Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon
Double-A Affiliate
The Official Site of the Somerset Patriots Somerset Patriots
Tickets
Single Game Tickets Season Tickets Mini Plan Tickets 7-Game Plans Flex-Ticket Books Somerset Sluggers Kids Club Account Manager Ticket Terms And Conditions How To Access Your Tickets
Schedule
Schedule Promotional Schedule 2026 Printable Schedule Fireworks Dates Somerset Semiquincentennials Jersey Diners Zorros de Somerset New York Black Yankees Bark in the Park
Group Outings
Discounted Tickets Private Suites SK Club Ballpark BBQ Diamond Club Online Group Portals Fundraising Birthday Parties Field Trips Scout Nights
Team & Stats
Roster Individual Stats Team Stats MiLB Stats Transactions Standings Top 30 Yankees Prospects MLB Rehabs MLB Debuts Yankees Affiliates
Media
News Press Box Watch And Listen Live Videos Patriots Plus Mobile App Sign Up For Text Promotions
TD Bank Ballpark
About TD Bank Ballpark Contact us Seating Chart Front Office Food and Beverage Options Ballpark Non-Gameday Rentals Ballpark Policies & FAQ Fan Survey 50-50 Raffle Directions
Shop
About The Patriots
Partnership Opportunities
Contests
Community
Sparkee The Mascot
Employment
Horizon Show Your Blue
Watch on Bally Sports Live
(908) 252-0700
Offline Privacy Policy

Patriots Notebook 8/12/25: Pats in Portland

August 12, 2025

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — After an action-packed week at TD Bank Ballpark, one that had the electricity and buzz of a postseason atmosphere, the Patriots (23-16) split a six-game slate with first-place Binghamton (26-13) to remain firmly in the playoff race. Somerset trails the Rumble Ponies by three games for the

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — After an action-packed week at TD Bank Ballpark, one that had the electricity and buzz of a postseason atmosphere, the Patriots (23-16) split a six-game slate with first-place Binghamton (26-13) to remain firmly in the playoff race. Somerset trails the Rumble Ponies by three games for the division lead as they hit the road for Portland and a series with the Sea Dogs (17-21) at Hadlock Field this week.

“We can feel that,” manager Raul Dominguez said of the energy against Binghamton. “Even when we went to Erie, same thing. Erie and Binghamton are the two teams that we feel like we’ve got to play that week. It’s not only for the coaches, but the players talk about it like this is the team that we’ve got to keep going.”

Dominguez added, “I don’t want to say that any of the other teams are bad because you’ve got to play hard those weeks, too. But we know teams like that, the little things that you miss, they are going to take advantage.”

With just 30 games remaining in the regular season, the Patriots have surged up the standings in the second half to set themselves up for a postseason run similar to last year’s club. Because Binghamton has already clinched a playoff berth by winning the division title in the first half, if they finish atop the Northeast Division again, the team with the next-best winning percentage in the second half would earn the playoff spot. The Patriots currently lead Hartford by 1.5 games in that race.

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

Elmer’s World: Yankees No. 6 prospect Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz was matched up twice last week against Mets top pitching prospect Jonah Tong, widely viewed as the best pitcher in the minors this season. Despite the buzz surrounding Tong, Rodriguez-Cruz out-dueled the Binghamton ace in both the series opener and finale.

In two starts against Binghamton, Rodriguez-Cruz threw 13 shutout innings, allowing five hits and four walks while striking out 15 batters.

“I go into every outing, and I don’t really pay attention to that,” Rodriguez-Cruz said. “I always try to bring the same energy and think of it like every opponent is the same and just go out there and attack and trust my stuff.”

Rodriguez-Cruz added, “It’s exciting facing good hitters and good lineups; it brings out the best in me.”

The 21-year-old, acquired from Boston over the winter in exchange for catcher Carlos Narvaez, leads all active Yankees minor leaguers in ERA (2.02), IP (115.2), BA (.175) and WHIP (1.01), and ranks second in strikeouts (129). In five Double-A starts, Rodriguez-Cruz has posted a 1.41 ERA while holding Eastern League opponents to a .177 batting average.

“For me, Double-A has been a little bit of the same,” Rodriguez-Cruz said. “There are some adjustments you have to make — it’s a new league with different types of players — so I am just trying to get every bit of information that I can and bring it out every single day to bring out the best in me.”

The Arrival of Hess: The Yankees promoted 2024 first-round pick Ben Hess to Double-A last week. The Alabama product had a 3.61 ERA and 94 K in 66.2 IP for High-A Hudson Valley before earning his first shot at the upper levels.

In his Patriots debut Wednesday, the Yankees No. 7 prospect allowed three earned runs on four hits while striking out four over 4.1 IP in a tough-luck outing against Binghamton.

“It was really fun,” Hess said of his Somerset debut. “I get to pitch in a different stadium, different uniform, and I know pretty much all of the guys out here. It was fun getting to play with a new group of guys, but baseball is baseball, and once you get on the mound it all feels the same.”

The Winning Jones: Outfielder Brendan Jones is proving to be not only a consistent bat at the top of the Patriots’ order, but also a player the team wants at the plate in clutch situations. The Yankees No. 16 prospect had game-winning hits on back-to-back days against Binghamton, including a walk-off single Saturday night, to help the Patriots salvage a series tie with their division rival.

Over his last 25 games, the Kansas State alum is batting .277 with a .417 OBP and .590 SLG, along with 6 HR, 21 RBIs, 19 BB and 21 R.

Knowing the Opponent — The Patriots have gone 7-5 against Portland this season and will make their final trip north this week for their last meeting of the season with the Sea Dogs. The Red Sox affiliate sits at 17-21 in the second half, one game ahead of New Hampshire for the bottom spot in the division.

Portland has historically featured a core of Boston’s top prospects, but after a slew of transactions and promotions this season, the roster looks vastly different than it did early in the year.

Outfielder Miguel Bleis, the organization’s No. 15 prospect, is the highest-ranked active player on Portland’s roster entering this week. The 21-year-old Dominican native was promoted to Double-A on Aug. 1 from High-A Greenville after hitting 13 HR, 41 RBI and 20 SB to open the season.

Series Pitching Probables

Tue: RHP Ben Hess (0-1, 6.23 ERA) vs. RHP Blake Wehunt (2-7, 4.05 ERA)
Wed: RHP Carlos Lagrange (4-3, 3.49 ERA) vs. RHP Caleb Bolden (2-3, 6.47 ERA)
Thu: LHP Brock Selvidge (2-4, 5.14 ERA) vs. RHP John Holobetz (0-0, 6.00 ERA)
Fri: RHP Trent Sellers (2-4, 3.69 ERA) vs. LHP Dalton Rogers (2-4, 4.68 ERA)
Sat: RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (3-1, 1.41 ERA) vs. LHP Eduardo Rivera (0-3, 4.30 ERA)
Sun: RHP Ben Hess (0-1, 6.23 ERA) vs. LHP Hayden Mullins (4-2, 2.28 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.