Upgrades to McKechnie Field, spring home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and regular-season home of the Bradenton Marauders (High Class A; Florida State League), are set for next season. The upgrades include the addition of a wraparound concourse, outfield tiki bar, upgraded seating and more. (You can see the full details at our sister site, Spring […]
Tag Archives | 2013
Japanese players: We’re ready to skip WBC
Japanese professional baseball players are threatening to boycott the 2013 World Baseball Classic because of a revenue deal giving two-thirds of the proceeds to MLB and players union, and only 13 percent to them. The split is unfair, they say, because the event is popular in Asia and derives a lot of the $18 million […]
Twins waiting for word on 2014 All-Star Game
With the 2012 All-Star Game in the books and the 2013 game slated for Citi Field, the fate of the 2014 match — eyed by the Minnesota Twins for Target Field — will be a continuing font of discussion. We won’t see MLB Commissioner Bud Selig make a decision about 2014 for several months, though […]
Roger Dean Stadium to host WBC qualifier
Roger Dean Stadium will be one of four venues to host the newly created qualification rounds for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, scheduled for five days beginning September 19. Israel, France, South Africa and Spain will compete for the chance to play in the 2013 World Baseball Classic in March. For the first time ever, […]
It’s official: Yakima Bears to Hillsboro in 2013
It’s official: the Yakima Bears (short season A; Northwest League) are moving to a new Hillsboro (Ore.) ballpark next year, after the two sides agreed on a lease today. It’s not a surprise: the two sides had agreed on a term sheet earlier, so there were only some small details to work out before the […]
Dragons land 2013 Midwest League All-Star Game
The Dayton Dragons are hosting the 2013 Midwest League All-Star Game, when the best of the Low Class A circuit will gather at Fifth Third Field. The announcement was made jointly today by the Dayton Dragons and Midwest League President George Spelius. It will be the first time the Dragons have hosted the game since […]
Ports land WCC tourney
Nice catch: the Stockton Ports (High Class A; California League) are hosting the 2013 West Coast Conference Baseball Championship at Banner Island Ballpark. The 2013 WCC Championship is set to take place at the ballpark from May 23-25, which will mark the first year the conference has gone to a four-team, neutral-site championship. “This is a […]
Atlantic City exhibition games scrapped; still in running for 2013 pro ball
A plan for independent Atlantic League exhibition games at Surf Stadium has been scrapped due to ballpark issues, but Atlantic City remains in the running to land a 2013 team. Former Surf manager Mario Perrucci pulled the plug on the Labor Day exhibition games, saying he wasn’t confident ballpark improvements would be completed in time to see a […]
Gopher ballpark vote set for Thursday
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents is expected to approve a $7.134 million replacement for Siebert Field at Thursday’s meeting. The project has already passed muster by the regents’ facilities committee, and work of a sort has already begun: with one support for the center-field batters eye literally rotting away and falling down, University […]
Hillsboro approves offer sheet with Yakima Bears
The Yakima Bears (short season A; Northwest League) will be relocating to Hillsboro (OR), as the city approved an offer sheet that calls for a new $15.2-million ballpark for the 2013 season. Hillsboro and Milwaukie had been engaged in a race of sorts to bring affiliated baseball back to the greater Portland area. The Bears […]
Indians, Pirates extend PDC through 2014
The Indianapolis Indians (Class AAA; International League) and the Pittsburgh Pirates extended their Player Development Contract (PDC) through the 2014 season. “We are very pleased to be able to extend our relationship with the Indians organization and the City of Indianapolis,” said Pittsburgh Pirates Director of Minor League Operations Larry Broadway. “This is truly a […]
New Loudoun County ballpark delayed
A new ballpark for the Loudoun Hounds (independent; Atlantic League) is on hold while issues related to access are being resolved, with 2014 now eyed as an opening date. Here’s the statement from the Hounds’ Bob Farren via the team’s Website: With the fact that construction of the road system cannot begin for several more […]
Target Field lands Big Ten baseball tourney
Target Field, home of the MInnesota Twins, will host the 2013 Big Ten baseball tournament, as the event moves out of Columbus for the first time since 2008. It’s also the first time the event will be played at a Major League Baseball facility. In most of the tournament’s history it was played at the […]