Patriots Notebook: Prepping for a Seven Game Slate with the Sea Dogs

By Somerset Patriots

10:23 AM EDT

Bridgewater, New Jersey – After dropping five of six games on the road to Richmond last week, the Patriots (7-13) return home to TD Bank Ballpark on Tuesday to welcome the visiting Portland Sea Dogs (11-9). The teams meet for the second time this month after splitting a rain-shortened two-game

Despite walking away with just one victory during their first visit to the newly minted CarMax Park last week, the series against the Flying Squirrels, who sport an Eastern League best 17-3 mark, proved to be ultra-competitive. Aside from a 9-1 defeat on Saturday night, every contest in the series was decided by three runs or less and half of them were one run affairs.

The Patriots limp home sitting in last place in the Northeast Division but sit just four games behind both Portland and New Hampshire with a chance to make up substantial ground as the month of April draws to a close. Because of a postponement of their series finale that was scheduled for April 5, the two clubs will lock horns three times in just under 24 hours with a 6:05 PM start on Tuesday followed by a doubleheader on Wednesday that is set to get underway at 11:05 AM.

Here are some news, notes and tidbits surrounding the Patriots heading into this week’s action.

The @Yankees are currently scheduling for SS Anthony Volpe to continue his @MLB rehab assignment with the Double-A Somerset Patriots on Tuesday, April 28. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/BhSRT7aBXy
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 27, 2026

Volpe Back: Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe is currently schedule to rejoin Somerset on Tuesday to continue his rehab assignment after spending last week playing with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Volpe, who underwent offseason surgery to repair a partially torn left labrum, began a rehab assignment with the Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark two weeks ago and has slashed .308/.333/.423 with a HR, three RBI, five runs and two stolen bases in eight games of action with the Patriots and RailRiders.

Coby Morales is the @MiLB Eastern League Player of the Week for games played 4/20-4/26🏅 pic.twitter.com/qtl2wTlFxH
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 27, 2026

Coby Crowned: Minor League Baseball announced on Monday afternoon that Patriots infielder Coby Morales had been named the Eastern League Player of the Week for games played between April 20 - April 26. The 24-year-old Morales, who was an 18^th round draft selection out of Washington in 2023, went 7-for-18 with three homers and five RBI in six games of action against the Flying Squirrels last week.

Morales is off to a torrid start to the 2026 campaign in his first full-season at Double-A. Through 19 games of action, he is slashing .324/.405/.632 with five home runs and 18 RBI. The slugging first baseman leads all Yankees minor leaguers in SLG and OPS, while ranking third in RBI and fifth in HR in the Eastern League.

The @Yankees have announced the following roster moves:
🔹Jack Cebert – Transferred Hudson Valley to Somerset
🔹Ben Grable – Transferred Hudson Valley to Somerset
🔹Wilmy Sanchez – Transferred Somerset to Hudson Valley
🔹Bailey Dees – Released from Minor League Contract pic.twitter.com/RMBsdefiZc
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 27, 2026

Roster Shuffle: The Yankees announced a slew of transactions involving their minor league affiliates on Tuesday which included some notable movement for the Patriots.

Right-hander Jack Cebert, the organization’s No. 25 prospect was promoted to Somerset. The 24-year-old is a polished college product who pitched three years at South Florida before transferring for his senior season at Texas Tech last year. The Bombers took Cebert in the 15^th round of the draft last summer and in his first full season of pro-ball has already reached the upper levels before the end of April.

In three outings for High-A Hudson Valley, Cebert has posted a 0.98 ERA while striking out 17 and walking just two batters in 18.1 innings. Opponents have hit a mere .167 against him.

Reliever Ben Grable is also joining Somerset from High-A after dominating the first month of his pro debut. The Indiana-product, who was an 11^th round draft selection last summer, has put up a 1.17 ERA and has struck out 17 batters in just 7.2 innings pitched.

To make room on the roster, right-hander Wilmy Sanchez was sent down to Hudson Valley and right-hander Bailey Dees was released from his minor league deal.

Knowing the Opponent: The Patriots are set to meet Portland for the second time this season even though their first matchup was a brief two game rain-shortened set during the first weekend of the season. The Patriots memorably won 18-2 on opening night with an offensive onslaught before falling the next day 1-0 in a hard-fought pitcher’s duel.

After splitting a six-game series with Hartford last week, the Sea Dogs are coming into town at 11-9 overall, good enough for a tie for first place in the division. The club is led by Red Sox No. 2 prospect Franklin Arias. The 20-year-old infielder has been arguably the most potent hitter in the Eastern League over the first month of the season.

Arias has posted a league-best 1.346 OPS and has homered (seven times) more than he has struck out (five times) in 16 games of action. The Venezuela native, who is ranked as the No. 26 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline is hitting .407 with a .476 OBP and 17 RBI.

Tuesday 4/28: RHP Gage Ziehl (1-1, 7.30 ERA) vs. RHP Trent Sellers (0-1, 10.50 ERA)

Wednesday 4/29 (Game 1): RHP Blake Wehunt (0-1, 15.43 ERA) vs. TBD

Wednesday 4/29 (Game 2): TBD vs. TBD

Thursday 4/30: LHP Dalton Rogers (0-0, 2.08 ERA) vs. LHP Xavier Rivas (0-2, 5.73 ERA)

Friday 5/1: RHP John Holobetz (1-2, 2.45 ERA) vs. RHP Jack Cebert (Double-A Debut)

Saturday 5/2: RHP Jedixson Paez (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. LHP Kyle Carr (1-3, 9.56 ERA)

Sunday 5/3: LHP Hayden Mullins (1-1, 3.24 ERA) vs. RHP Chase Chaney (1-1, 2.42 ERA)

Matt Kardos | SomersetPatriots.com Senior Writer

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