Welcome to Segra Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies!
We want to thank you for choosing to join us for some exciting Columbia Fireflies baseball and lots of fun here at Segra Park! We have the greatest fans in Minor League Baseball, and without each and every one of you we wouldn’t be able to create this amazing atmosphere at every Fireflies game. The 2021 season gave us the opportunity to be one of the first sports venues to bring people back together coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, and we were ecstatic to welcome fans back to Segra Park after a long break. It also marked our first season with a new Major League affiliate in the Kansas City Royals. Records were broken, memories were made, and we all enjoyed the opportunity to get back together as Fireflies fans. In 2022 we are excited to get back to what we hope will be a much more normal season. We will get back to what we do best with lots of fun on-field promotions, fireworks, great food and drinks and much more at every Fireflies game. As if that weren’t enough, we are even going to fire a man out of a cannon on July 23 and you will NOT want to miss out on that! We hope that you will enjoy your time at the ballpark and please be sure to let us know how we can improve your experience for your next trip to Segra Park. You probably saw on your way into the ballpark that there is a lot of construction and activity going on around us. Segra Park sits at the center of the BullStreet District which is a 181-acre redevelopment project that will help create a vibrant community in the heart of our state capital. In the past two years the district has welcomed Starbucks and REI providing the first of many retail pieces of the development. Merrill Gardens is a senior living facility that provides residents with top notch amenities and easy access to Segra Park as well as the new Page Ellington Park, a 20-acre park that sits in the center of the BullStreet District. In addition, many more projects have just completed or are well underway. Two public parking garages with over 800 parking spaces are now nearly complete. The WestLawn project will provide ample office space on top of 14,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. Directly across the street from Segra Park work is well underway on the Bennet at BullStreet which will provide the district with a 280,000 sq. ft. community with 269 luxury apartments and 45,000 sq. ft. of retail space. Finally, the historic Babcock building is in the middle of being converted into 208 apartments and the famous red cupola will be restored after being destroyed by a fire in September of 2020. All of this is happening in addition to multiple townhomes, office space, a church and event space already being occupied in the BullStreet District with another huge project set to begin soon as the University of South Carolina will be constructing a new $300 million Health Sciences campus in the BullStreet District. Since 2016 over 1.2 million fans have attended a Fireflies game and an additional 230,000+ have attended other events at Segra Park, and we are just getting started! The best is truly yet to come for the BullStreet District, the Columbia Fireflies and Segra Park and we hope that you will join us for the ride!
Thank you for joining us for a Columbia Fireflies game, and we hope that you will have a world class experience at Segra Park. Please come back and visit us again soon for another Fireflies game or one of the numerous events that are hosted at Segra Park every year. This ballpark was built by the community, for the community, and we can’t wait to welcome you back!
BRAD SHANK President of the Columbia Fireflies
table of contents Fan Code of Conduct & Map.................. 4-5
K9 Klub and Kids Club Info.....................
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Concession Map..........................................
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Kansas City Royals System.....................
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Carolina League...........................................
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Fireflies Coaching Staff............................
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Fireflies Roster.............................................
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2022 Big Red Barn Concert...................
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Ticket Information.......................................
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Introducing the 2022 Draft Class .............
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Homestand Highlights...............................
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Upcoming Homestand..............................
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Catch the Soda Cap Connector to Segra Park Leave the parking and driving to us Shuttles available every Columbia Fireflies home game The Soda Cap Connector is Columbia’s premier downtown shuttle that takes you to restaurants, attractions and entertainment for only $1.00 to ride. Shuttles begin one hour before the game, continue until one hour after the game and run every 25-30 minutes. Masks are required on all vehicles until further notice.
