At the start of the 2025 season when the Opening Day roster was released, Thunder fans saw a handful of familiar names representing their favorite baseball team for a second time around. Carsten Sabathia, Jaden Sheffield, and Rowan Masse quickly realized they all had one thing in common when they arrived at Trenton Thunder Ballpark for the first time; their fathers all wore a Thunder uniform. Throughout the opening month of this season, the second-generation Thunder players are creating their own footsteps and leaving their mark on the Capital City.
Carsten Sabathia, son of Hall-of-Fame pitcher C.C. Sabathia, has had no problem finding success during his time with the Thunder. Carsten sent the first homerun of the 2025 season over the left-field wall at 102 miles per hour and 382 feet on June 5th against the Williamsport Crosscutters. Through his first five games at Trenton Thunder Ballpark, Sabathia has registered at least a hit a game including a double, a solo homerun, four walks, and three RBI. Coming out of High School Carsten was selected as an All-American, ranked as the top first basemen in the state of New Jersey, and third overall in the country. Thunder fans can vividly remember CC Sabathia’s rehab stint at Trenton Thunder Ballpark in July of 2014 in front of a crowd of 4,552.
Jaden Sheffield has quickly become a fan favorite in Trenton, donning an eerily similar batting stance and approach as his father did during his playing days. Jaden picked up his first hit and RBI in the same at-bat on Opening Night against Williamsport on June 4th. The Georgetown product came up with another big RBI-single in the eighth inning against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on June 10th to help secure a 5-3 victory for the Thunder on the road. Jaden’s father Gary previously spent time in a Thunder uniform during a rehab stint in May of 2006. Although many Thunder fans missed seeing him in person as the team was on the road against the New Brittain Rock Cats, the five-time Silver Slugger Award winner went 1-3 with an RBI, sending the first pitch he saw back up the middle for a single enroute to a 7-4 Thunder victory.
Rowan Masse, son of former Thunder Manager Bill Masse (2005-06), has been a real bright spot for the Thunder on both sides of the diamond. On Opening Night, Masse was responsible for three of the four Thunder runs scored in a 1-2 effort at the plate, with an RBI and two runs scored. Rowan has flashed the leather defensively this season, primarily at second base. Masse made an outstanding, run saving, diving catch in shallow right-field in the Thunder’s first victory of 2025 against the Frederick Keys on June 7th. Masse laced his first extra-base hit of the season against Mahoning Valley on June 10th, sending a double to right field that plated Sheffield in a 2-3 line at the plate.
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About the Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder will welcome their 11 Millionth fan during the 2025 season with 30 million people living within a 20 mile radius of the ballpark. Your Thunder have won the three major awards that Minor League Baseball teams can win; the Johnson Trophy for the “Nation’s Best Franchise”, the Larry MacPhail Trophy for Outstanding Club Promotion and the Bob Frietas Award for Long-Term Success (given by Baseball America). The team has given back over $9.8 million worth of goods, services, and monetary donations through the Grand Slam We Care Foundation.
