The road to Yankee Stadium now runs through the Hudson Valley.
The New York Yankees announced sweeping changes to their Minor League affiliation structure on Saturday, identifying the Somerset Patriots as their new Double-A farm club and the Hudson Valley Renegades as their Class A Advanced affiliate.
“Restructuring our Minor League affiliations -- especially with the additions of Somerset and Hudson Valley -- gives us greater continuity to streamline and improve the development of our Minor League system,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement. According to the team, the changes resulted from the expiration of the Professional Baseball Agreement between the Majors and Minors and the creation of the Prospect Development Pipeline. The Yankees are reducing their overall number of Minor League teams from 10 to six.
With the elimination of the short-season New York-Penn League, the Yankees considered hosting their high Class A affiliate at Richmond County Bank Ballpark in Staten Island, N.Y., but expressed concerns with the ability to transition the facility into full-season use.

The Hudson Valley Renegades date back to 1994, when the Erie Sailors, affiliates of the Texas Rangers, moved into the brand-new Dutchess Stadium to become the Renegades. They became an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays in 1996, winning New York Penn League Championships in 1999, 2012, and 2017. (The 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.)
The Renegades are now expected to play a longer Class A Minor League schedule, rather than the June – Labor Day weekend schedule of the New York Penn League.