Spencer Jones leads Patriots to dominant win securing playoff spot
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Follow UsYankees prospect Spencer Jones hit his 17th home run of the season guiding the Somerset Patriots to a commanding 5-1 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in their 2024 regular-season finale at TD Bank Ballpark. With the win the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate clinched their berth in the Eastern League playoffs.
Center fielder Jones played a pivotal role, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, and two runs scored. His leadoff homer in the first inning was his fourth this season, and it boosted his season total to a team-high 17 home runs. Jones has been in strong form recently, hitting safely in five of his last six games and reaching base in eight straight. Over his last 25 games, Jones has been a key contributor with an impressive .326/.379/.600 batting line for the Patriots.
Jones’s season-long stats rank him among the top performers in the Eastern League, excelling in categories like home runs, RBIs, hits, doubles, triples, and stolen bases. He also ranks highly across the Yankees’ minor league system in several offensive metrics. After a slow start, Jones turned his season around, batting .279 with 15 home runs and a .866 OPS over his final 86 games.
This victory capped a remarkable second half for the Patriots, who led the Northeast Division with a 43-25 record, the best since the team joined the league in 2021. Their turnaround was particularly impressive, as they had trailed the division leader by six games as recently as August 18.
A perfect win for the Patriots
Elijah Dunham made a strong impact as the designated hitter, going 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the fourth inning—his 15th of the season and fourth in the series against New Hampshire. Dunham was a standout throughout the series, hitting .389 with four home runs, 10 RBIs, six runs scored, and four stolen bases over five games.
His 10 RBIs in the series marked his highest total for any single series this season. Dunham’s aggressive baserunning was evident as well, stealing bases in three straight games. Since mid-June, he has been among the Eastern League leaders in key offensive categories, including home runs, RBIs, extra-base hits, and total bases. Sunday’s game also marked Dunham’s 20th multi-hit game of the year.
First baseman Tyler Hardman also delivered, going 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the fifth inning, adding to his season total of 11 multi-hit games. Hardman has been a reliable presence at the plate, reaching base safely in four of his last five games.
Right fielder Grant Richardson capped off the Patriots’ 5-1 win with a solo homer in the sixth inning, his ninth of the season. Richardson has been heating up, recording hits in six of his last seven games. His series performance against New Hampshire included a .294 batting average, one home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored over five games. In September, Richardson maintained a .283 average with five RBIs and seven runs scored across 13 games. The home run on Sunday was a key moment for Richardson, snapping a 20-game homerless stretch.
The Patriots showcased their dominance by winning five of six games against New Hampshire, securing their fifth straight series win. This achievement marked a significant shift from earlier struggles, where they had failed to win more than two consecutive series. Over the last 30 games of the season, the Patriots posted a 22-8 record, outscoring opponents 142-80—a league-best run differential during that span.
Somerset’s pitching dominance extended throughout the season’s final month. From August 13 onward, their staff led the Eastern League with a 2.57 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP, ranking first among all Double-A teams. The bullpen played a crucial role, leading Double-A with a 2.16 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 3.24 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
In the regular-season finale, right-hander Trystan Vrieling delivered a standout performance, pitching 5.2 scoreless innings and earning his league-leading 13th win. Vrieling has been on a dominant run, posting a 6-0 record with a 2.23 ERA in his last seven starts. Ranked as the Yankees‘ No. 28 prospect, he has consistently limited opposing teams, allowing two or fewer earned runs in six of his last seven outings. Vrieling is among the Eastern League leaders in several pitching categories, including strikeouts, innings pitched, and WHIP.
The Patriots also excelled on the basepaths, with two steals in their final game bringing their season total to a league-leading 204 stolen bases. This marked the third consecutive season the team eclipsed 200 steals, positioning them to lead the Eastern League in stolen bases for a fourth straight year.
The Patriots are gearing up to face the Hartford Yard Goats in the Northeast Division Championship, with the opening game set for Tuesday night at TD Bank Ballpark. Somerset has enjoyed considerable success against Hartford since joining the Eastern League in 2021, winning 51 of their 71 matchups, including 9 of 16 this season.
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Spencer Jones, and Roderick Arias both show that the Yankees need some real hitting coaches.