Hennessey Beats Cancer, Set for 2024 Return with the Drillers
December is less than half completed, but it has already been an eventful month for Scott Hennessey. First, he has learned that he has won the biggest challenge of his life when doctors recently told him that he was cancer free. Hennessey was diagnosed with Stage 3, squamous cell carcinoma
December is less than half completed, but it has already been an eventful month for Scott Hennessey. First, he has learned that he has won the biggest challenge of his life when doctors recently told him that he was cancer free.
Hennessey was diagnosed with Stage 3, squamous cell carcinoma cancer in June of this year, and he took a leave of absence from the dugout to fight the disease. After months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, he has received word that he is now cancer free.
On the heels of that good news, it has now been announced by the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tulsa Drillers that he will return as manager of the Drillers for the 2024 baseball season. It will mark his seventh season with the Drillers.
“I am so excited and appreciative to be back for the upcoming season,” said Hennessey. “I am very thankful to the Los Angeles Dodgers for their unbelievable support during my treatment. I also appreciate the Drillers organization and all the fans who reached out to me with phone calls, texts and notes of encouragement and support. I will never forget it.”
Prior to this past year, Hennessey had recorded winning records in five straight seasons, tying a franchise record. His Tulsa teams have qualified for the postseason in four of his six seasons.
Since taking over 100 games into the 2017 campaign, Hennessey has compiled 392 total victories, the second-most for any manager in Tulsa professional baseball history and behind only Bobby Jones who accumulated 496 wins.
At ONEOK Field, he has a won nearly 60% of his games, compiling a 210-149 career regular season home record.
Hennessey’s 392 total wins include 16 playoff victories, placing him second all-time among Tulsa managers. His postseason wins are only exceeded by Al Vincent who won 23 playoff games with Tulsa from 1948-1951.
Hennessey has also helped develop several prospects that have advanced to play in the majors. Players currently with the Dodgers who have played under Hennessey in Tulsa include Tony Gonsolin, James Outman, Emmet Sheehan, Bobby Miller, Will Smith, Dustin May and Gavin Lux.
“It has already been a great off season for the Drillers and now it is like Christmas has come early,” said team president Mike Melega. “We get the great news on Henny’s health, and now we get to announce that he will be returning for his seventh year as our manager. We are thrilled and cannot wait for the start of the 2024 season.”
The Drillers and Hennessey will begin the 2024 regular season on Friday, April 5 at Northwest Arkansas. The home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9 when Tulsa will host Arkansas at ONEOK Field.
Season ticket memberships are currently on sale at TulsaDrillers.com or by calling 918-744-5901.
Drillers Back Home for Six Games, April 29-May 4
The Tulsa Drillers will be home to end the month of April and to begin the month of May. The Drillers will host the Arkansas Travelers (Seattle Mariners) at ONEOK Field for a six-game series that will begin on Tuesday, April 29 and will run for six straight days, through
Drillers End Streaks with 7-2 Victory
Springdale, AR – The Tulsa Drillers snapped two different losing streaks by earning a 7-2 win over Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday night at Arvest Ballpark. Tulsa entered game two of the six-game series winless in four matchups this year with the Naturals while also carrying a current three-game losing streak.
Drillers Lose in Clayton Kershaw Rehab Appearance
Springdale, AR – Six years ago, on an April night, future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw took the mound for the Tulsa Drillers before an overflow crowd at ONEOK Field. Tuesday night, Kershaw was back with the Drillers making another April, injury-rehabilitation start. This time, the appearance came on the
Drillers Drop Two to the Wind Surge at Rainy ONEOK Field
Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Drillers and Wichita Wind Surge were originally scheduled to play a split doubleheader Saturday afternoon and evening at ONEOK Field, but rain changed those plans. The rain eventually stopped long enough for the two teams to play most of a traditional doubleheader before rain did
Drillers Walk Off with Fourth Straight Win
Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Drillers used two big swings of the bat on Friday night to earn their fourth straight win over the Wichita Wind Surge at ONEOK Field. The Drillers trailed 6-2 after five innings, but thanks to a grand slam from Jose Ramos and Yeiner Fernandez’s game-winning
Drillers Up Win Streak to Three Straight Games
Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Drillers extended their season-best winning streak to three straight games with a win over the Wichita Wind Surge Thursday night. The Drillers never trailed following Aaron Bracho’s two-run homer in the fourth inning and held off the Wind Surge for a 5-3 victory at ONEOK
Drillers Need 14 Innings to Claim Second Straight Win
Tulsa, OK – Wednesday’s early morning start between the Tulsa Drillers and Wichita Wind Surge turned into a 14-inning marathon at ONEOK Field. The game entered the final inning of regulation tied at 1-1, and both teams rallied for two runs each to send the game into extra innings tied
Drillers Hosting Wichita through Saturday in the 2025 Propeller Series
The Tulsa Drillers second home stand of the 2025 season will mark a return of the Propeller Series. The Drillers will host the Wichita Wind Surge at ONEOK Field for a six-game series that will be played over five days from Tuesday, April 15 through Saturday, April 19. It will
