Wilmington Blue Rocks

For the 1940–1952 Interstate League Wilmington Blue Rocks, see Wilmington Blue Rocks (1940-1952)

Wilmington Blue Rocks Founded in 1993 Wilmington, Delaware
Team logo Cap insignia
Class-level
Advanced-A
Minor league affiliations
Carolina League Northern Division
Major league affiliations
Kansas City Royals (1993-2004, 2007–present) Boston Red Sox (2005-2006)
Name
Wilmington Blue Rocks (1993–present)
Colors
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Ballpark
Daniel S. Frawley Stadium
Minor league titles
League titles	1994, 1996, 1998 & 1999
Division titles	1993, 1995, 2001, 2004
Owner(s)/Operated by: Tom Palmer, Jack Minker, Bob Stewart
Manager: Vance Wilson
General Manager: Chris Kemple

The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team located in Wilmington, Delaware. The Blue Rocks play in the Northern Division of the Carolina League.

Franchise history

Frawley Stadium

Rocky Bluewinkle, mascot of the Wilmington Blue Rocks.

The Blue Rocks play in the Carolina League, an advanced Single-A league in minor league baseball. The name "Blue Rocks" was chosen because of the blue granite found along the Brandywine River in Wilmington. The Blue Rocks play at Judy Johnson Field at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium in Wilmington's growing Riverfront district and was instrumental in bringing commerce and public attention to the once ignored and dilapidated area of the city.

The Blue Rocks played their first season in 1993 when the Peninsula Pilots were purchased and relocated to the riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware. Principal owner Frank Boulton and co-owner Bud Harrelson bought the franchise in 1992, moved the team from Hampton, Virginia, and changed their affiliation from the Seattle Mariners' farm system to the Kansas City Royals'. When the franchise moved to Wilmington in 1993, the ballpark was known as Legends Stadium, after the sports legends of Delaware. After Frawley, the Wilmington mayor who played a major role in the creation of the team, died while playing a recreational basketball game, the stadium was renamed Daniel S. Frawley Stadium in his honor.

The Blue Rocks have always been a Kansas City farm team, except for the 2005 and 2006 seasons when the team was affiliated with the Boston Red Sox.

In 2005, the Blue Rocks were featured in Sportscenter's 50 States in 50 Days. Matt Winer reported from a set in left field where Sportscenter did stories on the many mascots of the Blue Rocks. The Aug. 19 game featuring SportsCenter drew the Blue Rocks' largest crowd in team history.

The Blue Rocks have three mascots. One is Rocky Bluewinkle, a blue moose. Another is Mr. Celery, a stalk of celery that comes out to "CEL"-a-brate when Wilmington scores a run. Finally, there is Rubble, a giant blue rock.

Roster

The Wilmington Blue Rocks' alternate logo

Wilmington Blue Rocks roster
Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 90 Angel Baez -- Greg Billo -- Chase Boruff 47 Aaron Brooks 88 Antonio Cruz 22 Malcom Culver 51 Cody Fassold 19 John Lamb * 69 Kellen Moen 84 Spencer Patton -- Tyler Sample -- Leonel Santiago 30 Sam Selman 43 Kyle Smith 46 Andrew Triggs 34 Robinson Yambati 11 Kyle Zimmer		Catchers -- Jose Bonilla 14 Peter Morin 57 Kenny Swab Infielders  9 Cheslor Cuthbert 48 Kenneth Diekroeger 11 Jack Lopez 12 Daniel Mateo  3 Justin Trapp 39 Murray Watts Outfielders 18 Lane Adams 36 Geulin Beltre 23 Jorge Bonifacio -- Chris Elder 32 Tim Ferguson -- Alex Llanos -- Charles Thomas		Manager 13 Vance Wilson Coaches -- Julio Bruno (hitting) 46 Steve Luebber (pitching) 7-day disabled list * On Kansas City Royals 40-man roster ∞ Reserve list § Suspended list ‡ Restricted list # Rehab assignment Roster updated April 7, 2013 Transactions → More MiLB rosters → Kansas City Royals minor league players

Players of note

More than 100 Blue Rocks have gone on to the major leagues, including All-Stars Carlos Beltrán, Lance Carter, Johnny Damon, Zack Greinke, Jon Lieber, José Rosado, and Mike Sweeney. Other former Blue Rock players of note include:

Mike Moustakas during his tenure with the Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2009.

• Jeremy Affeldt
• Ángel Berroa
• Carlos Beltrán
• Brandon Berger
• Ryan Bukvich
• Tim Byrdak
• Dee Brown
• Clay Buchholz
• Kiko Calero
• Lance Carter
• Johnny Damon
• David DeJesus
• Chad Durbin
• Mark Ellis
• Jacoby Ellsbury
• Sal Fasano
• Carlos Febles
• Mike Fyhrie
• Raúl González
• Zack Greinke
• Rubén Gotay
• Shane Halter
• Ken Harvey
• Runelvys Hernández
• Eric Hosmer
• Jon Lieber
• Mendy López
• Jed Lowrie
• Ramon E. Martinez
• Mike MacDougal
• Mike Moustakas
• Wes Obermueller
• Kit Pellow
• Paul Phillips
• Mark Quinn
• José Rosado
• Rudy Rufer
• Glendon Rusch
• Brian Sanches
• Aníbal Sánchez
• José Santiago
• Shawn Sedlacek
• Andy Stewart
• Larry Sutton
• Mike Sweeney
• Michael Tucker

Retired numbers

• 33 Mike Sweeney
• 36 Robin Roberts (played for the original Blue Rocks franchise)
• 42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball)

See also

• Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
• Daniel S. Frawley Stadium
• Wilmington Quicksteps
• Wilmington Park
• List of professional sports teams in Delaware

External links

• Official website