Yard Goats to Host Hot Stove Dinner on January 23rd at Dunkin' Donuts Park

Hartford Yard Goats to Host Hot Stove Dinner at Dunkin' Donuts Park
Colorado Rockies General Manager Jeff Bridich to headline event on Tuesday, January 23rd

Hartford, Conn- The Hartford Yard Goats Baseball Club, the Double-A Eastern League Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, announced that it will host its first ever Hot Stove Dinner at Dunkin' Donuts Park on Tuesday, January 23rd from 5:30 PM-8:30 PM. The event will take place in the YG Club Presented by Frontier at Dunkin' Donuts Park (1214 Main Street) in Hartford. Colorado Rockies Senior Vice President & General Manager Jeff Bridich will headline the Hot Stove Dinner as the featured speaker. In addition, new Yard Goats manager Warren Schaeffer and players (Outfielder) Drew Weeks and (Right-Handed Pitcher) Craig Schlitter will be a part of the event as well.
The Yard Goats Hot Stove Dinner is open to the public and tickets may be purchased for $75 per person or $750 per table of ten (860-246-4628) with the proceeds benefiting the Yard Goats Foundation, a 501 (C) (3) non for profit organization. This is a great event for any baseball or sports fan and will feature a speaking segment along with raffles and a chance to win autographed memorabilia and other great prizes.
Jeff Bridich is set to enter his fourth season as the Senior Vice President & General Manager of the Colorado Rockies. In 2017, just his third as a Major League General Manager, he orchestrated a roster which won 87 games, and helped the Rockies win a spot in the National League Wild Card Game. Bridich served as the Rockies' Senior Director of Player Development from December 2011 through October 2014 and was responsible for drafting and signing several players who eventually became Hartford Yard Goats. He joined the Rockies' front office in December 2004 as Manager of Minor League Operations and held the position of Senior Director of Baseball Operations from 2006 to 2011. As senior director of player development, Bridich led the department in being named the 2013 Topps Organization of the Year, which recognizes the club that has shown outstanding performance, depth and talent throughout their Major and Minor League teams. A graduate of Harvard University in 2000, the Milwaukee native played four seasons as a catcher and outfielder for the Crimson, serving as a tri-captain his senior year.
Warren Schaeffer was named the third manager in Yard Goats history on November 28 after managing the Class-A Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League over the past three seasons. The 32 year old, guided the Asheville Tourists to a second place finish in the second half of the South Atlantic League last season. In 2016, he managed the Tourists to a 40-29 record in the second half, a playoff series win, and an appearance in the South Atlantic League Championship Series. The Vandergrift, Pennsylvania native played for six seasons in the Rockies minor league system and reached the Triple-A level in 2011.
Outfielder Drew Weeks spent the entire 2017 season with the Yard Goats and was an Eastern League All-Star selection. He smashed a single-season franchise record 17 home runs and finished second on the club with 63 RBI, 115 hits, 41 extra-base hits, 22 doubles and 13 stolen bases last season. He also led the Yard Goats in games played, at-bats, runs scored and finished second on the team with 192 total bases in his first season at the Double-A level. Weeks blasted two homers in game twice during same homestand, July 15 against the Trenton Thunder and July 19 against the Bowie Baysox and enjoyed an 11-game road hitting-streak in May. The 2018 season will be his fifth in the Colorado Rockies system.
Right-Handed Pitcher Craig Schlitter was the only Connecticut native to play on the Yard Goats club last season. The Guilford product got off to a terrific start at Class-A Lancaster, going 10-1 with a 2.50 ERA in 15 starts and was selected as a California League All-Star. Schlitter was promoted to the Yard Goats and made his Eastern League debut on July 5^th at Bowie. He was leading the California League in wins and ERA and ranked 4th on circuit in innings (90.0) and BAA (.244) upon his promotion to Hartford.   He earned his first Double-A victory on August 29^th against the Portland Sea Dogs at Dunkin' Donuts Park. The former Bryant University star is set to begin his fifth season as a Colorado Rockies farmhand.
All tickets for the Hot Stove Dinner must be purchased in advance by calling the Yard Goats front office at 860-240-5504 or visiting www.yardgoatsbaseball.com. Fans looking to pay by check can make check payable to Hartford Yard Goats Foundation and mailed to Hartford Yard Goats, Att. Amanda Goldsmith P.O. Box 231417, Hartford, CT 06123.
The Yard Goats open the 2018 season on Thursday, April 5 at Dunkin' Donuts Park (7:05 PM) against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays affiliate). 2018 season tickets and hospitality options are now on sale by calling 860-246-GOAT (4628), by visiting online at www.yardgoatsbaseball.com.