Final Countdown: Top moments of 2023, #3-1

Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Dec. 28, 2023) – Throughout the month of December, we will be counting down the top 12 most-memorable moments of the 2023 season. This year was a magical one for the Renegades, which included unforgettable promo nights, incredible individual performances, and the team’s first playoff berth as a Yankees affiliate.

We have already taken a gander back at 12-10, which you can read here, 9-7, which you can read here, and 6-4, which you can read here. Let’s finish up our journey today, by taking a look at the top 3 moments of 2023.

3. Snooki Night

The hallmark of Minor League Baseball are promotional nights that are unique and sometimes outlandish. On Sept. 9, the Renegades were scheduled to play the Jersey Shore BlueClaws in the penultimate game of the season, but it was a different Jersey Shore that got most of the attention at Heritage Financial Park that night. Star of MTV’s Jersey Shore, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and some of her castmates were on hand for Snooki Night, a night paying homage to the Marlboro native and former Renegades gameday employee.

The team gave away a Snooki Bobblehead to the first 1,000 fans through the gates, presented by the Snooki Shop, and held a meet-and-greet with Nicole and even held a Snooki Look-A-Like Contest on the field. The big surprise of the night was the appearance of Mike “The Situation”, Deena, Sammi “Sweetheart” and JWoww at the ballpark, as well as the show’s cameras filming for an episode of the new season of Jersey Shore: Family Reunion.

Sadly, the Renegades had to wait until Sunday to wear their special Snooki jerseys until the next day thanks to the game being postponed due to rain, but the fans who came out on Snooki Night still left with a memory that will last a lifetime.

Let's take a "Snook" back at @snooki night! 🤪 pic.twitter.com/loK8WD5apb

— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) September 23, 2023

2. Carlos Rodon rehabs on July 4 weekend

From 1994 through 2022, the Hudson Valley Renegades only had four MLB rehabbers play for them. None were ever as big of a star as left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon, who made his final rehab start before joining the Yankees with the Renegades on July 1 against Wilmington at Heritage Financial Park. After being the Yankees’ marquee free agent signee during the offseason, Rodon went down in spring training with an injury that forced him to miss the first three months of the season.

Getting the ball in front of 5,076 fans, Rodon didn’t disappoint in 3.2 dominant innings against the Blue Rocks, striking out eight and allowing just one hit. Grant Richardson sacrificed his body by crashing into the left-center wall to make a catch as the Renegades won 8-2, with Zach Messinger getting his only win of the season in relief.

After the game, Rodon signed his Stars and Stripes jersey to be auctioned off for charity, and was very complimentary about the Gades players and fans. It was an unforgettable experience for all who were at the ballpark, and one that could happen more often with the new clubhouse facility at Heritage Financial Park set to open in 2024.

11 outs, 8 K's🤯@Yankees LHP Carlos Rodón spun 3 2/3 scoreless innings in his rehab start for the @HVRenegades: pic.twitter.com/MXX6FPLKRg

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 1, 2023

1. Renegades clinch first half with near no-hitter

After a hard-fought first half, the Hudson Valley Renegades found themselves with a three-game lead over Greensboro with three games to play heading into a series with the Brooklyn Cyclones on June 20. After busing down to Coney Island and enjoying some Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs earlier in the day, the Renegades kicked off their series with Brooklyn with Tyrone Yulie on the mound. He issued a walk to MiLB rehabber Abraham Almonte in the bottom of the first, and walked him again in the fourth.

D'Andre Smith reached on an error in the fifth inning, and Almonte walked again in the seventh. Those were the only baserunners allowed by Yulie across 7.0 spectacular innings, during which he struck out seven.

However, the Renegades failed to score until the top of the seventh. There Ben Cowles and Richardson walked and executed a double steal of second and third. Eduardo Torrealba drove in Cowles with a single to put the Renegades in front 1-0.

Carlos Gomez worked around a walk in the eighth, and with one out in the ninth, allowed an infield single to Kevin Parada for the first Cyclones hit. It was a ruling with some controversy, though, as a low throw by Torrealba couldn’t be picked by Spencer Henson at first base and Parada was credited with a single rather than having reached on an error. Gomez recovered to strike out the next two batters to save the game, and clinch the first half championship for the Renegades, sending them to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

POSTSEASON BOUND!!!!!! 🍾🍾🍾

We're headed to the playoffs for the first time as a @Yankees Affiliate! pic.twitter.com/EgOzu9Wtfg

— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) June 21, 2023

Thanks for taking a look back at the best moments of the 2023 season. We can’t wait to make more magical memories in 2024 and beyond.