The Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, begin their defense of the Texas League title this Friday when the team opens the season for a three-game stand at Midland on Friday.
Then the team will go to its familiar six games, one day off schedule next Tuesday when Tulsa comes to town, then leaves on Sunday.
There’s some changes at the ol’ ballpark, now in its 18th season of hosting the Travs. First, while it is still Dickey-Stephens Park, it will now be called, “CHI St. Vincent Field at Dickey-Stephens Park” and for writing purposes, it will never be called that again, it will always just be Dickey-Stephens here.
Second, the new ownership, which is effective this season, is going hard on promotions and there’s several cool things planned for this season with our two favorites being:
The Barkansas Dizzys, named after Dizzy, the bestest boy in baseball and the very familiar dog roaming the park with Vice President of Stadium Operations Greg Johnston, either on or trotting beside Johnston’s golf cart. This is also Johnston’s 50th year with the team, as he followed along from Ray Winder Field when Dickey-Stephens opened in 2007.
The new team name will start June 10 and end on June 15.
There will be giveaways and bobbleheads and, maybe more importantly, you can bring your dog to the park every night that week and, for the audio averse, the typical Friday night fireworks show will be replaced by a “dog-friendly drone show.”
A move many dog owners will appreciate.
The team will also honor the “Little Rock Nine,” the students who desegregated Little Rock Central High School in 1957 with specially designed jerseys and hats for an August series against Springfield.
The games will be Aug. 21-23 and more details will be released as those games get closer.
The roster
The Travs will have a 28-man squad with an equal number, 14, of pitchers and position players.
The manager will be Ryan Scott.
Top prospects are:
Pitcher Brandyn Garcia
Outfielder Jared Sundstrom
Infielder Brock Rodden
There’s also a pair of former Arkansas Razorbacks on the team in Caleb Cali and Matt Cronin.
Back from last season are Garcia, Jimmy Joyce, Jimmy Kingsbury, Jason Ruffcorn and Danny Wirchansky, all pitchers, Position players returning are: Victor Labrada, Blake Rambusch, Ben Ramirez, Rodden and Hogan Windish.
The roster is fairly experienced as a total of 21 Travs played in at least Double-A last season but the downside of that is there’s not an electrifying young prospect on the team, at least not yet.
Upcoming games
At Midland, Friday-Sunday
Tulsa (six-game homestand)
Tuesday, 6:05 p.m. | Opening Night
Magnet Schedule Giveaway; Make sure your fridge knows when the Champs play. | Presented By Jacksonville Parks & Recreation | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)
Wednesday, 11:05 a.m.
School Day; Putting the "field" in "greatest field trip ever." | Presented By Simmons Bank
Senior Day; Presented By ArchWell Health
Slap Bracelet Ruler Giveaway; Presented By Simmons Bank | First 3,000 Kids (one item per person)
Thursday, 6:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: $3 Thursday
Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and select Concessions deals.
Magnet Schedule Giveaway; Make sure your fridge knows when the Champs play. | Presented By Jacksonville Parks & Recreation | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)
Friday, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - Music of Champions | Presented By Baptist Health
RED OUT: Wear your best crimson attire as we celebrate the reigning Texas League Champs.
Championship Rally Towel Giveaway; Presented By North Little Rock Police Department | First 2,000 Fans (one item per person)
Saturday, 6:05 p.m.
Replica Championship Ring Giveaway; Celebrate the 2024 Texas League Champs in style with your very own replica bling. | Presented By Pinnacle Structures | First 1,500 Fans (one item per person)
Kids Run the Bases; Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game. | Presented By First Community Bank
Sunday, 1:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at DSP Box Office) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers
Magnet Schedule Giveaway; Make sure your fridge knows when the Champs play. | Presented By Jacksonville Parks & Recreation | First 500 Fans (one item per person)
Kids Run the Bases; Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game. | Presented By First Community Bank
At Springfield, April 15- 19, Saturday night doubleheader
Midland (six-game homestand)
Tuesday, April 22, 11:05 a.m.
School Day: Putting the "field" in "greatest field trip ever." | Presented By Simmons Bank
Senior Day: Presented By ArchWell Health
Slap Bracelet Ruler Giveaway: Presented By Simmons Bank | First 3,000 Kids (one item per person)
Wednesday, April 23, 6:35 p.m.
Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at DSP Box Office). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed
Thursday, April 24, 6:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: $3 Thursday
Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and select Concessions deals.
Friday, April 25, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - TBA Theme: End your week at DSP with a BANG. | Presented By Metro Disaster Specialists
Saturday, April 26, 6:05 p.m.
Post-Game Wrestling: Time for the Main Event. Stick around after the game for post-game matches featuring the stars of Memphis Wrestling. | Presented By Midtown Billiards
Malmö Oat Milkers Night: Did Someone Say Dynasty? Your other home team is back from their astonishingly successful first season to make even more history in what could be this year's most unforgettable game, including fun like VIP seats, a crazy first pitch, Oat Milker Fan Trivia, the chance to sign an Oat Milkers contract, and more. | Presented By Oatly
Sunday, April 27, 1:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at DSP Box Office) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers
Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon.
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game. | Presented By First Community Bank
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Baseball’s back: Travs hit the field this weekend with the home opener next Tuesday night
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The Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, begin their defense of the Texas League title this Friday when the team opens the season for a three-game stand at Midland on Friday.
