Despite the continuing recent snow, there’s one sign that better weather is returning to the Manchester area: a new season of New Hampshire Fisher Cats baseball.
Set to begin their 14th season, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays have announced their preliminary 2017 roster, which includes Toronto’s 40-man roster members Antony Alford, Richard Urena and Harold Ramirez.
Urena will look to build upon the team-record three triple day he posted last August, but he’s not the team’s only speedster. Newcomer Jonathan Davis swiped 33 bags in the Florida State League last year, returning Fisher Cat Roeman Fields was a constant threat to steal during 2016, leading the Eastern League in stolen base attempts and finishing second in stolen bases to Hartford’s Rafael Bautista.
The pitching rotation will be headlined by 2014 June Amateur Draft first-round pick Sean Reid-Foley, 2013 seventh-round pick and Blue Jays spring training invitee Conner Green and 2015 first-round pick Jon Harris.
New Hampshire’s presumptive Opening Day squad will also see several players with major league experience, ranging from Cubs and Reds’ veteran catcher Rafael Lopez and the return of second baseman Jonathan Diaz.
In addition to his stint in Toronto, Diaz played on the 2013 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox and was also was a member of the Fisher Cats during portions of the 2008 to 2012 seasons.
After seeing 2012 Fisher Cats alumnus Marcus Stroman earn MVP honors in the USA’s recent World Baseball Classic title, the team is eager to see which members of the new team will develop into the next generation of baseball’s finest under the direction of new manager Gary Allenson.
“It’s always a thrill to learn about the future MLB stars we’ll get to see in New Hampshire this year,” said Fisher Cats President Mike Ramshaw. “We can’t wait to get the season started and see who’s next.”
The Fisher Cats open the 2017 season this Thursday, April 6, versus the recently renamed New York Mets Double-A affiliate, Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Thursday’s game against Binghamton will also mark the opening of Northeast Delta Dental Stadium’s new plaza pavilion, tiki bar and live music stage.
The new amenities are located near the ballpark’s general entrance on Line Drive, filtering into the Samuel Adams Bar & Grill on near the right field line.
Following New Hampshire’s opening four-game set with Binghamton, the Fisher Cats will host the Reading Fightin’ Phils for a three-game series from April 10-12 before an eight-day road trip that will include stops in Hartford and Trenton. Later this season, the Fisher Cats will host the 2017 Eastern League All Star Game on July 12.
More information on other upcoming events at the stadium can be found at nhfishercats.com.
New Hampshire native Andrew Sylvia began covering the Fisher Cats in 2010 and 2011 and has reported on a wide variety of other sports for the New Hampshire Union Leader, the Nashua Telegraph and Patch.com in addition to thousands of other non-sports articles for over two-dozen outlets throughout New England and beyond.
He also has a Australian Rules Football fantasy team and he thinks they’re finally going to win it all this year, if only because he’s an optimistic kind of guy.
