Counting Down: Top moments of 2023, #12-10
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Dec. 7, 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
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Dec. 7, 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.
This week, we will start our countdown by looking at moments 12-10. But before we get into the countdown properly, a nod to one game that just missed the cut.
Honorable Mention: Offense erupts for seven home runs in Greenville
The Renegades first road trip of the season to Rome and Greenville was one of the best stretches the team had during the 2023 season, especially offensively. In fact, we’ll be seeing more from this trip as the countdown continues. The team went 9-3 in the 12-game trip, scoring 10-or-more runs five times, including totals of 16 and 15 in Greenville. The trip ended with a 15-2 thrashing of the Drive on April 30, a game in which the Gades crushed seven home runs.
Both Ben Cowles and Alexander Vargas hit two home runs in the game, the second time in 2023 that Hudson Valley had two players each hit two homers in a single contest. Aldenis Sanchez clobbered a solo home run over the batter’s eye in center field for his first round-tripper since April 2022. Aaron Palensky hit his seventh home run of the season and capping off a stretch where he homered in four straight games and hit six in a six-game stretch. Finally, Luis Santos hit a pinch-hit, opposite-field, three-run home run off Graham Hoffman, his lone homer of the season.
The seven home runs were tied for the most hit by a South Atlantic League team in a game in 2023, and were the second-most in a game by the Renegades ever, behind just the franchise record-setting 10 homer explosion on Sept. 5, 2021 in Greensboro.
Aaron PAAAAAAALNESKY sends it out for ANOTHER HOMERUN bringing the score to 8-0! pic.twitter.com/SkJDzGB8gi
— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) April 30, 2023
12. The Goose is Loose
On May 18, there was a case of fowl play at Heritage Financial Park. In the top of the first inning of the Renegades game against the Brooklyn Cyclones, a Canadian Goose took up residence in right field, leading to one of the wackiest moments in Renegades history. Outfielders Aldenis Sanchez and Grant Richardson tried to chase the goose off the field, but fearing nothing, the bird refused to leave the field. Sanchez even tried to come at the goose with his arms flapping to scare it away to no avail.
After the water fowl was pursued by four members of the grounds crew and even dodged through the legs of one, Renegades Manager, Field Operations Tanner Puff was able to chase down the goose, pick it up, and deliver it back to whence it came (beyond the outfield wall). The highlight went viral and made national news, including making appearances on national morning shows the next day. However, it was later revealed to be an elaborate publicity stunt by the goose to generate buzz around its new hit single.
Check Out Lil' Hudson Valley Goose's Single, "Heart of a Goose"
THE GOOSE IS ON THE LOOSE pic.twitter.com/gLCQpbF0pn
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 18, 2023
11. Danny Watson’s strikeout streak
Though his time with the Renegades lasted only 15 games in April and May, Danny Watson left his mark in the Hudson Valley this year as one of the biggest breakout prospects in the Yankees organization. From April 23-May 7, Watson went on an incredible run where he recorded 20 consecutive outs via strikeouts. While there were four hits, four walks and a hit batter mixed in, the right-hander’s wicked sinker and frisbee slider racked up some impressive totals.
On April 30 at Greenville, Watson threw 2.1 innings against the Drive, striking out seven, and struck out five across 1.2 innings on May 4 against Wilmington. The streak came to an end on May 7 when after a strikeout of Trey Lipscomb, Jeremy De La Rosa grounded out to first base for the second out of the top of the sixth. Watson went on to throw 13.1 innings in May for the Renegades, and did not allow an earned run while posting a 19:3 K:BB rate.
10. Spencer Jones carries team in Aberdeen
During the only trip the Renegades took to Aberdeen this season, they lost the first three games of the series with Spencer Jones not playing. The Renegades won the final three games of the series with Jones not only playing, but putting up one of the best three-game stretches of his season. On Friday, May 12, he led the Renegades to a 9-7 victory by going 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI, a walk and three runs scored. He hit a go-ahead three-run home run off the roof of the left field clubhouse off Kyle Virbitsky in the top of the seventh that put the Renegades in front, and scored the winning run in the top of the ninth on a Spencer Henson single.
He followed that up with three more hits and a run scored on Saturday, and three hits, including two doubles in the Sunday finale. Overall, in three games, Jones went 8-for-14 at the plate with six runs scored, four doubles, a home run, six RBIs and stole two bases. It was a dynamic performance for the sweet swinging outfielder, and was the kind of performance that was a microcosm of his season and his talent. Jones was the Renegades’ unquestioned offensive MVP in 2023, and vaulted himself to being named the No. 1 prospect in the Yankees system by MLB Pipeline during the season.
SPENCER JONES SENDS IT OUT W/ A 3-RUN HOMER!!!💣💣💣
— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) May 13, 2023
5-3 Renegades take the lead! pic.twitter.com/V1yF2GsptR
Check back next week to see 9-7!