Bridgewater, New Jersey – Somerset will close out April by packing its bags and heading out on a season-long 12-game, two-week road trip that will take the Patriots to Richmond and Akron before returning back to Bridgewater on May 13.

The Patriots (9-12), still in search of their first series victory of 2025, sit in fourth place overall in the Northeast Division and are four games back of first-place Portland entering action on Tuesday.

The team is coming off a series split with Hartford after the bullpen squandered a 5-2 seventh-inning lead in the series finale on Sunday that saw the Yard Goats erupt for 11 unanswered runs en route to a 13-5 victory. Next up on the slate is the Richmond Flying Squirrels (5-16), who currently sit at the bottom of the Southwest Division with the most losses in the Eastern League while posting a league-worst -34 run differential through 21 games.

Here are some of the latest news, notes and storylines surrounding the Patriots heading into this week’s action, including assessment from manager Raul Dominguez and hitting coach Mike Fransoso.

DJ LeMahieu's full week of rehab in Somerset is in the books📘

In four starts at second base, LeMahieu went 6-for-10 with 1 HR and 3 RBIs. pic.twitter.com/bwBFMxP97u

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 27, 2025

Go, DJ: Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu spent last week in Somerset to kick off a rehab assignment after being forced out of action with a strained left calf since March 1. The 36-year-old LeMahieu, who is a three-time MLB All-Star and two-time MLB batting champion, showed no ill effects of the injury during the four games he suited up in against Hartford. LeMahieu finished the series by going 6-for-10 with a homer and 3 RBI while playing exclusively second base.

“It felt great getting back out there. Everything felt good this week,” LeMahieu said in a statement following Sunday’s action. “I’m not sure of the plan moving forward until I speak to the Yankees to figure out the next steps with them.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone has said that the team envisions LeMahieu having a lengthy build-up, similar to a spring training period, and most recently told media on April 27 that the organization planned on having him play rehab games at third base this week, though where that happens remains to be seen.

BEET brought the HEAT🔥@Yankees RHP Clayton Beeter struck out two batters in 1.2 perfect IP during his third rehab outing on 25 pitches (16 strikes). pic.twitter.com/aqwUxCSQ4G

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 27, 2025

We Got the Beet: Right-hander Clayton Beeter marked the third Yankee to commence a rehab assignment with Somerset this season after pitching in two games against the Yard Goats last week. Beeter, now exclusively a reliever, was a key cog as a starter on the Patriots squad that was crowned Eastern League champions back in 2022.

The 26-year-old who has yet to pitch this year because of a right shoulder impingement missed nearly four months of action last season to a shoulder injury. Beeter struggled with command in his first appearance last Wednesday, recording just one out while surrendering three walks and a single in a 25-pitch outing. After two days off, Beeter bounced back with 1.2 perfect frames and two strikeouts in another 25-pitch appearance.

Going, Going, GONE!

Garrett Martin's fourth home run of the season carries over the wall to give Somerset the first lead of the game. pic.twitter.com/DuJPRB07yk

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 27, 2025

My Favorite Martin: Outfielder Garrett Martin is coming off a torrid series against Hartford last week after going 5-for-18 with a team-high 3 HR and 7 RBI. In 17 games of action, Martin is hitting just .204, but his four homers and four stolen bases to go with a strong .338 on-base mark has caught the attention of hitting coach Mike Fransoso in the early going.

“You’ve seen some of the balls that he has crushed, and they are absolutely crushed,” said Fransoso. “He is one of those cases where if you look at the numbers, it’s not great, but he is impacting the ball really well and having really good at bats. It’s been really nice to see, and I think the numbers will eventually reflect that as time goes on, but his process right now is really good.”

Here are your current Patriots Leaders In The Clubhouse highlighted by @Yankees top prospects Spencer Jones and Cam Schlittler. pic.twitter.com/7Vsf0WJEhQ

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 29, 2025

Hitting Stride: Offensively, the Patriots find themselves atop the Eastern League leaderboards in home runs (23), doubles (46) and slugging (.402) despite hitting just .216 as a collective unit.

“We have had a ton of quality at bats from guys throughout the lineup,” admitted Fransoso. “Some just aren’t showing up on the number sheet right now, but the at bats are really good. It’s still early in the season and guys are figuring out whether what they are doing is working or if they need to make some small adjustments here or there. I have been very pleased with the lineup and the way that they have prepared and gone about having good at bats.”

Curing the Bullpen Woes: Somerset has historically been among the EL leaders in most of the vital pitching metrics, but nearly a month into the season, the Patriots' 5.37 team ERA is the highest in the league. Patriots starters have gone 91.1 innings this season, which ranks third in the EL, and have posted a 3.15 ERA which is fourth-best. On the flip side, the bullpen has been called upon for 88 innings of work and they have posted a 7.67 ERA, which is nearly two and a half runs higher than the next club. Manager Raul Dominguez knows that it has been a tough going for the Patriots relief core, but his message has been consistent that they need to have short memories and stick to what got them this far.

“The message for the bullpen, and everybody in general, is just stay consistent,” said Dominguez. “It seems like we have been up and down in the bullpen; we’ve got good games and then some really bad games. If we can combine good bullpen success with defense and the offense, I think that’s when we are going to start winning a lot more games.”

Dominguez added, “This is how it works in the big leagues. You are going to have a really, really bad outing but you are going to pitch again, and you have to be ready for that next one. I am so glad that this is happening now early in the season so they can adjust and keep working on it.”

Congratulations to Agustin Ramirez on making his @MLB debut with the @Marlins!

Ramirez becomes the third former Somerset Patriot this year and 46th overall since becoming the @Yankees Double-A affiliate to make his big league debut. pic.twitter.com/2alL9SOpIr

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 21, 2025

Agust in April: Marlins catcher Agustin Ramirez became the third former Patriot to make their MLB debut this season and the 46^th overall since Somerset became the Yankees affiliate in 2021. The 23-year-old backstop, whom the Yankees dealt to acquire Jazz Chisholm Jr. at the trade deadline last summer, has gone 9-for-23 in his first six games of action while blasting three homers and driving in five runs to go with a stolen base.

Highlighting the Opponent: Somerset will face off this week against last-place Richmond, a team in which they have played just 26 times in their five seasons in the EL – and have gone 18-8 in those previous meetings. The San Francisco Giants affiliate is highlighted by the organization's top prospect in first baseman Bryce Eldridge. The 16^th overall selection in the 2023 draft is the 22^nd ranked prospect in baseball on MLB Pipeline and the towering 6’7” lefty is regarded by many as the top power-hitting prospect in the game. Richmond just activated Eldridge from the IL to make his season debut last week, and the Virginian has already gone deep and driven home two runs in just four games this season.

Series Probable Pitchers:

Tue: RHP Brendan Beck (2-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP John Michael Bertrand (0-3, 4.42 ERA)
Wed: RHP Bailey Dees (0-1, 5.54 ERA) vs. RHP Manuel Mercedes (1-3, 8.76 ERA)
Thu: RHP Cam Schlittler (2-1, 1.23 ERA) vs. LHP Jack Choate (0-0, 3.77 ERA)
Fri: RHP Baron Stuart (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. LHP Seth Lonsway (1-1, 2.18 ERA)
Sat: LHP Edgar Barclay (1-0, 3.77 ERA) vs. LHP Joe Whitman (0-3, 7.53 ERA)
Sun: RHP Trent Sellers (0-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. LHP John Michael Bertrand (0-3, 4.42 ERA)

Matt Kardos | SomersetPatriots.com Senior Writer

Matt Kardos has covered the Yankees minor league system for over a decade and will spend his 13th 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.