Trio of Patriots Named to Eastern League All-Stars List
A trio of stars in the Yankees system have been named to the Double-A Eastern League All-Stars. Outfielder Jasson Dominguez, and pitcher’s Clayton Beeter and Richard Fitts received the honor on Tuesday afternoon.
The Martian Has Landed:
Dominguez, who starred on the Patriots postseason run to the 2022 Eastern League Championship a year ago, opened the year in Double-A. Before getting called up to Triple-A Scranton in August, Dominguez was among the Eastern League leaders in several offensive categories. He was first in runs (83) and walks (77); second in hits (108), stolen bases (37); fourth in RBI (66), total bases (176), and, eighth in on base percentage (.367).
The Yankees number 2 prospect spent just nine games at Triple-A before making his MLB debut for the Yankees on September 1.
At the Major League level, Dominguez hit four home runs for the Yankees before a UCL injury ended his season prematurely.
GIVING THEM “FITTS’
Richard Fitts was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year after posting an 11-5 record, 3.48 ERA and 163 strikeouts over 152.2 innings of work. He started 27 games in Somerset.
Fitts set or matched his career-high in strikeouts four times this season, culminating with a career-high 11 in his final start of the season on September 15 at New Hampshire. He finished atop the Eastern League in strikeouts, innings pitched and wins.
Better with Beeter
Clayton Beeter entered the 2023 season still looking for his first professional victory. He was acquired by the Yankees in a deadline deal in 2022 with the LA Dodgers in the Joey Gallo deal. Finally on April 14 he earned his first professional win in a six inning masterpiece against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.
That win was the first of six victories in a Patriots uniform, as he finished with a 2.08 ERA in 60.2 innings before getting called up to Triple-A Scranton. In many ways, while Richard Fitts was this teams’ ace all year, Beeter was easily the ace of the staff out of the gate.
Moreover, Beeter recorded 76 strikeouts in Double-A this year, and ended his time in Somerset on a four-game winning streak. In fact, over his final five starts, Beeter went 4-0 with a 0.33 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 27 innings of work.
The Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for June 6-11, Beeter represented the Yankees in the 2023 MLB All-Star Futures Game on July 8 with two-thirds scoreless innings, and a strikeout at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