Then the team will go to its familiar six games, one day off schedule next Tuesday when Tulsa comes to town, then leaves on Sunday.
There’s some changes at the ol’ ballpark, now in its 18th season of hosting the Travs. First, while it is still Dickey-Stephens Park, it will now be called, “CHI St. Vincent Field at Dickey-Stephens Park” and for writing purposes, it will never be called that again, it will always just be Dickey-Stephens here.
Second, the new ownership, which is effective this season, is going hard on promotions and there’s several cool things planned for this season with our two favorites being:
The Barkansas Dizzys, named after Dizzy, the bestest boy in baseball and the very familiar dog roaming the park with Vice President of Stadium Operations Greg Johnston, either on or trotting beside Johnston’s golf cart. This is also Johnston’s 50th year with the team, as he followed along from Ray Winder Field when Dickey-Stephens opened in 2007.
The new team name will start June 10 and end on June 15.
There will be giveaways and bobbleheads and, maybe more importantly, you can bring your dog to the park every night that week and, for the audio averse, the typical Friday night fireworks show will be replaced by a “dog-friendly drone show.”
A move many dog owners will appreciate.
The team will also honor the “Little Rock Nine,” the students who desegregated Little Rock Central High School in 1957 with specially designed jerseys and hats for an August series against Springfield.
The games will be Aug. 21-23 and more details will be released as those games get closer.
The roster
The Travs will have a 28-man squad with an equal number, 14, of pitchers and position players.
The manager will be Ryan Scott.
Top prospects are:
Pitcher Brandyn Garcia
Outfielder Jared Sundstrom
Infielder Brock Rodden
There’s also a pair of former Arkansas Razorbacks on the team in Caleb Cali and Matt Cronin.
Back from last season are Garcia, Jimmy Joyce, Jimmy Kingsbury, Jason Ruffcorn and Danny Wirchansky, all pitchers, Position players returning are: Victor Labrada, Blake Rambusch, Ben Ramirez, Rodden and Hogan Windish.
The roster is fairly experienced as a total of 21 Travs played in at least Double-A last season but the downside of that is there’s not an electrifying young prospect on the team, at least not yet.
Upcoming games
At Midland, Friday-Sunday
Tulsa (six-game homestand)
Tuesday, 6:05 p.m. | Opening Night
Magnet Schedule Giveaway; Make sure your fridge knows when the Champs play. | Presented By Jacksonville Parks & Recreation | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)
Wednesday, 11:05 a.m.
School Day; Putting the "field" in "greatest field trip ever." | Presented By Simmons Bank
Senior Day; Presented By ArchWell Health
Slap Bracelet Ruler Giveaway; Presented By Simmons Bank | First 3,000 Kids (one item per person)
Thursday, 6:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: $3 Thursday
Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and select Concessions deals.
Magnet Schedule Giveaway; Make sure your fridge knows when the Champs play. | Presented By Jacksonville Parks & Recreation | First 1,000 Fans (one item per person)
Friday, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - Music of Champions | Presented By Baptist Health
RED OUT: Wear your best crimson attire as we celebrate the reigning Texas League Champs.
Championship Rally Towel Giveaway; Presented By North Little Rock Police Department | First 2,000 Fans (one item per person)
Saturday, 6:05 p.m.
Replica Championship Ring Giveaway; Celebrate the 2024 Texas League Champs in style with your very own replica bling. | Presented By Pinnacle Structures | First 1,500 Fans (one item per person)
Kids Run the Bases; Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game. | Presented By First Community Bank
Sunday, 1:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at DSP Box Office) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers
Magnet Schedule Giveaway; Make sure your fridge knows when the Champs play. | Presented By Jacksonville Parks & Recreation | First 500 Fans (one item per person)
Kids Run the Bases; Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game. | Presented By First Community Bank
At Springfield, April 15- 19, Saturday night doubleheader
Midland (six-game homestand)
Tuesday, April 22, 11:05 a.m.
School Day: Putting the "field" in "greatest field trip ever." | Presented By Simmons Bank
Senior Day: Presented By ArchWell Health
Slap Bracelet Ruler Giveaway: Presented By Simmons Bank | First 3,000 Kids (one item per person)
Wednesday, April 23, 6:35 p.m.
Dog Day: Human fans can get $3 Berm tickets by bringing their dog to the game (only available at DSP Box Office). NOTE: Dogs are only allowed in the Berm areas | Presented By Hollywood Feed
Thursday, April 24, 6:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: $3 Thursday
Enjoy $3 Beer Garden Tickets and select Concessions deals.
Friday, April 25, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - TBA Theme: End your week at DSP with a BANG. | Presented By Metro Disaster Specialists
Saturday, April 26, 6:05 p.m.
Post-Game Wrestling: Time for the Main Event. Stick around after the game for post-game matches featuring the stars of Memphis Wrestling. | Presented By Midtown Billiards
Malmö Oat Milkers Night: Did Someone Say Dynasty? Your other home team is back from their astonishingly successful first season to make even more history in what could be this year's most unforgettable game, including fun like VIP seats, a crazy first pitch, Oat Milker Fan Trivia, the chance to sign an Oat Milkers contract, and more. | Presented By Oatly
Sunday, April 27, 1:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at DSP Box Office) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers
Kids Baseball Clinic: Kids 13 and under are invited to join Travs players on field for a baseball clinic starting at noon.
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game. | Presented By First Community Bank
At Tulsa, April 29 - May 4