Patriots Notebook 8/19/25: Crunch Time

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Playoff fever is officially in the air with 24 games remaining in the regular season for Somerset. While Binghamton (30-15) remains comfortably atop the Northeast Division with a four-game cushion, the Mets' affiliate has already clinched a postseason berth after donning the first-half crown. In that scenario, second place Somerset (26-19) is in the driver’s seat of a playoff spot with a 4.5 game lead over Hartford (21-23) with the Yard Goats coming to town this week for a crucial six-game slate.

Somerset returns home to Bridgewater for its second-to-last home stand of the season on the heels of splitting a six-game series on the road in Portland last week. Meanwhile, Hartford is limping into TD Bank Ballpark after suffering a crushing sweep at the hands of Harrisburg at home.

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

The Hess Truck’s Here!🚛

Ben Hess (@Yankees No. 7 prospect and 2024 1st Round Draft Pick) was dealing today in a Double-A career-high 6 scoreless IP.

6 IP | 0 R | 2 H | 5 K on 72 pitches (47 strikes). pic.twitter.com/HucPzrRige

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 17, 2025

Hess Truck Rolling: Yankees' No. 7 prospect Ben Hess made his third Double-A start on Sunday in the series finale against Portland. After allowing three earned runs apiece in each of his first two starts for Somerset, the Alabama-product tossed six shutout innings and allowing just two hits with five stikeouts in the 72-pitch masterpiece against the Sea Dogs.

Shades of Indigo: Right-hander Indigo Diaz, who nailed down his sixth save of the season on Saturday, has quietly posted a standout season out of the Patriots bullpen. The 26-year-old, whom the Yankees acquired from Atlanta in 2022 along with Caleb Durbin in the Lucas Luetge deal, has allowed just two earned runs since 5/11. In those 26 appearances spanning 31 innings, Diaz has a 0.58 ERA and Eastern League opposition is hitting a mere .143 against him.

Tyler Hardman 9th Inning Magic🪄 pic.twitter.com/KAj3GPPiLL

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 17, 2025

Hardman Stepping Up: In what has been a rollercoaster season offensively for infielder Tyler Hardman, the 2021 fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma has stepped up in August to help fuel the Patriots' playoff push. After a slew of promotions and trades at the deadline, Hardman has stabilized the lineup when it has mattered most. After slashing .212/.260/.441 for the year at the end of July, Hardman has posted a season’s best .296/.367/.500 mark in 15 games this month. The 26-year-old slugger’s 17 homers are the second-most in the Eastern League this season and his 51 career long balls for Somerset are the most in Double-A club history.

A GOOD TIME FOR YOUR FIRST DOUBLE-A HOMER, JACKSON CASTILLO!!! pic.twitter.com/6Lu4trvCf1

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 17, 2025

That Was Close: During this time of the season, particularly when jockeying for a postseason spot, every single victory is of the utmost importance. What often separates the teams that dance beyond the regular season from the ones that go home is the ability to win tightly contested games and the Patriots have certainly had their fair share of nail-biting bouts. Entering action on Tuesday night, Somerset has now played 27 games since the All-Star break and 24 of them have been decided by just three runs or less – 13 of them have been decided by just a single run.

The @Yankees announce Roc Riggio and Ben Shields have been traded to the @Rockies.

Thanks for the memories, Roc and Ben!🫶 pic.twitter.com/3HSEQPmvId

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) July 31, 2025

Knowing the Opponent: The Patriots and Yard Goats will meet for the final time this season in a six-game series that should make the Eastern League playoff picture a bit clearer by the time Sunday rolls around. These two clubs have tangled three times previously this season and the Yard Goats have had the upper hand by going 7-5. Historically, the Patriots 56 wins against the Rockies affiliate are just one shy of their most against any EL opponent since 2021.

This week’s meeting is a reunion in Bridgewater as the Patriots welcome in former teammates Roc Riggio and Ben Shields after the Yankees dealt both players to Colorado less than three weeks ago at the MLB Trade Deadline for reliever Jake Bird.

Riggio, now ranked as the Rockies' No.11 prospect, has slashed .204/.268/.327 in 13 games with his new team but always has the ability to flip a game both offensively and defensively.

The lefty Shields has now made three starts for Hartford and has allowed just three earned runs and has fanned 18 batters in 15 innings of work since being traded.

Beyond the Yankees ties, Hartford has a roster that features the Rockies No.2 prospect Charlie Condon, who was the third overall pick in last summers draft, along with No.3 prospect Cole Carrigg, the No. 65 pick from 2023.

Series Pitching Probables

Tue: RHP McCade Brown (3-2, 3.65 ERA) vs. RHP Carlos Lagrange (5-3, 3.44 ERA)

Wed: RHP Connor Staine (2-7, 4.90 ERA) vs. LHP Brock Selvidge (2-4, 4.69 ERA)

Thu: LHP Sean Sullivan (9-4, 2.34 ERA) vs. RHP Trent Sellers (2-5, 3.65 ERA)

Fri: LHP Ben Shields (2-2, 2.79 ERA) vs. RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (3-1, 2.00 ERA)

Sat: LHP Michael Prosecky (2-1, 4.57 ERA) vs. RHP Ben Hess (0-1, 3.60 ERA)

Sun: RHP Jack Mahoney (3-7, 5.95 ERA) vs. RHP Carlos Lagrange (5-3, 3.44 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.