It’s opening night for Delaware’s minor league baseball team.
The Wilmington Blue Rocks kick-off their 2014 Carolina League season Thursday night at Winston-Salem.
The High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals starts the season with an impressive roster, including six of the Royals’ top 10 prospects.
Manager Darryl Kennedy, who is back for a second stint as Wilmington’s manager says he has high hopes for this year’s group.
“I think our pitching is going to be strong, and I think we’re going to be able to play defense well," said Kennedy, who led the Rocks to the 2008 Carolina League playoffs in his previous one year stint in Wilmington. "We’re going to supply some power. Hopefully, we’ll turn this ballpark into ore of a hitters’ ballpark. In the past, it’s always been a pitching ballpark, but I think we have the weapons to do [change that] this year.”
Among the prospects on the Wilmington roster for Opening day is the team’s top draft pick from a year ago, third baseman Hunter Dozier.
This is Dozier’s first season in pro ball, but he says he is ready for the challenge of playing at a higher level.
“It’s just modifying things, making adjustments. I’m not going to change anything big. It’s still baseball. The competition gets better each level you get moved up, but just making small adjustments will help me get through this- just working hard and playing hard every day.”
Dozier hit .308 with 7 homers and 52 RBI in 69 games last season at two lower levels after coming out of college.
Kennedy says the key for Dozier and other players, both hitters and pitchers, moving up to the Carolina League is understanding that with only 7 other teams in the league, opponents get to know your strengths and weaknesses very quickly.
"Once they figure out a weakness, you've got to make the adjustment and make it a strength," said Kennedy. "That;s the great part about this league. You have to make the adjustment. The guys that make the adjustment, they're not going to be here that long. they're going to move along to AA."
The Blue Rocks play four at Winston-Salem before coming back to the First State for their home opener Tuesday night against Myrtle Beach in Wilmington.