Somerset Patriots

From BR Bullpen

Somerset Patriots.jpg

Team History[edit]

The Somerset Patriots, formerly of the independent Atlantic League, briefly in Double-A Northeast, and now in the Eastern League, bounced the Trenton Thunder out of the EL's successor circuit. The New York Yankees farmhands play their home games at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, NJ.

While "Patriots" fits nicely with "Yankees", the nickname obviously precedes the partnership. The team says the actual inspirations for its nickname is the fact that the first flying of an official United States flag happened in the township in 1777.[1]

The franchise's largely unforeseen coming to the Yankees was one of three teams MLB's 2021 Minor League Reorganization pulled from independent into affiliated baseball. The Thunder could have had the Pats' Atlantic berth, but they instead joined the new MLB Draft League. They might be able to seek another affiliation; the Somerset and Trenton stadiums are just far enough apart under the old protection zones, but it isn't clear whether those rules remain as-was after the reorganization.

Managed by former Yankees' reliever Sparky Lyle for their first 15 seasons, they captured league titles in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2015 - the last under the stewardship of Lyle's successor, Brett Jodie.

In 2000, infielder Billy Hall stole a record 66 bases in a row, on the way to 104 for the season.

The Patriots play Copa de la Diversión Hispanic engagement campaign games as Los Zorros de Somerset (Somerset Foxes, after the one that scurried across their field during the 2021 Patriots-Yankees affiliation announcement). In 2024, they announced that they would have another alternate identity for some games as the "New Jersey Diners".

Year-by-Year Record[edit]

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1998 40-60 5th Sparky Lyle
1999 60-60 3rd Sparky Lyle Lost League Finals
2000 74-66 4th (t) Sparky Lyle Lost League Finals
2001 83-43 1st Sparky Lyle League Champs
2002 65-60 5th Sparky Lyle
2003 67-59 4th (t) Sparky Lyle League Champs
2004 68-49 4th Sparky Lyle
2005 78-61 3rd Sparky Lyle League Champs
2006 65-61 5th Sparky Lyle
2007 75-51 1st Sparky Lyle Lost League Finals
2008 74-66 1st (t) Sparky Lyle League Champs
2009 86-54 1st Sparky Lyle League Champs
2010 75-65 3rd Sparky Lyle Lost in 1st round
2011 49-74 7th Sparky Lyle
2012 65-74 5th Sparky Lyle
2013 90-49 2nd Brett Jodie Lost League Finals
2014 85-55 1st Brett Jodie Lost in 1st round
2015 89-50 1st Brett Jodie League Champs
2016 77-63 1st Brett Jodie Lost in 1st round
2017 74-65 2nd Brett Jodie Lost in 1st round
2018 72-54 1st Brett Jodie Lost in 1st Round
2019 69-69 5th Brett Jodie
2020 season cancelled
Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs Hitting coach Pitching coach Coach
2021 72-47 3rd Julio Mosquera Ken Joyce Daniel Moskos, Travis Phelps Jose Javier
2022 83-53 1st Dan Fiorito League Champs Jake Hirst Gerardo Casadiego Aaron Bossi
2023 84-53 1st Raul Dominguez Lost in 1st round Jake Hirst Grayson Crawford Aaron Bossi

Further Reading[edit]

  • Benjamin Hill: "Order up! Yankees' Double-A affiliate unveils Jersey Diners alternate identity", mlb.com, January 23, 2024. [2]

External Link[edit]