One of the many videos that went viral after the remnants of Hurricane Ida caused historic flooding throughout the New York and New Jersey region featured TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, N.J., home of New York Yankees' Double-A affiliate the Somerset Patriots, sitting almost entirely submerged in water:
TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater was underwater following heavy rainfall from Hurricane Ida remnants. The park is home to the minor league baseball Somerset Patriots. pic.twitter.com/gKaRLfcNeB
— njdotcom (@njdotcom) September 2, 2021
Fortunately for the Patriots, they were in the middle of a road trip when their ballpark suffered damage. They remain scheduled to return home for Tuesday's series opener against the Hartford Yard Goats, though, and Patriots co-chairmen Jonathan and Josh Kalafer updated the situation on Friday afternoon:
Statement from Somerset Patriots Co-Chairmen Jonathan and Josh Kalafer regarding the flooding of TD Bank Ballpark and throughout the region by Tropical Storm Ida. pic.twitter.com/vdxPHvfZcV
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 3, 2021
Working our way back pic.twitter.com/O1xAzfLNLe
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 3, 2021
"It’s going to take some time before we’re able to evaluate everything from the field and basement levels and the parking lots," Patriots senior vice president of communications and media relations Marc Russinoff said Thursday, per the MLB website.
He added: "We’ll evaluate to see if it’s safe, that the ballpark is ready and the field is playable. We’ll make the decision with as much information as we have, keeping safety in mind."
The league website didn't say where the Patriots may play home games next week if TD Bank Ballpark can't host teams.
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