Double-A Subway Series Preview: Binghamton at Somerset
Bridgewater, New Jersey - The Double-A version of the Subway Series is slated to roll through Bridgewater this week when the second place Patriots (12-8), winners in six of their last eight games, welcome the Binghamton Rumble Ponies to town for a six-game series beginning on Tuesday night at TD
Bridgewater, New Jersey - The Double-A version of the Subway Series is slated to roll through Bridgewater this week when the second place Patriots (12-8), winners in six of their last eight games, welcome the Binghamton Rumble Ponies to town for a six-game series beginning on Tuesday night at TD Bank Ballpark.
All aboard to see the future arms of the Big Apple in Somerset from May 2-7.
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 27, 2023
🎟️ | https://t.co/tUkQXr4eaw pic.twitter.com/cHEWu4j1c5
There is always juice to the Mets-Yankees rivalry and this matchup is no different. In talking with prospects from both sides over the years, there is a little something extra that might not be there in any other respective minor league series in May. Somerset split the first matchup with Binghamton at three games apiece back in mid-April – four of those six contests were decided by two runs or less.
Somerset is coming off a road series at Harrisburg that saw it take the first four games of the slate before dropping the backend of a double header on Saturday evening. Mother nature rained out Sunday’s series finale and that game is not scheduled to be made up and is effectively cancelled since the two teams are not scheduled to meet again this season. The surging Rumble Ponies got off to a pretty slow start, but have won seven of their last 10, including a successful 4-1 homestand against Akron last week.
Locked In
Despite a slow start in a returning season at Somerset, outfielder Brandon Lockridge is heating up offensively and it is coming at a time when many of the bats in the Patriots lineup have gone cold. The 26-year-old Lockridge went 5-for-11 on the trip to Harrisburg to raise his season batting average to a very respectable .289. The Troy University product has only been on base 17 times this season, but has managed to swipe an Eastern League high 10 bases in 11 attempts. While his speed tool has been shining bright recently, it is defense that has long been a Lockridge calling card. With an ability to play all across the outfield at a high-level, the Pensacola, Florida-native went viral for being featured on ESPN Sportscenter’s Top 10 plays after making an incredible game-saving diving catch with the bases loaded against the Senators last Thursday.
Rehabs Galore
Over the last few weeks, the Patriots have become a hot bed for hosting major league rehab assignments and going on the road certainly did not stop the trend. The Yankees transferred catcher Ben Rortvedt’s rehab assignment from Low-A Tampa to Somerset and he joined the team in Harrisburg last Saturday. Since acquiring him from the Twins last season, the 25-year-old backstop has battled a slew of injuries that have prevented him from making his debut in the Bronx. Most recently, the Bombers placed Rortvedt on the IL on March 27 after undergoing surgery for a left shoulder aneurysm.
Serving as the DH in the front-end of Saturday’s twin bill, Rortvedt went 1-for-3 with an RBI double against Harrisburg after going 3-for-9 with two doubles in three games with the Tarpons. In four games of action on his rehab assignment, the 2016 second round draft selection has seen just five cumulative innings behind the plate.
When There’s a Will, There’s A Way
Right-hander Will Warren was honored as the Yankees Kevin Lawn award winner as the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year this past spring. The 2021 draftee came into this season with pretty lofty expectations both externally and for himself. After two straight turbulent starts, the 23-year-old hurler pitched into the 5th inning for the first time since April 8th in his start against Harrisburg last week and lowered his ERA over half a run from 4.97 to 4.15. Warren now sits second overall in the Eastern League with 29 strikeouts in just 17.1 innings – he has fanned eight batters in three of his four starts this season.
Finding Relief in the Pen
Historically a strength of the Yankees organization, the starting pitching for Somerset has been a bit spotty over the first month of the season. Surely the rotation will settle in, and performances will align to historic norms, but the Patriots bullpen has been reliable and strong when they have been called upon for a bailout.
Right-hander Tanner Myatt is hard to miss, standing at 6’7” when he steps on the mound, but it’s also hard to look past his performance thus far. The 24-year-old Myatt has gone a team-best 2-for-2 on save opportunities thus far – he’s allowed just one earned run and punched out 11 in 9.1 innings.
Steven Jennings has done a great job of providing length for Somerset in the middle innings. Eastern League opposition is hitting a mere .097 against him and the 24-year-old righty has surrendered just three hits and has struck out 10 in 9.2 frames. The duo of right-hander Indigo Diaz and southpaw Michael Giacone have combined to strike out 21 batters and have allowed just three earned in 17.2 innings.
Let’s Get Ready to Rumble
Binghamton isn’t nearly as loaded with position player prospects as they were when they came to town last summer armed with the likes of Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio. This year, Binghamton ranks near the bottom in most vital offensive statistics. The Rumble Ponies have hit a league-low 11 homers - their 125 hits and 192 total bases are also league worst marks in those respective categories.
The recipe for success in Binghamton thus far has been pitching; trotting out a starting rotation that sports three of the Mets top-19 prospects according to the MLB Pipeline rankings. The high-upside trio of RHP Dominic Hamel (No. 9), RHP Mike Vasil (No. 11) and RHP Junior Santos (No. 19) are all scheduled to pitch in this series.
Hamel has been the most impressive of the bunch in the early going. The Mets' 2021 third round pick out of Dallas Baptist has fanned 19 and allowed just four earned runs in his first four starts of the season. Thus far, Hamel has handled the pitchability learning curve that the upper levels often presents.
The Mets selected Vasil five rounds after Hamel in that same 2021 draft class and the 23-year-old right-hander has put up stronger numbers than his 4.50 ERA would indicate. Vasil’s 27 strikeouts and 0.88 WHIP are among the strongest marks in the league.
Series Probable Pitching Matchups
- Tue. 5/2: RHP Luis Moreno (2-0, 6.61 ERA) vs. RHP Blane Abeyta (1-0, 7.43 ERA)
- Wed. 5/3: RHP Dominic Hamel (0-2, 2.30 ERA) vs. RHP Richard Fitts (1-2, 5.23 ERA)
- Thu. 5/4: RHP Junior Santos (0-2, 5.59 ERA) vs. RHP Will Warren (1-0, 4.15 ERA)
- Fri. 5/5: RHP Mike Vasil (0-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. RHP Clayton Beeter (2-1, 1.74 ERA)
- Sat. 5/6: RHP Jose Chacin (0-0, 7.62 ERA) vs. RHP Gray Fenter (1-1, 5.11 ERA)
- Sun. 5/7: RHP Luis Moreno (2-0, 6.61 ERA) vs. RHP Blane Abeyta (1-0, 7.43 ERA)
The week features a packed promotional lineup:
Tuesday, May 2 at 6:35 pm
Topps Tuesday (1st 1,000 Fans)
Wednesday, May 3 at 6:35 pm
Baseball Bingo presented by RWJBarnabas Health
Thursday, May 4 at 6:35 pm
Chance To Win $10,000 presented by Heineken Silver
Friday, May 5 at 6:35 pm
Fireworks presented by Anita’s Angels
Saturday, May 6 at 6:35 pm
Now includes Postgame Fireworks presented by Aqui Market and Beach Towels (1st 1,000 Adults) presented by National Pools & Spas
Sunday, May 7 @ 1:05 pm
Car Shammy Towels (1st 2,000 Fans) presented by Team Car Wash/ Unicorn Day/ Kids Run The Bases presented by Horizon BCBSNJ
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.