Auburn Doubledays 2016 Recap

There has been a New York-Penn League (NYPL) team located in Auburn, NY since 1958. Hopefully, the Doubledays aren’t going anywhere.

Back in May, The Washington Post reported that an investment group was planning to purchase the Batavia Muckdogs (another NYPL team), move it to Waldorf, Maryland, and become a Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The deal fell through and it didn’t happen. In September, the Nationals announced that their agreement with Auburn was extended through the 2018 season. Good news on both counts for Auburn fans.

The Doubledays are owned by the city of Auburn. In October, it was announced that the city had hired a financial advisor specializing in the sports industry, to help the city sell the team. The estimated value of the team is $6 million (in case you might be interested in becoming a baseball team owner). However, there are no guarantees that a purchaser won't move the team out of Auburn. This month, the Auburn City Council approved a plan to form a city-owned limited liability corporation to run the team.

Although the long term future of the Doubledays is up in the air and they finished the 2016 season 21.5 games out of first place in the Pinckney Division with a 28-47 record, there are some positive things to talk about.  General Manager Mike Voutsinas  was selected as the 2016 NYPL Executive of the Year and was also named co-winner of the NYPL Community & Baseball Service Award. Attendance increased for the third straight year and is up 23% since 2013.

For complete 2016 team statistics, click here.

2016 Record: 28-47

Attendance: 52,811 (37 home dates); 1,427 average per game  

Prospects to watch:

 Nick Banks: Outfielder, selected in the 4th round in 2016; attended Texas A&M; 6’1”, 215; 277/.310/.320 in 60 games with the Doubledays; selected to the NYPL All Star game.

Weston Davis: Pitcher, selected in the 11th round of the 2014 out of high school; 6’3”, 185; played in the Gulf Coast League in 2014; did not play in 2015 (shoulder injury); 2.67 ERA, 0.93 WHIP in 11 starts in 2016; selected to the NYPL All Star game.

Jake Noll: 2B, selected in the 7th round of the 2016 draft; attended Florida Gulf Coast; 6’2”, 195; briefly with the Gulf Coast Nationals (Rookie), then assigned to Doubledays (318/.343/.424 in 18 games); finished season with Hagerstown Suns (SAL)(.259/.310/.388).

Ryan Ripken: 1B, selected in 15th round of 2014 draft; attended Indian River State College; 6’6”, 205; assigned to Gulf Coast League Nationals (Rookie) in 2014 and 2015, began 2016 season with the Hagerstown Suns (SAL) before reassignment to the Doubledays (209/.262/.265 in 58 games). Son of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken.

Tyler Watson: Pitcher, selected in the 34th round of the 2015 draft out of high school; 6'5", 200; played 2015 season with the Gulf Coast Nationals (Rookie); 2.64 ERA, 0.91 WHIP in 9 starts with the Doubledays in 2016; finished season with the Hagerstown Suns (SAL); selected to the NYPL All Star game.

Stadium information: The Doubledays play home games at Leo Pinckney Field at Falcon Park. The "new" Falcon Park opened in June 1995, replacing the original Falcon Park which was built in 1927 on the same site. Falcon Park seats 2,800 fans.

For ticket information click here.

2017 Draft: Affiliate Washington Nationals pick 28th in the June draft.

Opening Day 2017: Home opener vs. Batavia Muckdogs on June 20. Complete 2017 schedule, click here.

Photo Credits: MiLB.com

The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New-York-Penn League. 

Connecticut Tigers 2016 Recap

The Connecticut Tigers finished the 2016 season in second place in the Stedler Division, six games behind the Lowell Spinners and 3.5 games out of in the Wild Card Race. They set a season attendance record with 82,488 fans passing through the turnstiles at Dodd Stadium.

Manager Mike Rabelo became the winningest manager in Connecticut Tigers history, and has 118 wins in three seasons as the Tigers manager. On October 20, 2016, Rabelo was selected as manager of the West Michigan Whitecaps.

For complete 2016 statistics, click here.

2016 Record: 41-35

Attendance: 82,488 over 36 home dates; 2,291 average per game

Prospects to watch: There are several 2016 CT Tigers to follow. Here are a few...

Austin Athmann: catcher, selected in the 14th round in 2016; attended University of Minnesota; 6’2”,210; .276/.338/.393 in 40 games for CT Tigers; selected to NYPL All Star game.

 Cole Bauml: outfielder, selected in the 10th round of the 2015 draft; attended Northern Kentucky; 6’3”, 205; played in the Gulf Coast (Rookie) League in 2015; .270/.328/.379 in 64 games for CT Tigers in 2016. Selected to the 2016 NYPL All Star game.

 

Ryan Castellanos: pitcher, selected in the 25th round of the 2015 draft; attended Nova Southeastern; 6’3”, 215; pitched in 8 games for the CT Tigers in 2015 and also saw action in the Gulf Coast League and Florida State League (Lakeland) in 2015; set team record 8 wins in 14 games for CT Tigers in 2016 and was assigned to the Western Michigan Whitecaps in the Midwest League. 

Kyle Funkhouser: pitcher, selected in the 4th round of the 2016 draft; attended Louisville; 6’2’, 220; 2.65 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 37.1 innings for CT Tigers in 2016. 

