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MLB

Patriots Notebook 9/16/25: Northeast Division Series

September 16, 2025

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Somerset as a collective group knew that it would have to take a similar path into the postseason as it did in 2024 after a disappointing fourth place finish in the first half of the season. The team once again adopted last season’s “Second Half Pats” rallying

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Somerset as a collective group knew that it would have to take a similar path into the postseason as it did in 2024 after a disappointing fourth place finish in the first half of the season. The team once again adopted last season’s “Second Half Pats” rallying cry once the standings reset on 6/24. Since that day, the Patriots have effectively been on the clock playing playoff baseball. The team outlasted a late season push from Hartford to set up a collision course with division rival Binghamton in the Eastern League Division Series, which opens today at TD Bank Ballpark.

The Rumble Ponies posted the second-best record in all of Minor League Baseball enroute to their first 90-win season in franchise history. The Mets affiliate cruised to first place finishes in both halves of the schedule and have felt like a team of destiny from the jump. Somerset would love nothing more than to play spoiler in that quest. There is no doubt that the path both clubs took into the playoffs could not have been more contrasting, but it doesn’t matter how you obtain a ticket into the dance, it’s what you do once you get there.

The slate is now clean, and the ebbs and flows of a 73-65 regular season are now in the rearview mirror. The team is now focused on finding a path to two victories over Binghamton to set up their third trip to the ELCS in the last four years.

The Patriots pitching staff hampered them early and it cost them greatly; they posted a cumulative 4.40 ERA from April-June. The team received an influx of talented young pitching from top-prospects Carlos Lagrange, Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and Ben Hess and the Second Half Pats pitched to a 3.18 ERA from 7/1 through the duration of the regular season. Strong pitching and timely hitting in tight games has been the path to success and that recipe figures to remain unchanged in the playoffs.

Somerset and Binghamton have squared off 18 times this season, and the Rumble Ponies have had the upper hand by going 6-12 in those meetings. The Patriots did manage to go 3-3 at home in those previous matchups while posting a 3-9 mark at Mirabito Stadium. After their series in early August, Mets top prospects Carson Benge, Jett Williams, Jonah Tong, and Ryan Clifford were all promoted to vastly alter the identity of the team.

A mere six weeks ago, Yankees No. 6 prospect Ben Hess made his Double-A debut against Binghamton as the Patriots were fighting for a spot in the postseason. On Tuesday night, Somerset manager Raul Dominguez will hand the Yankees 2024 first round pick the ball in the postseason opener against that same Rumble Ponies team.

In seven starts since that promotion, Hess has posted a 2.70 ERA and fanned 45 batters in 36.2 innings while holding Eastern League opposition to a .172 batting average. In 10.0 innings of work in two starts against Binghamton this season, Hess has allowed six earned runs on seven hits while striking out 12.

Hess figures to be opposed by Mets No. 14 prospect Jonathan Santucci in Game 1 of the best-of-three series. Like Hess, the 22-year-old southpaw was a premium draft pick just last summer (No.46 overall) and his numbers in the EL have been dominant since he was promoted to Binghamton on 7/7. The Duke product has struck out 63 batters in 50.0 IP spanning 10 starts for the Rumble Ponies while holding the opposition to a .189 BA. Santucci allowed just one earned run over 6.0 IP against Somerset back on 8/8 but the Patriots had some success against them in their most recent crack against the lefty after scoring four earned runs on six hits over 4.1 IP against him on 8/27.

When the series shifts to Binghamton on Wednesday, the Patriots are slated to toss No. 2 prospect Carlos Lagrange. The imposing 6’7” right-hander fanned 168 batters in 120 innings this season, which was the second-best mark in MiLB behind teammate Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. In his last four starts dating back to 8/24, Lagrange has allowed just three earned runs over 19.2 innings while striking out 26 over that stretch.

Lagrange can light up the radar gun with velocity as high as 103 MPH, but with that electricity sometimes comes wavering command – it will be paramount for Lagrange to limit traffic on the base paths in the postseason. In his two starts against Binghamton in August, Lagrange surrendered 11 walks over 8.0 IP.

Mets No. 13 prospect Jack Wenninger, a 2023 sixth round draft selection, is slated to oppose Lagrange in Game 2 of the series. The Illinois-alum spent the entirety of his 2025 season with the Rumble Ponies, and the right-hander has been one of the best pitchers in the Eastern League for the duration. Wenninger led the EL with 147 punchouts and a 1.15 WHIP and finishing with a 2.92 ERA over 135.2 innings, which were both the second-best marks in the league.

If the series calls for a winner-take-all Game 3, Somerset will have No. 5 prospect Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz toe the bump against Mets No. 25 prospect R.J. Gordon. Rodriguez-Cruz, who the Yankees acquired from Boston over the winter in the Carlos Navaez deal, has been a revelation not only to the organization, but for the entirety of the baseball community.

The 22-year-old right-hander led all of MiLB with 173 strikeouts and led the organization in innings pitched (145.0) and BAA (.184) while rankings second in ERA (2.42) and WHIP (1.06). The Puerto Rican outdueled now big leaguer Jonah Tong twice when Binghamton came to Bridgewater in the beginning of August; he fanned 15 batters over 13 shutout innings while allowed just five hits over those two starts. In his most recent start against them on 8/28, ERC lasted just 2.2 IP and surrendered five runs.

Gordon was promoted along with Santucci on 7/7 and the 2024 13th round draft selection out of Oregon struck out 71 batters in 61.0 innings for Binghamton while posting a 3.69 ERA in 11 outings. In his last two starts against the Patriots, Gordon has been dominant; the righty fired 10.0 IP and has allowed just two earned runs with 17 strikeouts over that stretch.

X-Factor: With pitching at such a premium in this short series, creating traffic on the bases and utilizing speed to manufacture runs is going to be a point of emphasis for both clubs.

Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. had an up and down year of development in his first taste of Double-A, but the 2023 first round pick is coming off his best offensive month since April by slashing .261/.364/.457. The speedster swiped 35 bags this season and led the Yankees organization with 87 walks while ranking second in runs (90) and doubles (32).

Outfielder Brendan Jones, who stole 51 bags this season, became the first Yankees minor leaguer to steal 50 bases since Anthony Volpe in 2022. The Bombers’ No. 15 prospect ranked second amongst the organization’s minor leaguers in walks (82) and finished third in runs with 89.

Binghamton will look to get No. 7 prospect A.J. Ewing on base early and often. The 21-year-old has posted a .401 OBP this season and has stolen 70 bases in 81 attempts across three levels this season. The Rumble Ponies would love Ewing to set the table for a potent middle of the order that includes No. 6 prospect Jacob Reimer. The 21-year-old infielder has posted an .870 OPS and has blasted 17 homers and driven home 77 runs this season.

Series Pitching Probables

(Stats indicate regular season totals)

Tue. (Game 1): LHP Jonathan Santucci (4-0, 2.52 ERA) vs. RHP Ben Hess (3-1, 2.70 ERA)

Wed: OFF DAY

Thu. (Game 2): RHP Carlos Lagrange (7-6, 3.22 ERA) vs. RHP Jack Wenninger (12-6, 2.92 ERA)

Fri. (Game 3* if necessary): RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (5-3, 2.64 ERA) vs. RHP R.J. Gordon (6-1, 3.69 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.

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