Announcing: Yankee Affiliate Team Will Have Best Name Change Ever

A minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees has announced a temporary rebranding of the team, and all I can say is, "shut up and take my money!"

More and more, minor league baseball teams have been leaning into fun. Fun promotions, fun social media accounts, and even fun ways of bending the rules mid-game (look no further than the viral Savannah Bananas). Luckily, a local team is joining the party.

New York Yankees Affiliate Team Promoting Brilliant Stunt

These "extra" activities are mostly out of necessity; minor league teams need to fill seats to stay in business, and while Major League Baseball has enough rules and bylaws to rival nearly any stuffy institution, there's a bit more leeway in the minors. That's why one team, who plays just about an hour outside of the Hudson Valley, NY, is changing their name.

The Somerset Patriots are Transforming to the Jersey Diners

The announcement originally sounded too good (and too funny) to be true. "Beginning with the 2024 Season", Minor League Baseball announced, "the Somerset Patriots are incredibly excited to honor and celebrate the historic and cultural significance of the diner, as we rebrand for three games as the “Jersey Diners.” Somebody deserves a raise.

Minor League Baseball Honors Diners in New York and New Jersey

The temporary rebrand thankfully (and also perhaps obviously) comes with brand new merch honoring the tristate's most precious commodity: roadside diners. Hats (above) feature an adorable smiling coffee mug, complete with the classic paper diner hat, and jerseys (below) honor the neon signage that has called to hungry travelers for decades.

Get Your Hands on Jersey Diners Baseball Merch

While some minor league promotions are just being silly for silliness' sake, there is a genuine intention behind the stunt with the Somerset Patriots. Anyone who grew up in New York or New Jersey knows just how special diners are to local communities. From Minor League Baseball:

Diners are woven into the fabric of our communities. They are a place to reconnect with old friends, celebrate a school achievement, gather with family in both happy times and sad, or just pass the time when some comfort food and a cup of coffee are what is most needed.

While the team's focus naturally falls on diners in the Garden State, New Yorkers, including Hudson Valley residents, hold these institutions in equally high regard. Check out what may be the smallest diner in New York (with a huge baseball connection) below, and keep scrolling to see the 26 best diners in New York State.