The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a
Minor League Baseball team of the
South Atlantic League and the
High-A
High-A (officially Class High-A, formerly known as Class A-Advanced, and sometimes abbreviated "A+" in writing) is the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Canada, below Triple-A and Double-A, and abov ...
affiliate of the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
. They are located in
Wilmington, Delaware, and play their home games at
Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
Franchise history
The Blue Rocks played in the
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 unti ...
, an
advanced Single-A league in minor league baseball, from 1993 to 2020. The name "Blue Rocks" was chosen because of the blue granite found along the
Brandywine River
Brandywine Creek (also called the Brandywine River) is a tributary of the Christina River in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware in the United States. The Lower Brandywine (the main stem) is longU.S. Geological Survey. National Hydr ...
in Wilmington. The Blue Rocks play at
Judy Johnson
William Julius "Judy" Johnson (October 26, 1899 – June 15, 1989) was an American professional third baseman and manager whose career in Negro league baseball spanned 17 seasons, from 1921 to 1937. Slight of build, Johnson never developed as ...
Field at
Daniel S. Frawley Stadium in Wilmington's growing
Riverfront
A riverfront is a region along a river. Often in larger cities that are traversed or bordered by one or more rivers, the riverfront is lined with marinas, docks, cafes, museums, parks, or minor attractions. Today many riverfronts are a staple of ...
district and was instrumental in bringing commerce and public attention to the once ignored and dilapidated area of the city.
The Blue Rocks played their first season in 1993 when the
Peninsula Pilots
The Peninsula Pilots are an amateur baseball team in the Coastal Plain League, collegiate summer baseball league. The team plays its home games at the War Memorial Stadium in Hampton, Virginia. The Pilots first started participating in the Co ...
were purchased and relocated to the riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware. Principal owner Frank Boulton and co-owner
Bud Harrelson
Derrel McKinley "Bud" Harrelson (born June 6, 1944) is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He is a coach and part-owner of the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He played for the New York Mets, Philadelphia ...
bought the franchise in 1992, moved the team from
Hampton, Virginia, and changed their affiliation from the
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion team ...
' farm system to the
Kansas City Royals'. When the franchise moved to Wilmington in 1993, the ballpark was known as Legends Stadium, after the sports legends of Delaware. After Frawley, the Wilmington mayor who played a major role in the creation of the team, died while playing a recreational basketball game, the stadium was renamed Daniel S. Frawley Stadium in his honor.
The Blue Rocks were Kansas City farm team from their inception, except for the 2005 and 2006 seasons when the team was affiliated with the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...
. In 2020, with the re-organization of the
minor leagues, the Blue Rocks became an affiliate of the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
.
In 2005, the Blue Rocks were featured in ''
SportsCenters
50 States in 50 Days.
Matt Winer
Matt Winer is an American television personality who is currently working for Turner Sports.
Career
Turner Sports signed Winer in 2010 to contribute to coverage of sports across its networks. He became the primary studio host for '' Major Le ...
reported from a set in left field where ''SportsCenter'' did stories on the many mascots of the Blue Rocks. The Aug 19 game featuring ''SportsCenter'' drew the Blue Rocks' largest crowd in team history.
The Blue Rocks played host to the 2014 California/Carolina League All Star Game, having previously hosted the game last 12 years earlier in 2002. The California League All Stars ousted the Carolina League All Stars 3-2. Kyle Waldrop of the
Bakersfield Blaze
The Bakersfield Blaze were a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, California. They played in the Class A – Advanced California League. They played their home games at Sam Lynn Ballpark. Opened in 1941, the stadium is well known for facin ...
took home the game's MVP award.
On July 15, 2019, Jonathan Bowlan pitched the second no-hitter in franchise history against the
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Zebulon, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh, and play their home games at Five County Stadium. ...
. He struck out nine batters, walking none on 97 pitches.
The Blue Rocks won the 2019 Mills Cup Championship for the first time since 1999, closing a five-game series with the
Fayetteville Woodpeckers with a 2-0 victory on September 14, 2019.
In December 2020, the Blue Rocks were officially invited to become an affiliate of the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
, joining the Nationals' minor league system beginning with the
2021 season. In further conjunction with
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Blue Rocks were organized into the
High-A East
The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its h ...
.
In 2022, the High-A East became known as the South Atlantic League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.
Roster
Playoffs
Players of note
More than 130 Blue Rocks have gone on to the
major leagues, including
All-Stars Carlos Beltrán
Carlos Iván Beltrán (; born April 24, 1977) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 1998 to 2017 for the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Mets, San Fran ...
,
Lance Carter,
Johnny Damon
Johnny David Damon (born November 5, 1973) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1995 to 2012. During his MLB career, Damon played for the Kansas City Royals (1995–2000), Oakland A ...
