Patriots Notebook: Avina and Carr Look to Stay Hot in Harrisburg
Bridgewater, New Jersey – Just 18 games remain on the docket in the Eastern League’s first half, and the Patriots remain in the thick of the race for a postseason berth as they pack their bags and trek to Harrisburg to take on the Senators at FNB Field this week.
Bridgewater, New Jersey – Just 18 games remain on the docket in the Eastern League’s first half, and the Patriots remain in the thick of the race for a postseason berth as they pack their bags and trek to Harrisburg to take on the Senators at FNB Field this week. Somerset sits just two games behind Hartford for the division lead entering play on Tuesday but both Portland (1.5 games) and New Hampshire (0.5 games) remain ahead of them in the heated race for the division crown.
After opening the season 7-12, Somerset has gone 19-13 since and has gone five consecutive weeks without losing a series. After settling for a series split with the Fisher Cats last week in what proved to be a tightly contested slate that featured four one-run games, the Patriots (26-25) now lock horns with the Senators, who at 28-23, are tied for the second-best record in the Eastern League. Harrisburg is tied with Akron for second place in the Southwest Division behind Richmond.
Since the Patriots joined the affiliated ranks of MiLB in 2021, they have faced Harrisburg the least of any other opponent and have never dropped a series to them (4-0-0) with a 15-5 mark all-time against the Nationals affiliate.
Here are some news, notes and tidbits surrounding the Patriots heading into this week’s action.
What a May! Jace Avina is a TWO-TIME Eastern League Player of the Week, in the last three weeks!✌🏻
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) June 1, 2026
In six games at home this week, Jace Avina batted .417 with a 1.375 OPS, 10 H, 6 XBH and 2 HR!🎖 pic.twitter.com/lmnQ0nmYw3
Jace is the Place: Somerset outfielder Jace Avina continued his torrid offensive stretch against New Hampshire last week by earning his second Eastern League Player of the Week nod in the last three weeks. The Yankees No. 19 prosect went 10-for-24 against the Fisher Cats last week that included three doubles, a triple and two homers, including his 14th long ball of the season on Sunday, which puts him second in the Eastern League behind Garrett Martin.
Avina is riding a 29-game on-base streak which is the longest active mark for all current Double-A hitters entering action on Tuesday. The 22-year-old Avina slashed .339/.429/.679 with eight home runs, 20 RBI and 20 XBH to go with four stolen bases in 26 May games after hitting just .198 in April. As the calendar turns to June, Avina leads the Yankees farm system in 2B, XBH, TB and runs while ranking second in both hits and homers.
Kyle Carr (@Yankees No. 11 Prospect) slings his NASTY sweeper for his first punchout of the game! pic.twitter.com/Q8FWzLBnaz
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 30, 2026
Classic Carr: Somerset southpaw Kyle Carr continued his stellar month of May with a standout performance against New Hampshire on Saturday evening. The Yankees No. 11 prospect punched out a career-high 10 batters and tied a career-best mark of 98 pitches over 6.2 innings of one-run ball in the Patriots 4-3 victory. After posting a 9.56 ERA in April, Carr has continued to flourish with each passing start. The lefty finished May by going 3-1 with a 1.55 ERA, .181 BAA and 36 strikeouts to eight walks in 29 innings of work across five starts.
DJ's got another homer 💪
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 30, 2026
DJ Gladney powers his third HR of the week and his seventh HR of the year to get the Patriots within one! pic.twitter.com/iw3fVskgYT
Glad You’re Here: Outfielder DJ Gladney blasted three homers in five games against New Hampshire last week and is quietly slashing .281/.340/.486 in his first season in the Yankees organization after spending the first six years of his career playing for his hometown Chicago White Sox. The 2019 16th round draft selection hit seven home runs in the month of May and his 28 RBI rank third among active players on the club.
Knowing the Opponent: The Patriots duel with Harrisburg for the first and only time in 2026 this week in what should prove to be a pivotal tilt for both clubs. The Patriots are one of three clubs within two games of first place Hartford for the Northeast Division lead. Meanwhile, the Senators are tied with Akron in second place in the Southwest Division, trailing Richmond by 6.5 games for the top spot with a series looming against them next week.
Nationals No. 2 prospect Travis Sykora and No. 3 prospect Jarlin Susana likely would have highlighted the early season group for Harrisburg, but Sykora was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery late last season that is expected to cost him all of 2026 and Susana suffered a lat tear late last season that forced him into surgery that has delayed the start of his 2026 campaign.
With those big-ticket items sidelined, No. 12 prospect Alex Clemmey is the highest ranked player with the club entering action on Tuesday. At just 20 years old the southpaw has posted a 4.46 ERA and has fanned 49 batters in 40.1 innings in his first full-season at Double-A. Clemmey has surrendered two earned runs or less in nine of the 10 starts he has made this season and has held opponents to a .197 BAA. The Nationals acquired Clemmey as part of the package that sent outfielder Lane Thomas to Cleveland at the trade deadline in the summer of 2024.
Infielder Cayden Wallace was the 49th overall pick in the 2022 draft and after hitting 10 homers in 121 games for Harrisburg last season, the Arkansas-product has emerged as one of the most productive bats in the Eastern League. Wallace has already eclipsed last season’s mark by belting 11 long balls while hitting .283/.354/.540. His 34 RBI lead the Senators entering play on Tuesday.
Probable Pitchers
Tuesday 6/2: LHP Alex Clemmey (2-2, 4.46 ERA) vs. RHP Trent Sellers (1-1, 6.82 ERA)
Wednesday 6/3: RHP Kyle Luckham (3-4, 6.57 ERA) vs. RHP Cade Smith (2-3, 6.82 ERA)
Thursday 6/4: LHP Shinnosuke Ogasawara (2-1, 2.29 ERA) vs. LHP Xavier Rivas (2-3, 7.11 ERA)
Friday 6/5: RHP Josh Randall (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Jack Cebert (2-0, 6.85 ERA)
Saturday 6/6: RHP Isaac Lyon (0-1, 7.71 ERA) vs. LHP Kyle Carr (4-4, 4.40 ERA)
Sunday 6/7: LHP Alex Clemmey (2-2, 4.46 ERA) vs. RHP Ben Hess (1-0, 3.52 ERA)
Matt Kardos | SomersetPatriots.com Senior Writer
Matt Kardos has covered the Yankees minor league system for over a decade and will spend his 14th 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.