Triple-A games coming to Fort Wayne
"Our fans can get a taste of Triple-A baseball right here at Parkview Field," TinCaps President Mike Nutter said. "These players are on the cusp of the Major Leagues and several have already reached that level. The opportunity to bring these games to Fort Wayne is a testament to our great relationship with the Padres and their appreciation for all of the support from the team and fans here. It is also another example of the incredible things we can do at Parkview Field."
The Triple-A Padres, now based in Tuscon, Ariz., will take on the Las Vegas 51s (Triple-A Toronto Blue Jays) in a four-game weekend set. Game times and promotions are as follows:
Thursday, July 14: 7:05 p.m. (Thirsty Thursday drink specials)
Friday, July 15: 7:05 p.m. (Post-game fireworks)
Saturday, July 16: 6:05 p.m. (Three Rivers Festival fireworks post-game)
Sunday, July 17: 1:05 p.m.
"The TinCaps are a great organization and Parkview Field is one of the finest facilities in Minor League Baseball - at any level." Padres Director of Player Development Randy Smith said. "We are happy that we are able to provide TinCaps fans this one-of-a-kind opportunity by bringing Triple-A baseball to Fort Wayne. This is an opportunity to show past Fort Wayne players the tremendous facility and the wonderful fans at Parkview Field. We expect to bring in some familiar faces that will help the Padres in the years to come."
The Padres' Triple-A roster for the upcoming season is expected to include several players that have previously played in Fort Wayne and potentially some members of the TinCaps' 2009 Midwest League championship team. Stars from that team included RHP Simon Castro, the author of the only no-hitter in TinCaps history and 1B Matt Clark, who hit 11 home runs and batted .266 in a half-season with the team at Parkview Field in 2009. Other former Fort Wayne players that could find their way back to the Summit City for this historic series include OFs Cedric Hunter and Luis Durango, C Luis Martinez, INF/OF Mike Baxter, RHPs Jeremy Hefner, Josh Geer and others. Top prospect INF Logan Forsythe could also make his first appearance in Fort Wayne.
"It will be a thrill to welcome back some of our former players and maybe some members of the greatest team in Fort Wayne history as they continue on their paths to the Major Leagues," Nutter said. "Most importantly, the biggest winners here will be our fans - the best in Minor League Baseball."
Tickets to these extra four games will be provided to all TinCaps full-season ticketholders for free as part of their season ticket package. Half-season ticketholders will receive complimentary tickets to both the Friday and Sunday games and fans with quarter-season and twelve-game plans will each receive complimentary tickets to one of the Triple-A games (Thursday for quarter-season plan holders and Sunday for those with twelve game plans).
"Being able to bring more great baseball and budding Major League stars to Fort Wayne is exciting, but the best part of this is being able to reward our loyal fans," TinCaps Vice President of Marketing & Promotions Michael Limmer said. "We fully expect 2011 to be the most fun and successful season yet at Parkview Field."
TinCaps ticket plans are still available for purchase. For those without ticket plans, tickets to the Triple-A games will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the same price as regular TinCaps games. Single-game tickets, including the four Triple-A games, go on sale February 22, 2011 at 10 a.m.