Settling In: Jace Avina has built strong bonds in the Hudson Valley

In December 2023, the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers made a seemingly minor trade, the kind that dozens are made a year to little or no fanfare. However, this one set off a chain reaction which has led to a special kind of player-fan relationship in the Hudson Valley that is special in Minor League Baseball.

The Yankees traded utility man Jake Bauers to the Brewers in exchange for two minor league outfielders – Brian Sanchez and Jace Avina.

Avina spent his entire first year in the Yankees organization with the Renegades in 2024. Still only 20 years old, Avina was forced to adapt to a completely different set of teammates and environment. However, it didn’t take him long to acclimate, and he became a fan favorite in the Hudson Valley in the process.

“I love the atmosphere here,” Avina said of the Hudson Valley. “I love the fans. It’s a beautiful ballpark. I really love the setup we have here. It’s just really nice to be back here in a familiar place.”

On May 17, Avina will be honored with a bobblehead giveaway at Heritage Financial Park, a surprise which he greatly appreciated upon arriving for the beginning of the season. It is a rare opportunity for a player to be on a minor league team when his bobblehead is given away, and Avina is filled with gratitude for the fan support he receives.

“It means a lot,” Avina said. “It makes me feel good to come out here and have all the fans behind me.”

In his first year with the Renegades, Avina quickly made a good impression. The outfielder ranked seventh in the South Atlantic League with 24 doubles and hit 10 home runs in 92 games. He made some heroic defensive plays in the outfield, including a home run robbery of Jersey Shore’s Felix Reyes on August 4 that was named the Capital One Premier Play of the Month. That catch is what is memorialized in the bobblehead.

After being an everyday player for the Renegades last year for much of the season, Avina was sidelined in August with a shoulder injury that would keep him out the rest of the way. It was a really tough pill to swallow.

“It was definitely a struggle for me for sure,” Avina said. “Being at home just having surgery on my shoulder, wishing I could be out there helping my teammates win a championship. But I always stayed engaged. I watched the playoff games, the championship games, to stay in tune with my teammates. I wanted to come back stronger than ever. That way, we can win something out here.”

While the rehab period was a mental challenge for Avina, he made the extra time that he had count. Back home in Nevada, Avina worked on strengthening areas that weren’t affected by the injury, hoping to come back stronger for 2025. He also spent his days watching occlusion videos, a training technique that pauses videos before a pitcher is about to throw, giving the viewer time to guess the pitch that is coming.

As he begins his second season in the Yankees system, Avina feels more comfortable. He knows better what to expect.

“They care more about your process,” Avina said, comparing the Yankees to the Brewers. “You don’t have to play well all the time. You can always find the good parts about every game. Whether you play great or not too well, always finding the good parts about the game. So that’s definitely helped a lot, to learn more about the process of the season instead of letting things get to your head.”

Avina was one of 20 returners from the 2024 Renegades on the 2025 Opening Day roster. A team that built tremendous chemistry in their run to the South Atlantic League Championship Series began the new year with a lot of familiarity and close relationships. That is something Avina loves being part of.

“We have a really good group and I’m super excited for what this team is going to do this year,” Avina said. “Having a group of guys that we’re here last year and then some new guys that just mesh so well with our team. I have a really good feeling about this team. We’re going to put up some good numbers.”

With a year of experience in Hudson Valley, Avina can also play the mentor role for some of the new players, helping them in their introduction to High-A. At the same time, the Renegades have welcomed nearly an entirely coaching staff this season, so there are still a number of changes amidst all the consistency. Avina has loved working with the new coaches.

“They’re all about having fun,” Avina said. “[James Cooper] is a great manager. He does his job super well…it’s just an amazing staff. I love them all.”

Now that Avina has a better understanding of how the Yankees operate entering his second season, there is a lot of alleviated pressure. It allows him to play more freely and truly enjoy being part of a game.

“It just helps me to come out here and play with more confidence,” Avina said. “They have trust in me. They have trust in how I play, and they know I’m going to get the job done. I’m really blessed to be part of an organization that treats their players so well.”