,
Zack Greinke
Donald Zackary Greinke ( ; born October 21, 1983) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He made his MLB debut with the Kansas City Royals in 2004 and has also played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers, Los An ...
,
Jon Lieber,
Jed Lowrie,
José Rosado, and
Mike Sweeney
Michael John Sweeney (born July 22, 1973) is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter and first baseman. Sweeney played his first 13 seasons in the majors with the Kansas City Royals, first as a catcher, then at first base and designated ...
. Other former Blue Rock players of note include:
*
Jeremy Affeldt
Jeremy David Affeldt (; born June 6, 1979) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He threw and batted left-handed and played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds and San Franc ...
*
Ángel Berroa
*
Brandon Berger
*
Ryan Bukvich
*
Tim Byrdak
*
Dee Brown
*
Clay Buchholz
Clay Daniel Buchholz (born August 14, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Toronto Blue Jays. Buchholz made h ...
*
Kiko Calero
*
David DeJesus
*
Danny Duffy
*
Chad Durbin
Chad Griffin Durbin (born December 3, 1977), is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, and Detroit Tigers of the American League (AL), and the Ari ...
*
Mark Ellis
*
Jacoby Ellsbury
*
Sal Fasano
*
Carlos Febles
Carlos Manuel Febles (, ; born May 24, 1976) is a Dominican professional baseball coach, and former second baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1998 to 2003 with the Kansas City Royals. He threw and batted right-handed and was l ...
*
Mike Fyhrie
*
Byron Gettis
Byron Earl Gettis (born March 13, 1980) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals. Gettis graduated from Cahokia Senior High School in 1998, and was signed by the Kansas City Royals as an amateur free agent that ...
*
Jason Gilfillan
Jason Edward Gilfillan (born August 31, 1976) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for one season. He pitched in 13 games for the Kansas City Royals during the 2003 Kansas City Royals season, 2003 season.
External links
197 ...
*
Jimmy Gobble
*
Alexis Gómez
*
Raúl González
Raul, Raúl and Raül are the Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Galician, Asturian, Basque, Aragonese, and Catalan forms of the Anglo-Germanic given name Ralph or Rudolph. They are cognates of the French Raoul.
Raul, Raúl or Raül may re ...
*
Rubén Gotay
*
Shane Halter
*
Ken Harvey
*
Runelvys Hernández
*
Norris Hopper
Norris Stephen Hopper (born March 24, 1979) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played three seasons of Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds. Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the eighth round of the 1998 ...
*
Eric Hosmer
Eric John Hosmer (born October 24, 1989) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, and the Boston Red Sox ...
*
Kila Ka'aihue
*
Mendy López
*
Ramon E. Martinez
*
Mike MacDougal
Robert Meiklejohn MacDougal (born March 5, 1977) is a former relief pitcher in professional baseball. He is a switch hitter and throws right-handed. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Washingt ...
*
Sean Manaea
*
Mike Moustakas
*
Wes Obermueller
*
Kit Pellow
*
Paul Phillips
*
Mark Quinn
*
Rudy Rufer
*
Glendon Rusch
*
Brian Sanches
*
Aníbal Sánchez
*
José Santiago
*
Shawn Sedlacek
Shawn Patrick Sedlacek (born June 29, 1977) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played part of one season in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily as a starting pitcher, for the Kansas City Royals in 2002. Sedlacek threw a f ...
*
Andy Stewart
*
Larry Sutton
*
Matt Treanor
Matthew Aaron Treanor (born March 3, 1976) is an American former professional baseball catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
High s ...
*
Michael Tucker
Retired numbers
*18
Johnny Damon
Johnny David Damon (born November 5, 1973) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1995 to 2012. During his MLB career, Damon played for the Kansas City Royals (1995–2000), Oakland A ...
*33
Mike Sweeney
Michael John Sweeney (born July 22, 1973) is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter and first baseman. Sweeney played his first 13 seasons in the majors with the Kansas City Royals, first as a catcher, then at first base and designated ...
*36
Robin Roberts, played for the earlier Blue Rocks team
*42
Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball)
Mascots
The Blue Rocks have three mascots. Rocky Bluewinkle is a blue moose. Mr. Celery is a stalk of celery who comes out and dances to "
Song 2" by Blur whenever Wilmington scores a run.
Rubble is a giant blue rock.
See also
*
Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
The Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame is a membership-based organization founded in 1976. The organization runs a museum with exhibits at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware and promotes physical fitness in t ...
*
Wilmington Quicksteps
*
Wilmington Park
*
List of professional sports teams in Delaware
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Baseball teams established in 1993
1993 establishments in Delaware
Sports in Wilmington, Delaware
Professional baseball teams in Delaware
Wilmington Riverfront
Washington Nationals minor league affiliates
Kansas City Royals minor league affiliates
Boston Red Sox minor league affiliates
Carolina League teams
Sports in the Delaware Valley
High-A East teams
South Atlantic League teams