Patriots Notebook 7/29/25: Going Nutty
BRIDGEWATER N.J. – Somerset (16-11) will close out July and usher in August by welcoming Richmond (14-12) to TD Bank Ballpark this week to begin a season-long 12-game homestand. The Patriots earned a hard-fought series split on the road in Erie last week to cap a 4-5 road trip out
BRIDGEWATER N.J. – Somerset (16-11) will close out July and usher in August by welcoming Richmond (14-12) to TD Bank Ballpark this week to begin a season-long 12-game homestand. The Patriots earned a hard-fought series split on the road in Erie last week to cap a 4-5 road trip out of the All-Star break.
The Patriots and Flying Squirrels previously split a six-game slate in late April before San Francisco’s affiliate finished the first half with an Eastern League-worst 21-46 mark. Entering action this week, both teams are in second place in their respective divisions with seven weeks remaining in the schedule.
Here are some of the latest news, notes and storylines surrounding the Patriots heading into this week’s action:
Dylan Jasso gives Somerset an early 1-0 lead!!
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) July 23, 2025
Jasso has 47 RBI this season, the sixth-highest mark in the Eastern League 😎 pic.twitter.com/8pl7fz8vXc
Jasso Heater: Infielder Dylan Jasso, who has been one of the most consistent hitters for Somerset this season, propelled the club with a team-high 12 hits in Erie last week. The 22-year-old Mexican is slashing .307/.349/.453 in July and he currently ranks fourth in the Eastern League in H (92), tied for fourth in R (51) and fifth in TB (153).
SEA YOU LATER!
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) July 22, 2025
Jace Avina smashes a two-run bomb to extend Somerset's lead!
It's his sixth home run in July. pic.twitter.com/uCaTbHlAdR
Avina On-Base: Outfielder Jace Avina was promoted to Somerset a few weeks back on July 11 after slashing .295/.412/.506 in 52 games with High-A Hudson Valley. The 22-year-old Avina, whom the Yankees acquired as part of a package that sent Jake Bauers to Milwaukee back in 2023, currently ranks third in the organization in OBP (.401) and OPS (.892). In 11 games played for the Patriots, Avina has blasted two homers and been on-base 17 times.
7⃣ in 7⃣ for Prospect No. 7⃣
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) July 23, 2025
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (@Yankees No. 7 prospect) strikes out seven and becomes the first Somerset pitcher to throw 7.0 IP since Cam Schlittler on 4/24 vs. HFD.
Final Line: 7.0 IP | 4 H | 2 R | 2 BB | 7 K
Pitches (Strikes): 96 (63) pic.twitter.com/P0nri0ApOb
Rodriguez-Cruising: Patriots right-hander Elmer Rodriguez Cruz allowed just two runs with seven strikeouts in seven innings last Tuesday at Erie in his second start at Double-A. The Yankees No. 6 prospect, who they acquired from Boston over the winter for Carlos Narvaez, has thrown the most innings for any minor leaguer in the organization this season (96.2) and ranks second behind teammate Carlos Lagrange with 109 punchouts. What has made Rodriguez-Cruz even more impressive is his ability to induce weak contact; he has generated a 53.1% groundball rate, which is the best mark of any Yankees full-season minor leaguer.
Filling the Pipeline: MLB Pipeline recently released their organizational mid-season Top 30 Prospect lists and after the re-rank, Somerset now features eight of the Yankees' Top 30 active prospects: George Lombard Jr. (1), Carlos Lagrange (2), Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (6), Roc Riggio (10), Brock Selvidge (12), Trystan Vrieling (21), Brendan Jones (26) and Ben Shields (29).
Knowing the Opponent: Richmond sits just 1.5 games behind first-place Altoona in the Southwest Division after posting the Eastern League's worst mark in the first half. The Flying Squirrels are highlighted by Giants No. 6 prospect Bo Davidson. The 23-year-old outfielder, who was inked as an undrafted free agent in 2023, was just promoted to Richmond last week after hitting .309 and posting a .919 OPS to go with 10 homers and 56 RBI in 72 games with High-A Eugene.
Series Pitching Probables
Tue: LHP Joe Whitman (3-7, 5.26 ERA) vs. RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (0-1, 3.46 ERA)
Wed: LHP Nick Zwack (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Trystan Vrieling (1-2, 4.39 ERA)
Thu: LHP Jack Choate (2-5, 3.59 ERA) vs. RHP Carlos Lagrange (4-2, 3.54 ERA)
Fri: LHP Seth Lonsway (3-8, 3.52 ERA) vs. LHP Brock Selvidge (2-2, 3.78 ERA)
Sat: LHP John Michael Bertrand (4-7, 3.10 ERA) vs. RHP Trent Sellers (1-4, 4.16 ERA)
Sun: LHP Joe Whitman (3-7, 5.26 ERA) vs. LHP Ben Shields (1-2, 3.42 ERA)
Matt Kardos | SomersetPatriots.com Senior Writer
Matt Kardos has covered the Yankees minor league system for over a decade and will spend his 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.