For the week of May 12-17, Jace Avina of the Somerset Patriots was named Eastern League Player of the Week. After some outstanding plays against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Avina was a clear choice for this recognition. Since joining the New York Yankees’ organization, Avina has been a key player for both the Hudson Valley Renegades and the Somerset Patriots.
Back in the 2021 MLB draft, the Milwaukee Brewers selected Avina in the 14th round. After being drafted, he spent time with the Carolina Mudcats (Single-A affiliate of the Brewers) and the Brewers Blue (Minor League team in the Arizona Complex League). In mid-November of 2023, the Yankees traded Jake Bauers for Avina and outfield prospect Brian Sanchez. Since then, he has bounced between the Patriots and the Renegades, most recently been spending time in Somerset.
Avina consistently plays in the outfield, most commonly seen in center field, and is currently the Yankees’ #19 Prospect. With the versatility to perform in all three outfield spots, his arm strength, speed, and athleticism make him a key asset in the outfield. Avina’s power lies in the strength of his swing, yet it comes with risks. He currently holds a pretty high strikeout rate (55 in 41 games), yet he’s still earned 32 runs and 12 home runs. With 12 home runs, he is currently ranked second in the Eastern League, behind Garrett Martin, and tied for 10th in the whole affiliated Minor League.
It may be hard to believe, but Avina started this season pretty slow. At one point, he even held a .088 batting average. Since then, he’s improved to .255 and a .570 slugging percentage. This up-and-down type of performance makes him an interesting player to watch.
Looking into his future in the Majors, reaching his potential will need to include improving his contact while also continuing to hit bombs, which will definitely lead to a few bumps in the road.
At only 22 years old, Jace Avina is on track for a great professional career. Earning the MiLB Eastern League Player of the Week only five years into his career leaves a lot of hope and potential regarding his future. If he can keep this up, we could potentially see him move up to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders later this season.
Either way, Avina has a lot of work and opportunities ahead of him. Watch him play for the Somerset Patriots who are currently playing a five-game series against the Chesapeake Baysox.
