Welcome to the 19th season of IronPigs baseball! OK, 18 if you don’t count the pandemic season that was cancelled.
About Last Season
The IronPigs set a season record with 86 wins. Of course, the caveat that we didn’t always play a 150-game season applies, but nevertheless it was a successful season on the field and would have been a playoff season too if it weren’t for the first-half/second-half structure. It was a successful season at the gate, too, with the IronPigs winning the attendance crown even at their advanced age and without a new stadium or other artificial draw. Going forward, we’ll try to break down some of the specifics about what it takes to have a winning Triple-A season in the mid-2020s.
Just this week, Coca Cola Park won “Best Minor League Park” in a USA Today poll.
News and Notes
Here are some other preseason articles to get you ready for Opening Day today versus the Toledo Mud Hens:
– Predictions for Painter and Crawford in Philadelphia
– “Who is this guy?” Roster overview and player capsules, for reference
– It’s still the IronPigs, but Coca Cola Park will have a new name soon
– A look at all the promotions, game-by-game, for the 2026 season
– Sights and Sounds from Media Day at The IronPigs
Latest Transactions
- Wednesday: INF Christian Cairo selected to the 40-man roster and optioned to IronPigs
- Wednesday: C Garrett Stubbs Designated For Assignment
[UPDATE] There were many transaction made on Friday. The are updated in a separate post HERE
Advanced-Level Opening Day
- Check the game times and gate times. They are different for opening weekend, and all Sunday games are now 1:15PM rather than 1:35PM.
- Eat before you go. Folks haven’t had ballpark food in months and all the new concession workers won’t be ready. Don’t waste tonight in line; enjoy the game.
- Say ‘hello’ –and, ‘goodbye’–to old friends. Look, after opening night, you know there will be people you won’t see again until Memorial Day weekend.
- Remember to load your tickets into your digital wallet–mine worked better from a web page than from the app–because it’s just easier that way. Remember they’re in a different place this season if you have the digital tickets.
- Remember that Coca Cola Park is cashless. Even the parking.
- Be patient. It’s a long night as folks get back to baseball, so give some grace to the parking attendants, the ushers, the concession workers, the bartenders and the staff. This is 0-60 stuff tonight, man. No dress rehearsal, right to it and a packed house.
- Dress warmly. Over the years I’ve adopted the “Plus-One Layer” policy. However many layers you think you need, add one. It’ll be darker and colder later, and you’ll be siting on plastic chair. Bring a seat cushion if you like.
Bacon and Eggs! Welcome Mud Hens!
Toledo is the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The former IL West foe is now a will-they or won’t-they opponent at Coca Cola Park, and in Ohio, rather than an every-season opponent. Taking a peak at their roster, you can expect to see old friend Matt Seelinger who played a ton in Reading but only had a few games with the IronPigs. Our buddy Cal Stevenson is here too! Perhaps ops will play his walk-up just for fun. 2B Hao-Yu Lee is a guy with Phillies ties as he was traded over there for Lorenzen a few years ago–and I was looking forward to getting a look at Lee at Reading before that happened. There are Tigers prospects, too. Look for INF Max Anderson, LHP Jake Miller, and RHPs Madden and Smith.
Toledo’s opeing roster and staring probables have not been updated as of this writing.
Stuff To Watch For At The Park
- Watch for the intersection of Home Run Lane and Union Boulevard. The light is out there and hopefully they have traffic control ready to go.
- Watch for the new parking structure in the lower lot, down below the preferred lot by the Dauphin Street entrance. It’s under cover parking, which is a plus.
- Check out the ‘grab and go’ stand at the old Home Plate Grill
- Look to see if there’s a new concession stand in the plaza
- Check out the cabanas in center field
Let The Games Begin!
Watch the game times and gate times, friends. These are a little unique.
Game 1, Friday March 27:
First Pitch: 6:05PM
Gates: All Gates 4:30PM (projected, not confirmed)
Tickets: Available, but going fast
Promotions: Service Electric Drinking Glasses. Add to your collection! Fireworks
Weather: 47 degrees and breezy at game time. No rain.
Pitching: LHV RHP Alan Rangel (5-5, 4.55 over 25 starts with AAA IronPigs last season) vs. TOL TBA
Game 2, Saturday March 28:
First Pitch: 4:35PM (!!)
Gates: 4:00PM Club/Suites; 4:15PM Main/Center Field
Tickets: In high demand and limited, but still available
Promotions: Magnet Schedule giveaway; Zach Wheeler rehab start
Weather: Sunny, but very, very cold
Pitching: LHV RHP Zach Wheeler (MLB Rehab) vs. TBA Toledo
Game 3, Sunday March 29:
First Pitch: 1:15PM (!!)
Gates: 12:00PM Main/Center Field; 11:45AM Club/Suites
Tickets: Widely Avialable
Promotions: Kids run the bases after the game
Weather: Low 50s and mostly sunny
Pitching: LHV RHP Ryan Cusick (3-0, 7.16, four teams mostly relief) vs. TBA Toledo
Programming Note: Rather than appearing every home game day, IronPigs Today will be published every Tuesday starting a home series, as “Series Preview” and well as every home series Friday, as “Weekend Update.” This will allow more time for features during the week. Also, a reminder that you can subscribe below and have these columns sent to your email when they are published.
See you at the park!
@Kram207