First Round Pick Nolan Schanuel Joins Trash Pandas
The Rocket City Trash Pandas, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Angels, today announced that infielder Nolan Schanuel, the Angels’ first round selection in the 2023 MLB draft, has been promoted to Double-A Rocket City. Schanuel made his debut July 21st and appeared in five games between the Arizona Complex
The Rocket City Trash Pandas, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Angels, today announced that infielder Nolan Schanuel, the Angels’ first round selection in the 2023 MLB draft, has been promoted to Double-A Rocket City.
Schanuel made his debut July 21st and appeared in five games between the Arizona Complex League Angels and Low-A Inland Empire. He is expected to make his Double-A debut this weekend as the Trash Pandas continue their series against the Tennessee Smokies.
Schanuel (pronounced Shaun-u-el) is off to a hot start as a professional, hitting .500 (7-for-14) with three RBI, five walks, and five runs scored over his first five games.
The first baseman is coming off a historic 2023 season for Florida Atlantic, hitting .447 with 19 home runs, 64 RBI, 71 walks, 18 doubles, and 70 runs scored in 59 games. He led all of Division I baseball in batting average (.447), on-base percentage (.615), and walks (71) while finishing third in the nation in slugging percentage (.868). He reached base safely in 54 straight games, the longest streak in Division I baseball in 2023.
The Angels selected Schanuel with the 11th overall pick in the MLB Draft on July 9, making him the first Florida Atlantic student athlete to be selected in the first round of a professional sports draft. That was the latest in a lengthy list of accomplishments for the 21-year-old out of Boynton Beach, Florida.
This season, Schanuel became the third player in Florida Atlantic history to be named Conference USA Player of the Year and was one of 25 amateur players in the country to be named a semifinalist for USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award.
In three collegiate seasons, Schanuel appeared in 172 games, batting .386 with 46 home runs, 176 RBI, 179 runs scored, a .516 on-base percentage, and a .698 slugging percentage. As a freshman in 2021, he was named a Freshman All-American and Second Team All-C-USA.
Schanuel graduated from Park Vista High School in 2020, where he batted .520 in the pandemic-shortened season. The year prior, he was a First Team All-American outfielder and Class 9A-10 Hitter of the Year after batting .446 with 22 RBI and 27 runs scored.
Schanuel and the Trash Pandas continue their series against the Tennessee Smokies at Toyota Field on Friday night with a 6:35 p.m. matchup. Josh Caray will be on the call for 103.9 FM THE UMP and 730 AM SportsRadio. The game will also be televised locally on WAAY 31.6, This TV.
Denzer Guzman named Southern League Postseason All-Star
MADISON, Ala. – Minor League Baseball today announced that Denzer Guzmán, 2025 infielder for the Rocket City Trash Pandas, has been named a Southern League Postseason All-Star. Guzmán, 21, a native of San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic, becomes the sixth player in Trash Pandas history to earn postseason All-Star
Trash Pandas announce BRAND NEW Christmas Light Show for 2025
MADISON, Ala. – The Rocket City Trash Pandas are bringing holiday magic to Toyota Field this winter with the debut of the Trash Pandas Christmas Light Show, a spectacular walk-through experience filled with dazzling displays, festive food and drinks, and family-friendly fun. Running from November 21 through December 28, 2025,
Dylan Culwell and David Robertson earn Southern League year-end honors
MADISON, Ala. – The Rocket City Trash Pandas are proud to announce that Athletic Trainer Dylan Culwell has been named the Southern League Athletic Trainer of the Year, while Strength and Conditioning Coach David Robertson has been recognized as the Southern League Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year for
Six Trash Pandas promoted to Salt Lake for Triple-A's final week
MADISON, Ala. – With the Rocket City Trash Pandas’ season concluding on Sunday, six players have been promoted to the Salt Lake Bees to finish out the Triple-A schedule, which runs through September 21. Pitchers Joel Hurtado, George Klassen, Dylan Phillips, and Walbert Ureña were joined by catchers Myles Emmerson
Walbert Ureña named Southern League Pitcher of the Week
MADISON, Ala. – Minor League Baseball announced today that Rocket City Trash Pandas starter Walbert Ureña has been named the Southern League Pitcher of the Week. Ureña delivered the best start of his career on Saturday, September 13 at Toyota Field, carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning and allowing
Ureña Flirts With No-Hitter As Trash Pandas Edge Lookouts 2-1
MADISON. Ala. – Walbert Ureña (W, 6-9) delivered the best start of his career on Saturday night at Toyota Field, carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning and finishing with just one hit allowed over 8.0 dominant innings to lead the Rocket City Trash Pandas (21-47, 45-91) to a thrilling
Trash Pandas Alum Denzer Guzmán Promoted To Major Leagues With Angels
MADISON, Ala. – The Los Angeles Angels on Saturday selected the contract of 2025 Rocket City Trash Pandas infielder Denzer Guzmán. The 21-year-old will become the 46th Rocket City player to reach the Major Leagues and the 10th this season. He is also the fourth player from the 2025 club
Homestand Highlights - September 9-14 vs. Chattanooga
MADISON, Ala. – The Rocket City Trash Pandas return to Toyota Field for their final homestand of the season, hosting the Chattanooga Lookouts (Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) from Tuesday, September 9, through Sunday, September 14. The final homestand is packed with promotions, highlighted by a Glow-In-The-Dark Youth T-Shirt
