Spring Training with the Squirrels: Part 1
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Spring is officially in the air in the Commonwealth, and baseball action will soon return to the Boulevard.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Spring is officially in the air in the Commonwealth, and baseball action will soon return to the Boulevard.
But “baseball activities” have been going strong for a while out in the Arizona desert, where the 2024 edition of the Richmond Flying Squirrels have been working to get ready for the upcoming season.
I have made my way out to Scottsdale, Ariz., home of spring training for the San Francisco Giants, to check in with Flying Squirrels of the past, present and future.
The Giants host their major league spring training at Scottsdale Stadium, right in the heart of the city’s popular Old Town district. About eight minutes south, just across the line in Pheonix, is the Giants Player Development Center at Papago Park, where minor league spring training is taking place. I have spent my time out here bouncing between the two, mostly hanging around Papago.
The Giants’ facility at Papago Park is quite a spectacle. Not only is it a beautiful setting for baseball, with the red sandstone formations hovering in the backdrop, but it is also a state-of-the-art hub for the Giants’ minor league operations. Opened in 2022, The main building includes offices, training rooms, weight rooms, video facilities, clubhouses, a cafeteria, offices and more. Surrounding that building, there are six full-size fields, a half-field, an agility field, an indoor facility and a row of bullpens.
“This is probably the best spring training facility there is,” 2023 Flying Squirrels pitcher Hayden Birdsong said. “By far. 100 percent,” fellow 2023 Richmond pitcher Carson Whisenhunt chimed in.
Players have been getting ready for the season at Papago for months. Minor league spring training games had officially started when I first got to town last week, giving players a chance to face competition from other teams after weeks of intrasquad action.
“We’re facing our own guys for about two-and-a-half weeks,” 2021-23 Flying Squirrels pitcher Matt Frisbee said. “Which is great. You work on live ABs, bullpens. You get here and you finally get to face a hitter. But seeing a different color uniform in the box, that definitely brings some excitement and makes it feel like that baseball atmosphere is coming back.”
It’s great to see Vaun Brown back in action. @GoSquirrels https://t.co/oraNb2KqpS pic.twitter.com/zHnKmxZPjM
— Trey Wilson (@treywilson757) March 17, 2024
Once the minor league spring games start, the players are broken down into groups by level: Triple-A, Double-A, High-A and Low-A. The rosters are not quite how they will look when everyone breaks camp to begin the season with affiliates in April, with several players still in major league camp who will start the year in the minors. So the “Sacramento” and “Richmond” rosters are currently a mix of the guys we will probably see at The Diamond on Opening Day.
That list includes players like Birdsong, John Michael Bertrand, Jimmy Glowenke, Logan Wyatt, Ben Madison, Vaun Brown and others.
Whisenhunt is one of the players who had been in major league camp and was recently assigned back to the minors. The left-hander enters this year rated by Baseball America as the No. 4 Giants prospect after reaching Double-A with the Flying Squirrels in 2023.
“It was a really good experience,” Whisenhunt said of his time in major league camp with the Giants. “Being around (Logan) Webb, (Alex) Cobb, Robbie (Ray), talking with them and picking their brains. Even Harry (Kyle Harrison), being a guy who was in the minor leagues and got his opportunity. I learned a lot of good things and took what I could out of it.”
After dominating with San Jose and Eugene, Whisenhunt joined the Flying Squirrels at Double-A last June. The North Carolina native made six starts, most of them carrying that same dominance to the upper levels of the minors.
“Richmond was definitely good,” Whisenhunt said. “It was closer to home. My family got to come out and watch. Don’t get me wrong, San Jose and Eugene were a good time, being around all the guys and seeing the different places around there, but Richmond being closer to home, I knew the area better and I had been there a few times. It was good.”
In his six starts with Richmond, he held opposing teams to no earned runs four times while posting 12.4 K/9.
“The competition gets a little bit better each level that you go to, but everybody says the biggest jump is High-A to Double-A,” Whisenhunt said. “I can see why. I am trying to just go out there and compete, throw my best stuff at them. Certain days you have it, certain days you don’t. I had some really good success and I struggled a little bit, especially when the injury started coming around. Things started going downhill a little bit, struggling with command, velo, things like that. The injury cut it short but now we are back here this year trying to get prepared and hoping for the same results I had last year, just staying healthy this time.”
His first full professional season ended in July when he was placed on the injured list for the rest of the year. Whisenhunt finished the year with a 2.45 ERA in 16 starts across three levels. This year, he is focused on staying healthy and putting together a full season.
“We’ve been doing a bunch of different stuff in the weight room and in the training room,” Whisenhunt said. “Mostly just focusing on those things that were bothering me last year, adjusting and tweaking routines and things like that. Not trying to overdo anything, just staying composed and keep everything simple.”
Stay tuned for the next part of our report from spring training, including comments from former Flying Squirrels Kyle Harrison, Wade Meckler and Tyler Fitzgerald. We will also have some full interviews from my trip to spring training available in the coming days on the Funnville Nine Podcast, available on Apple and Spotify.
For Part 2 of my coverage from spring training in Arizona, click here.
Minor League Baseball, Joe Torre Safe At Home partnership enters ninth year
For the ninth year, Minor League Baseball and Joe Torre Safe At Home have teamed up to raise awareness about violence and abuse and to inspire fans of all ages to join them in SAH’s critical work. This year, 63 MiLB teams will participate in an in-ballpark initiative from May
MiLB podcast discusses Anthony, Caglianone at Triple-A
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
These are the greatest Minor League promos happening in June
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
New playoff format coming to 2025 Dominican Summer League
Minor League Baseball announced the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 2 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Boston Red Sox Academy in Guerra. The 2025 campaign will also see the introduction of the DSL Cup, a new playoff format that will see 16 DSL
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other