Carsten Sabathia III returns to Trenton, ready for bigger role in 2026 season

For Carsten Sabathia III, baseball has always been a family affair, one deeply connected to New Jersey.

When CC Sabathia signed with the New York Yankees before the 2009 season, his family relocated from California to New Jersey. More than a decade later, after a decorated career that ended with his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Sabathia’s legacy remains firmly rooted in the region.

His son, Carsten Sabathia III, is now building his own path in the same state.

Carsten attended Bergen Catholic in New Jersey, where he emerged as one of the state’s top high school prospects. As a senior, he batted .363 with 33 hits, eight doubles, four home runs and 30 RBIs before beginning his collegiate career at Georgia Tech in 2023.

Now, after four years of college baseball, the outfielder returns to the Trenton Thunder of the MLB Draft League for the 2026 season. Sabathia appeared in 19 games for the club last summer in an injury-limited stint, finishing with a .658 OPS. Despite the setbacks, he gained valuable experience in what he described as the most professional environment of his baseball career.

The opportunity carries added significance because of the Sabathia family's connection to the organization. The Thunder served as the Double-A affiliate of the Yankees from 2003 through 2020, spanning the entirety of CC Sabathia's tenure in pinstripes.

After an injury-plagued summer in Trenton, Sabathia entered the 2026 collegiate season focused on staying healthy.

"My biggest thing was getting healthy," Sabathia said. "Making sure that I did everything I could to stay on the field and get the opportunity to showcase everything I can do."

The results followed.

After posting a .704 OPS during his first season at Houston in 2025, Sabathia raised that mark to .885 in 2026 while batting .283 with six home runs and 18 RBIs. The improvement reflected both better health and increased experience after transferring from Georgia Tech ahead of the 2025 season.

"My approach and mindset are to go out and compete with everything I've got," Sabathia said. "The results will fall where they may, but continue to take everything as a learning experience and continue to move forward with it."

The strong season at Houston has positioned Sabathia for a larger role in Trenton.

Unlike last summer, when he arrived as a newcomer, Sabathia returns as the lone player from the Thunder's 2025 roster. That experience allows him to serve as a leader in a clubhouse filled with players making their MLB Draft League debut.

Thunder manager Shawn Chacon believes Sabathia's familiarity with both the league and organization will be an asset.

"I think it's going to be a really good thing, especially because he comes in as a veteran, so to speak," Chacon said. "Carsten looks good, and I'm excited for him."

With a healthy shoulder, a breakout season at Houston and a year of MLB Draft League experience behind him, Sabathia enters 2026 with expectations far different from those he carried a year ago.

For a player carrying one of baseball's most recognizable last names, this summer presents an opportunity to continue building a legacy of his own while helping lead a new-look Thunder club.

And fittingly, he will do it in a place that has been connected to the Sabathia family for nearly two decades.

Jack Dobbins is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jwd5889@psu.edu.