Bluefield Blue Jays

Bluefield Blue Jays
Founded in 1937
Bluefield, Virginia
Team logoCap insignia
Class-level
Current Advanced Rookie (1963–present)
Previous
  • Class D- (1957–1962)
  • Class D (1946–1955)
  • Class C (1942)
  • Class D (1937–1940)
Minor league affiliations
League Appalachian League (1946–1955, 1957–present)
Division East Division
Previous leagues
 Mountain State League (1937–1942)
Major league affiliations
Current Toronto Blue Jays (2011–present)
Previous
Minor league titles
League titles (14)
  • 1949
  • 1950
  • 1954
  • 1957
  • 1962
  • 1963
  • 1967
  • 1970
  • 1971
  • 1982
  • 1992
  • 1996
  • 1997
  • 2001
Division titles (11)
  • 1971
  • 1974
  • 1976
  • 1982
  • 1992
  • 1995
  • 1996
  • 1997
  • 2001
  • 2002
  • 2011
Team data
Nickname Bluefield Blue Jays (2011–present)
Previous names
  • Bluefield Orioles (1958–2010)
  • Bluefield Dodgers (1957)
  • Bluefield Blue-Grays (1937–1942, 1946–1955)
Colors Blue, White
Ballpark Bowen Field at Peters Park (1946–1955, 1957–present)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
 Bluefield Baseball Club, Inc.
Manager Dennis Holmberg
General Manager Jeff Gray

The Bluefield Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia, affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays.[1] The team plays their home games at Bowen Field at Peters Park, a historic stadium (opened in 1939) in Bluefield's city park. The park, which straddles the West Virginia–Virginia state line, is operated by the West Virginia city; however, Bowen Field lies entirely within Virginia.

History

On August 28, 2010, Andy MacPhail, then-president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles announced that Baltimore was ending their affiliation with Bluefield and the Appalachian League, effective at the end of the 2010 Appalachian League season.[2][3] Bluefield's 53 season affiliation with the Orioles, which lasted from 1958 to 2010, had been the oldest continuous affiliation with the same major league franchise in Minor League Baseball.[3]

The Orioles were sometimes known as the "Baby Birds" or the "Baby O's", a reference to their major league parent club. One of the best known players to have played in Bluefield is Cal Ripken, Jr., who played with Bluefield in 1978 when he was 17 years old. Another famous former Baby Bird is Boog Powell, who played there in 1959, also as a 17-year-old.

Bluefield became an affiliate organization with Toronto for the 2011 season.

Outfielder Kevin Pillar played for the Bluefield Blue Jays in 2011, and batted .347, winning the Appalachian League batting title and leading the organization in batting average.[4][5] He holds the team's all-time records for batting average, on-base percentage (.377), and slugging percentage (.534).[6] In August 2013, Pillar became the first Bluefield Blue Jays alumnus to play in the major leagues for Toronto.[7]

Playoffs

Roster

Bluefield Blue Jays roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 17 Jordan Barrett
  • -- Miguel Burgos
  •  1 Maximo Castillo
  •  5 Joe DiBenedetto
  • 16 Joel Espinal
  • 31 Alvaro Galindo
  • -- Luke Gillingham (Military leave)
  • -- Travis Hosterman
  • 25 Kelyn Jose
  • 45 Turner Larkins
  • 34 Mitch McKown
  • -- Elieser Medrano
  • 27 Jose Nova
  • 20 Tyler Olander
  •  4 Randy Pondler
  • 29 Marcus Reyes
  • 28 Elio Silva
  • 30 Graham Spraker
  • 14 Ty Tice
  • 15 Josh Winckowski

Catchers

  • -- Garrett Custons (Military leave)
  • 22 Ryan Gold
  • 26 Reilly Johnson
  • 13 Yorman Rodriguez

Infielders

  • 38 Brandon Grudzielanek
  •  7 Jesus Navarro
  • 19 Ryan Noda
  • 37 Francisco Rodriguez
  • 33 Jesus Severino
  •  3 Kevin Smith

Outfielders

  • -- Alex Azor (Military leave)
  • 21 Mc Gregory Contreras
  • 24 Antony Fuentes
  • -- Jesus Gonzalez ‡
  •  8 Freddy Rodriguez
  • 18 Chavez Young

Designated hitters

  • -- Cam O'Brien ‡

Manager

Coaches

  • 11 Antonio Caceres (pitching)
  • -- Carlos Villalobos (hitting)

60-day disabled list

  •  2 Sterling Guzman
  •  9 Tanner Kirwer

7-day disabled list
* On Toronto Blue Jays 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated August 10, 2017
Transactions
→ More MiLB rosters
→ Toronto Blue Jays minor league players

References

  1. ↑ "Blue Jays fly into Bluefield to replace the Orioles". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. September 7, 2010. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Orioles leaving Bluefield". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. August 28, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Orioles out of Bluefield". Orioles Insider: Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  4. ↑ Eric Sondheimer (November 9, 2011). "Baseball: Ex-Chaminade player Kevin Pillar to receive honor". latimes.com. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  5. ↑ "2013 Prospect Watch". mlb.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  6. ↑ "2012 Bluefield Blue Jays Media Guide". Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  7. ↑ http://backinblue.kc-media.net/?p=7488
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