Patriots Notebook: MLB Stars Wheeler and Volpe Headline Series Opener

Bridgewater, New Jersey – After dropping four of six contests to first place Binghamton during the season’s first road trip last week, the Patriots (3-5) return home Tuesday to welcome the Reading Fightin Phils (4-5) for the first game of a six-game series slated to carry big league flair.

The trek to Binghamton proved to be a tale of uneven outcomes as Somerset dropped two contests in the Double-A Subway Series clash by just one run, while being outscored 24-4 in the other two losses. Manager James Cooper will look for his club to build off the momentum of a 7-5 victory in Sunday’s series finale as they move on to face Reading, who just swiped four of six games from Hartford at home last week.

Reading pulls into town with a major league presence in tow in the form of three-time MLB All-Star Zack Wheeler. The 35-year-old Phillies ace is scheduled to start Tuesday night’s series opener as he makes his fourth rehab start on the road back from thoracic outlet decompression surgery. Wheeler has pitched three times for Triple-A Lehigh Valley since his rehab officially began on March 28 – surrendering six runs on nine hits while issuing four walks in 10.1 IP.

Here are the latest news, notes and tidbits surrounding the Patriots entering action this week.

There’s no place like home🏡 pic.twitter.com/eRDApMufa0

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 13, 2026

Call it a Homecoming: While the Phillies have a talented big leaguer toeing the bump on Tuesday, the Patriots will counter with one of their own in the batter’s box. Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe is currently scheduled to kick off a rehab assignment with the Patriots as he works his way back to the Bronx after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder during the offseason.

Volpe, who starred at Delbarton High School in nearby Morristown, was a standout performer for Somerset in 2022. The former top-prospect slashed .251/.348/.472 with 18 HR, 31 doubles, 60 RBI and 44 stolen bases before ultimately wrapping that championship season in Triple-A.

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman told reporters last week that the 2023 MLB Gold Glove Award winner will likely need about 55 at-bats on his rehab assignment before being ready to reclaim his spot on the big league roster. Manager Aaron Boone told the media Monday that Volpe is expected to play in four games this week with a slow build progression.

George Lombard Jr. (@Yankees No. 1 Prospect) is off to a tremendous start through 7️⃣ games🔥

🔷.464/.531/.857 with 2 HR & 4 RBI
🔷Leads Yankees farm in OBP, SLG and 2B (5)
🔷Set a new Somerset record for most hits (13) thru the first 7 games of a season pic.twitter.com/w2OQl1chf4

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 11, 2026

Lombard Jr. Thriving: There comes immense pressure with being the Yankees top prospect and in the early going of the season, George Lombard Jr. has carried it exceptionally well. The 20-year-old is hitting .464 while posting a robust 1.338 OPS and has already blasted two home runs through seven games – he did not hit his second homer until June 11 last season. Lombard Jr. leads the Eastern League with 13 hits, a 0.857 SLG and seven extra base hits. He’s already scored eight runs and has struck out just four times in 32 plate appearances.

🚨WE ARE TIED IN THE NINTH🚨

Coby Morales smokes a 2⃣ RBI single, extending his hit streak to six games to start the season. pic.twitter.com/GUEikAkUWu

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 11, 2026

RBI Leader: Patriots first baseman Coby Morales enters action on Tuesday leading the Eastern League with 11 RBI in just seven games of action. The 2023 18^th-round draft pick has hit safely in six of seven appearances and is slashing .296/.394/.593 in the early going.

Eric Reyzelman (@Yankees No. 29 Prospect) strikes out the side in the seventh! pic.twitter.com/aWC42Up4uk

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 12, 2026

Reyzing Up the Ranks: Patriots reliever Eric Reyzelman was a surprising name to begin the season in Somerset as he comes back from multiple procedures on his back. His stay with the club may be short if he continues pitching the way he has to open the 2026 campaign. The Yankees No. 28 prospect has surrendered just one hit over 4.0 IP across three appearances, while fanning 61.5% of the batters he has faced.

Knowing the Opponent: The Reading Fightin Phils are headlined in 2026 by the organization’s No. 6 prospect Aroon Escobar and No. 7 prospect Dante Nori.

The 21-year-old Escobar is playing in his first full-season at Double-A after spending the final week of the 2025 campaign with Reading last year. The Venezuelan product slashed .270/.361/.413 in 120 games across three levels last season and is already off to a hot 10-for-34 start in 2026.

Outfielder Dante Nori was the Phillies first round pick in 2024 (27^th overall) and like Escobar is seeing Double-A for the first full-season after a brief six-game stint with Reading to cap off a strong 2025. Nori is regarded as being extremely athletic with high on-base potential. He is slashing .355/.375/.581 with a homer and four RBI over his first 31 at-bats of the season.

Probable Pitching Matchups vs. Reading

Tuesday 4/14: RHP Zack Wheeler vs. RHP Chase Chaney

Wednesday 4/15: LHP Adam Seminaris vs. RHP Trent Sellers

Thursday 4/16: RHP Kyle Brnovich vs. RHP Cade Smith

Friday 4/17: RHP Chuck King vs. LHP Xavier Rivas

Saturday 4/18: RHP Braydon Tucker vs. RHP Ben Hess

Sunday 4/19: RHP Luke Russo vs. LHP Kyle Carr

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.