Wood Ducks Release 2017 Schedule
Kinston, North Carolina-The Down East Wood Ducks, new Class-A Advanced Carolina League affiliate of the Texas Rangers, are slated to make their debut with an April 6 contest in Salem against the Red Sox. The Wood Ducks land at Grainger Stadium for the first time on April 10, kicking off a seven game homestand against the Winston-Salem Dash, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago White Sox (3 games), and Salem Red Sox, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Boston Red Sox (4 games).
One of two new franchises in the Carolina League this season, the Wood Ducks will host nine different major league affiliates, playing all home games at Kinston's Grainger Stadium, which hosted a Carolina League franchise in all but three seasons over a 50-year span from 1962-2011.
The Wood Ducks conclude the first half schedule at home against the 2016 Carolina League Champion Myrtle Beach Pelicans from June 15-18, book ending the All-Star Break against the Chicago Cubs' affiliate with a road trip to Myrtle Beach to open the second half. The Pelicans are scheduled to be the Wood Ducks' most frequent opponent in 2017, as the squads will faceoff 27 times throughout the season, with 15 of those matchups in Myrtle Beach.
The Wood Ducks take on the Astros affiliate, the other new addition to the Carolina League, for the first time May 12-14, for a three game set at home. The Astros affiliate are the Wood Ducks' most played opponent at Grainger Stadium during the 2017 schedule as they are set to play 14 times. The Wood Ducks visit the Astros affiliate for the first time May 19-22 and end the regular season campaign against the Astros affiliate with a 4game set September 1-4.
The Wood Ducks complete their home schedule on Sunday, August 27 against the Lynchburg Hillcats before wrapping up the season with a seven-game road trip. Carolina League playoffs are slated to begin Wednesday, September 6.
Fans wanting to purchase tickets for the 2017 season may go to the Wood Ducks' offices. Additional ticketing information about purchasing online will be available at a later date.
Game times for the 2017 schedule will be announced at a later date. The complete schedule is attached.
2017 WOOD DUCKS OPPONENTS
Home Away
Carolina Mudcats (Brewers) 7 14
TBD (Astros) 14 11
Frederick Keys (Orioles) 3 3
Lynchburg Hillcats (Indians) 3 4
Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs) 12 15
Potomac Nationals (Nationals) 6 7
Salem Red Sox (Red Sox) 4 4
Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals) 10 3
Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox) 10 10
ABOUT THE WOOD DUCKS Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Texas Rangers, the Down East Wood Ducks enter their inaugural campaign, playing all home games at Grainger Stadium in Kinston, North Carolina. Before moving to North Carolina, the Rangers' High-A California League affiliate had been located in High Desert, CA for the past two seasons after four years in the Carolina League at Myrtle Beach, SC from 2011-2014. Prior to that time, Texas had not been affiliated with the Carolina League since having a farm club in Salem, VA in 1986. Texas had its High-A club in the Florida State League at Port Charlotte from 1987-2002 and in the California League at Stockton in 2003-04 and at Bakersfield from 2005-10.
The Wood Ducks join a new Houston Astros franchise to expand the Carolina League by two teams beginning with the 2017 season.
Down East franchise marks the return of professional baseball in Kinston for the first time since 2011. A multi-year renovation project is planned for Grainger Stadium, the home of the Wood Ducks.
For more information on the Down East Wood Ducks, please visit WoodDucksBaseball.com. Follow the new team on the following social media platforms: Twitter @GoWoodDucks, Facebook.com/GoWoodDucks, and Instagram @GoWoodDucks.
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