Patriots Notebook: Gladney and McGinnis Stay Hot as Somerset Welcomes Reading

Bridgewater, New Jersey – On the heels of debuting their Semiquincentennials alternate identity to celebrate America’s 250th birthday over the weekend, the Patriots (5-7) continue their season-long 12-game homestand at TD Bank Ballpark by welcoming in the Reading Fightin Phils (7-5) on Tuesday night after splitting a six-game affair with Hartford last week. Somerset and Reading tangle for the final time this season after splitting the first 12 meetings of the season up to this point.

Here are some news and notes surrounding the Patriots heading into action this week.

Since the start of May, Kyle Carr (@Yankees No. 11 Prospect) DOMINATED Double-A competition.

🔹 2.66 ERA, 5-2 record in 9 starts
🔹 64 K - 2nd in Eastern League, 6th in AA
🔹 4 Quality Starts - 2nd in EL, T-5th in AA pic.twitter.com/vkhDnzR8vK

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) July 3, 2026

Riding the Rails: The Yankees announced on Friday afternoon that No. 11 prospect Kyle Carr was being promoted to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre for the first time in his professional career. The ascending southpaw made three starts for Somerset at the tail end of last season before returning to Bridgewater this spring to continue his development in the upper levels.

The 2023 third-round draft selection got off to a rocky start out of the gate, pitching to a 9.56 ERA in April. But after homing in his command, Carr found more consistent success over his final nine starts for Somerset. In five May starts, Carr pitched to a 1.55 ERA while fanning 36 batters and walking just eight across 29 innings. Before his promotion Carr tallied 13 starts for Somerset, going 6-5 with a 4.32 ERA and a team-high 83 punchouts on the season.

COOP! Congratulations to Somerset Patriots manager James Cooper (@CoachCoop9) on being named to the coaching staff for the @MLB All-Star Futures Game in Philadelphia!🎖️

Tune in on Sunday, July 12th at 12 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock!📺 pic.twitter.com/vDo66BkhH1

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) July 1, 2026

Coop of the Future: Patriots skipper James Cooper learned last week that he will be heading to Philadelphia this coming weekend to serve as the third base coach for the American League Squad in the prestigious MLB All-Star Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday.

Cooper, who is in his first season as manager of Somerset, has guided a Patriots club to a 42-39 overall mark after leading High-A Hudson Valley to a franchise record 79 wins in 2025.

“I’m glad I was recommended for it,” Cooper said after learning of the news. “It’s not an individual award. The players that I’ve had the chance to work with on past teams helped us win games and made this recognition possible. I’m excited to represent the Yankees and my family.”

DJ Gladney DESTROYS his 14th HR of the season!

419 feet 📏
110 mph 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rwzTx1BFIW

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) July 2, 2026

Go, DJ: Outfielder DJ Gladney continues to play a vital role in the heart of the Somerset lineup. He appears to be heating up once again as he enters action Tuesday riding a six-game hitting streak after recording a hit in all six contests against Hartford last week. The 24-year-old Chicago-native went 8-for-21 with a HR, 4 XBH and 4 RBI in the series and is carrying a career-high .825 OPS with 14 homers in his first season in the Yankees organization.

“I feel really good,” Gladney said. I had a good offseason - in previous years I learned a lot from a lot of good people, but I feel like now I am just implementing everything that I have learned over the years into one single season.”

McGinnis Heating Up: The Patriots lineup has lost significant firepower since the start of the season, with promotions to George Lombard Jr., Garrett Martin, Tyler Hardman and Marco Luciano along the way. Infielder Connor McGinnis has emerged as a productive presence in the order as his opportunities have grown.

The 23-year-old Houston product was selected in the 10th round of last summer’s draft and is slashing .258/.343/.355 with two homers and 15 RBI in 38 games for Somerset. Over his last 11 games, McGinnis has tallied three multi-hit efforts while slashing .364/.432/.485 over that stretch.

Congratulations to former Somerset Patriots Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice on their first @MLB All-Star Game selections⭐️ pic.twitter.com/nMIsGrCVNq

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) July 5, 2026

Hey Now, You’re an All-Star: The name of the game in Somerset is development and nobody has done that better than the Patriots since they joined the ranks of affiliated baseball back in 2021. On Saturday, former Somerset standouts Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice were named to their first MLB All-Star games – a true win for the entire organization’s player development staff.

Schlittler, who has ascended from a little-known prospect to frontline Cy Young contender, made 17 appearances for the Patriots between the 2024 and 2025 campaigns. He posted a 3.16 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 85.1 IP with Somerset.

Rice played in 98 games for Somerset between the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The first baseman slashed .295/.392/.582 with 28 HR and 74 RBI in 439 plate appearances for the team.

Knowing the Opponent: After finishing the first half at 30-39 overall, Reading has opened the second half with a 7-5 record. Splitting a six-game series with New Hampshire last week, the Fightin Phils enter play Tuesday a game back of first place Portland while tied with the Fisher Cats for second place in the division.

Phillies top-pitching prospect Gage Wood has fanned 35 batters in 25.2 IP for Reading since getting promoted to Double-A back on May 18. Wood was the 26th overall pick out of Arkansas in last summer’s draft and quickly made the jump to the upper levels in his first professional season. The 22-year-old righty was selected to the National League squad to represent the Phillies in this weekend's Futures Game.

Probable Pitchers

Tuesday 7/7: RHP Gage Wood (0-1, 3.86 ERA) vs. LHP Xavier Rivas (4-3, 4.82 ERA)

Wednesday 7/8: RHP Kyle Brnovich (1-7, 6.44 ERA) vs. RHP Jack Cebert (2-3, 5.98 ERA)

Thursday 7/9: RHP Luke Russo (7-4, 4.63 ERA) vs. RHP Chase Hampton (0-1, 6.32 ERA)

Friday 7/10: RHP Braydon Tucker (6-5, 2.89 ERA) vs. RHP Ben Hess (1-0, 4.75 ERA)

Saturday 7/11: LHP Adam Seminaris (7-5, 2.62 ERA) vs. RHP Cade Smith (5-5, 4.93 ERA)

Sunday 7/12: TBD vs. LHP Xavier Rivas (4-3, 4.82 ERA)

Matt Kardos | SomersetPatriots.com Senior Writer

Matt Kardos has covered the Yankees minor league system for over a decade and will spend his 14th season on the beat covering the Patriots for SomersetPatriots.com. Throughout his career, Matt has contributed to MLB.com, YES Network and Pinstriped Prospects. When he’s not at the ballpark, Matt enjoys traveling with his wife Kimberly, watching Jets football and collecting sports cards.