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Patriots Notebook 9/9/25: Making The Final Push

September 9, 2025

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – With 132 games in the books, just six remain on the regular season docket for the Patriots (35-28) as they hit the road for a six-game slate with Reading (27-36) this week. Somerset is riding high after a dominating series sweep of New Hampshire at home last

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – With 132 games in the books, just six remain on the regular season docket for the Patriots (35-28) as they hit the road for a six-game slate with Reading (27-36) this week. Somerset is riding high after a dominating series sweep of New Hampshire at home last week to go 22-2 against the Fisher Cats in 2025. The convincing series victory now has the Patriots sitting atop the postseason race in the Northeast Division with a 3.5 game cushion over Hartford and 5.5 over Portland entering action on Tuesday. The magic number for Somerset to officially punch their ticket into the dance is now just three.

Hartford (31-31) will be on the road to wrap their regular season in Richmond (31-31) while Portland (29-33) will visit the postseason bound Binghamton Rumble Ponies (40-23). Should the Patriots clinch a playoff berth this week, they will return to TD Bank Ballpark to host Binghamton for another installment of the Double-A Subway Series on 9/16. The Rumble Ponies would host the following two games (game 3 if necessary).

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

Continuing to Cruz Along: Minor League Baseball named Patriots right-hander Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week on Monday. In two starts against the Fisher Cats last week, the Yankees No. 5 prospect tossed 11 scoreless innings and allowed just two walks and three hits while fanning 16 batters against New Hampshire.

Rodriguez-Cruz, whom the Yankees acquired from the Red Sox over the winter as the return for catcher Carlos Narvaez, has exploded onto the scene with a dominant campaign that has firmly put him in the conversation as the best pitcher in MiLB this season. The 22-year-old native of Puerto Rico is the current active MiLB leader in strikeouts (166) and overall has posted a 2.38 ERA and his 140 innings pitched (most in the Yankees system) has blown past his previous career high by 50.1 frames entering the final week of the regular season.

New Face in the Rotation: The Patriots rotation received a huge boost last Wednesday when the Yankees promoted No.13 prospect Kyle Carr from High-A Hudson Valley. The 23-year-old southpaw had posted a 1.91 ERA and held South Atlantic League opposition to a mere .190 batting average over 119.1 innings of work spanning 22 starts.

In his Double-A debut against New Hampshire last week, Carr entered the fourth inning with a no-hitter intact before running into some trouble. In all the 2023 third round draft selection allowed four earned runs on three hits over 3.2 innings before being pulled at the 67-pitch mark.

The addition of Carr now gives the Patriots one of the most highly touted rotations in baseball that includes 5 of the Yankees top 13 prospects (Lagrange (2), Rodriguez-Cruz (5), Hess (6), Selvidge (10) and Carr (13).

Lombard Heating Up: Yankees top-prospect George Lombard Jr. has had an up and down introduction to the upper levels since landing in Somerset earlier this season, but the organization’s crown jewel is beginning to shine when the club needs him the most. Lombard Jr. posted a 1.011 OPS and hit .318 against New Hampshire last week – he blasted his 9th homer of the season and added four doubles and three stolen bases to go with six RBI in the series.

Leaning on Hardman: Patriots infielder Tyler Hardman blasted his 19th home run of the season on Sunday, which now ranks third overall in the Eastern League. The 26-year-old has been a steady presence in the lineup after the team saw several key contributors lost to trades and promotions and since 8/1, Hardman has slashed .264/.361/.472 with 4 HR, 14 RBI, 12 XBH and 17 runs scored over that stretch.

Knowing the Opponent: While the Fightin’ Phils are mathematically eliminated from postseason contention they are not lacking prospect talented capable of giving the Patriots problems. Infielder Aroon Escobar, the organization’s No.5 prospect is expected to make his Double-A debut this week after slashing .274/.366/.452 with 15 HR, 61 RBI to go along with 24 stolen bases across both Low and High-A this season.

Outfielder Dante Nori, the Phillies No.6 prospect, is also being promoted with Escobar from High-A Jersey Shore to make his Double-A debut this week. The Phils 2024 first-round draft selection has slashed .263/.363/.381 and has stolen 37 bases over 120 games spanning both Low and High-A. Entering action on Tuesday Nori leads all Phillies minor leaguers in triples and walks while ranking second in hits and stolen bases.

Series Pitching Probables

Tue: LHP Kyle Carr (0-0, 9.82 ERA) vs. RHP Estibenzon Jimenez (3-4, 4.71 ERA)

Wed: RHP Ben Hess (3-1, 2.93 ERA) vs. RHP Chuck King (8-6, 4.39 ERA)
Thu: RHP Carlos Lagrange (6-6, 3.48 ERA) vs. RHP Jean Cabrera (6-8, 3.75 ERA)
Fri: LHP Brock Selvidge (2-6, 5.03 ERA) vs. RHP Griff McGarry (1-4, 3.38 ERA)
Sat: RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (3-3, 2.89 ERA) vs. RHP Matt Manning (0-1, 10.28 ERA)
Sun: LHP Kyle Carr (0-0, 9.82 ERA) vs. RHP Braydon Tucker (0-1, 4.70 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.