Yard Goats Broadcaster Jeff Dooley is in Scottsdale for a First Look at the 2025 Yard Goats - VOLUME 1

Dooley’s Diary (Volume 1)

Spring Training 2025

Scottsdale, AZ- Greetings from Salt River Fields, the official Spring Training home of the Colorado Rockies and Hartford Yard Goats. It is hard to believe that the Yard Goats are set to begin their 10^th season in just a short few weeks (Friday, April 4^th) at Dunkin’ Park against the Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots. Spring Training has been going on since mid-February for the Major League players and many of the minor league guys have been here over the past month. The Yard Goats started their spring training game schedule last Tuesday and will play games until next Friday, and they break camp on Saturday, March 29^th. The SF Giants are the only Eastern League affiliate opponent that the Yard Goats play this spring with other contests against the Athletics, Angels, Brewers, Diamondbacks and Cubs farm clubs. It is always so great to hear the crack of the bat and the pop of the mitt on the spring training fields knowing baseball season is about to begin.

WTIC YARD GOATS SPRING TRAINING SEASON PREVIEW RADIO SHOW THIS FRIDAY 6-7PM ON WTIC

Be sure to tune in to our annual Spring Training Yard Goats Season Preview radio show on Newstalk 1080 WTIC this Friday (March 21**^st**) from 6-7 PM. It was also be available on the WTIC website and Audacy app. I will be joined by manager Bobby Meacham as we will see how things are going in camp and some of the potential players that we may see on the Yard Goats Opening Day roster. Colorado Rockies Senior Director of Player Development Chris Forbes will be a guest along with several former Yard Goats who are now in the Major Leagues. Yard Goats General Manager Mike Abramson will talk about the fun things planned for the fans at Dunkin’ Park this season.

Wednesday’s Colorado Rockies Lineup Features 7 former Yard Goats

While the Yard Goats spring training game was on the road in Tempe against the Angels, seven former Yard Goats started for the Colorado Rockies in Wednesday’s Cactus League game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Brenton Doyle, Ezequiel Tovar, Ryan McMahon, Michael Toglia, Sean Bouchard batted one through five with Jordan Beck and Zac Veen taking the final two spots in the lineup.

YARD GOATS COACHING STAFF RETURN FOR 2025

The Colorado Rockies have assigned the same coaching staff which guided the Yard Goats to the playoffs last season. Bobby Meacham, named 2024 Eastern League Manager of the Year, is back along with pitching coach Dan Meyer, hitting coach Zach Osborne and bench coach Luis Lopez. Meacham was really pleased with the way last year’s club worked hard, and even got better at their work as the season went on. “I’m looking forward to that same thing this year with this new group,” Meacham said. “Some of them will be back, but it will be a lot of new faces and hopefully we continue in that trend.”

SPRING TRAINING TRANSACTIONS INCLUDING YARD GOATS

March 19^th Catcher Braxton Fulford reassigned to Minor League camp. March 12^th: INF Adael Amador optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque, C Drew Romo optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. March 11^th: OF Yanquiel Fernández optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque, RHP Tanner Gordon optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque, LHP Carson Palmquist reassigned to Minor League Camp. March 9^th: RHP Gabriel Hughes reassigned to Minor League camp. March 7^th: RHP Juan Mejia optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque, LHP Evan Justice optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. March 5^th: INF Ryan Ritter reassigned to Minor League camp, OF Benny Montgomery reassigned to Minor League camp, OF Sterlin Thompson reassigned to Minor League camp. March 3**^rd: RHP **Justin Lawrence claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. March 2^nd: RHP Tommy Doyle reassigned to Minor League camp, LHP Sean Sullivan reassigned to Minor League camp, C Ronaiker Palma reassigned to Minor League camp INF: Julio Carreras reassigned to Minor League camp.

MLB Opening Day Starters:

Major League Baseball, with the exception of the Dodgers and Cubs who played on Tuesday in the Tokyo Series, will open next Thursday, March 27^th and Friday, March 28^th. Clubs announced their opening day starters which include 22 All-Stars and four opening day starters to make their debut with a new team. Former Yard Goats Kyle Freeland will start for the Rockies against the TB Rays in Florida. Young Pirates star Paul Skenes will start for Pittsburgh and become the fastest top overall pick to take the mound in a season-opener.

POTENTIAL YARD GOATS PLAYER FOR OPENING DAY ROSTER:

The spring I thought it would be cool to profile a potential Yard Goats player that fans may have the opportunity to see play in Hartford this season. The first potential Yard Goats player we will look at is third baseman Kyle Karros.

KYLE KARROS

Much has been made about Rockies prospect Kyle Karros who has been very impressive in big league camp. He has strong baseball roots as his day Eric played 14 years in the Major Leagues, and was 1992 NL Rookie of Year with the LA Dodgers. Kyle is coming off a monster season at High-A Spokane where he was named MVP of the Northwest League and led Spokane to a league championship title.

A LOOK AT KARROS…

KYLE KARROS INF 6-5, 220 Los Angeles, CA

22 YRS 1st season with YG Rockies 5th round pick in 2024 (UCLA)

Awards: ’24 NWL MVP, All-Star, POM (April), POW (6/30)

Prospect: Rockies #21 (MLB.com)

Invited to MLB Spring Training as non-roster player Pronounced: KARE-ohs

*3rd season in MiLB... Spent last season at Spokane and was Northwest League MVP while leading league in batting (.311), RBI (78), OBP (.390), SLG (.485), hits (147), 2B (33), XBH (50), TB (229) and tied 2nd in HR (15)

*Hit by Pitch with bases loaded to win NWL Championship in 2024 (W 3-2 10 innings)

*3rd consecutive Rockies farmhand to win NWL MVP (OF Jordan Beck 2023 & OF Zac Veen 2022)

*Led all High-A hitters in batting, hits, doubles, XBH and total bases

*Named top defensive third baseman in NWL by Baseball America & Led Spokane to the most wins (79) in four decades