Angels Select Contract of Trash Pandas Pitcher Mitch Farris
MADISON, Ala. – The Los Angeles Angels on Monday selected the contract of Rocket City Trash Pandas starting pitcher Mitch Farris. The left-hander, acquired by the Angels this past December, will become the 45th Rocket City player to reach the Major Leagues and the ninth this season. He is also
Aldegheri Dominates As Trash Pandas Blank Columbus
MADISON, Ala. – Sam Aldegheri delivered a masterclass performance on Saturday night, firing 8.0 shutout innings with six strikeouts to lead the Rocket City Trash Pandas (19-37, 43-81) to a 4-0 win over the Columbus Clingstones (28-28, 54-69) in front of 5,526 fans at Toyota Field. The Italian-born southpaw notched
José Canseco Headlines Stars’ 40th Anniversary Celebration Thursday
MADISON, Ala.– The Rocket City Trash Pandas will honor the rich professional baseball history of North Alabama with Huntsville Stars 40th Anniversary Night, presented by the U.S. Army, this Thursday, August 28, at Toyota Field. Headlining the celebration will be José Canseco (1985) and his twin brother Ozzie Canseco (1988–90),
Trash Pandas Beer & Wine Festival returns Saturday, Sept. 6
MADISON, Ala. – One of the most popular events at Toyota Field is back in 2025 when the Rocket City Trash Pandas Beer & Wine Fest comes to Toyota Field on Saturday, September 6. CLICK HERE TO GET TICKETS TO THE BEER & WINE FESTIVAL On Saturday, September 6, from
HOMESTAND HIGHLIGHTS: August 26-31 vs. Columbus
MADISON, Ala. – The Rocket City Trash Pandas return to Toyota Field for their penultimate homestand of the season, hosting the Columbus Clingstones (Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves) from Tuesday, August 26, through Sunday, August 31. The six-game series will feature a full slate of exciting promotions, including Japanese
Colas Walk-Off Caps Pandas' Wild Ninth-Inning Rally
MADISON, Ala. – The Rocket City Trash Pandas (17-35, 41-79) clawed back with a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth, capped by an Oscar Colas walk-off triple, to stun the Columbus Clingstones (26-27, 52-67) 6-5 on Wednesday night at Toyota Field. The win marked Rocket City's third straight
Farris fans 13 as Pandas blank Columbus 2-0
MADISON, Ala. – The Rocket City Trash Pandas (17-35, 41-79) returned to Toyota Field on Tuesday night and tossed an eight-hit shutout, behind a 13-strikeout performance from Mitch Farris, winning 2-0 in the series opener over the Atlanta Braves' affiliate Columbus Clingstones (26-26, 53-65) at Toyota Field. The night belonged
Trash Pandas announce 2026 schedule
MADISON, Alabama – The Rocket City Trash Pandas are excited to unveil their 2026 schedule, marking the club’s sixth season at Toyota Field. The action begins on Friday, April 3, 2026, when the Trash Pandas host the Biloxi Shuckers to open a three-game homestand through April 5. VIEW SCHEDULE The
Trash Pandas Close Series With 7-4 Win in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Rocket City Trash Pandas (16-35, 40-79) closed their series in Birmingham with a 7-4 win over the Barons (35-16, 73-47) on Sunday afternoon at Regions Field. Starter Sam Aldegheri (W, 7-8) returned to the mound for his first outing since August 15 and gave the Pandas
Late night ends with 3-2 extra-inning win over over Barons
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Rocket City Trash Pandas (15-32, 39-76) edged out the Birmingham Barons (32-15, 70-46) in a back-and-forth 3-2 victory in eight innings Thursday night at Regions Field. Originally scheduled as a doubleheader, only one game was played due to rain delaying the start time from 5:00 pm
Denzer Guzman named Southern League Player of the Month
MADISON, Ala. – Rocket City infielder Denzer Guzman has been named the Southern League Player of the Month for July, becoming just the sixth player in Trash Pandas history to earn the honor—and the first since Gustavo Campero in July 2024. Guzman was one of the league’s most consistent and
Trash Pandas Blank Smokies Again for Back-to-Back 5-0 Wins
MADISON, Ala. – For the second straight night, the Rocket City Trash Pandas (14-27, 38-71) shut out the Knoxville Smokies (19-21, 51-57) by a 5-0 score, grabbing a 2-0 series lead at Toyota Field. Rocket City starter Mitch Farris (W, 2-8) struck out seven to push his Southern League-best total
Clutch Calabrese, dominant arms lead 5-0 win over Smokies
MADISON, Ala. – In his return to Toyota Field, centerfielder David Calabrese delivered a pair of clutch two-out RBI singles, helping the Rocket City Trash Pandas (13-27, 37-71) shut out the Knoxville Smokies (19-20, 51-56) 5-0 in Tuesday's series opener. Four Rocket City pitchers combined to allow just three hits
Homestand Highlights: August 12-17 vs. Knoxville Smokies
MADISON, Ala. – The Rocket City Trash Pandas return to Toyota Field for their 11th homestand of the season, hosting the Knoxville Smokies (Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) from Tuesday, August 12, through Sunday, August 17. The six-game series will feature a full slate of exciting promotions, including a
Four Arms, Timely Fifth-Inning Rally Power Trash Pandas Past Barons
MADISON, Ala. – On Negro League throwback night at Toyota Field, four Rocket City pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout as the Trash Pandas (35-63, 11-19) earned a 3-0 win over the Birmingham Barons (59-40, 21-9) in the third game of the six-game series. Mac McCroskey led the way offensively
Trash Pandas Launch Back-to-School Initiatives to Support Local Students and Educators
MADISON, Ala. – As students across North Alabama prepare to head back to class, the Rocket City Trash Pandas are proud to announce a full lineup of Back-to-School initiatives designed to support education, celebrate students, and give back to schools throughout the Tennessee Valley. Through a series of programs hosted