With the opening of MGM Park still up in the air, the Biloxi Shuckers (Class AA: Southern League) will begin the 2015 on the road and at Huntsville’s Joe Davis Stadium until an ballpark opening is scheduled in early June.
In fact, the Shuckers are shifting every April and May series to other ballparks, including a “home” series in Pearl and at least 15 games at Joe Davis Stadium. The current estimated date for an MGM Park opening: June 6, but that’s certainly not written in stone.
Here’s the rundown of the schedule changes:
- The Shuckers’ scheduled home opening series against Jacksonville, April 20-24, against the Suns will be moved from Biloxi to Jacksonville, Florida with the Shuckers serving as the home team.
- After a five-game series at Pensacola, April 25-29 the Shuckers will head to Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama and host a five-game series against the Mobile BayBears, April 30-May 4.
- After an off-day on May 5, the Shuckers will head to Pearl, Mississippi to take on the Mississippi Braves for a five-game series, May 6-10 at Trustmark Park. The Shuckers will function as the home team for that historic series between the two professional baseball teams in the state of Mississippi. The M-Braves are offering free admission to any Biloxi fan wearing Shuckers merchandise.
“We’re extremely excited that the Mississippi Braves have allowed us to play these historic games in the state of Mississippi,” said Biloxi Shuckers GM Buck Rogers. “We are thrilled that Shuckers fans that wear our gear will be able to get in free and hope to create a home field environment for us.
“Although we don’t have an occupancy date for MGM Park at this time, we will give the Southern League a seven-day notice to shift these home games to MGM Park once that date becomes available,” he added.
Biloxi travels to Jackson, Tennessee for a five-game set with the Generals and then returns to Huntsville for a 10-game homestand against Jacksonville, May 16-19, featuring a doubleheader on Monday, May 18, with first pitch at 4:40 p.m. After an off-day on May 20, the Shuckers welcome the Birmingham Barons to Joe Davis Stadium, May 21-25.
There is an interesting side effect to this schedule change: with the Shuckers basically beginning the first two months on the road, the Jacksonville Suns will begin the season with a 20-game homestand, along with an exhibition against the Miami Marlins.
RELATED STORIES: No decision yet on new Biloxi ballpark opening; New for 2015: Biloxi Shuckers; Biloxi ballpark construction hits roadbump; Signs point to split Huntsville/Biloxi season for Stars, Young: Stars may spend part of 2015 in Huntsville; Biloxi ballpark construction finally underway; Local investors looking at bringing new SL team to Huntsville; Disaster in Biloxi: New ballpark may not be ready until August 2015; Biloxi ballpark bids busting budget; After almost 60K votes, Biloxi name-the-team contest ends; Biloxi “slammed” with name-the-team votes; Name-the-team finalists unveiled for Biloxi team; Biloxi scraps ballpark construction plan; seeks new project manager; Name-the-team contest underway in Biloxi; Rogers named GM