Somerset Patriots chosen as Yankees fans’ favorite minor-league team

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across Major League Baseball. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged-in New York Yankees fans, and fans across the country. Sign up here to join Reacts.

At Pinstripe Alley, we’re well-known Baby Bomber enthusiasts. Whether it’s the daily check-ins on the previous night’s minor-league action or any of the various write-ups on top prospects, we try to keep on our fingers on the pulse of what’s going on in the Yankees’ system.

For this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey, we wanted to get an idea of what the average Yankees fan thinks about the minors. Major League Baseball has thankfully made it easier than ever to track the affiliates in the year 2024, as MiLB.tv is now fully included in any MLB.tv subscriptions. In the prompt, Andrés briefly noted each of the Yanks’ full-season affiliates: the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Double-A Somerset Patriots, the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades, and the Low-A Tampa Tarpons.

So which of the Yankees’ minor-league teams got the best review? Turn your attention to Bridgewater, NJ:

Kyle Thele

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Somerset pretty easily won this poll, even though the players at Scranton are technically closer to the majors. The Patriots happen to currently feature one of the Yankees’ best prospects in outfielder Spencer Jones, who was also New York’s top draft pick in 2022. Catchers Agustin Ramirez and Ben Rice have also been turning quite a few heads over the past calendar year, and starting pitchers Trystan Vrieling and Brock Selvidge have flashed some intriguing tools, as well.

This is all to say nothing of wonderful TD Bank Ballpark in Somerset County, either, which I enjoyed long before they even became a Yankees affiliate. It’s a great place to see a game! On a related note:

Kyle Thele

More of y’all need to get out to the ballpark! I fully acknowledge that not every Yankees fan — and there are many around the country — is within reasonable proximity of the minor-league parks. For those in the City, it can be tricky to get out to Somerset or Dutchess County. But honestly, I am an even bigger advocate of going to see minor-league games than descending upon Yankee Stadium.* It’s much more affordable, you can sit closer, and you can get a peak at the future, too!**

*This is no shade on the Bronx, which I try to get to at least once or twice per year. It’s just far and pricey for me.

*And if you don’t live close to any Yankees affiliates, go see whoever happens to be near you! The beautiful thing about the minors, summer leagues, and college ball is that chances are, there will be a great place to see a game nearby, wherever you live.

The Reacts poll that went to all baseball fans was a straightforward Power Ranking of the game’s top 10 teams at the moment.

Kyle Thele

The Yankees are up there with MLB’s five best ballclubs. The Orioles are neck-and-neck with the Yanks for the top of the AL East, and considering their young talent and 101-win season in 2023, I’m not surprised to see them ahead of New York. The well-rounded Braves and Dodgers are generally considered to be the cream of the crop in baseball regardless of current record, and the Phillies are slightly better than the Yanks at the moment at an MLB-best 31-14.

Honestly, these five teams could go in any order and I’d understand it. We’ll see how it looks as the 2024 season rolls along. Ideally, the Yankees remain in the thick of the conversation!

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