The Portland Pickles (summer collegiate; West Coast League) have unveiled the Portland Gherkins, a new summer-collegiate farm team that will play at Walker Stadium beginning in 2020. The Gherkins will play a variety of opponents, including West Coast League members and independent wood bat teams.
“We are so excited to welcome Lil P and the Gherkins into the Pickles family. The Pickles are committed to building a winning organization and this is another step in fortifying our on-field product,” said team owner and president Alan Miller.
The inaugural Gherkins game will be played at Walker Stadium on June 5th, 2020 against the San Francisco Seals. The Gherkins will play all home games at Walker Stadium, with 5+ games against the Pickles. Other opponents include the Corvallis Knights, Highline Bears, and Bend Elks.
The Gherkins have partnered with Dave’s Killer Bread who will be the official presenting partner for the Portland Gherkins. The partnership will include a Dave’s Killer Bread patch on the jerseys, and exclusive bread products sold in the stadium for 2020. Dave’s Killer Bread will also be the official broadcast partner of the Gherkins, with all games being streamed on Facebook Live.
The Gherkins will emulate the Pickles atmosphere during their home games, with the same food and drink options offered. All tickets will be $10, with the choice to reserve tickets before the game through gherkinsbaseball.com.
The Gherkins roster will be made up of local players, including NAIA and community college baseball programs, and play to earn a spot on the Pickles by showcasing their talent to Pickles coaching staff. JJ Mascolo will head the on-field product operations, with the Portland Pickles front office taking care of marketing, ticket sales, and merchandise.
“The Gherkins will provide an opportunity for local college players to compete on the big stage for a great organization,” said JJ Mascolo.
The Pickles also have rolled out a line of merchandise for the Gherkins, along with the team’s own mascot, Lil’ P