Patriots Notebook: Hess Builds Up, Morales Stays Hot Ahead of Hartford Series

Bridgewater, New Jersey – Home has never felt so welcoming for the Patriots. After a grueling, season-long 12-game road swing in which Somerset dropped eight games to Portland and New Hampshire, the Patriots lost back-to-back series for the first time this season. The team returns home to TD Bank Ballpark where they are 21-12 this season to open a two-week, 12-game homestand hoping to regain the consistency that kept the club in the thick of the first half playoff chase.

Somerset welcomes the first half division champion Hartford Yard Goats to town beginning Tuesday night as the club debuts their new Semiquincentennials alternate identity from July 3 thru July 5 to celebrate America’s 250^th birthday. The Patriots are home for the first time since June 14 and for the first time in the second half of the Eastern League’s second half. Somerset and Hartford both sit at 2-4 since the standings reset.

Here are some news and notes surrounding the Patriots heading into action this week.

Ben Hess (@Yankees No. 5 Prospect) worked into the fifth inning for the first time since coming off the 7-day IL. 🤩

4.2 IP | 1 H | 1 R | 2 BB | 5 K pic.twitter.com/MNTGBlZMsD

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) June 28, 2026

Building up Hess: Yankees No. 5 prospect Ben Hess made his eighth start of the season since returning from the IL on May 14 last Saturday in New Hampshire and pitched into the fifth inning for the first time since Opening Day back on April 3. The 2024 first-round draft selection turned in his most effective outing since coming off the shelf, firing 4.2 innings of one run ball. The lone hit he surrendered was a third inning long ball to Victor Arias. Hess walked two and fanned five batters over the 65-pitch outing.

Coby Morales CRUSHES his 14th home run of the season to center field! 💪 pic.twitter.com/lp96TfJdPp

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) June 28, 2026

Coby’s World: Infielder Coby Morales continues to be an offensive catalyst in the heart of the Somerset order. The 24-year-old blasted his 14th homer of the season on Sunday after hitting just 12 in his career entering this season. The University of Washington product leads the Eastern League with 57 RBI, which is tied for second in the Yankees minor league system. Morales is slashing .277/.357/.504 in 71 games this season.

Jace Avina (@Yankees No. 19 Prospect) POUNDS an RBI double to give Somerset the early lead! 😤 pic.twitter.com/rr2gZNsWPo

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) June 28, 2026

Jace is the Place: Outfielder Jace Avina continues to roll after going 2-for-3 in the series finale at New Hampshire Sunday, marking his 17th multi-hit effort of the season. Since being activated off the IL on June 17, the former Brewers prospect has hit safely in eight of 10 games while going 13-for-39 over that span. The 23-year-old leads all active Patriots with a career-high tying 15 homers, while his .563 SLG ranks second among all full-season players in the Yankees system.

Ben Grable poured in 1.2 scoreless innings to increase his scoreless streak to 9.1 consecutive innings.

He's got 11 K to just three walks in that span! pic.twitter.com/MpnvrSwZzN

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) June 28, 2026

Grable Shoves: Righty reliever Ben Grable continues to flash his potential with each outing. The 24-year-old was promoted to Double-A in late April and after a slow start to his Somerset tenure, the Indiana alum appears to have turned a corner in June. After entering the month with a 5.63 ERA with the Patriots, Grable has tossed nine consecutive scoreless outings spanning 9.1 innings of work. Over that stretch, Grable has struck out 11 batters, allowing just two hits and holding opponents to a .069 BAA.

Knowing the Opponent: The Patriots were in hot pursuit of Hartford over the final weeks of the first half, but it was the Yard Goats who were crowned division champions while punching a ticket into the postseason by edging out Somerset by 2.5 games in the standings. As July gets set to roll in, the two clubs match up for the first of 18 second half contests after not meeting in the first half of the season.

Old friend Roc Riggio has been a key piece for Hartford since the Rockies acquired their No.10 prospect from the Yankees at the trade deadline last summer in a deal that sent Jake Bird to the Bronx. Riggio, who played in 40 games for Somerset last season, has hit nine homers and driven in 35 runs while swiping nine bases for the Yard Goats this season.

Probable Pitchers

Tuesday 6/30: RHP Jackson Cox (1-1, 6.92 ERA) vs. RHP Cade Smith (4-4, 4.94 ERA)

Wednesday 7/1: LHP Griffin Herring (1-1, 7.02 ERA) vs. LHP Xavier Rivas (4-3, 5.01 ERA)

Thursday 7/2: RHP Connor Staine (4-2, 4.06 ERA) vs. RHP Jack Cebert (2-3, 6.39 ERA)

Friday 7/3: LHP Stu Flesland III (2-0, 3.43 ERA) vs. RHP Chase Hampton (0-1, 8.49 ERA)

Saturday 7/4: RHP Jack Mahoney (3-1, 2.29 ERA) vs. RHP Ben Hess (1-0, 4.44 ERA)

Sunday 7/5: RHP Jackson Cox (1-1, 6.92 ERA) vs. LHP Kyle Carr (6-5, 4.32 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.