Renegades Game Notes
SAL Hudson Valley Renegades

Renegades Game Notes

Published on May 11, 2025 under South Atlantic League (SAL)
Hudson Valley Renegades News Release


Hudson Valley Renegades (22-9) at Wilmington Blue Rocks (10-22)

RHP Bryce Cunningham (3-1, 2.10 ERA) vs. LHP Jake Bennett (First Start)

| Game 32 | Road Game 18 | Sunday, May 11, 2025 | Frawley Stadium | Wilmington, Del. | First Pitch 1:05 p.m. |

Radio: The Beacon - WBPM 96.5 FM - Beacon, WGHQ 92.5 FM/920 AM Kingston, W232DQ 94.3 FM Peekskill, WBNR 1260 AM - Beacon, WLNA 1420 AM - Peekskill

Internet Radio: www.hvrenegades.com/broadcast & www.renegadesonair.com

TV: MiLB.tv & Bally Live App

Next Theme Game: Rascal's Reading Challenge Night

Day of Week Promotion: Baseball Bingo presented by People USA

CONSISTENCY: The Renegades have moved to 22-9 (.710) in 2025 and secured another series victory this week. Hudson Valley now has the best record in MiLB, tied with the Carolina Mudcats (A, MIL). With six series under their belt in 2025, the Renegades have won five and split one. Hudson Valley has still not lost a series since July 2024, when they dropped four of six to the Wilmington Blue Rocks at Frawley Stadium. Since then, the Renegades have won eight series and split four.

STARTING STRONG: Starting pitching is off to a outstanding start in 2025. Carlos Lagrange, Ben Hess, Josh Grosz, and Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz have allowed just seven total hits and one earned run across 23 innings in the last four games. In 31 games, Hudson Valley starters have 203 punchouts in 157.0 innings, good for a 11.6 K/9 clip. Those 203 strikeouts are 15 more than any team in MiLB including AAA teams, despite AAA clubs playing six more games. The staff has also issued just 55 walks during that stretch, a BB/9 rate of 3.0.

ENEMY TURNED FRIEND: Due to a high pitch count, Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz wasn't able to go deeper into the game on Saturday, but still continued his strong pitching. He allowed just one hit and two unearned runs in four innings, striking out six. The Yankees No. 6 prospect retired eight in a row to finish his outing. Rodriguez-Cruz retired seven in a row to finish his outing. He has allowed two total earned runs across his last 22.2 innings, good for a 0.79 ERA. This season, Rodriguez-Cruz has 41 punchouts, tied for second in the South Atlantic League.

COMING ALIVE: Omar Martinez has been on fire in recent games, hitting four home runs in the span of three games this week. Martinez became the first Renegade to homer in three straight games since Grant Richardson in August 2023. After just one long ball in his first 100 plate appearances this season, Martinez launched four homers in a span of 15 plate appearances. On Thursday, Martinez was 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs, having driven in eight runs in the last two games. During a current 10-game on-base streak, the Renegades catcher is 15-for-37 (.405) at the plate with four home runs, 12 RBIs and a 1.332 OPS. Martinez has boosted his season average from .203 to .276, and has recorded four multi-hit outings in the last seven games.

UNDRAFTED STAR: Parks Harber is off to a tremendous start with the Renegades after being called up from Tampa in late April. He has hit safely in nine of his first 10 High-A games, going 15-for-44 (.341) with eight RBIs and an .873 OPS. On Saturday, Harber was 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs.

THIS GUY IS GROSZ: Josh Grosz had his best performance by far of 2025 on Saturday, throwing 6.2 innings and allowing just one run on three hits. He didn't allow a run until the seventh, and the right-hander matched his season-high with nine strikeouts. He became the fourth Hudson Valley starter already this season to have multiple 9+ punchout performances.

THE HESS TRUCK IS HERE: Ben Hess put together by far his best start as a pro on Thursday night, throwing a career-high 6.2 innings while allowing just one hit and one unearned run. The right-hander took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, retiring 18 of the first 20 batters he faced. His nine strikeouts matched a career-high that he's already set twice in five starts. With 39 punchouts in 25 innings, Hess is currently on a 14.0 K/9 clip.

