Columbia Fireflies

Columbia Fireflies
Columbia Fireflies
Founded in 2016 ; Columbia, South Carolina ;
Minor league affiliations
Class	Class A (2016–2020)
League	Carolina League (2021–present)
Division	South Division
Previous leagues	South Atlantic League (2016–2020)
Major league affiliations
Team	Kansas City Royals (2021–present)
Previous teams	New York Mets (2016–2020)
Team data
Name	Columbia Fireflies (2016–present); Savannah Sand Gnats (1996–2015); Savannah Cardinals (1984–1995);
Colors	Navy blue, neon yellow, neon green, silver, white;
Mascot	Mason The Firefly
Ballpark	Segra Park (2016–present)
Owner(s)/; Operator(s)	Hardball Capital LLC
President	Brad Shank
Manager	David Noworyta
Website	milb.com/columbia

The Columbia Fireflies are a

Capital City Bombers moved to Greenville, South Carolina

, after the 2004 season.

History

Minor league baseball in Columbia dates back to 1892, when a team known as the Columbia Senators competed in the only season of the original South Atlantic League. In 1904, the Columbia Skyscrapers franchise was founded as a charter member of the second incarnation of the South Atlantic League. The capital city fielded teams in the league in 45 of the next 57 seasons under various nicknames (Gamecocks, Commies, Comers, Sandlappers, Senators, Reds, and Gems). Following the 1961 season, the Columbia Reds moved to Macon, Georgia and the city would be without professional baseball for the next two decades. Columbia clubs won the South Atlantic League championship in 1915, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1941, and 1953. The league itself collapsed following the 1963 season.[3]

After a 21-year absence from professional baseball, Columbia returned to affiliated ball when the Shelby (NC) Mets relocated to the capital city in the latest version of the South Atlantic League in 1983. Known as the Columbia Mets from 1983-92, and the Capital City Bombers beginning in 1993, the franchise competed in the SAL for 22 years, winning league titles in 1986, 1991 and 1998.

The

Class A South Atlantic League, an affiliate of the New York Mets, announced that it would move to Columbia in time for the 2016 season.^[5]^[6]

After receiving over 2,300 submissions in a public contest to name the team, it chose to call itself the "Columbia Fireflies". The name was inspired by the Photinus frontalis in the nearby Congaree National Park which was outlined in an article entitled “Synchronized fireflies putting on show at Congaree National Park” by The State, a local newspaper.^[7] Portions of the team's uniforms glow in the dark as a tribute to the team's name.

Columbia earned its first ever victory as the Fireflies on April 9, 2016. In the game, three pitchers (Thomas McIlraith, Alex Palsha, and Johnny Magliozzi) combined to throw a no-hitter in a 9–0 shutout victory over the Charleston RiverDogs. The no-hitter was the Fireflies' third game. In their first ever home game, on April 14, 2016, the Fireflies defeated the Greenville Drive, 4–1, in front of 9,077 people.^[8]

In conjunction with

Low-A classification affiliate.^[11] In 2022, the Low-A East became known as the Carolina League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization, and was reclassified as a Single-A circuit.^[12]

Roster

Columbia Fireflies roster
v
t
e
Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 29 Dash Albus 11 Dennis Colleran 32 Nick Conte 31 Josh Hansell 28 Tanner Jones 25 Henson Leal 24 Yunior Marte 18 Ismael Michel 21 Mason Miller 33 Fraynel Nova 16 Elvis Novas 40 Yeri Perez 15 Julio Rosario 45 Blake Wolters 23 Jordan Woods 41 Hiro Wyatt		Catchers 9 Angel Acosta 8 Jorge Hernandez 6 Ramon Ramirez 7 Stone Russell 13 Dionmy Salon 1 Hyungchan Um Infielders 2 Colton Becker 0 Derlin Figueroa 3 Brennon McNair 4 Josi Novas Outfielders 37 Giullianno Allende 26 Roni Cabrera 19 Asbel Gonzalez 12 Milo Rushford		Manager -- David Noworyta Coaches -- Taylor Bloye (pitching) -- Ramón Castro (hitting) -- Tripp Keister (coach) -- Julio Pimentel (pitching) 60-day injured list -- Mack Anglin -- Jacob Widener 7-day injured list * On Kansas City Royals 40-man roster ~ Development list # Rehab assignment ∞ Reserve list ‡ Restricted list § Suspended list † Temporarily inactive list Roster updated April 2, 2025 Transactions → More rosters: MiLB • Carolina League → Kansas City Royals minor league players

