Category: T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones have announced their 100-game schedule for the 2015 season.

The biggest change in 2015 is that the season will start and end one week later than it did in 2014. Last season the club opened on May 15, which was the earliest opening day in T-Bones history.

“I am glad for next year’s later Memorial Day,” said T-Bones president Adam Ehlert. “That is typically a great opening weekend, but as our hearty fans will attest, starting earlier like we did last year made for chilly baseball in May.”
The T-Bones open the season with a three-game series at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan., against rival Lincoln on Memorial Day weekend, May 22. That series, which is part of a six-game homestand, concludes with fireworks following Sunday night’s game. After having Memorial Day off, the T-Bones will finish their opening homestand with three games against Sioux City.

As has become a tradition for the T-Bones, the team will be at home on July 4 as it plays host to Gary SouthShore as part of a seven-game homestand.

“Memorial Day and Fourth of July are two traditional baseball holidays,” T-Bones vice president-general manager Chris Browne said. “We’re thrilled to host games on these weekends with our award-winning fireworks. It’s a great way to show off America’s national pastime.”

The T-Bones will have two eight-game homestands, their longest in 2015. The first is July 19-26 against Gary SouthShore and Winnipeg. The second is the home finale, Aug. 27-Sept. 3, against St. Paul and Laredo. Although the T-Bones don’t travel to every city in the league, all 12 American Association teams will visit CommunityAmerica Ballpark, including the newest addition, Joplin, which is one of three teams — including Amarillo and Fargo-Moorhead — that will come to Kansas City twice. The Blasters are scheduled to be at CommunityAmerica Ballpark for three games during Aug. 5-7 and three during Aug. 21-23.

The T-Bones will not be the host of any interleague games with the Can-Am League, but Kansas City will travel to the northeast for 10 games against Can-Am teams from July 22-Aug. 1. The American Association will announce at a later date the T-Bones’ opponents for those games.

The month-by-month breakdown of the 50 home games: May (6), June (9), July (15), August (17) and September (3).

Full season and nightly promotions will be announced this winter.

Full and half-season ticket packages, as well as mini-plans are on sale now. Group ticket packages will be available later this year. Single-game tickets will go on sale to Wyandotte County residents on March 24, 2015, and to the public on March 26. Parking for T-Bones games will remain free in 2015.

For more information or to order season tickets for next season, call 913-328-5640.

The complete 100-game schedule can be seen at www.tbonesbaseball.com/schedule.

The Kansas City T-Bones announced they have acquired catcher Jake Taylor and pitcher Kyle Brady in separate trades.

Taylor, who’s 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, comes to Kansas City, Kan., from St. Paul in exchange for a player to be determined. In 61 games for the Saints in 2014, Taylor batted .283 with 63 hits, including 10 doubles, a career-best nine home runs, and a career-high 34 RBIs.

In five professional seasons — all in independent baseball — Taylor, whom the Florida Marlins selected in the 35th round of the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft, is a .270 career hitter with 21 home runs and 114 RBIs. Prior to spending last season in St. Paul, Taylor played two seasons (2012-13) with Sioux Falls, one season with Grand Prairie and one with Oakland County of the Frontier League.

“Jake is multi-position guy who can catch and provide some power offensively,” said T-Bones manager John Massarelli.

The T-Bones acquired right-handed pitcher Brady from River City of the Frontier League for pitcher Pat Doyle. In 2014 for River City, Brady, who’s 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds, went 2-3 with a 4.98 ERA in 25 appearances.

In 59 2/3 innings he struck out 72 and walked 33. During 2013, Brady’s first professional season out of Wingate University, he went 3-2 with a 3.77 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 40 games for the Frontier Greys.

“Kyle has an average major-league fastball, and he’ll come in to compete for a spot in the rotation,” Massarelli said. “As far as Pat, this gives him an opportunity to pitch at home, and we wish him nothing but the best.”

– Story from T-Bones

The American Association announced Wednesday that the Kansas City T-Bones have been selected as the league’s “Organization of the Year” for the 2014 season.

The T-Bones have received the honor, which is awarded by the commissioner’s office, four times since moving to Kansas City, Kan., prior to the 2003 season.

“It’s our privilege to give Kansas City this award,” said American Association commissioner Miles Wolff. “From (owner) John Ehlert down, the T-Bones have always been a first-class organization, and one of the best-run clubs in our league.”

“It’s a tremendous honor to receive this award,” said John Ehlert. “It’s a testament to the hard work that president Adam Ehlert, vice president and general manager Chris Browne, our entire front office staff and baseball staff put into each and every season. Of course, we’re grateful to our wonderful sponsors and fans who make all of this possible.”

The award is coming on the heels of the T-Bones finishing in the top five in average attendance among independent teams for the seventh consecutive season, and in the top 50 among more than 350 teams from the affiliated minor leagues, independent leagues and summer-collegiate leagues. In late July, the club welcomed its 3 millionth fan to CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.

On the field in 2014 under manager John Massarelli, who was in his first year with Kansas City, the T-Bones finished 48-52, which was an eight-game improvement from 2013. The team finished in third place in the Central Division, 6 games behind division winner Lincoln. Along the way, reliever Kris Regas set the T-Bones single-season club record for saves with 22, and T.J. Mittelstaedt set a club record by reaching base in all 51 games at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The T-Bones continue to be active in the community, too. In addition to its popular youth reading program, the club has provided more than $700,000 to various Wyandotte County Parks and Recreation projects through the T-Bones Uncommitted Recreation Fund (TURF), which was created in partnership with the Unified Government when the T-Bones began play in Wyandotte County in 2003.

The T-Bones were awarded the “Organization of the Year” three times while in the Northern League (2004, ’07, ’10). This is the first time they’ve received the award since joining the American Association in 2011.

- Story from T-Bones