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The Hagerstown Flying Boxcars are back in town.
They held their first spring-training practice Tuesday at Meritus Park, and on April 25, they'll host the Staten Island FerryHawks to open their second season in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
The Boxcars already are off to a smoother start than last year, when their spring-training practices were held at Hagerstown Community College and Nymeo Field in Frederick, while construction was being completed at Meritus Park, their new stadium downtown.
"This is much nicer to be able to have your own park and get used to your environment, and we have a great clubhouse," said Mark Mason, the team's returning manager. "A lot of these guys already know each other anyway, so the chemistry right out of the gate is a lot better. Last year (during spring training), it was hard to get chemistry because we were carpooling everywhere. This year is more of a normal preseason.
"Chemistry is a big thing here, like in all sports. The clubhouse, the locker room, whatever you want to call it, that's where a lot of things are decided, whether you win or lose."
The Boxcars did a lot more losing than winning in their inaugural season last year, finishing 36-89 for the worst record in the 10-team league.
However, they ranked fourth in home attendance, averaging 2,918 per game, despite having a limited capacity for their first six games at Meritus Park.
"Last year was a honeymoon for us here, and the fans were great," Mason said. "But the fans deserve more. We want to put a really good product out there and win some games and make it fun and be super competitive. The guys I have here, I know that's their mindset. They'll fight for each other."
Flying Boxcars: 2025 schedule and promotions
The Boxcars' roster includes only seven players from last year's team — pitchers Domenic Picone, Mike Kickham and Rafael Kelly, infielders Dilan Rosario, Ossie Abreu and Joe Campagna and outfielder Welington Dotel.
Dotel, the oldest player on the roster at age 39, was named the Boxcars' MVP last year after recording a team-high 124 hits.
Kelly, a reliever, was the team's pitcher of the year. He went 3-4 with 4 saves, a 4.88 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings.
"This year, we brought seven guys back, so we have 19 new faces," Mason said. "Batting practice today looked good, but batting practice should look good. I didn't get to see anyone throw any bullpens today, but I will tomorrow."
Two players on the roster are former major leaguers — pitchers Daniel Corcino and Kickham. Corcino appeared in five games for the Cincinnati Reds in 2014 and two games with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018, while Kickham appeared in 21 total games with the San Francisco Giants (2013-14), Boston Red Sox (2020) and Dodgers (2021).
"We have the experience here, and we have guys that like to have fun, and they play hard," Mason said.
"I'm excited, and I know the players are excited too. (Boxcars general manager David Blenckstone) does a great job. Our ownership group, the front office, the ballpark, the fans, it's like, 'Hey, it's all right here. Let's get it right on the field and make it really a lot of fun to come here.' That's the plan going in, and we'll see what happens."
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown Flying Boxcars open spring training at Meritus Park
Continue reading...
They held their first spring-training practice Tuesday at Meritus Park, and on April 25, they'll host the Staten Island FerryHawks to open their second season in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
The Boxcars already are off to a smoother start than last year, when their spring-training practices were held at Hagerstown Community College and Nymeo Field in Frederick, while construction was being completed at Meritus Park, their new stadium downtown.
"This is much nicer to be able to have your own park and get used to your environment, and we have a great clubhouse," said Mark Mason, the team's returning manager. "A lot of these guys already know each other anyway, so the chemistry right out of the gate is a lot better. Last year (during spring training), it was hard to get chemistry because we were carpooling everywhere. This year is more of a normal preseason.
"Chemistry is a big thing here, like in all sports. The clubhouse, the locker room, whatever you want to call it, that's where a lot of things are decided, whether you win or lose."
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'Fans deserve more'
The Boxcars did a lot more losing than winning in their inaugural season last year, finishing 36-89 for the worst record in the 10-team league.
However, they ranked fourth in home attendance, averaging 2,918 per game, despite having a limited capacity for their first six games at Meritus Park.
"Last year was a honeymoon for us here, and the fans were great," Mason said. "But the fans deserve more. We want to put a really good product out there and win some games and make it fun and be super competitive. The guys I have here, I know that's their mindset. They'll fight for each other."
Flying Boxcars: 2025 schedule and promotions
New faces in Hagerstown
The Boxcars' roster includes only seven players from last year's team — pitchers Domenic Picone, Mike Kickham and Rafael Kelly, infielders Dilan Rosario, Ossie Abreu and Joe Campagna and outfielder Welington Dotel.
Dotel, the oldest player on the roster at age 39, was named the Boxcars' MVP last year after recording a team-high 124 hits.
Kelly, a reliever, was the team's pitcher of the year. He went 3-4 with 4 saves, a 4.88 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings.
You must be registered for see images attach
"This year, we brought seven guys back, so we have 19 new faces," Mason said. "Batting practice today looked good, but batting practice should look good. I didn't get to see anyone throw any bullpens today, but I will tomorrow."
Two players on the roster are former major leaguers — pitchers Daniel Corcino and Kickham. Corcino appeared in five games for the Cincinnati Reds in 2014 and two games with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018, while Kickham appeared in 21 total games with the San Francisco Giants (2013-14), Boston Red Sox (2020) and Dodgers (2021).
"We have the experience here, and we have guys that like to have fun, and they play hard," Mason said.
"I'm excited, and I know the players are excited too. (Boxcars general manager David Blenckstone) does a great job. Our ownership group, the front office, the ballpark, the fans, it's like, 'Hey, it's all right here. Let's get it right on the field and make it really a lot of fun to come here.' That's the plan going in, and we'll see what happens."
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown Flying Boxcars open spring training at Meritus Park
Continue reading...
