HVR Game Notes - April 9, 2023
Published on April 9, 2023 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Hudson Valley Renegades News Release
Hudson Valley Renegades (1-1) vs. Greensboro Grasshoppers (1-1)
RHP Drew Thorpe (First Start) vs. RHP Jaycob Deese (First Start)
| Game 3 | Home Game 3 | Heritage Financial Park | Wappingers Falls, N.Y. | April 9, 2023 | First Pitch 2:05 p.m. |
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Greensboro jumped in front early with a three-run third inning before Hudson Valley answered in the fourth. With the bases loaded, Aaron Palensky cleared the bases with a double to tie the game at three. Maikol Escotto handed the lead back to the Grasshoppers with a two-RBI single up the middle in the seventh, a lead that they never relinquished. Ben Rice reached base three times, tallying a hit and a pair of walks. Ryan Anderson punched out two in 2.2 scoreless innings in his season debut out of the bullpen.
EARLY GADES GET THE WORM: For the fourth straight season, the Renegades 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. Despite the early start date, 2,887 fans came out for Opening Day which logged the largest April crowd in three years as a High-A affiliate.
A TRUE HOME OPENER: Hudson Valley played its Opening Day game at Heritage Financial Park for the 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 seasons from 2005-19. The Gades had played five consecutive lid lifters on the road, posting a 2-3 record prior to Friday night. With the win on Friday, Hudson Valley snapped their three game season opener losing streak. Their previous win on Opening Night was 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.
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. In his Hudson Valley debut on Friday, the left-handed hitter finished 2-for-4 with a double, home run, two RBI, a walk, and an outfield assist.
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.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 9, 2023
- BlueClaws Battle Back But Fall 4-2 Sunday in Brooklyn - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Cyclones Take Rubber Game from Jersey 4-2 on Sunday - Brooklyn Cyclones
- Hoppers Get First Series Win in Extra Innings - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- HVR Game Notes - April 9, 2023 - Hudson Valley Renegades
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