Patriots Notebook 5/6: Next Stop, Akron!
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – On the heels of splitting a six-game slate with Richmond (8-19) last week, the fourth-place Patriots (12-15) continue their season-long two-week road trip by heading to Akron, which is nearly 430 miles west of Bridgewater – the team's longest trip this season. Somerset, still looking for its
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – On the heels of splitting a six-game slate with Richmond (8-19) last week, the fourth-place Patriots (12-15) continue their season-long two-week road trip by heading to Akron, which is nearly 430 miles west of Bridgewater – the team's longest trip this season. Somerset, still looking for its first series victory of the season, will square off with the RubberDucks, who lead the league with 17 victories and are tied for first place in the Southwest division heading into action on Tuesday.
Here are some of the latest news, notes and storylines surrounding the Patriots heading into this week’s action.
The @Yankees have promoted top prospect George Lombard Jr. to the Double-A Somerset Patriots. pic.twitter.com/qkZCrJDZCd
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 6, 2025
Hello, George: On Tuesday, the Yankees promoted the organization’s top-prospect, George Lombard Jr., to Somerset after a torrid start at High-A Hudson Valley that saw him post a .983 OPS. The Yankees drafted the ultra-talented 19-year-old shortstop with the 26th overall pick in the 2023 draft and in less than two years has established himself as one of the most exciting young players in the game. In 24 games this season, Lombard Jr. has slashed .329/.495/.488 with 11 stolen bases in 13 tries to go along with a 23:22 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
Rebellions are built on hope.@Yankees No. 15 prospect Rafael Flores barrels a two-run homer to give Somerset the lead!
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 4, 2025
The Patriots have scored four unanswered runs to jump back in front. pic.twitter.com/YNtD45Dkx6
Going With the Flo: Catcher Rafael Flores blasted his sixth homer of the season in the eighth inning of Sunday’s series finale in Richmond that ultimately gave the Patriots a 5-4 victory. Flores, the reigning Kevin Lawn Award winner as the Yankees' Minor League Position Player of the Year, went 10-for-27 with two homers and five RBI last week and enters action on Tuesday as the Eastern League leader in RBI (23), hits (31), doubles (9), extra-base hits (15) and total bases (58) while his six long balls are good for second behind teammate Spencer Jones, who has nine.
LeGoldGloveSecondBaseman
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 4, 2025
DJ LeMahieu ranges to his right to make a clean play at second 🤩 pic.twitter.com/fsfNp2YBkS
Play it, DJ: After playing four games for the Patriots in Bridgewater last week, Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu briefly paused his rehab to receive a cortisone injection in his right hip, a precautionary measure for an issue that Yankees manager Aaron Boone said LeMahieu felt might be developing. The 36-year-old former All-Star resumed his rehab and joined the Patriots on the road, seeing action in two games, both at second base. After going 0-for-3 with a walk on Friday night, the two-time MLB batting champion went 1-for-3 with a walk in Sunday’s series finale, playing seven innings in the field.
Trent Sellers posts a season-high seven strikeouts for the second-straight start! 🔥
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 3, 2025
4.1 IP | 2 H | 2 R | 7 K
Pitches (Strikes): 82 (42) pic.twitter.com/vPxWYPQoL5
Sellers Market: Right-handed pitcher Trent Sellers has now punched out seven hitters in three consecutive starts and leads the team with 31 strikeouts after five starts this season, his first at Double-A. The 25-year-old undrafted free agent has allowed just 14 hits in 23 innings this season and has allowed just four earned runs over his last three starts. The Eastern League is hitting a mere .177 against the Washington State product.
Knowing the Opponent: Now in their fifth season in affiliated minor league baseball, the Patriots have faced Akron 24 times and are the only team they have yet to win a series against in the Eastern League (0-3-1).
The Guardians affiliate is tied with Erie for the most victories in the league entering Tuesday’s action and features 2023 MLB Draft first overall pick Travis Bazzana, the top prospect in Cleveland's system and ranked the seventh-best prospect in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline.
Bazzana, the 22-year-old, broke camp with Double-A Akron to begin his first full season of professional baseball. He has hit safely in six of his last seven games and ranks second on the team in home runs (3) and RBIs (15). Bazzana leads the with four stolen bases.
Series Pitching Probables:
Tue: RHP Bailey Dees (1-1, 6.38 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Davenport (1-0, 3.57 ERA)
Wed: RHP Cam Schlittler (2-2, 2.33 ERA) vs. RHP Rorik Maltrud (1-1, 4.34 ERA)
Thu: RHP Brendan Beck (2-0, 0.93 ERA) vs. LHP Rodney Boone (0-1, 2.08 ERA)
Fri: RHP Baron Stuart (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. RHP Tommy Mace (4-2, 2.51 ERA)
Sat: RHP Trent Sellers (0-1, 3.91 ERA) vs. RHP Austin Peterson (2-0, 1.35 ERA)
Sun: RHP Bailey Dees (1-1, 6.38 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Davenport (1-0, 3.57 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.