It’s the 16th season of IronPigs baseball in East Allentown and it all starts today.
Game Information
It’s a 6:05PM first pitch. Expect some of the normal ceremony and pomp and circumstance of a baseball opening day. ALL gates open at 4:30PM. Expect some musical groups and other entertainers throughout the park prior to the game.
RHP Tyler Phillips starts for the IronPigs against the Worcester Woo Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox starter has not been announced as of this writing, but a strong possibility is 12th-rated prospect RHP Richard Fitts. The right-hander pitched all of last season at Double-A Somerset before an off-season trade between the Yankees and Red Sox. As for Phillips, he started 16 games in Reading last season and 9 for the IronPigs.
In addition to many opening day festivities, there is a giveaway of a “retro” drinking glass. It’s the kind of item you might have received at McDonalds in 1979–but it’s IronPigs and it’s sponsored by Service Electric.
What’s New At The Park
An entire slate of new menu items was announced earlier this month. Use your PigsFoodFindar.com to locate the new items as well as your ballpark favorites. Full details on the new menu, as well as pictures, can be found HERE. Expect lines at concessions today, too, as it’s been a few months since anyone has had ballpark food.
But the first thing you’ll notice today is new security. There will be walk-through metal detectors at all entrances starting today. It’s largely performative, as such things can be defeated easily by anyone who has seen The Godfather, but these days it’s probably a good idea. The PPL Center downtown has had them since it opened in 2014. Expect lines today as folks arrive early for opening day and the new procedures get their first run.
There’s a new roster, but many of the names and faces should be familiar to IronPigs fans. A rundown can be found HERE.
What’s Next
The opening series from the team formerly from Pawtucket is a three-gamer through Sunday. Saturday’s game starts at 4:35PM with plaza and center field gates at 3:15 and club gates at 3:00PM. There’s a magnet schedule giveaway. Easter Sunday will have the IronPigs playing a home game this season. It’s a 1:35PM first pitch with gates at 12:15 and 12:00.
The now-normal 6-game series’ begin next week as the IronPigs head to Rochester–always nice this time of the year. The team will be home for Durham the following week, from April 9-14. The other home series in April will be against the Charlotte Knights from the 23rd through 28th.
See you at the park,
@Kram207
PS: Have you found the podcast yet? IronPigs Today
BONUS:
Here’s some video by Jack Mitroka, of AC’s meeting with the media on Wednesday:
Cover photo courtesy IronPigs