MiLB PRIMER: Say 'Hello' again to the Biscuits, Minor League Baseball
Compiled by GRAHAM DUNN
Baseball is back.
As in “Minor League.” As in “thank goodness.”
Those thee words strike a victory for endurance.
The only professional entity that did not have any sort of a season in 2020, Minor League Baseball (MiLB) returns on Tuesday despite facing all sorts of hurdles, some decided by fate, others brought on their own.
After missing all of 2019 due to COVID-19, the Montgomery Biscuits are slated to begin the 16th year in what is a “new” league. Thanks to Major League Baseball’s complete takeover of the minors, the league is now called Double A-South, although don’t feel bad if you refer it with the old lexicon.
What’s New
The league has been cut down to just eight teams. One organization – Jackson, Tenn. – was stricken from the league and lost its membership in affiliated baseball. Another, Jacksonville, moved up to Triple A.
The Mobile franchise is now located in Madison, Ala. and renamed the Rocket City Trash Pandas, which was ready for its debut last year. Alas, RCT will make its first home appearance on May 11.
Pensacola is now the Miami Marlins affiliate, otherwise everything stays the same in that department.
The season is shorter with only 120 games versus 140 games in past seasons. All series are scheduled to be six games. In other words, everybody plays one opponent each week.
The Biscuits (and everybody else) open with 29 players on the roster thanks to COVID, making travel a little more challenging. Players will see the biggest change in the clubhouse where the nightly buffet has become a boxed dinner.
Each franchise will handle seating capacity according to local mandates with some, like Chattanooga, announcing 100 percent seat availability while others are still contemplating right up to Opening Night. Fans will be kept at a distance, meaning no autograph sessions this year.
If you are planning a trip to the ballpark on a Monday evening, forget it. No games are scheduled on any Monday and that’s for all minor league levels and affiliates.
The league will be part of Major League Baseball’s rule experiments with infielders having to play “in the infield” with no feet outside the dirt before a pitch is thrown. Shifts are still OK, at least for now. Other modifications may follow.
What’s Old
Three of the eight teams return their field manager, including Morgan Ensberg for the Biscuits, who will begin his second season on Tuesday.
Another manager, Mark Johnson, returns to the Smokies after a season hiatus. He was the team’s manager from 2016-18.
Mike Guerrero returns for his fifth season at Biloxi.
Montgomery has a few of position players (as of right now) back from the 2019 roster – Miles Mastrobuoni will start the season with the Biscuits but most expect him to make an early move to Durham (Triple A) soon after the season opens. Catcher Rene Pinto returns for a second year.
Jim Haley played multiple positions for the Biscuits last time out.
Right-handed starter Tommy Romero pitched in one game for the Biscuits in ’19 while righthander Joe Ryan saw limited action at the end of the 2019 season for Montgomery.
Biscuits FYI
Biscuits fans will find many of the same events and promotions back for the 2021 season. The ever-popular Fireworks Show will return on Opening Night (May 11) and every subsequent Saturday and on Independence Day weekend (Saturday and Sunday, July 4).
Thursdays return with T-Shirt giveaways with different themes each outing. Thirsty Thursdays are back along with Bark in the Park on Sundays (bring your favorite four-legged friend). Also, Military Wednesdays return with ticket, drinks and food discounts for members of the Armed Forces.
Plus a lot more giveaways are planned during the season. See the Biscuits website for more details (click).
Game times are 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday-Friday and 6:05 on Saturdays. Sunday games begin at 3:33 p.m. with the exception being July 4, which first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Double A-South (a.k.a. Southern League) at a Glance
Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers)
Home: MGM Park (6,000), Biloxi, MS
Manager: Mike Guerrero (5th year)
2019 Finish: 82-57 (South Division Champs/lost in League Championship to Jackson, 3-2
2021 Division: South
Season opener: @ Birmingham
Home Opener: May 11 vs. Mississippi
Key players: LHP Ethan Small (No. 4 overall Brewers prospect); OF Tristen Lutz (No. 12 prospect expected to join Shuckers early)
Things to ponder: Biloxi will try to make it three-straight appearances in playoffs. The Shuckers won the Southern League title in 2018. The Brewers and Biloxi announced a 10-year agreement in February.
Birmingham Barons (White Sox)
Home: Regions Field (8.500)
Manager: Justin Jirschele (1st year)
2019 Finish: 64-72 (3rd North Division)
2021 Division: North
Season opener: Home vs. Biloxi
Key player: SS Lenyn Sosa (No. 27 White Sox prospect);
Things to ponder: The Barons roster does not have a single player listed on the White Sox 40-man roster.
Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds)
Home: AT&T Stadium (6,382), Chattanooga, TN
Manager: Ricky Gutierrez (1st year)
2019 Finish: 61-75 (4th North Division)
2021 Division: North
Season opener: Home vs. Rocket City
Key players: LHP Nick Lodolo (No. 1 overall Reds prospect); RHP Hunter Greene ( Reds No. 2 prospect, missed 2019 season with Tommy John surgery);
Things to ponder: Lookouts franchise was poised to be on the chopping block in initial talks of the “new” minor league system; the season opener is sold out. Chattanooga begins its 21st year as a partner in the Reds organization.The Lookouts are the longest running continuing franchise in the Southern League, dating back to 1976.
Mississippi M-Braves (Braves)
Home: Trustmark Park (8,480), Pearl, Miss.
Manager: Wyatt Toregas (1st year)
2019 Finish: 64-75 (4th place South Division)
2021 Division: South
Season opener: Home vs. Pensacola
Key players: OF Drew Waters (Braves No. 2 overall prospect); SS Braden Shoemake (No. 4 prospect); OF Trey Harris (No. 14 prospect)
Things to ponder: Braves Double A franchise has not won a division title since 2008. Trustmark Park will have 100-percent seating capacity to start the season.
Morgan Ensberg is back to lead the Biscuits for the second time after a 2020 hiatus. (Tim Gayle)
Montgomery Biscuits (Rays)
Home: Riverwalk Stadium (7,000)
Manager: Morgan Ensberg (2nd year)
2019 Finish: 88-50 (1st overall regular season/lost in Divisional playoffs to Jackson, 3-1
2021 Division: South
Season opener: @ Tennessee
Home Opener: May 11 vs. Chattanooga
Key players: INF Xavier Edwards (No. 5 Rays prospect, LHP Shane Baz (No. 6 prospect); C Ford Proctor (No. 26 prospect); INF Miles Mastrobuoni (spent most of 2019 with Biscuits)
Things to ponder: The Biscuits finished with a “Montgomery” best 88 wins in 2019, breaking the 85 wins set by the Rebels in 1977. The Biscuits will play just one home series in the month of May (Chattanooga, May 11-16).
Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Marlins)
Home: Blue Wahoos Stadium (5,038), Pensacola, FL
Manager: Kevin Randel (2nd year)
2019 Finish: 76-63 (2nd South Division/lost in Divisional playoffs to Biloxi, 3-2
2021 Division: South
Season opener: @ Mississippi
Home Opener: May 11 vs. Birmingham
Key players: RHP Sixto Sanchez (No. 1 Marlins prospect, started 7 games with Marlins last season (3-2/2.46 ERA); RHP Edward Carbera (No. 4 Marlins prospect, 116 strikeouts in 2019); OF Griffin Conine (No. 18 Marlins prospect, father Jeff is known as “Mr. Marlin”)
Things to ponder: Marlins move their Double A team from Jacksonville to Pensacola. J’ville becomes a Triple A franchise for Miami. Pensacola franchise was declared Southern League co-champs with Chattanooga In 2017 due to Hurricane Irma.
Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels)
Home: Toyota Field (7,000), Madison, AL
Manager: Jay Bell (1st year)
2019 Finish: 50-86 (as Mobile BayBears, 5th place South Division)
2021 Division: North
Season opener: @ Chattanooga
Home Opener: May 11 vs. Tennessee
Key players: LHP Reid Detmers (No. 2 overall prospect in Angels’ system); RHP Oliver Ortega (No. 15 overall prospect); LHP Packy Naughton (Angels’ No. 22 prospect)
Things to ponder: First year in new stadium for Trash Pandas in Madison. Last team in the Huntsville area (Stars) played there in 2014. The Stars moved to Biloxi following that season. (This will be the first season since 1996 the city of Mobile has not had a MiLB team.)
Tennessee Smokies (Cubs)
Home: Smokies Stadium (6,400), Kodak, TN
Manager: Mark Johnson (1st year – 4th overall (2016-18))
2019 Finish: 50-81 (5th place North Division)
2021 Division: North
Season opener: Home vs. Montgomery Biscuits
Key players: C Miguel Amaya (No. 3 overall prospect in Cubs system); INF Christopher Morel (Cubs’ No. 7 prospect).
Things to ponder: The Smokies have not won a division title since going back-to-back in 2011-12.