Mascots, Minor League fun part of Futures Game
ARLINGTON -- In case you haven’t noticed, Globe Life Field is BIG. It measures 1.8 million square feet. The distance from the playing field to the highest point of the 5.5-acre retractable roof is 278 feet. Each exterior side measures 785 by 815 feet. There isn’t just a “third deck,”
ARLINGTON -- In case you haven’t noticed, Globe Life Field is BIG. It measures 1.8 million square feet. The distance from the playing field to the highest point of the 5.5-acre retractable roof is 278 feet. Each exterior side measures 785 by 815 feet. There isn’t just a “third deck,” the term often used to depict a how big a ballpark is; there are actually seven seating levels.
All of which is to say that Globe Life Field was built for the big leagues. So for the prospects assembled here at the 2024 All-Star Futures Game and the first-ever Future Skills Showcase on Saturday, this exhibition was a tantalizing taste of what life in the Majors will be like.
Remember, though: These are still Minor Leaguers, for now. And even amid all the bigness of the venue, MLB found ways -- for the first time at the Futures Game -- to bring the quirky charm of the MiLB experience to this event.
In Futures past, participants wore the caps and batting helmets of their Major League organizations – again, a glimpse into what their professional paths could hold.
But for this year’s Futures Game, the colors and logos atop players’ heads were those of their current MiLB clubs – a subtle nod to the present on a day when so much focus is on the future and a great way for icons such as Monty, the lovable biscuit logo of the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (as worn by Rays outfield prospect Chandler Simpson) to get their day in the spotlight.
“That was cool,” said Single-A Beloit Sky Carp (Marlins) pitcher Noble Meyer, who earned the win for the National League in a 6-1 victory. “Go Carp!”
The game featured 24 first-round picks (10 just from last year’s Draft) and 38 of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects. Dylan Crews (No. 4, Nationals outfielder) was here. Ethan Salas (No. 6, Padres catcher) was here. Marcelo Mayer (No. 7, Red Sox shortstop was here). Max Clark (No. 10, Tigers outfielder) was here.
📩 CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BEN'S BIZ
But you know who else was here? Otey the Swamp Possum of the Double-A Arkansas Travelers (a Mariners affiliate), that’s who.
Yeah, that’s right. Established starpower to go with the up-and-coming kids.
The presence of Otey and his fellow furry friends -- Deuce (a prairie dog) of the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders, Bull Moose (a one-of-its-kind moose/deer/sheep hybrid), Spike (a train-conducting doggo), Hornsby (a blue bull) of the Double-A Tulsa Drillers and Orion (some kind of alien dog) of the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys -- brought some mascot madness to the proceedings.
Speaking of furry friends, there were dogs here, too. Hot dogs, yes. But also … actual dogs. There was Dizzy, the English cream golden retriever who serves as ballpark dog for the Travelers, and Brooks, a half-lab, half-golden retriever who serves the same role for the RoughRiders.
Dizzy, whose everyday duties are officially listed by his club as “chasing baseballs, getting belly rubs on the concourse, serving as the official greeter of Dickey-Stephens Park and being a good boy,” performed the ceremonial “first fetch” before the Futures Game began, and he and Brooks were both spotlighted on the 58’ x 150’ video board in the middle of the third inning.
Asked his favorite feature of Globe Life Field, Brooks said, “Roof! Roof!”
And what nod to the Minors would be complete without some between-innings amusement? Promotions from the nearby MiLB clubs were brought to the big stage, including Frisco’s “Aww Snap” activation in which two contestants strapped together with a bungee had to reach in opposite directions to collect three baseballs apiece, Round Rock’s “Where’s Spike?” game in which a child used a television camera to scan the crowd attempting to find mascot Spike in the seating bowl (he found him!) and Tulsa’s “Running with the Bull” race in which 50 children sprinted around the arc from the first base side to the third base side while being led by mascot Hornsby.
“I think it was good for Minor League Baseball to just showcase all the other teams everyone plays on, not just the big league clubs,” said Bryce Eldridge, the Giants' No. 2 prospect and NL first baseman . “We're all still fighting to get up there.”
It was all a reminder that the future is enticing. But the present can be pretty fun, too.