HIT PARADE: Hudson Valley had another offensive outburst on Thursday, striking for 12 runs in the second consecutive game on 14 hits. Six players recorded multiple knocks. Through 31 games, the Renegades have now put together 12 games of 10 or more hits and eight games of 12 or more hits. They had 12 total games of 12+ hits all last season. They have also scored double-digit runs in five contests already this season, after doing so on 11 occasions in 2024. On Wednesday, Brendan Jones and Omar Martinez had the first four-hit games for a Renegades player since May 2024, while four others had multi-hit outings.

THE 'PEN IS MIGHTIER: Hudson Valley's bullpen looks sharp early this season, recording a 2.32 ERA through 31 games, the best mark in High-A and second-best in MILB. The Renegades only trail Erie (AA, DET) with a 2.16 mark. Renegades relievers are holding opponents to a .187 opposing average, while striking out 131 batters in 112.1 innings. In the last four games, the bullpen has thrown 14 scoreless frames while allowing just six hits. The unit has also allowed the second fewest home runs in MiLB, with just four long balls hit against them in 112.1 frames.

DOMINICAN FLAMETHROWER: Hard-throwing right-hander Carlos Lagrange was outstanding again on Wednesday night at Wilmington. The Yankees No. 17 prospect allowed just one unearned run on two hits in 5.2 innings, striking out nine. Lagrange retired 17 in a row after allowing a hit in the first inning. The right-hander has struck out seven or more batters in each of his first five starts, punching out 41 batters in 25.1 innings (14.7 K/9). Across his last four outings, Lagrange has a 2.01 ERA, allowing just five earned runs in 22.1 frames.

MIDDLE INNINGS: The middle innings have been kind to the Renegades this season. Between the fourth and seventh innings, Hudson Valley is outscoring opponents 87-29.

FAN FAVORITE: Jace Avina has been on a tear at the dish, building a current on-base streak of 22 consecutive games. The on-base streak is the second-longest in the South Atlantic League. Avina is hitting .311 with a .458 on-base percentage during the on-base streak, recording 11 RBIs, 16 walks and an .890 OPS. In the last nine games, Avina has reached base safely 21 times. His .308 average overall this season is eighth in the SAL. Avina has also hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games, which includes six multi-hit outings.

SNAKE EYES: On Saturday, the Renegades had eight doubles, tying a single-game franchise record since 2005. That total was matched on August 14th, 2005 against the New Jersey Cardinals, and in a June 22nd, 2022 matchup against the Wilmington Blue Rocks. The mark is also the most doubles of any team in MiLB this season.

VANDY POWER: Bryce Cunningham, the Yankees 2nd round pick in 2024, continued his stellar start to his professional career on Saturday. The right-hander threw six innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits and one unearned run. Cunningham has now gone at least six innings in four straight starts, and has struck out six or more batters in four out of five outings. Across his last 24 innings pitched, the Vanderbilt product has been charged with only one earned run, good for a 0.38 ERA. He is the only Renegades starter to have three quality starts this season.

IT'S WILMINGTON AGAIN!: Hudson Valley continues their season series this week with the Wilmington Blue Rocks at Frawley Stadium. The two teams will face off 30 times in 2025, after seeing each other for 30 contests last year. Entering this series, the Renegades had won 14 straight games over the Blue Rocks. Hudson Valley swept the first six-game series of 2025 against the Blue Rocks in April. In 2024, the Renegades finished with a 20-10 record. Last August, Hudson Valley earned their first seven-game sweep in franchise history over the Blue Rocks. The SAL North foes will play 18 times in the first half.

STAR-STUDDED: The Renegades currently have six of the top 30 prospects in the New York Yankees system. No. 1 prospect George Lombard Jr. began the season with the Renegades before being called up to Double-A. No. 19 Yankees prospect Kyle Carr is on Hudson Valley's Opening Day roster for the second straight year. The Renegades also welcome the Yankees' top two picks from the 2025 Draft in pitchers Ben Hess and Bryce Cunningham, making their professional debuts. Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, the Yankees No. 7 prospect who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Boston Red Sox, starts his New York career with the Gades'. Carlos Lagrange (Yankees No. 18 prospect) makes his High-A debut. OF Brendan Jones recently joined the Yankees Top 30 (#30).

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 11, 2025


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