Blue Rocks are Searching for Families to Host Players for the Upcoming Season
Wilmington, D.E- Finding a place to live is always one of the hardest things when moving to a new area, and with the start of the new season comes an influx of young men to Wilmington who will be wearing the Blue Rocks jerseys. The Wilmington Blue Rocks ease the transition for the players by taking the pain of apartment hunting out of their hands and housing them with local families. However, we are still a few families short and need your help. If you have ever wanted the chance to host a professional ballplayer, this is the perfect opportunity to do some good for these potential major leaguers while also adding a member to the family for the season.
"I have been hosting for 14 years and have been in charge for eight," said Blue Rocks Player Hosting Liaison Bill Mitchell, "we have formed friendships with most of our players and we keep in touch with many of them." It is not just a great experience for the ballplayers, who you will be assisting in a time of need, but also for the people that host the players as well.
A minor league baseball season is a long grind and for many of these young men it is one of their first seasons undergoing this monumental and stressful task, all while away from the comforts of home; host families are a great way for them to unwind and escape the pressures of professional baseball, if just for a little bit, "host families generally always enjoy Sunday dinners and picnics with their guys and they can just relax and not think about baseball," explained Mitchell, "we always hope to meet the player's family if they come into town."
In addition to opening up your house and home to a player in need and welcoming another member of the family, albeit temporarily, most get the chance to meet the player's family, which enables these lucky fans to personally learn the player is not a jersey with a number, but a young man striving for excellence, "It's rewarding to me by helping out a player fulfill his dream of making it to the big leagues," continued Bill Mitchell, "and by hosting, it eases their burden of having to find a place to live."
The fear that most host potential host families have is that bringing some stranger into the home will result in a random 20-something year old lounging on the couch all day when they are not at the park, but this is rarely the case, "at many of our picnics, which are always open to any player that wants to come, they are super competitive in any game they are playing," remarked Mitchell, "whether it be Wiffle ball, can jam, and a lot more. Kids come by from the neighborhood and they (the players) always have time for them, answering their questions and signing autographs."
Plus, for those that might enjoy a little insider gossip and tales from the road, there is really only one way to do that; by hosting a player, "stories abound when the guys get together from their school days and road trips," chuckled Mitchell, "they really are a blast to have around: we have had Nerf gun wars, swimming pool time and just about everything a regular family would do. Plus, with some of the international players, they love to make you try their food and they love ours and even the American players love the new tastes and vice versa."
Pool wrestling, water gun fights, international cuisine? Sounds like a great recipe for an entertaining and adventurous spring and summer and there is only one way to experience all of this, by becoming a Blue Rocks host family.
So do not miss out on your chance to have a professional baseball player and potential major leaguer live with you this upcoming Blue Rocks season; join the Blue Rocks team and house a player. There are just a few more spots left and the Blue Rocks need your help.
If you are interested in housing a Blue Rocks player, please fill out the Blue Rocks Housing Availability Form.
For any questions, please contact Blue Rocks Player Liaison, Bill Mitchell, by calling (610) 350-7307.
Wilmington opens its season at Frawley Stadium on Thursday, April 7th. Individual tickets for the 2016 season are on sale now. Fans can call 302-888-BLUE or visit BlueRocks.com for more information or to purchase mini plans and group packagers, which are also now on sale.