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Patriots Notebook 7/1/25: Read, White and Blue

July 1, 2025

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Somerset hits the road on Tuesday for a short trek over to Reading to take on the Fightin Phils for the second time this season. Instead of the standard six-game trip, the two clubs will split three games apiece at their home ballparks which allows the Patriots

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Somerset hits the road on Tuesday for a short trek over to Reading to take on the Fightin Phils for the second time this season. Instead of the standard six-game trip, the two clubs will split three games apiece at their home ballparks which allows the Patriots to return to TD Bank Ballpark on Friday for the first of nine straight contests at home.

The Patriots opened the second half of the schedule by dropping four of six to Erie last week. The two-time defending Eastern League champions posted a robust +155 run differential in the first half and continued their offensive onslaught in the second half by outscoring Somerset 42-22 during the series.

Reading and Somerset split a six-game slate during the Patriots’ first home series of the season in early April. The identity and core for both teams has shifted a great deal since that early season matchup. After finishing in last place during the first half of the season, Reading is off to a hot start after taking four of six from Richmond on the road last week.

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

Riding the Rails with Spencer: On the heels of ripping an extra-innings walk-off single against Erie last Thursday, the Yankees announced on Friday that the organization’s No. 2 prospect, Spencer Jones, had been promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In 49 games with the Patriots this season, Jones slashed .274/.389/.594 with 16 homers and 32 RBI. The Encinitas, Californian has dropped his ground ball percentage by nearly 12 points and increased his fly ball mark by over 10 points year-over-year.

Jones finished with 191 hits in 188 games of action in Somerset for his career – he blasted 36 home runs and drove home 120 runs while swiping 43 bags during his time in Bridgewater.

Lombard to the Futures Game: MLB announced Monday that Patriots shortstop George Lombard Jr. has been selected to the American League roster for the 2025 All-Star Futures Game, scheduled for next Saturday at Truist Park as part of All-Star weekend festivities.

The Yankees’ top prospect was promoted to Double-A on May 6 at age 19 after slashing .329/.495/.488 with High-A Hudson Valley. Now 20, the shortstop is hitting .248 with a .394 on-base percentage and a .374 slugging percentage on the season, while flashing Gold Glove-caliber defense.

New York’s 2023 first-round draft pick leads the organization in runs (56) and walks (55), and ranks among the leaders in triples (4, T-2nd), stolen bases (25, T-2nd), doubles (15, T-5th), hits (63, T-8th), total bases (95, 9th), and on-base percentage (.394, 10th).

A Shield for the Rotation: Left-hander Ben Shields emerged as a standout for the Yankees in 2024, posting a 3.48 ERA with 137 strikeouts and just 33 walks over 106 innings in 26 appearances during his first professional season.

After being placed on the 60-day injured list on March 19, Shields began a rehab assignment on June 2. Following four strong outings, he was activated and made his season debut for Double-A Somerset last Saturday against Erie. He allowed one run on four hits over 3.1 innings, striking out six while reaching the 65-pitch mark.

Consistent Flo: Patriots C/1B Rafael Flores crushed his 13th home run of the season during Sunday’s series finale with Erie, which put him into a tie for second in the Eastern League. During the six games against the reigning EL champions last week, Flores went a team-best 10-for-24 with 5 RBI and posting a 1.065 OPS in the series.

After being named the Yankees 2024 Kevin Lawn Award winner as the organization’s Minor League Position Player of the Year, Flores has picked up right where he left off – slashing .287/.347/.491 with 48 RBI and 33 extra-base hits in 74 games with Somerset. Flores has posted multi-hit efforts in seven of his last 10 games and has recorded a team-high 24 this season.

Knowing the Opponent: After finishing last in the Eastern League’s first half with a 25-42 record, Reading is aiming to carry momentum into the second half following a 4-2 series win over Richmond last week.

Manager Al Pedrique, who led teams in the Yankees’ minor league system from 2013 to 2017—including a Triple-A National Championship with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2016—now oversees a Fightin Phils roster that features six of Philadelphia’s top 30 active prospects.

The group is headlined by shortstop Aidan Miller, the Phillies’ first-round pick (27th overall) in the 2023 MLB Draft and currently ranked No. 20 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list. The 21-year-old is slashing .234/.346/.367 with six home runs and 19 RBIs, and ranks second in the Eastern League with 27 stolen bases.

Series Pitching Probables

Tue: RHP Carlos Lagrange (2-2, 6.05 ERA) vs. RHP Griff McGarry (0-1, 1.40 ERA)
Wed: LHP Brock Selvidge (1-1, 3.06 ERA) vs. RHP Koyo Aoyagi (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Thu: RHP Trent Sellers (1-4, 4.07 ERA) vs. RHP Chuck King (3-3, 4.87 ERA)
Fri: RHP Estibenzon Jimenez (1-1, 6.75 ERA) vs. LHP Ben Shields (0-0, 2.70 ERA)
Sat: RHP Jean Cabrera (3-4, 3.78 ERA) vs. RHP Trystan Vrieling (0-2, 5.93 ERA)
Sun: RHP Griff McGarry (0-1, 1.40 ERA) vs. RHP Carlos Lagrange (2-2, 6.05 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.