Augusta GreenJackets

Augusta GreenJackets Founded in 1980 Augusta, Georgia
Team Logo Cap Insignia
Class-level
A
Minor league affiliations
South Atlantic League (1980–present) Southern Division
Major league affiliations
San Francisco Giants (2005–present) Boston Red Sox (1999–2004) Pittsburgh Pirates (1984–1998) St. Louis Cardinals (1983) Detroit Tigers (1981–1982) Co-op (1980)
Name
Augusta GreenJackets (1994–present) Augusta Pirates (1988–1993) Macon Pirates (1984–1987) Macon Redbirds (1983) Macon Peaches (1980–1982)
Ballpark
Lake Olmstead Stadium Heaton Stadium (1988–1993) Luther Williams Stadium (1980–1987)
Minor league titles
League titles	(4) 1989, 1995, 1999, 2008
Division titles	2008
Owner(s)/Operated by: Cal Ripken, Jr.
Manager: Lipso Nava
General Manager: Nick Brown

The Augusta GreenJackets are a minor league baseball team that plays in Augusta, Georgia, as a Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Lake Olmstead Stadium has been the home of the GreenJackets since the 1995 season, although Augusta has fielded a team in the South Atlantic League since 1988. The team is named in honor of The Masters golf tournament held in Augusta, where the winner receives a green jacket.

Before the Giants took over the club's affiliation after the 2004 season, the GreenJackets were a part of the Boston Red Sox organization. The Red Sox replaced the Pittsburgh Pirates in Augusta, but as the club with the briefest affiliation, the GreenJackets have third baseman Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia as the only prospects to make the Red Sox roster, although knuckle baller Tim Wakefield pitched there in 1989 with the Pirates organization. The Red Sox' relationship with Augusta met with immediate success when the GreenJackets won the South Atlantic League championship in their first year as an affiliate team.

Stadium

Built primarily as a baseball facility between 1994 and 1995, Lake Olmstead Stadium was transformed by the GreenJackets into a versatile entertainment center for Augusta and the surrounding communities. The stadium seats 4,400 with nearly 1,000 box seats, 830 reserved seats, over 2,000 general admission seats, and also offers a large 500 person picnic area down the left field line and a Grill and Bar area down the right field line. Lake Olmstead Stadium has been the site of events associated with The Masters golf tournament, many concerts, the Annual Masters Beach Blast Concert, and other special events as well.

Recent history

Despite holding the best overall record in their division, the GreenJackets missed the playoffs in 2009 and 2010. Only the winners of the first- and second-half advance due to the playoff format of the South Atlantic League, something Augusta failed to do in either season.

Notable alumni

All Star Kevin Youkilis

John Grabow

Besides Wakefield and Youkilis, other Major League Baseball players that performed at Lake Olmstead Stadium include Moisés Alou, Emmanuel Burriss, Carlos García, John Grabow, Brian Horwitz, Jason Kendall, Orlando Merced, Hanley Ramírez, Pablo Sandoval, Eugenio Vélez, and Tony Womack.

Current roster

Augusta GreenJackets roster
Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers -- Ryan Bean -- Andrew Berger 39 Brett Bochy 26 Ryan Bradley 53 Edward Concepcíon 43 Michael Kickham 28 Mario Rodriguez 32 Taylor Rogers 51 Seth Rosin 12 Shawn Sanford 46 Gaspar Santíago 36 José Valdez		Catchers 20 Jeff Arnold 38 Eliezer Zambrano Infielders 31 Raynor Campbell  9 Adam Duvall  6 Bobby Haney 10 Josh Mazzola -- Kelby Tomlinson 15 Joel Weeks  1 Carlos Willoughby Outfielders 20 Dan Cook 23 Devin Harris  5 Chris Lofton -- Mike Mergenthaler 25 Rafael Rodriguez  7 Ryan Scoma		Manager 17 Lipso Nava Coaches -- Mike Caldwell (pitching) -- Nestor Rojas (hitting) 7-day disabled list * On San Francisco Giants 40-man roster ∞ Reserve list § Suspended list ‡ Restricted list # Rehab assignment Roster updated January 25, 2012 Transactions → More MiLB rosters → San Francisco Giants minor league players

External links

• Augusta GreenJackets Homepage
• Red Sox connection