Retired Numbers

14: Larry Doby 20: Frank Robinson 42: Jackie Robinson^[13]^[14]

References

^ https://www.milb.com/columbia/news/011725-fireflies-announce-2025-field-staff
^ "Front Office Staff". Columbia Firefies. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=SALL&class=A
^ Callahan, Carolyn (December 3, 2014). "Bull Street Ball Park to Be Named 'Spirit Communications Park'". WIS. Columbia, South Carolina. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
^ White, Neil (May 21, 2015). "It's Official: Savannah Baseball Team Moving to Columbia". The State. Columbia, SC. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
^ Dial, Steven; Santaella, Tony (March 25, 2015). "Savannah Baseball Team Moving to Columbia". WLTX. Columbia, SC. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
^ Ransdell, Aaron (August 4, 2015). "Columbia Fireflies Named as New Baseball Name". The State. Columbia, South Carolina. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
^ Fitzgerald, Kevin (April 15, 2016). "9,077 See Fireflies Win Spirit Communications Park Opener". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
^ Cooper, J.J. (November 10, 2020). "Binghamton, Brooklyn Survive As Mets Announce Affiliates". Baseball America. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
^ "Columbia Fireflies invited to become Kansas City Royals affiliate". ABC Columbia. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
^ "Fireflies to retire Doby's number 14 on Saturday". www.chronicle-independent.com.
^ "Columbia Fireflies honor three iconic African-American baseball players". 2 July 2019.

External links

[1] ttps://www.milb.com/columbia/news/011725-fireflies-announce-2025-field-staff

[2] "Front Office Staff". Columbia Firefies. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved January 6, 2022.

[3] ttps://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=SALL&class=A

[4] Callahan, Carolyn (December 3, 2014). "Bull Street Ball Park to Be Named 'Spirit Communications Park'". WIS. Columbia, South Carolina. Retrieved April 11, 2016.

[5] White, Neil (May 21, 2015). "It's Official: Savannah Baseball Team Moving to Columbia". The State. Columbia, SC. Retrieved July 15, 2015.

[6] Dial, Steven; Santaella, Tony (March 25, 2015). "Savannah Baseball Team Moving to Columbia". WLTX. Columbia, SC. Retrieved July 15, 2015.

[7] Ransdell, Aaron (August 4, 2015). "Columbia Fireflies Named as New Baseball Name". The State. Columbia, South Carolina. Retrieved April 11, 2016.

[2016opener-8] Fitzgerald, Kevin (April 15, 2016). "9,077 See Fireflies Win Spirit Communications Park Opener". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 16, 2016.

[BA2021-9] Cooper, J.J. (November 10, 2020). "Binghamton, Brooklyn Survive As Mets Announce Affiliates". Baseball America. Retrieved November 10, 2020.

[10] "Columbia Fireflies invited to become Kansas City Royals affiliate". ABC Columbia. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2020-12-09.

[JMayo2-12-2021-11] Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.

[CLrename-12] "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.

[13] "Fireflies to retire Doby's number 14 on Saturday". www.chronicle-independent.com.

[14] "Columbia Fireflies honor three iconic African-American baseball players". 2 July 2019.

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v t e Carolina League
North Division	Carolina Mudcats Delmarva Shorebirds Fredericksburg Nationals Hickory Crawdads Lynchburg Hillcats Salem Red Sox
South Division	Augusta GreenJackets Charleston RiverDogs Columbia Fireflies Fayetteville Woodpeckers Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Champions MVP Award Rosters Stadiums