April 3, 2026 Sea Dogs Game Notes
Published on April 3, 2026 under Eastern League (EL)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
NEW YEAR, NEW TEAM The Portland Sea Dogs open their 33rd season this evening in Somerset facing the Somerset Patriots, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Sea Dogs also opened the 2025 season on the road in Reading, Pennsylvania. Manager Chad Epperson returns to lead the Sea Dogs in his fourth season and became the winningest manager in franchise history last season.
YOU WANT PROSPECTS? At just 20 years old, standout shortstop Franklin Arias enters 2026 as Portland's highest ranked prospect, number two overall in the Red Sox system. Portland's pitching staff is anchored by four Top-30 prospects, including o. 14 John Holobetz, no. 16 Hayden Mullins, no. 21 Gage Ziehl, and no. 26 Eduardo Rivera. Outfielders Miguel Bleis and Nelly Taylor join Arias as the only Portland position players featured on MLB.com's top-30 Prospects list, coming in at no. 17 and no. 22 respectively.
SOME FAMILIAR FACES Portland returns 17 players from past seasons: Pitchers Cooper Adams, Isaac Coffey, John Holobetz, Jorge Juan, Hayden Mullins, Eduardo Rivera, Dalton Rogers, Michael Sansone and Blake Wehunt, along with catchers Drew Ehrhard and Ronald Rosario. Returning infielders include Baseball America's Best Defensive Infielder Marvin Alcantara, Franklin Arias, Max Ferguson, Baseball America's Best Infield Arm Ahbram Lindo and Tyler McDonough while the outfield returns Miguel Bleis.
COMING FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE TO MAINE This season's roster consists of 18 American players from 15 different states with nine international players from four countries or territories. Four players hail from Venezuela (Rosario, Alcantara, Arias and Liendo), two from the Dominican Republic (Juan and Bleis), two from Puerto Rico (Eduardo and Erik Rivera, not related), and one from Cuba (Martinez).
ZIEHL RETURNS TO THE DEATH STAR Gage Ziehl was originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft and posted a 4.12 ERA (49 ER/107.0 IP) with 90 strikeouts and 19 walks across three levels in 2025, his first professional season. He was acquired by the Red Sox in a trade with the Chicago White Sox that sent RHP Jordan Hicks and RHP David Sandlin to Chicago in February.
JUST HOW OLD ARE YOU? At 20 years old, Franklin Arias is the youngest player on the roster, while 27-year-old Drew Ehrhard is the oldest. The average age of the team is 24 years old.
THIS DAY IN SEA DOGS HISTORY April 3, 2014 - Mookie Betts led off the season, cranking a 3-2 pitch for a homer, as the Sea Dogs beat Reading 5-0 in 7 innings.Henry Owens was credited for a six-inning no-hitter, fanning 9 and walking 2 over 6.0 IP. Sea Dogs Manager Billy McMillon earned his 300th win as a minor league manager
ON THE MOUND RHP Blake Wehunt makes his first start of the season tonight in Somerset. He spent the entirety of 2025 with the Sea Dogs and went 2-8 with a 5.68 ERA in 17 appearances, 16 starts. He tossed 63.1 innings allowing 45 runs (40 earned) on 64 hits while walking 29 and striking out 76.
Eastern League Stories from April 3, 2026
- Binghamton Wins 13-Inning Thriller at New Hampshire on Opening Night - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Fisher Cats Drop Opening Night Game against Binghamton - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Akron Routs Reading, 9-3, Behind Rosario's Big Night - Akron RubberDucks
- Baysox Fall to Yard Goats in Friday Night Matchup - Chesapeake Baysox
- SeaWolves Win 8th Straight Opener in 7-6 Thriller over Flying Squirrels - Erie SeaWolves
- Braylen Wimmer & Konner Eaton Lead Yard Goats to Win - Hartford Yard Goats
- Aroon Escobar Picks up Two Hits in Friday Night Loss - Reading Fightin Phils
- Lombard and Hess Lead the Way in Somerset's Historic 18-Run Opening Day Victory - Somerset Patriots
- Sea Dogs Fall on Opening Day - Portland Sea Dogs
- Saturday, April 4 Game Between RubberDucks and Fightin Phils Moved up to 4:05 PM - Akron RubberDucks
- Senators Survive Curve Rally, Hang on to Win 6-5 in Ten Innings - Harrisburg Senators
- Senators Steal Friday Night Game, 6-5 - Altoona Curve
- Farone Strikes out Eight in Debut Before Squirrels Slip Late - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Harrisburg Senators Game Notes - April 3 at Altoona - Harrisburg Senators
- Sea Dogs and Bissell Brothers Announce "Hadlock Lager" - Portland Sea Dogs
- April 3, 2026 Sea Dogs Game Notes - Portland Sea Dogs
- Sea Dogs to Give Away Cooper Flagg Bobblehead on August 12 - Portland Sea Dogs
- Sosa Slugs Baysox to Season Opening Win in Hartford - Chesapeake Baysox
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