Boston Red Sox, Greenville Drive Announce 2025 Field Staff
Greenville, S.C. – The Greenville Drive, High-A South Atlantic League Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, will have a new face at the helm for the first time in six seasons as Liam Carroll, most recently the Single-A Salem Red Sox manager, was tabbed today by the Red Sox to
2025 Hot Stove: Boston Red Sox, Greenville Drive Set to Talk Upcoming Season
Greenville, S.C. – Less than three months remain before the first pitch on the 2025 Greenville Drive season at Fluor Field, the organization’s 20th Anniversary in the Upstate, and the Drive are once again hosting the Hot Stove, giving fans the chance to ask burning questions about the team and
Greenville Baseball Hall of Fame Announces First Class Since 2014
The Greenville Baseball Hall of Fame is pleased to announce its official relaunch with the induction of seven distinguished members into its Class of 2024. The Greenville Baseball Hall of Fame was established in 1989 for the purpose of honoring individuals who have made lasting contributions to the game of
Drive staff take home league’s Groundskeeper and Visiting Clubhouse Manager of the Year Awards
Greenville, S.C. — The South Atlantic League, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, today announced the Greenville Drive’s VP of Operations and Grounds Greg Burgess, and Visiting Clubhouse Manager Brian Masztak as the South Atlantic League’s Head Groundskeeper of the Year and Visiting Clubhouse Manager of the Year, respectively. “We’re
Bryan Gonzalez named South Atlantic League Postseason All-Star
Bryan Gonzalez was named a South Atlantic League Postseason All-Star by Major/Minor League Baseball on Thursday, the lone Drive representative to earn postseason honors, capping off a record-breaking year for the outfielder-turned-first baseman, and regular designated hitter in the Drive lineup. Gonzalez earned the addition to the end-of-season all-star team
Drive clip Dash 7-4 in penultimate game of the season
Nelly Taylor powered a two-run homer in third inning, and Yordanny Monegro spun seven strikeouts in five innings of work in his last start of the season as the Greenville Drive (36-29, 62-69) downed the Winston-Salem Dash (29-36, 60-71), 7-4 Saturday at Fluor Field. Monegro, who had not given up
Drive walk-off Dash 6-5 with two runs in the bottom of the ninth
Bryan Gonzalez with speed to burn, knocked a chopping grounder up the third base line and beat the throw to first in the bottom of the ninth inning with two away with Zach Ehrhard on third, capping off a two-run bottom of the ninth comeback for the Greenville Drive; snapping
Drive relinquish lead late to fall 4-3 to Dash
The Greenville Drive (34-29, 60-69) relinquished a 3-1 lead in the seventh and gave up the go-ahead run in the ninth with two away to fall 4-3 to the Winston-Salem Dash (29-34, 60-69); marking the third consecutive loss for the Drive and their eighth loss in the last 10 games.
Drive blanked again in 1-0 loss to Dash
The Greenville Drive (34-28, 60-68) were blanked for the second night in a row by the Winston-Salem Dash (28-34, 59-69), 1-0 on a run scored in the top of the first as the Drive picked up three hits total on the night. The loss marked the fourth time in 10
Drive fall 4-0 to Dash; officially eliminated from playoff contention
The Greenville Drive (34-27, 60-67) fell 4-0 to the Winston-Salem Dash (27-34, 58-69) Tuesday night at Fluor Field, officially ending their playoff and title-defense hopes, as the Dash chipped in three runs in the fifth and one in the eighth to carry the night. The loss marked the fourth time
Drive down Hot Rods 6-1; keep playoff hopes alive
The Drive offense finally showed up for its stellar pitching Sunday, after five nights of being stifled by the Hot Rods. Greenville’s (34-26, 60-66) Yordanny Monegro spun another dominating performance on the mound holding Bowling Green (38-19, 74-49) to one run on two hits with a pair of walks and
Drive held to one hit in 7-0 blanking by Hot Rods
The Greenville Drive’s (33-25, 59-65) Miguel Ugueto knocked a single in the second inning accounting for the Drive’s lone hit on the night as the Bowling Green Hot Rods (36-18, 73-48) blanked the Drive 7-0; the second time the Drive were shutout this week. The loss dropped Greenville to 5.5
Drive allow four in the eighth, fall 6-2 to Hot Rods
