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Patriots Notebook 6/17/25: First Half Finish with Fisher Cats

June 17, 2025

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – On the heels of taking four of seven contests from second place Portland last week, the Patriots (29-34) hit the road for the final series of the Eastern League’s first half to take on New Hampshire (29-34). While Binghamton has clinched a postseason berth with the first

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – On the heels of taking four of seven contests from second place Portland last week, the Patriots (29-34) hit the road for the final series of the Eastern League’s first half to take on New Hampshire (29-34). While Binghamton has clinched a postseason berth with the first half division title, the Patriots have the opportunity to finish with momentum heading into the second half and still have a window of opportunity to grab second place.

Somerset previously locked horns with the Fisher Cats less than a month ago and took five of six from the Blue Jays' affiliate, outscoring them 36-19. While that meeting was four weeks ago, the Patriots' core bolstered in recent weeks with the addition of standout prospects like Roc Riggio, Brendan Jones, Carlos Lagrange and Brock Selvidge.

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

The Rehab Show: In what has become a fairly regular trend in the season's first half, Somerset played host to not one, but two major league rehabs last week against Portland. Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton and right-hander Marcus Stroman became the seventh and eighth big leaguers to suit up on rehab assignments for the Patriots.

Stanton, who played in three games from Tuesday to Thursday, finished his stint by going 3-for-11 (.273/.333/.364) with 1 BB and 4 RBI before the Yankees activated him from the 60-day IL ahead of his season debut on Monday night.

Stroman started game one of last Wednesday’s double header against the Sea Dogs and the 34-year-old was impressive over 3.1 innings. All told, Stroman allowed one earned run on one hit while fanning four batters over 46 pitches.

“I felt good,” admitted Stroman. “Just to be at a point where it’s just free and easy and not really thinking about the knee or body or mechanics or anything. Just very thankful and grateful to be back out there and to be enjoying it and loving it.”

Power of the Roc: Since being promoted to Double-A on June 3, infielder Roc Riggio has showcased all of the tools that have propelled him up to the 24th slot on the Yankees top prospect list. The tool that has popped the most for Riggio in 2025 has been power; after hitting 11 homers in 106 games last season, the Oklahoma State product has already blasted a career-high 12 long balls in just 33 games this season.

“I had time in spring training and extended spring training to really get strong and put on some weight,” said Riggio. “I’ve put on 10 pounds since the end of last year and so I do feel stronger, and I am getting some harder results. I definitely think the weight training side of it along with the eating and the health and recovery aspects; I’ve just been working hard to get my body healthy and continue to stay strong.”

Riggio added, “For me the power has always been there; it’s been there since high school and since college. As you go up levels and stuff gets better, things get faster, and you’ve got to fine tune some things. I’ve had a lot of success to the pull side in previous years and so this past offseason it was really about learning my swing and understanding how it works and just tapping into the consistency of how I have to move every time.”

Got Brock Back: Somerset southpaw Brock Selvidge is the No. 8 prospect in the Yankees system, but among all ranked pitchers, is the top ranked lefty. While injuries may have allowed some to forget, the 22-year-old Selvidge is eager to remind people just how good he is now with a clean bill of health.

Selvidge, who was selected to last summer’s MLB Futures Game, did not get the opportunity to pitch in the annual prospect showcase due to bicep inflammation stemming from a pinched nerve. Selvidge was shut down and never pitched again in 2024 before undergoing surgery last September.

Now with a clean bill of health, the 2021 third-round draft selection has pitched to a 3.12 ERA and has held Eastern League opposition to a .172 batting average in two starts since landing back with Somerset.

Knowing the Opponent: Both Somerset and New Hampshire enter action this week tied with identical 29-34 records. The Patriots will get their first look at Blue Jays No. 2 prospect Trey Yesavage. The 21-year-old right-hander was the 20th pick in last summer’s draft and is fresh off a promotion to New Hampshire last week. The East Carolina product fanned four and allowed just one run against Reading in his Double-A debut last week. In 12 starts spanning three different levels, Yesavage has struck out 92 batters in 54.2 innings of work while posting a 2.14 ERA and 0.88 WHIP.

Series Pitching Probables

Tue: RHP Trystan Vrieling (0-1, 5.19 ERA) vs. RHP Juaron Watts-Brown (1-1, 3.68 ERA)

Wed: RHP Carlos Lagrange (1-1, 7.20 ERA) vs. LHP Trey Yesavage (0-0, 2.25 ERA)

Thu: LHP Brock Selvidge (1-1, 3.12 ERA) vs. RHP Grant Rogers (1-2, 4.32 ERA)

Fri: RHP Trent Sellers (1-4, 4.27 ERA) vs. RHP Ryan Watson (4-3, 4.15 ERA)

Sat: RHP Brendan Beck (5-2, 1.82 ERA) vs. RHP Devereaux Harrison (5-5, 4.40 ERA)

Sun: RHP Trystan Vrieling (0-1, 5.19 ERA) vs. RHP Juaron Watts-Brown (1-1, 3.68 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.