Blue Wahoos Opening Weekend: Here's What To Know  

After winter workouts and a full month of spring training, a long-awaited moment has arrived.

The Blue Wahoos are set to start the 2025 season. Opening Day is now at Blue Wahoos Stadium. It begins with a weekend-opening series Friday night against the Biloxi Shuckers.

The players can’t wait.

“I call it like the first day of school kind of vibe,” said Robby Snelling, the Blue Wahoos opening night starting pitcher on Friday. “Everybody in the dugout is excited on both sides.

“Fans are excited, coaches are excited and you can finally get to display what you have been working on in the offseason and in spring training, which is something that not a lot of people were able to see. So, it’s an exciting time.”

The Blue Wahoos finalized their season-opening roster Thursday. The majority of the roster are returning players like Snelling who played at least multiple games for the ballclub in 2024.

There will be a lot of new, however, to start the season. There is a new manager, Nelson Prada, who will make his Double-A level managerial debut Friday. He has 25 years of coaching/manager experience with three different organizations. This is fourth season with the Marlins.

“It’s a new challenge, a new league, a new level, but it’s something I am really excited about it,” said Prada, 49, a Venezuela native who grew up in the same hometown as former Blue Wahoos manager Ramon Borrego (2019), who is now on the Minnesota Twins staff.

“Whenever I’ve had people in baseball asked me where am I going to be this year, and I say, Pensacola, everyone from umpires to players, to coaches, says, hey great place.”

The stadium has been spruced up with new padding along the foul line areas and outfield. There’s a new major sponsor, Publix, which has the Publix Party Deck in right field.

There is a new food and beverage area, a “grab-and-go” location at the former Fan Assistance booth area at the top of the main entrance staircase. In addition, executive chef Travis Wilson has created a variety of new items and will prepare a new homestand special for each home series.

While fans can’t see it, the visitors clubhouse that will be first occupied by the Biloxi Shuckers this season has been completely remodeled and expanded. It will rival any visitors clubhouse in Minor League Baseball and is part of a variety of enhancements.

But most of all, Blue Wahoos baseball is back.

“Just getting to put on the (game day) jersey again. It’s kind of like a little kid on Christmas,” said Blue Wahoos starting outfielder Kemp Alderman. “Opening Day is great, but it’s also just like every other game. There’s (158) of them, and you have to treat every day like it’s opening day, because it could be your last day.”

Here’s a quick primer on the season and things to know:

WHO ARE SOME OF BLUE WAHOOS TOP PLAYERS?

Four of the Blue Wahoos returning players are ranking among the Top 15 in the 2025 MLB Pipeline preseason list of Miami Marlins top prospects.

We’ll start with our opening day starting battery. Pitcher Robby Snelling is ranked No. 8 and catcher Joe Mack, the Marlins’ Double-A MVP in 2024 is ranked No. 9. Kemp Alderman is No. 11 among the Marlins’ top 30 prospects and Dax Fulton, who is slated to start Sunday’s series finale, is ranked No. 14.

Fulton was slated to begin last season with the Blue Wahoos, but missed the entire year after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery. He pitched in seven games for the Blue Wahoos in 2023.

WHO ARE TOP SHUCKERS PLAYERS?

The Shuckers have five of the Milwaukee Brewers top 30 prospects as rated by Baseball America, led by 20-year-old shortstop Cooper Pratt, who is No. 3 in the organization and the No. 50 overall top prospect in Minor League Baseball.

Pratt is a Senatoba, Miss. native who was drafted by the Brewers in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. Fellow infielders Luke Adams -- rated No. 9 in their system – and Brock Wilken (18) are joined by outfielder Luis Lara (No. 21) and pitcher K.C. Hunt (No. 25).

Hunt is a former Mississippi State Bulldogs star. Wilken led the Shuckers last year with 17 home runs. Reliever Justin Yeager, who had 20 saves last season, returns to lead the bullpen.

This begins the 10^th anniversary season for the Shuckers.

WHAT TIME ARE THE GAMES?

Friday and Saturday’s games will start at 6:05. Gates will open at 5 p.m. Sunday’s game will start at 1:05, which is a change from the past. The first four Sunday home games will start at 1:05 p.m. Beginning with the home game on May 25, which is Memorial Day weekend, all future Sunday home games will go back to 4:05 p.m. until the season finale game on Sept. 14 at 1:05.

All weekday games on Tuesday through Friday during the season will be at 6:05 p.m.

ARE TICKETS AVAILABLE?

Friday’s opening game is sold out for reserved seats. Standing room tickets remain available. There are tickets remaining for Saturday’s game and Sunday’s game at 1:05 p.m.

Tickets for all remaining Blue Wahoos games range in prices depending on the day. The lowest price ticket is $9 for standing room/outfield berm depending on the day. Reserved seat prices vary. Hancock Whitney Club tickets, which include a food buffet and soft drinks range from $55 to $58.

All tickets can be purchased at www.bluewahoos.com or by stopping at the stadium box office during normal business hours.

HOW MUCH IS PARKING?

Parking in the main parking lot fronting the stadium is $10. The lots across Main Street are $5.

WHAT ABOUT WEATHER?

The synthetic playing surface at Blue Wahoos Stadium can drain 16 inches of water within an hour. So, there is no thunderstorm or heavy downpour that will cause cancellation of a game. Every effort will be made to play all home games. If there is a two hour window of no rain, a game can be played because of how well the field surface drains. The Blue Wahoos will never postpone a game in advance based on weather forecast. If you have a ticket to a game, assume it will start on time.

FOOD OPTIONS

All four of the storefronts at Blue Wahoos Stadium can serve hot dogs and hamburgers, along with popcorn and other basic items. Each of the storefronts, however, will offer different specialty items fans can enjoy. In addition, the Grab N Go area will have chili dogs, salads and other items not available at the four storefronts.

SOUVENIR SHOPPING

The Blue Wahoos Go-Teez Bait & Tackle Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays as well as whenever gates open prior to a home game and through the game.

The store has been freshly stocked with a variety of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing. All sorts of items are available and the items can also be purchased online as well.