Wilmington Blue Rocks

Wilmington Blue Rocks
Founded in 1993 Wilmington, Delaware
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
Class	Class A-Advanced (1993–2020)
League	South Atlantic League (2022–present)
Division	North Division
Previous leagues	High-A East (2021) Carolina League (1993–2020)
Major league affiliations
Team	Washington Nationals (2021–present)
Previous teams	Kansas City Royals (2007–2020) Boston Red Sox (2005–2006) Kansas City Royals (1993–2004)
Minor league titles
League titles (5)	1994 1996 1998 1999 2019
Division titles (6)	1993 1995 2001 2004 2015 2019
Team data
Name	Wilmington Blue Rocks (1993–present)
Ballpark	Daniel S. Frawley Stadium (1993–present)
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	Clark Minker, Main Street Baseball
General manager	Liz Welch[1]
Manager	Mario Lisson

The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Wilmington, Delaware, and play their home games at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.

Franchise history

The Blue Rocks played in the

The Blue Rocks played their first season in 1993 when the Peninsula Pilots were purchased and relocated to the riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware. Principal owner Frank Boulton and co-owner Bud Harrelson bought the franchise in 1992, moved the team from Hampton, Virginia, and changed their affiliation from the Seattle Mariners' farm system to the Kansas City Royals'.^[2] 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

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 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. 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

High-A East.^[5] 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.^[6]

Roster

Wilmington Blue Rocks roster

• v
• t
• e

Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 32 Jake Bennett 40 Bryan Caceres 31 Brendan Collins 25 Dannel Diaz 28 Peyton Glavine 34 Chance Huff 26 Andry Lara 30 Brad Lord 47 Marlon Perez 43 Todd Peterson 35 Nick Pogue 38 Carlos Romero -- Seth Shuman -- Troy Stainbrook 14 Rodney Theophile 39 Tyler Yankosky 10 Jaren Zinn		Catchers 15 Caleb Farmer 13 Matt Suggs 16 Steven Williams Infielders 20 Branden Boissiere 5 Will Frizzell 29 Sammy Infante 11 Cortland Lawson 19 Kevin Made 7 Viandel Pena Outfielders 1 Daylen Lile 12 Jared McKenzie 24 T.J. White		Manager 37 Mario Lisson Coaches 45 Mark DiFelice (pitching) -- Delwyn Young (hitting) 2 Mark Harris (development) 7-day injured list * On Washington Nationals 40-man roster ~ Development list # Rehab assignment ∞ Reserve list ‡ Restricted list § Suspended list † Temporarily inactive list Roster updated February 12, 2024 Transactions → More rosters: MiLB • South Atlantic League → Washington Nationals minor league players

Playoffs

Season	Semifinals	Finals
1993	W, 2–0, Frederick	L, 3–1, Winston-Salem
1994	-	W, 3–0, Winston-Salem
1995	W, 2–0, Prince William	L, 3–0, Kinston
1996	-	W, 3–1, Kinston
1997	-	-
1998	-	W, 3–1, Winston-Salem
1999	-	T, 2–2, Myrtle Beach
2000	-	-
2001	W, 2–1, Frederick	L, 3–2, Salem
2002	L, 2–1, Lynchburg	-
2003	L, 2–0, Lynchburg	-
2004	W, 2–1, Potomac	L, 3–2, Kinston
2005	-	-
2006	L, 2–1, Frederick	-
2007	L, 2–0, Frederick	-
2008	L, 3–0, Potomac	-
2009	L, 3–2, Lynchburg	-
2010	-	-
2011	-	-
2012	L, 2–1, Lynchburg	-
2013	-	-
2014	-	-
2015	W, 2–0 Lynchburg	L, 3–0, Myrtle Beach
2016	-	-
2017	-	-
2018	-	-
2019	W, 3–2 Salem	W, 3–2, Fayetteville

Players of note

More than 200 Blue Rocks have gone on to the major leagues, including All-Stars Carlos Beltrán, Lance Carter, Johnny Damon, Zack Greinke, Jon Lieber, Jed Lowrie, José Rosado, and Mike Sweeney. Other former Blue Rock players of note include:

• Jeremy Affeldt
• Carlos Beltran
• Clay Buchholz
• David DeJesus
• Danny Duffy
• Chad Durbin
• Mark Ellis
• Jacoby Ellsbury
• Sal Fasano
• Raúl González
• Jed Lowrie
• Whit Merrifield
• Eric Hosmer
• Sean Manaea
• Mike Moustakas
• Jake Odorizzi
• Salvador Perez
• Aníbal Sánchez
• Brady Singer
• Mike Sweeney
• Michael Tucker

Retired numbers

• 18 Johnny Damon
• 33 Mike Sweeney
• 36 Robin Roberts, played for the earlier Blue Rocks team ^[7]
• 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.^[8] Rubble is a giant blue rock.

See also

• Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
• Wilmington Quicksteps
• Wilmington Park
• List of professional sports teams in Delaware

References

1. ^ "Liz Welch Named Next Blue Rocks' General Manager". Wilmington Blue Rocks. Minor League Baseball. February 23, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
2. ^ "Delaware Gets Carolina League Team". Roanoke Times. October 30, 2009. p. B9.
3. ^ "Washington Nationals Extend Affiliation Invitation To Blue Rocks | Blue Rocks". Milb.com. December 9, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
4. ^ "Nationals extend invitations to Minor League affiliates". Curly W Live. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
5. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
6. ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
7. ^ Janus, Matt (May 6, 2010). "Legendary Former Blue Rock Robin Roberts Passes Away". M.milb.com. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
8. ^ Hill, Benjamin (September 1, 2017). "How Mr. Celery became a Wilmington Blue Rocks legend". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 17, 2021.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wilmington Blue Rocks.

• Official website