Patriots Notebook: Smith, Morales and Arias Lead Somerset into Home Slate with Akron
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Patriots (27-24) return home to TD Bank Ballpark this week as winners in nine of their last 12 games after taking four-of-six on the road in Hartford last week. With 18 games remaining in the regular season, Somerset remains 2.5 games behind first place Reading
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Patriots (27-24) return home to TD Bank Ballpark this week as winners in nine of their last 12 games after taking four-of-six on the road in Hartford last week. With 18 games remaining in the regular season, Somerset remains 2.5 games behind first place Reading in the race to clinch a postseason berth. The margin for error is thin and the race to get into the playoffs is tight as Akron (23-26) comes to town for the first time this season – a club that the Patriots have never won a series against (0-4-3) since joining the Eastern League back in 2021.
Here is a look at some of the latest news, notes and storylines surrounding Somerset heading into action this week.
Congratulations to @Yankees No. 21 prospect Cade Smith on being named the @MiLB Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for 8/18 - 8/23🏅 pic.twitter.com/DrgKI9e4jx
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 24, 2026
Cade Recognized: Minor League Baseball announced Monday that Somerset right-hander Cade Smith had been named Eastern League Pitcher of the week for games played 8/18 – 8/23. The Yankees No. 21 prospect fired six scoreless innings and allowed just one hit with seven punchouts in the back end of last Friday’s doubleheader against Hartford.
In his first season at Double-A, the 2023 sixth-round draft selection out of Mississippi State has tossed a career-high 105.0 innings this season while going 7-7 with a 4.80 ERA. Smith joins OF Jace Avina, INF Coby Morales, LHP Xavier Rivas and OF DJ Gladney as the fifth Patriot to be honored with a weekly award this season.
Coby Morales BELTS his 20th HOMER of the year 😤
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 20, 2026
The @Yankees No. 30 Prospect has his FIRST career 20-HR season! pic.twitter.com/wdU0sjxLRP
20/20 for Coby: Infielder Coby Morales is in the midst of a career-best campaign in his first full season at Double-A. As the season winds down, the Yankees No. 30 prospect continues to display consistency across the board.
Last Tuesday, Morales swiped his 20th stolen base of the season in the series opener at Hartford and a day later, followed it up by blasting his 20th homer of the season - after hitting just 13 total over the first three seasons of his pro career. The 24-year-old is currently riding a career-high 18-game on-base streak and is one of only two players in the Yankees system to have posted both 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases this season (Jackson Lovich – 21 HR, 34 SB).
Roderick Arias has gotten off to a HOT start at Double-A, slashing .282/.346/.451 with 9️⃣ XBH and 13 RBI in 18 games.
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 24, 2026
How the former @Yankees No. 3 Prospect’s defense, bat and speed is causing a MAJOR BREAKOUT ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ZYnvpyuc2Q
Arias Continues to Rake: Infielder Roderick Arias has been nothing short of impressive both offensively and defensively since being promoted to Somerset earlier this month. The highlight plays from three different positions are a daily occurrence and the approach at the plate has shown immense growth from the former top-prospect.
In six games against Hartford last week, the 21-year-old slashed .320/.370/.480 with four extra-base hits and five RBI and since being promoted to the Patriots back on August 4 is slashing .282/.346/.451 with 13 RBI in 18 games of action.
Key Pieces on the Shelf: The Patriots placed right-hander Ben Hess on the IL last week and later moved him to the 60-day IL. The Yankees No. 6 prospect had tossed 56.2 innings this season, fanning 65 batters and posting a 4.45 ERA across 16 starts.
The club announced Monday that infielder Luis Durango had been placed on the 7-day IL which will take him out of action for a minimum of this week’s series against Akron. The loss of the 23-year-old outfielder is a major blow in the thick of a postseason race. The electrifying speedster has slashed .367/.446/.429 with eight stolen bases in 19 games since joining Somerset back on July 28.
Knowing the Opponent: The Patriots will look for their first ever series victory over Akron this week in what is a roster littered with Cleveland’s top-prospects.
The RubberDucks roster is headlined by Guardians No. 3 prospect Braylon Doughty, who was the 36th overall pick back in the 2024 MLB draft out of high school. After posting a 3.02 ERA in 14 starts at High-A, the Guardians bumped Doughty up to Double-A for the first time on June 30. The California-native has posted a 3.32 ERA with 106 punchouts and just 20 walks in 89.1 innings of work across all levels this season.
Cleveland’s No.6 prospect Jaison Chourio, the younger brother of Brewers All-Star Jackson Chourio, has been very strong for Akron in his first stint at Double-A. The 21-year-old opened the season at High-A and was promoted just a week into May. In 98 total games this season, the Venezuela-native is slashing .267/.371/.408 with a career-high nine homers to go along with 33 stolen bases. Chourio recorded a homer and seven RBI across six games against Somerset in their meeting earlier this month.
Cleveland’s No. 8 prospect Dean Curley has already cracked Double-A in his first full-season after being drafted out of Tennessee with the 64th overall pick in last summer’s draft. In 29 games for Akron since being promoted in mid-July, the 22-year-old is slashing .275/.373/.459 with five homers and 20 RBI. Curley posted five hits against Somerset in their previous meeting, including a two-homer game on August 7.
A few picks after Curley, Cleveland selected outfielder Aaron Walton with the 66th overall pick last summer and coincidentally promoted the pair together to Double-A back on July 13. In his first full-season, the Guardians No. 8 prospect has blasted 18 homers and 29 doubles to go with 71 RBI as an impact bat in the middle of the lineup at just 22 years old. In their matchup earlier in August, Walton went 8-for-22 with a homer and two RBI.
Probable Pitchers
Tuesday, August 25: LHP Rafe Schlesinger (3-4, 5.37 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Cunningham (Double-A Debut)
Wednesday, August 26: RHP Ryan Degges (0-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. RHP Cade Smith (7-7, 4.80 ERA)
Thursday, August 27: RHP Braylon Doughty (1-1, 3.94 ERA) vs. TBD
Friday, August 28: LHP Franklin Gómez (0-0, 16.88 ERA) vs. RHP Dom Hamel (0-1, 10.57 ERA)
Saturday, August 29: LHP Caden Favors (7-6, 4.78 ERA) vs. RHP Rory Fox (1-1, 5.34 ERA)
Sunday, August 30: LHP Rafe Schlesinger (3-4, 5.37 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Cunningham
Matt Kardos | SomersetPatriots.com Senior Writer
Matt Kardos has covered the Yankees minor league system for over a decade and will spend his 14th 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.