Nelly Taylor’s eighth inning homer knotted the game at 2-2 Saturday night, the second time this series the Drive have been able to erase a Hot Rods lead. But Taylor’s heroics were for naught as Bowling Green (38-18, 74-48) downed Greenville (33-26, 59-66) 6-2 with a four-run barrage in the
Drive relinquish three-run lead to fall 6-4
The Greenville Drive (33-24, 59-64) dropped their third-straight game, relinquishing a three-run lead in the sixth inning as the Bowling Green Hot Rods (36-18, 72-48) poured in five runs en route to a 6-4 victory Thursday night at Bowling Green Ballpark. The loss dropped the Drive to 4.5 games back
Drive blanked by Hot Rods, 2-0 in pitcher’s duel
As the game wore on, the more it seemed the Greenville Drive (33-23, 59-63) had a chance to swipe a game from the division-leading Bowling Green Hot Rods (35-18, 71-4 ), but the moment never materialized in an outright pitcher’s duel. The Drive were blanked by the Hot Rods Wednesday
Drive relinquish five in the sixth to fall 9-5 to Hot Rods
The Bowling Green Hot Rods’ (34-18, 70-48) five-run outburst in the sixth inning downed the Greenville Drive (33-22, 59-62) 9-4 in Tuesday’s series opener at Bowling Green Ballpark, dropping the Drive to 2.5 games out of the final playoff spot in the South Atlantic League South Division. Though Bowling Green
Drive take Sunday finale with 3-2 victory over Emperors
Hudson White, Juan Chacon, and Andy Lugo chipped in an RBI a piece in the fourth, and the Greenville Drive (33-21, 59-61) bullpen allowed one hit through the final four innings to down the Rome Emperors (21-31, 57-59) 3-2 on Sunday at Fluor Field marking the Drive’s fourth win in
Drive blank Emperors 2-0 to secure back-to-back victories
The Greenville Drive (31-21, 57-61) pitching trio of Tyler Uberstine, Hayden Mullins, and Max Carlson held the Rome Emperors (21-29, 57-57) to two hits on the night as Mikey Romero and Bryan Gonzalez chipped in RBIs to blank the Emperors 2-0 on Friday night at Fluor Field. Uberstine took the
Drive’s explosive inning carries 7-3 victory over Emperors
The Greenville Drive (32-21, 58-61) used a six-run first inning on the strength of a three-run double from Ronald Rosario and Dalton Rogers struck out a season-high nine in his start as the Drive downed the Rome Emperors (21-30, 57-58) 7-3 on Ranas de Rio night at Fluor Field. Greenville
Drive erase four-run deficit to down Emperors, 6-4
The Greenville Drive (30-21, 56-61) erased a four-run deficit with five unanswered runs across the fifth and sixth innings, six unanswered total, picking up a crucial victory in the playoff hunt, downing the Rome Emperors (21-28, 57-56) 6-4 Thursday night at Fluor Field. The victory moved the Drive to 2.5
Drive no-hit by Emperors in 2-1 loss
The Rome Emperors (21-27, 57-55) pitching quartet of Mitch Farris, Shay Schanaman, Samuel Strickland, and Ryan Bourassa combined to no-hit the Greenville Drive (29-21, 55-61) Wednesday night at Fluor Field, a month and ten days after the Drive no-hit the Emperors at AdventHealth Stadium back on July 11th. Ironically, a
Drive outlast Emperors 4-3 in series-opening victory
Yordanny Monegro tossed five scoreless innings, Ronald Rosario and Bryan Gonzalez knocked homers, and Mikey Romero chipped in the go-ahead RBI-double to boost the Greenville Drive (29-20, 55-60) to a 4-3 win over the Rome Emperors (20-26, 56-55) Tuesday on Green Day at Fluor Field. Monegro struck out eight in
Blake Wehunt takes home SAL Pitcher of the Week honors
Blake Wehunt, the tall and hard-throwing righty, was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for his dominating start in Aberdeen, MD last week, Minor League Baseball announced today, marking the third Drive pitcher to take home the league's weekly honors this season; a season record for the
Drive fall 6-3 to Aberdeen in series finale; take overall series
The Greenville Drive (28-20, 54-60) faltered 6-3 to the Aberdeen IronBirds (24-24, 58-56) Sunday at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium and their streak of four low-scoring wins was snapped at four as the IronBirds offense came to life. The week in Aberdeen was bookended by IronBirds’ victories, though the Drive
Drive hold on for 5-3 win as Romero’s defensive play saves victory
Mikey Romero, who has delivered a walk-off hit this season and delivered timely offense in key spots and received Player of the Month recognition for it, reminded everyone he can still field too as the Greenville Drive hung on to down the Aberdeen IronBirds 5-3 Saturday. With the bases loaded