Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon
Scores
All Scores Triple-A Scores Double-A Scores High-A Scores Single-A Scores Rookie Scores
Schedule
Complete Game Schedule Triple-A Schedule Double-A Schedule High-A Schedule Single-A Schedule Rookie Schedule
Teams
Teams by Affiliate Teams by Name Teams Map Teams by Class Teams by League Ballparks
Standings
Full Season Rookie Leagues Playoffs
Stats
Full Season Rookie Leagues Players Top Prospect Stats
Watch
Watch Games Subscribe Highlights Highlights by Affiliate Prospect Highlights Help Center Gameday Audio Podcast Bally Live
Tickets
Tickets Triple-A Championship
Shop
MiLB Store Auctions Shop Copa Shop Marvel
News
Pipeline Transactions Copa de la Diversión Ben's Biz Nationwide Road to the Show Malmö Oat Milkers T-Mobile Ballpark Dog Cam The MiLB App
Prospects
Top 100 Top 30 by Team Top 50 International Draft Top 250
Playoffs
Newsletters
Fans
Sweepstakes & Contests
History
About

Patriots Notebook 7/30/24: Bowie Bound For The Week

July 30, 2024

Bridgewater, New Jersey – While the Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles jockey for positioning atop the American League East, their Double-A affiliates will lock horns in a six-game set beginning Tuesday night. The Patriots will make the near-200 miles trek south to Bowie for the first time this season after

Bridgewater, New Jersey – While the Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles jockey for positioning atop the American League East, their Double-A affiliates will lock horns in a six-game set beginning Tuesday night. The Patriots will make the near-200 miles trek south to Bowie for the first time this season after going 3-3 against the Baysox in the final week of May.

Somerset (15-11) enters the series in third place overall in the Northeast Division after dropping four-of-six to Portland at home last week. Bowie, who finished the first half with a disappointing 32-36 mark, has not fared much better in the second half in what is an extremely competitive Southwest Division. The Baysox sit in fourth place with an 11-16 record after going just 4-11 over their last three series.

Deadline Day: With both the Yankees and the Orioles in the thick of a heated playoff race, Tuesday figures to be an active one for both clubs as the MLB trade deadline approaches at 6 P.M. ET, just 35 minutes before scheduled first pitch from Prince George’s Stadium. The Yankees have already shaken things up with a blockbuster deal to acquire Jazz Chisolm from Miami this past weekend in exchange for three prospects. That package was headlined by Agustin Ramirez, who slashed .289/.372/.570 with 16 homers and 49 RBI in 58 games for the Patriots earlier this season.

Durbin in the Mix: Infielder Caleb Durbin returned to Somerset last week as he continues working himself back from a hand injury that knocked him out of action at Triple-A Scranton on 5/23. Durbin spent 47 games with the Patriots last season and was off to an incredible start with the RailRiders to open the 2024 campaign – he was slashing .299/.419/.458 with 36 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 47 games before the injury. In three games for the Patriots last week against Portland, Durbin went 1-for-10 with a walk and two stolen bases as he continues to regain his rhythm.

“It’s obviously frustrating not being out there playing with the guys,” admitted Durbin. “But, a lot of it is perspective and you have to keep the big picture in mind and I just quickly kind of flipped the switch after the first couple of days and said let’s kind of turn this into a blessing in disguise and use this time to improve in a lot of areas; get stronger, faster.”

Durbin added on being back in Somerset, “Being familiar with all of the people here, my teammates, the coaches, the place, the fans, all of it. This all plays a part in getting back into it because it can be tough sometimes, but being comfortable in your surroundings and the people around you definitely makes it that much easier.”

Cowles Down: Infielder Ben Cowles landed on the Somerset IL last week after being hit by a pitch against Portland on 7/25. Cowles, who leads the team with a .294 batting average, was still with the team last week though there is no firm timeline for a return just yet.

Shielded in July: Left-hander Ben Shields made his Double-A debut for Somerset on 7/3. The undrafted free-agent signee came with a lot of uncertainty, but the southpaw has firmly entrenched himself in the Patriots rotation after four strong starts in July. The Boston-native fanned 23 batters in 21.2 frames while positing a 2.08 ERA – the Eastern League has hit just .213 against him thus far. In his first season in pro-ball, Shields has gone 4-4 with a 3.33 ERA with 95 strikeouts in 75.2 innings on the bump.

Down by the Bay: The Baysox are 11-16 in the second half and carry a -43-run differential, which is tied with New Hampshire for the worst mark in the Eastern League. Baltimore is well-respected in the industry for their player development prowess and Bowie sports four of the Orioles top-10 prospects in the system. Catcher Samuel Basallo is the O’s second ranked prospect and at just 19 years old is one of the youngest players at the Double-A level. The Dominican-product has been ultra impressive, slashing .264/.333/.436 with 13 homers and 40 RBI.

Dylan Beavers was the 33rd overall draft selection by Baltimore back in 2022 and the 22-year-old lefty-swinging outfielder has had an up-and-down campaign in his first full-season at Double-A. The Orioles sixth ranked prospect has already tied his career-high mark for homers with 11 in 37 less games and has also stolen 22 bases in 82 games for Bowie.

Right-hander Seth Johnson is Baltimore’s eighth ranked prospect after being selected by Tampa Bay 40th overall in 2019. The Orioles acquired Johnson at the 2022 deadline as part of a three-team deal that also involved the Rays and the Astros. Johnson underwent Tommy John surgery prior to the deal and coupled with the lost 2020 Covid season, is still developing despite being 25 years old. The Campbell University-product has started 18 games for the Baysox this season and has posted a strong 2.63 ERA thus far.

After taking Beavers 33rd overall in 2022, the Orioles followed it up by taking Florida outfielder Jud Fabian with pick 67 in that very same draft. The 23-year-old Fabian is ranked as Baltimore’s ninth best prospect after blasting 24 homers in his first full-season last year. While the former Gator is hitting just .229 in 81 games thus far, his 60-grade power is regarded as his best tool and his 15 homers this season is proof of that.

Series Probable Pitching Matchups:

Tue: RHP Trystan Vrieling (7-7, 5.31 ERA) vs. Ryan Long (0-4, 4.96 ERA)
Wed: RHP Bailey Dees (4-6, 4.28 ERA) vs. Seth Johnson (0-6, 2.63)
Thu: RHP Zach Messinger (2-8, 3.76 ERA) vs. Alex Pham (3-3, 5.45 ERA)
Fri: TBD vs. Cameron Weston (4-6, 3.27 ERA)
Sat: LHP Ben Shields (1-1, 2.08 ERA) vs. Trace Bright (0-10, 4.50 ERA)
Sun: RHP Trystan Vrieling (7-7, 5.31 ERA) vs. Ryan Long (0-4, 4.96)

Matt Kardos | SomersetPatriots.com Senior Writer

Matt Kardos has covered the Yankees minor league system for over a decade and will spend his 12th season on the beat covering the Patriots for SomersetPatriots.com. Throughout his career, Matt has contributed to MLB.com, YES Network and Pinstriped Prospects. When he’s not at the ballpark, Matt enjoys traveling with his wife Kimberly, watching Jets football and collecting sports cards.