SAL Hudson Valley Renegades

HVR Game Notes - April 7, 2023

April 7, 2023 - South Atlantic League (SAL)
Hudson Valley Renegades News Release


OPENING NIGHT: The Renegades open the 2023 regular season tonight as they host the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, for a three-game series. This is the lone series between the Renegades and the Grasshoppers this season, despite Greensboro being in Hudson Valley's division.

EARLY GADES GET THE WORM: For the fourth straight season, the Renegades will set a new mark for the earliest Opening Day game in franchise history. After never having started earlier than June 15 from 1994-2018, the Hudson Valley opened the 2019 season at Aberdeen on June 14, the 2021 season at Jersey Shore on May 4, and the 2022 season at Greenville on April 8. Friday also marks the earliest home opener in franchise history, beating out last year's April 19 date.

A TRUE HOME OPENER: Hudson Valley plays its Opening Day game at Heritage Financial Park first time since 2016, when they hosted the Aberdeen IronBirds. That is probably not a surprise, as the Gades began their season against the IronBirds for an unbelievable 15 straight season from 2005-19. The Gades have played five consecutive lid lifters on the road, posting a 2-3 record, but having dropped their last three season openers. Hudson Valley has lost their last three season openers, last winning an Opening Night game on June 15, 2018 at Aberdeen.

MEETING GREENSBORO: The Renegades and Grasshoppers have only played three series all-time, but it has been a historic series for Hudson Valley. The only two times that the Renegades have scored 20-or-more runs in a game, and three of the five highest-scoring games for the team since 2005 have come in games at Greensboro at the extremely friendly confines of First National Bank Field.

BACK BETTER THAN EVER: 12 players on the Renegades Opening Day roster spent some time in Hudson Valley last year. Five members of the roster include Yankees' Top 30 prospects including the top two picks in the 2022 draft in Spencer Jones and Drew Thorpe. Thorpe and Chase Hampton will be making their professional debuts this season after not pitching last year after the draft in July.

IT'S TIME TO SHINE: Zach Messinger will make his High-A debut tonight for the Renegades. The right-handed pitcher was selected by the Yankees in the 13th round of the 2021 First Year-Player Draft out of the University of Virginia. He spent the entire 2022 season with Single-A Tampa where he appeared in 31 games and made 16 starts.

GADES IN THE SHOW: The Renegades were well-represented on MLB Opening Day rosters in 2023, with 26 former Hudson Valley players and managers appearing across the AL and NL. 2021 Renegades INF Anthony Volpe headlined the list who made his Major League debut with the Yankees. In 2022, nine former Renegades made their MLB Debuts, the most in single season franchise history.

WELCOME MR. JONES: Spencer Jones, the 25th overall pick in the 2022 First Year-Player Draft by the Yankees last season will open the year in Hudson Valley. He begins the season as the Yankees No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline, the highest prospect on the Renegades roster. The former Vanderbilt Commodore hit .344/.425/.538 in 25 games between the FCL Yankees and Single-A Tampa last year.

TOP PICKS ON THE GADES: The Renegades Opening Day roster prominently features 2022 Yankees first round pick Spencer Jones, who was selected 25th overall by New York out of Vanderbilt University. Jones becomes the sixth Yankees first rounder to play for the Renegades in their three seasons as an affiliate. During the Renegades' entire affiliation with the Tampa Bay Rays/Devil Rays, a total of 14 first rounders played with the Gades (notables: Josh Hamilton, Evan Longoria, Tim Beckham, Brendan McKay, Greg Jones).

YANKEES FIRST ROUND PICKS WITH HUDSON VALLEY Drafted Player Years w/ HV 2018 Anthony Seigler 2021-22 2019 Anthony Volpe 2021 T.J. Sikkema (Comp A) 2022 2020 Austin Wells 2021-22 2021 Trey Sweeney 2022

NEW YEAR, NEW SKIPPER: Former Major League pitcher Sergio Santos was named the 18th manager in Renegades history and the third in the Yankees era (2021-present) this past February. Santos begins his second season coaching in the Yankees organization in 2023, and his first with the Renegades. In 2022, he managed the FCL Yankees to the FCL Championship. The Los Angeles native was selected in the first round (27th overall) of the 2002 First Year-Player Draft by Arizona out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana. Santos spent parts of six years in the Major Leagues including the Yankees in 2015. He racked up a career-high 30 saves in 2011 with CWS.

Check out the Hudson Valley Renegades Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from April 7, 2023


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