio. It means you play hard, are
Fast Carr: Kyle Carr navigated ups and downs in first pro season
A version of this article originally ran in the August edition of Renegades Magazine, which can be read in its entirety here. It has been an up-and-down first professional season for Kyle Carr. The Yankees third-round pick in 2023 struggled early in the season to find the form he displayed
Renegades Magazine: Q&A with RHP Trent Sellers
A version of this article originally ran in the August edition of Renegades Magazine, which can be read in its entirety here. This version includes some extra questions not in the original piece. One of the biggest breakout players in the Yankees minor leagues this year was Trent Sellers. In
Reyz of Hope: Eric Reyzelman forged breakout campaign in 2024
A version of this story appeared in the July issue of Renegades Magazine, which can be read here. It has been updated to reflect the end of the season. The baseball journey of Eric Reyzelman has been far from easy. From Tommy John surgery as a teenager to missing nearly