Patriots Notebook 8/27/24: Rehabs and Reading Comes To Town
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Patriots (29-20) finally return home on Tuesday night after enduring a season-long two-week road trip. Somerset went 8-3 against Hartford and first-place Portland to move within 3.5 games of the division lead with a mere 19 games remaining on the 2024 regular season slate. The
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Patriots (29-20) finally return home on Tuesday night after enduring a season-long two-week road trip. Somerset went 8-3 against Hartford and first-place Portland to move within 3.5 games of the division lead with a mere 19 games remaining on the 2024 regular season slate. The division title would be the lone route to capturing a postseason berth after the Yard Goats were crowned division champions in the first half of the season - the winner in the second half would meet them in the first round of the playoffs.
Somerset will look to gain more ground this week as they get set to tangle with the fifth-place Reading Fightin’ Phils (21-30). The two clubs have met twice previously this season, most recently in the first week of July, and that season series is knotted at 6-6 heading into their final matchup of the year. The Patriots are 35-25 all-time against Reading and have gone 7-3-1 in their previous series matchups.
🚨BERTI BOMB🚨
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 24, 2024
Jon Berti crushes a three-run homer and is 2-for-3 in his first rehab game with Somerset. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/i9Ch19Y4y2
Rehab Frenzy: Portland, Maine is typically known for its beautiful coastal views and some of the best lobster in the nation, but last week it played was the rehab capital of the world. During the Patriots trip to Hadlock Field, the team played host to six major league rehab assignments.
First Baseman Anthony Rizzo, who was once a standout minor leaguer for Portland in the Red Sox minor league system, saw action in two games and went 0-for-2 with two walks in four at-bats over the weekend. The three-time MLB All-Star landed on the IL on 6/17 right a right forearm fracture that has kept him out of action since.
Right-hander Clarke Schmidt started for the Patriots on Friday night in his first live game action since landing on the shelf on 5/27 with a right lat strain. The 28-year-old former first rounder allowed just one earned run on one hit with six strikeouts over 3.2 innings against the Sea Dogs.
Infielder Jon Berti, who previously rehabbed with the Patriots back in late April, began a rehab assignment this past Sunday as he works his way back from a left calf strain that has kept him out of action since 5/25. The 34-year-old Berti, whom the Yankees acquired from Miami just before the season started, went 2-for-3 that was highlighted by a three-run homer that traveled an estimated 411 feet at a 104 MPH exit velocity.
Joining Berti on rehab assignment this past Saturday was reliever Ian Hamilton. The right-hander landed on the IL with Rizzo on 6/17 with a right lat strain and has been working his way back to action since. The high-leverage weapon for the Yankees entered Saturday’s game in the fifth inning and struck out the side on 12 pitches.
Right-handers Lou Trivino and Cody Poteet also continued rehab assignments with the club during the trip in Portland.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝟒𝟎!
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 20, 2024
Congratulations to Jack Neely on his call up to the @Cubs, becoming our 40th Patriot to make his @MLB debut since we became the @Yankees Double-A affiliate in 2021. pic.twitter.com/Q9oAzAyMpb
Neely makes 40: The Yankees dealt former Patriots reliever Jack Neely to the Chicago Cubs at the MLB trade deadline a few weeks back in the Mark Leiter Jr. deal. Neely made his MLB debut last Wednesday night, making him the 40th former Patriot to make a big-league debut since their affiliation with the Yankees began in 2021.
WHAT A PERFORMANCE BY BAILEY DEES👏👏
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 22, 2024
5️⃣.1️⃣ IP | 0️⃣ R | 1️⃣ H | 1️⃣0️⃣ K pic.twitter.com/oqevuP8i1U
Dees Dominance: Right-hander Bailey Dees turned in arguably his best performance of the season last Wednesday in Portland. The former reliever tossed 5.1 innings of shutout ball and set a new career-high mark with 10 strikeouts on the night. Dees 126 strikeouts on the season are tops in the Eastern League heading into action on Tuesday night.
🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨@Giants LT Andrew Thomas will appear at the Thursday, August 29 Somerset Patriots game to throw out a ceremonial first pitch, as well as sign autographs and take pictures with fans.
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 27, 2024
🗞️ | https://t.co/dnbjWewzIE
🤝 | @monmouthcards pic.twitter.com/qIWreplhmo
Happenings at the Ballpark: With only two homestands remaining in a memorable 2024 regular season, the Patriots have a banner week on tap at TD Bank Ballpark for fans. The action kicks off on Tuesday night with one of the best fireworks shows in the tri-state area immediately following the team’s matchup with Reading.
On Wednesday, the first 1,000 fans will receive a Joe Torre Bobblehead presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. The team will also celebrate the legacy and career of Torre while raising money throughout the night to support Torre’s Safe at Home Foundation.
New York Giants offensive lineman Andrew Thomas will make an appearance on Thursday night by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on the heels of the NFL season kicking off next week. Thomas, a 2020 first-round draft selection, will then sign autographs and take photographs with fans at the Monmouth Cards table on the concourse. Autographs will be $30, and photographs will be $20.
The Patriots will play as The New York Black Yankees on Friday night to pay homage to the historic Negro League franchise as part of MiLB’s “The Nine” initiative. The first 2,000 fans entering the ballpark will receive a special baseball card strip featuring former Black Yankees players that have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. There will be special presentations, memorabilia and exhibits throughout the ballpark and former MLB great Willie Randolph will throw out the ceremonial first pitch as part of the celebration. Fans can stick around for postgame fireworks.
Fans will again be treated to fireworks on Saturday night before rounding out the week with Star Wars Day on Sunday. There will be costumed characters roaming the ballpark while the club will sport special themed jerseys and hats that will be auctioned off online afterwards to benefit the Somerset Health Care Foundation.
Knowing the Opponent: Reading finds themselves in fifth place at 21-30 in the second half standings and overall are 15 games under .500 for the season at 52-67.
The Phillies drafted outfielder Justin Crawford with the 17th overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Bishop Gorman HS in Las Vegas. The son of former big leaguer Carl Crawford, the Phillies third ranked prospect, who was promoted to Double-A earlier this summer has slashed .312/.356/.413 with 17 RBI and 10 SB in 26 games for Reading. The 20-year-old Crawford is ranked as the 58th best prospect in all of baseball.
Series Probable Pitching Matchups:
Tue: RHP Noah Skirrow (4-4, 5.04 ERA) vs. RHP Trystan Vrieling (10-7, 4.82 ERA)
Wed: RHP Christian McGowan (0-3, 6.58 ERA) vs. TBD
Thu: LHP Braeden Fausnaught (0-1, 3.48 ERA) vs. RHP Bailey Dees (5-7, 4.64 ERA)
Fri: RHP Jean Cabrera (1-1, 4.85 ERA) vs. TBD
Sat: RHP Moises Chace (1-0, 2.79 ERA) vs. RHP Zach Messinger (5-8, 3.40 ERA)
Sun: RHP Eiberson Castellano (2-1, 2.18 ERA) vs. TBD
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.