Setting The Standard: Renegades ace Luis Serna's historic year

Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Sept. 10, 2026) – Hudson Valley Renegades pitcher Luis Serna completed a historic season in 2026, recording one of the most-decorated seasons in team history. Serna is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the New York Yankees’ No. 18 prospect.

Serna led the South Atlantic League in four major pitching categories: ERA (4.32), Strikeouts (140), Opponent’s Average (.224), and WHIP (1.19). He is the first Renegades pitcher ever to lead the SAL in strikeouts, and he had the second-most strikeouts of any High-A pitcher in 2026. Additionally, he ranked second in the SAL Innings Pitched (118.2) and Games Started (23), and he was one of seven pitchers in the league to throw a complete game.

Serna set the Renegades’ single-season strikeout record during his final start of the season on Sept. 6 at Wilmington, surpassing the previous standard of 138 by Drew Thorpe in 2023. He became the fourth Renegades pitcher to lead the SAL in ERA in the last five seasons, joining Major Leaguers Blas Castano (2022) and Thorpe, and 2025 SAL Pitcher of the Year Kyle Carr (2025) in doing so.

“He had a career season for himself without a question,” said Renegades pitching coach Ryan Mossman. “He was throwing more strikes with his fastball and improved his slider quite a bit. [Some changes to his arsenal] made him able to better gameplan for lineups and go out there and execute and dominate the way he did this year.”

Serna, 22, was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent on May 15, 2021 from San Luis Colorado, Mexico. He was named a 2022 Rookie-Level All-Star by Baseball America after posting a 1.96 ERA for the FCL Yankees. He was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 6-12, 2026.

MLB Pipeline’s profile of Serna says this of the Renegades 2026 ace: “Serna owns one of the best changeups in the system, an upper-70s offering with plenty of fade and sink that works against both lefties and righties. He sets it up with a 91-95 mph fastball that plays up a bit thanks to some carry and armside run … He has a clean delivery and provides regular strikes, [and] he tunnels his pitches well.”

ABOUT THE HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES

The Hudson Valley Renegades have served as the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees since 2021 and are three-time South Atlantic League North Division Champions. Since 1994, the Renegades have provided the Hudson Valley with affordable, family-friendly entertainment through the game of baseball at Heritage Financial Park, part of the award-winning Dutchess County Parks system. Learn more about hosting your event at the ballpark at www.heritagefinancialpark.com.

Summit Club Memberships for the 2027 season are on sale now and be purchased at www.hvrenegades.com or over the phone by calling (845) 838-0094. Keep up to date on Renegades news by following the team (@HVRenegades) on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

ABOUT DIAMOND BASEBALL HOLDINGS

Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH) was formed in 2021 to support, promote and enhance Minor League Baseball Clubs affiliated with Major League Baseball through professional management, best practices, innovation and investment (DiamondBaseballHoldings.com).