Drillers Shut Out by Arkansas in Series Finale
North Little Rock, AR – A familiar face was the demise of the Tulsa Drillers in the series finale on Sunday afternoon. Arkansas Travelers third baseman Ben Ramirez, who played for the Drillers in the 2020 Texas Collegiate League while attending the University of Southern California, accounted for all the
Drillers get their Second Win with their Second Shutout
Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Drillers picked up their second win of the season Tuesday night, and their first this season at ONEOK Field. A strong outing from Tulsa pitchers was backed by two-hit games from both Chris Newell and John Rhodes, leading to a 3-0 win for the Drillers
Travelers Drop Drillers 5-3
North Little Rock, AR - Offensive production was again limited Saturday night for the Tulsa Drillers in their series in Arkansas. The Drillers were held to just two runs and fell to the Travelers 5-3 at Dickey-Stephens Park. It was the fourth straight loss for the Drillers who are just
Travs Defeat Drillers with Walk-Off Walk
North Little Rock, AR- The Tulsa Drillers difficult road trip continued on Friday night at Dickey-Stephens Park. After Tulsa got a big, game-tying home run in the ninth inning, it took the Drillers and Arkansas Travelers three extra innings to decide a winner. Neither team could score their placed runners
Four-Run Ninth Hands Drillers Tough Loss
North Little Rock, AR – For eight innings, Thursday night’s game could not have gone better for the Tulsa Drillers. They received a dominant outing from starting pitcher Jackson Ferris and led 3-0 going into the ninth inning. That’s when things unraveled as the Travelers rallied with four runs in
Drillers Beaten by Travelers in Early Start
North Little Rock, AR – A little over 12 hours after recording their first win of the season, the Tulsa Drillers were back in action Wednesday morning in North Little Rock against the Arkansas Travelers. Tulsa pitchers were unable to duplicate Tuesday night’s zero walk, four-hit shutout as the Travelers
Pitching Leads Drillers to Season’s First Win
North Little Rock, AR – Pitching controlled Tuesday’s series opener between the Tulsa Drillers and Arkansas Travelers. The two teams combined for just eight hits, but the Drillers scraped the game’s only run across and saw magnificent pitching to earn the 1-0 shutout win at Dickey-Stephens Park. The win was
Drillers Fall to Naturals Again
Tulsa, OK – A difficult, season-opening home stand for the Tulsa Drillers came to an end Sunday afternoon at chilly ONEOK Field with the Drillers dropping their third straight game to Northwest Arkansas in a 13-3 defeat. Tulsa lost all three games to the Naturals despite holding leads in two
Drillers Hoodie Giveaway and Osage Tribal Night Rescheduled
Due to the cold and rainy weather, the Hoodie Giveaway and Osage Tribal Night promotions from the first home stand was rescheduled for the afternoon game on Saturday, April 19. Fans who had tickets for the Saturday, April 5 game, whether used or not, can exchange them for any other
A&M Classic Returning to ONEOK Field on April 14
The A&M Classic baseball game is returning to ONEOK Field for a second straight year. The game will again have Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College facing off against Connors State College on Monday, April 14 in downtown Tulsa. This year’s Classic is being presented by the Cherokee Nation and first pitch
Drillers Drop Second Straight to the Naturals
Tulsa, OK – Tough weather conditions were again present Saturday night at ONEOK Field for the second game of the regular season for the Tulsa Drillers. With game time temperature at 45 degrees and a strong north wind blowing out to centerfield, Northwest Arkansas produced a four-run inning and a
Big, Late Rally Drops Drillers in 2025 Opener
Tulsa, OK – Home openers at ONEOK Field have not always gone well for the Tulsa Drillers, and Friday’s 2025 opener can be added to the list. The Drillers carried an 11-2 lead into the eighth inning, but Northwest Arkansas scored a near-record ten runs in the top of the
Drillers Announce 2025 Opening Day Roster
The Tulsa Drillers will open the 2025 season on Friday evening at ONEOK Field, and the roster that new manager Eric Wedge will have at his disposal has been finalized. The roster will include a number of players who played in Tulsa last season, mixed with several newcomers. The opening
Drillers Open Season with 3-Game Set vs. Naturals
The Tulsa Drillers are set to open the 2025 Texas League season on Friday, April 4 when they will host the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City Royals) at ONEOK Field. The season opening series for the Drillers will include three games against the Naturals and will run for three consecutive
Tulsa Drillers Announce New Chicken Dancers Alternate Identity
Who’s ready for a Clucking Good Time? Everyone knows the Chicken Dance, but what you might not know is the very first Chicken Dance took place right here in Tulsa! (Well, according to Wikipedia!) The song originates in 1950s Germany, crafted from a tune from musician Werner Thomas. Initially named
Tulsa Drillers, Brookshire Grocery Company & Reasor’s Announce Partnership
The Tulsa Drillers have announced a new multi-year, official partnership with Brookshire Grocery Company, a regional grocery store company with more than 210 locations, including 18 Reasor’s locations in Oklahoma. Reasor’s will be made the new “Official Grocery Partner of the Tulsa Drillers.” As part of the partnership, Reasor’s will
Drillers Release Details on 2025 Community Programs and Activities
The Tulsa Drillers are partnering with a number of local organizations this season on several important and fun activities at ONEOK Field. Some of the partnerships help to shed a positive light on individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make our community better, while others will provide unique