 Joey Havrilak: outfielder, selected in the 18th round of the 2015 draft; attended Akron; 6”1”, 195; briefly with the Gulf Coast League Tigers before playing in 52 games (.213/.290/.346) for the CT Tigers in 2015; selected for the 2016 NYPL All-Star and played in 45 games for the CT Tigers (.270/.376/.411) and was assigned to the West Michigan in the Midwest League, playing in 25 games with the Whitecaps (.267/.345/.360). 

Josh Lester: 3rd base; selected in the 13th round of 2015 draft; attended Missouri; 6’3”, 216; played in 6 games for the Gulf Coast Tigers before being assigned to the CT Tigers (49 games, .204/.294/.292) and saw action in 5 games with the West Michigan Whitecaps. Tied team record for doubles (19) in 60 games with CT Tigers (.293/.365/.432) before finishing the 2016 season with the West Michigan Whitecaps. 

   

Blaise Salter: 1st base; selected in the 31st round of the 2015 draft; attended Michigan State; 6’5”, 245; played 36 games (.293/.336/.414) for the Gulf Coast Tigers (Rookie League) in 2015; selected to the 2016 NYPL All-Star game, playing in 60 games (.263/.300/.356) with the CT Tigers. Grandson of Detroit Tigers great, Bill Freehan.

Stadium information: Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium, opened 1995, capacity 6,270. For ticket information click here.

Team History: The Tigers have played in Norwich, Connecticut since 2010, after the Oneonta Tigers relocated. They have played at Dodd Stadium, which was vacated when the  Connecticut Defenders of the AA Eastern League moved to Richmond, Virginia after the 2009 season to become the Flying Squirrels.

2017 Draft: Affiliate Detroit Tigers pick 20th in the June draft.

Opening Day 2017: Open at home vs. Tri-City Valley Cats on June 19. Complete 2017 schedule, click here.

Photo Credits: MiLB.com

The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New-York-Penn League.

Williamsport Crosscutters 2016 Season Recap

The Williamsport Crosscutters finished the 2016 season with a record of 39-36, 10.5 games out of first in the Pinckney Division and 5 games out of the Wild Card race.

The two biggest news items this past season were the Player Development Contract with the Philadelphia Phillies was renewed through the 2018 season and the stadium lease with the City of Williamsport was extended through the 2020 season.

Williamsport, Pennsylvania has a rich baseball history. Organized baseball has been played at Bowman Field (now known as BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field) since 1926.  BB&T Ballpark was voted as the Best Stadium in Short Season Class-A in 2016 by fans on BallparkDigest.com. A road trip to north central Pennsylvania is recommended if you have never attended a game at the old ballpark. I attended several Williamsport Bills games with my family back in the 1980s when the Bills were a Cleveland Indians affiliate in the Double A Eastern League. Mike Hargrove was the manager and Turner Gill played shortstop, before he got back into football as a coach.

Groundbreaking took place in May on a new “Premium Deck” that will accommodate up to 250 people along the first base side of the stadium. The deck will feature rail seating, high top and 4-top tables on two levels along with full bar and food service for fans. Completion is scheduled for the 2017 season. There are also plans for additional renovations that would include converting all bleacher seating in the stadium to new individual seats while also redesigning the current box seating area to be more fan friendly with wider seats, aisles and cup holders.

2016 Season in Review:

Attendance: Totals 60,429 for 35 dates, Average per game 1,727

Record: 39 wins; 36 losses.

There were several bright spots for Williamsport in 2016. Four of the 2016 Crosscutters to follow in the future are:

Adonis Medina was signed as an international free agent by Phillies in May 2014. Pitching in his third year of organized ball, Medina went 5-3, 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP in 64.2 innings over 13 starts. He was selected to the NYPL All-Star game in August.

Signed as an international free agent by Phillies in July 2013, Outfielder Jesus Alastre was a NYPL All-Star game pick last summer. He batted .290/.345/.327 and had 14 stolen bases in 50 games for the Crosscutters.

Pitcher Ranger Suarez was a NYPL All-Star game pick in 2016. A native of Venezuela, Suarez was signed as an international free agent by Phillies on April 1, 2012. He went 6-4 in 73.2 innings and finished the 2016 season with an ERA of 2.81 and a 1.15 WHIP. On July 26, Suarez pitched a seven inning no hitter (on 79 pitches) against the Auburn Doubledays.

First baseman Darick Hall showed good power with 9 HRs and 29 RBIs, while batting .282/.372/.518 in 195 AB (55 hits; 57 SO) over 57 games. The Phillies picked Hall in the 14th round in 2016, out of Dallas Baptist. Bats left and throws right and is 6’4”, 236.

The Crosscutters home opener for the 2017 season is on June 20 against in-state rival State College.

The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New-York-Penn League.

2017 NY-Penn League Schedule Released, Black Bears open on June 19 at home

The New York-Penn League schedule has been released for the 2017 season. The West Virginia Black Bears open the season at Monongalia County Ballpark on Monday, June 19, against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

The Black Bears 2017 schedule includes six Friday night and five Saturday night games at home. The promotion schedule has not been released. There are 213 days until the next Pepperoni Roll Race.

The Black Bears, Class A Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates play a 76 game schedule in the Short Season New York-Penn League, including 38 home games at Monongalia County Ballpark in Granville, West Virginia.

For the full schedule click here

The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New-York-Penn League.