Road Series Preview: Somerset at Bowie
Bridgewater, New Jersey – After clinching the Eastern League Northeast Division title in the first half for the second consecutive season last Friday, the Patriots are now back on even ground with the rest of the league as they pack their bags and head south to open the second half
Bridgewater, New Jersey – After clinching the Eastern League Northeast Division title in the first half for the second consecutive season last Friday, the Patriots are now back on even ground with the rest of the league as they pack their bags and head south to open the second half of the slate in Bowie. The Patriots finished the first half going an EL best 42-36 while the Baysox finished in last place in the Southwest Division with 31-38 mark.
Since 6/2, #Yankees No. 5 prospect Trey Sweeney has been on a tear. pic.twitter.com/udUYoxmD4k
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) June 24, 2023
Here is some news and notes surrounding the team as well as a look ahead to this week’s road trip.
Sweeney Stays Hot: Shortstop Trey Sweeney finished a home run shy of the cycle in the series finale against New Hampshire on Sunday, but the scorching former first round pick drove home six runs and scored five times during the six-game series. The Yankees fifth ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline has heated up in June – slashing .287/.368/.596 with seven homers and 17 RBI this month.
Just Beet It: After dominating the Eastern League over 12 starts, right-hander Clayton Beeter was promoted to Triple-A on June 23 after posting an EL best 2.08 ERA and six victories while his 76 strikeouts were second best. Major League Baseball announced on Monday that Beeter has been selected to represent the Yankees and the American League in the 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Future’s Game in Seattle on July 9th.
Pereira Returns at Last: Yankees fourth ranked prospect Everson Pereira exited the team’s May 30 game with Portland and then proceeded to miss the following 20 games with a lower body injury despite not making a trip to the IL. The 22-year-old outfielder made a long-awaited return to the lineup last Thursday and promptly went 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBI.
Week of Rodon: Last week both started and ended with highly anticipated rehabilitation starts made by Yankees southpaw Carlos Rodon. The 30-year-old hurler was the Yankees prize acquisition of the offseason, but is yet to make his debut in pinstripes after landing on the 10-day IL on March 9 with a left forearm strain and eventually moving to the 60-day IL after being set back further with a back injury during his recovery process. The two-time MLB All-Star combined to toss seven innings on 90 pitches, allowing just one earned run on two hits while walking one and striking out nine. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Tuesday night that Rodon is likely to make his next, and likely last, rehab start this Saturday, but the location is still to be determined. Somerset is in Bowie and Scranton is on the road in Syracuse. Both Hudson Valley and Tampa are home this week.
Knowing the opponent: After finishing in last place in the Southwest Division, the Baltimore Orioles Double-A affiliate is likely champing at the bit for a clean slate in the second half of the season. After outfielder Heston Kjerstad was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk earlier this month, the top remaining O’s prospect on the Baysox roster is Coby Mayo. The infielder is the organization’s seventh ranked prospect and the 21-year-old has been one of the very best hitters in the Eastern League this season. A 2020 fourth-round draft selection, Mayo has slashed .313/.432/.609 with 14 homers and 39 RBI to go along with 26 doubles in 67 games of action. His .609 slugging percentage is the best overall mark in the EL amongst qualified hitters.
Orioles 11th ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline, Cade Povich, has started a team-high 13 games for the Baysox, but the 23-year-old southpaw has had a bit of a rough go of things, posting a 5.08 ERA and 1.38 WHIP thus far, but the 2021 third round draft selection has fanned an Eastern League leading 86 batters in just 56.2 innings. Right-hander Chace McDermott has been one of the most reliable arms in the EL over the first half of the season, going 4-5 with a 2.90 ERA in 14 appearances, including 12 starts. The 24-year-old McDermott has the best batting average against in the league with a .169 mark while his 77 strikeouts in 68 innings are tied for third and his ERA is good for fourth. The Ball State-product is ranked 17th overall on the MLB Pipeline Orioles prospect list.
Series Probable Pitchers:
Wed LHP Cade Povich (5-6, 5.08 ERA) vs. RHP Yoendrys Gomez (0-0, 1.32 ERA)
Thur RHP Peter Van Loon (2-3, 5.28 ERA) vs. RHP Richard Fitts (3-5, 3.91 ERA)
Fri RHP Chase McDermott (4-5, 2.90 ERA) vs. RHP Matt Sauer (0-0, 2.08 ERA)
Sat RHP Carlos Tavera (2-4, 5.86 ERA) vs. RHP Chase Hampton (0-0, 2.31 ERA)
Sun RHP Alex Pham (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Blane Abeyta (5-3, 6.29 ERA)
Mon LHP Cade Povich (5-6, 5.08 ERA) vs. RHP Yoendry Gomez (0-0, 1.32 ERA)
Matt Kardos | SomersetPatriots.com Beat Writer
Matt Kardos has covered the Yankees minor league system for over a decade and will spend his 11th 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.