Cashman Field (MiLB.com)
The minor league season is a week away, as the Las Vegas 51s, the Binghamton Mets, the St. Lucie Mets, and the Columbia Fireflies will open their 2016 campaigns on April 7. Leading up to Opening Day, the teams will be holding various events to satisfy the local baseball hunger.
The Mets have left sunny Port St. Lucie, as they head to Las Vegas where they’ll play a two-game exhibition tune-up against the Chicago Cubs at Cashman Field, home of the 51s. Paul Sewald will get the ball on Thursday night, and Steven Matz is slated to pitch Thursday afternoon. Sewald is a Las Vegas native, where he attended Bishop Gorman High School, about 30 minutes from the stadium. Matz made six starts in Las Vegas last year, before his promotion to the major leagues in June. The first regular season game in Las Vegas will be on April 7, when the 51s host the Frezno Grizzlies. Festivities for that game include a first pitch to be thrown by Miss Nevada 2015 Katherine Kelley.
In Binghamton, the Mets will prepare for their 25th year with the annual “Welcome Back B-Mets” dinner, to be held on the eve of the season. The event will feature an autograph signing with the team, team and manager introductions, and of course, dinner all for $25. The B-Mets will also be using the hashtag ‘#silverseason’ on Twitter all season long to celebrate the franchise milestone. On opening night, New York Mets fan favorite and Brooklyn Cyclones bench coach Edgardo Alfonzo will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and all fans in attendance will receive a Silver Season poster.
Spirit Communications Park (@ColaFireflies)
The Columbia Fireflies replaced the Savannah Sand Gnats as the Mets’ South Atlantic League affiliate this offseason, and the team is wasting no time in getting familiar with the community. On April 3, the Fireflies will host a fan fest/open house at Spirit Communications Park, with activities that include tours of the suites and other areas of the stadium and a team autograph session. Fans will also be able to watch their new players while they participate in the first official team workout. The Fireflies’ first home game is scheduled for April 14.
Here are the dimensions to the beautiful new park in South Carolina for the Fireflies: 319′ to left field, 400’ to center field and 330’ to right.
Although they won’t kick off their schedule until June, the Brooklyn Cyclones announced that they will honor 2016 Hall of Fame inductee Mike Piazza with a theme day on Sunday, July 24. The schedule of events include a livestream of the induction speech on the video board, a pre-game catch on the field, and a post-game run around the bases. The team will also wear Piazza era jerseys with the number 31 on each player’s back. All fans in attendance will receive a “31” t-shirt as well.
We here at MMN are excited and ready to ring in the new minor league season, and it sure seems like the teams are too.
