Fisher Cats Set for 13-Game Homestand
April 29, 2016 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release
MANCHESTER, N.H. - The following is a preview of the special events and notable prospects coming to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium during the Fisher Cats upcoming 13-game homestand, which begins tonight against the Binghamton Mets.
The long home stretch is a result of the May 6-8 series, when the Fisher Cats welcome the Hartford Yard Goats to play as the "home team" in Manchester while Hartford's ballpark completes construction. Tickets to all 13 games are available at NHFisherCats.com/tickets.
HOMESTAND HIGHLIGHTS:
Atlas Fireworks - Four Shows During the Homestand
Fans can enjoy four postgame Atlas Fireworks shows over the next two weeks, including tonight (April 29) and tomorrow (April 30) as well as Friday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 10 (presented by Hyundai).
Curious George Appearances - Friday, April 29 - Sunday, May 1
Curious George will be at the ballpark and available for photos during the first hour of the games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Reading Challenge - Sat. April 30 (5:35 p.m.) and Sun. May 1 (1:35 p.m.)
The Fisher Cats and Velcro Companies have teamed up to award two tickets to kids for reading five books this season. Those young fans and their families will be honored on the field before the games on Saturday and Sunday.
Blue Jays-Fisher Cats Rally Towel Giveaway - Wednesday, May 4 (6:35 p.m.)
The first 1,000 fans will receive a rally towel from Northeast Delta Dental, featuring four former Fisher Cats on the Toronto Blue Jays roster: Ryan Goins, Kevin Pillar, Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman.
NH Scholars Day - Thursday, May 5 (11:35 a.m. game, 10:25 a.m. ceremony)
Before the game, the Fisher Cats will honor nearly 5,000 high school students from seventy-eight high schools who chose to take a more rigorous core course of study. Several honored guests will be speaking at the pregame ceremony, including Muji Karim, a former UNH football captain and current Paralympic runner. For more information on the New Hampshire Scholars program, visit nhscholars.org. This event is presented by the New Hampshire College & University Council.
Future Red Sox (Portland Sea Dogs) - May 9 - 11
The Double-A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, the Portland Sea Dogs, will be in town from Monday April 9 to Wednesday April 11. Fans will have a chance to see the Red Sox of the future play the Blue Jays of the future, as the AL East rivalry extends to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Hyundai will present a special Atlas Fireworks show after Tuesday's game as well.
Educational Day - Thursday, May 11 (10:35 a.m.)
Over a thousand local elementary school students have submitted votes for the Fisher Cats second Educational Day Game of the season. As the team continues to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the New Hampshire Primary, the young fans will decide what color hat the Fisher Cats will wear, what kind of music will be played, and more. The team will wear their blue and red bipartisan jerseys.
PROSPECTS TO WATCH - BINGHAMTON METS - METS AFFILIATE
Pitcher to Watch: RHP Akeel Morris: A devastating fastball-changeup combination has made Morris one of the toughest relievers in the minor leagues. Through his first three seasons, he's held opponents to a .163 batting average. After posting eye-popping numbers with Advanced-A St. Lucie last summer (1.69 ERA, 46 K in 32 IP), he was called up to make his big league debut on June 17. Morris eventually settled in Double-A Binghamton, where he finished the season with 29.1 relief innings, yielding a 2.45 ERA with 35 strikeouts and an opponents' batting average of .168.
Hitter to Watch: 1B Dominic Smith: The reigning Florida State League Player of the Year enetered 2016 with lofty expectations after a stellar campaign with Advanced-A St. Lucie. Smith, drafted 11th overall in 2013, hit .305 with six homers, 33 doubles and led the pitching-dominated league with 79 RBIs. Baseball America has him at No. 3 on the Mets prospect list, while MLB.com ranks him as the No. 51 prospect in baseball. Thus far in 2016, he's hitting .280 with 14 RBIs.
PROSPECTS TO WATCH - READING FIGHTIN' PHILS - PHILLIES AFFILIATE
Pitcher to Watch: RHP Ricardo Pinto: Pinto enters 2016 on a roll, having just earned Phillies MiLB Pitcher of the Year honors for his efforts last season. In 13 starts with Advanced-A Clearwater, he went 9-2 with a 2.87 ERA, holding opponents to a .231 batting average. Perhaps most impressively, he was able to post those numbers without overusing his outstanding changeup, as the Phillies wanted to further develop the 22-year old's slider. As Pinto's full pitch arsenal is unleased onto the Eastern League, his stock should rise even higher.
Hitter to Watch: SS J.P. Crawford: The top prospect in the Phillies system according to Baseball America, Crawford has established himself as one of the best young hitters in the game. A cousin of former Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford, the 21-year-old was selected with the 16th overall pick of the 2013 draft out of Lakewood High School in California. Through the Fightin' Phils first 19 games, Crawford is batting .282 with an OBP of .420 thanks to his 17 walks. He spent 86 games in Double-A last season, finishing with a .265 average, five homers and 34 RBIs. MLB.com ranks Crawford as the No. 3 prospect in the game.
PROSPECTS TO WATCH - HARTFORD YARD GOATS - ROCKIES AFFILIATE
Pitcher to Watch: LHP Kyle Freeland: The 8th overall pick in the 2014 draft has been perhaps the best pitcher in the Eastern League through four starts. Freeland is 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA, allowing just three earned runs in 24 innings. The Fisher Cats are the only team to put a loss on Freeland's record, thanks to a 4-0 shutout on April 12. Freeland ranks 6th on Baseball America's list of Colorado's top prospects.
Hitter to Watch: CF David Dahl: Baseball America ranks Dahl as the second-best prospect in Colorado's system, and he's lived up to the hype so far. The 22-year-old leads the Eastern League with seven home run this season, and is tied for second with 16 RBIs. The 10th overall pick in the 2010 draft out of Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, Alabama, Dahl is considered a Top 40 prospect in baseball by MLB.com. He's hit three homers at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium thus far in 2016.
PROSPECTS TO WATCH - PORTLAND SEA DOGS - RED SOX AFFILIATE
Pitcher to Watch: LHP Williams Jerez: Drafted as an outfielder in 2011, converted to a relief pitcher in 2014 and added to the Red Sox 40-man roster last November, Jerez continues his unconventional journey toward the major leagues. His pitches are limited to a mid-90s sinking fastball and a rapidly developing slider, but his athleticism bodes well for his chances to improve. Last season, he made 22 relief outings with Portland, going 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA.
Hitter to Watch: 2B Wendell Rijo: While he's off to a slow start in 2016, the Red Sox organization has high hopes for the 20-year-old Rijo. With a quick bat and developing discipline, Rijo has shown steady improvement since suffering an ACL tear in 2012. MLB.com ranks Rijo as the No. 18 prospect in Boston's system.
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- Fisher Cats Set for 13-Game Homestand - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
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