CATCHTHECOMET.ORG | 803-255-7100 |
Fan code of conduct The Columbia Fireflies are committed to creating a family-friendly and welcoming environment at the ballpark for all guests. As part of that commitment, we have adopted this written policy addressing fan behavior. The policy includes a Fan Code of Conduct, which is fan- facing and describes how fans are expected to behave. Fan Code of Conduct: In order to provide a welcoming experience for all, the Columbia Fireflies have implemented a Fan Code of Conduct. Out of respect for fellow guests, players, coaches, and ballpark staff, all guests are prohibited from: • Trespassing on the playing field at any time; • Interfering with baseballs that are in play; • Throwing or tossing objects; • Using foul, obscene or derogatory language (see below) or gestures; • Misusing or overconsuming alcohol, including, underage consumption; • Behaving in a manner that is disruptive, unruly, or abusive; • Accessing areas of the ballpark without a proper ticket, pass, or credential; • Misusing tickets, passes, or credentials in any way; or • Bringing prohibited items into the ballpark. • Only service dogs are allowed (outside of “Dog Days”) Derogatory language is defined as offensive language concerning a person’s race, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, or national origin, and anyone using such language is subject to automatic ejection from the ballpark. Violations of the Fan Code of Conduct will not be tolerated and may lead to ejection from the ballpark, a ban on attending future games, or other consequences. Guests who are found to have used derogatory language will be ejected from the ballpark. Guests are encouraged to report violations of the Fan Code of Conduct to the nearest ballpark staff member. This can be done in person, at the nearest Guest Services location, directly with Ballpark Security or by venuesafety@columbiafireflies.com .
CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION
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segra park map
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concession map
A: LOW N' SLOW BBQ B: POP! / HEALTHY CART C: FUNNEL VISION D: SCOOPS!
1. CONCESSION STAND 2. CONCESSION STAND 3. CONCESSION STAND 4. CONCESSION STAND 5. SWEETWATER BAR 6. BUDWEISER BOWTIE BAR
E: DIPPIN’ DOTS F: SUPER GYRO G: SWEET CAROLINA’S / OREO CHURROS H: SCOOPS! I: PINEAPPLE CART SQUEEZE & FREEZE J: JUANATHANS K CRAFT CORNER L: SCOOPS! M: BOILED PEANUTS/PRETZELS N: PHILLY CART O: POP! P: DIPPIN’ DOTS Q: EL TORO MEXICAN
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kansas city royals minor league system
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carolina league
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Special Events
Located in the heart of Columbia’s Bull Street District, Segra Park is a year round event venue. Our venue is perfect for corporate meetings, galas, weddings, holiday parties and more. It’s a multi-purpose venue that provides a unique backdrop for your next event. CLUB LOUNGE
CONTACT SPECIAL EVENTS 803.888.3023 EVENTS@COLUMBIAFIREFLIES.COM SEGRAPARK.COM
CONFERENCE ROOM
BROAD RIVER BALCONY
THE MASON JAR COLUMBIA FIREFLIES TEAM STORE
store hours
Mon.-Fri 10:00am-5:00pm Sat. & Sun. Closed
2022 fireflies coaching staff
Jesus Azuaje
Tony Peña Jr.
John Habyan
Hitting Coach
Manager
Pitching Coach
Joe Pedulla
Glenn Hubbard
Chris Nelson
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Bench Coach
Assistant Hitting Coach
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2022 fireflies roster pitchers
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6' 3" 195 R-R 08-21-2001 P - Luinder Avila
P - Luis Barroso
6' 4" 230 R-R 11-03-1999 P - Wander Arias
5' 11" 204 L-L 06-12-1999 P - Jack Aldrich
6' 3" 165 R-R 09-07-1998
Caracas, VZ
David, Panama
Oak Park, CA
Sabana Grande de Palenquie, D.R.
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45
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6' 1" 194 R-R 06-29-2002 P -Jonatan Bernal Mazatlan, Mexico
6' 2" 175 L-L 02-13-1999 P - Shane Connolly
6' 2" 205 R-R 07-01-2001 P - Ben Hernandez
P - Ben Kudrna
6' 3" 175 R-R 01-30-2003 Shawnee Mission, KS
Huntersville, NC
Chicago, IL
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6' 3" 230 L-R 01-27-1998 P - John McMillon
6' 3" 175 L-L 06-19-2003 P - Frank Mozzicato
6' 3" 220 R-R 10-30-2001 P - Shane Panzini
P - Cooper McKeehan
6' 1" 195 L-L 03-28-2001
Lufkin, TX
Hartford, CT
Spring Lake, NJ
Ann Arbor, MI
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P - Matt Stil
6' 2" 210 L-L 10-26-1997 P - Ben Wereski
P - Oscar Rayo
P - Marlin Willis
6' 3" 190 R-R 07-05-2000
6' 1" 180 L-L 01-13-2002
6' 4" 190 L-L 06-05-98
Hartford, CT
Decatur, GA
Managua, NIC
Decatur, GA
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catchers
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5'11" 170 R-R 12-10-2001 C - Omar Hernandez
C - Kyle Hayes
6' 1" 210 L-R 07-03-2003 C - Carter Jensen
6' 2" 190 R-R 10-08-97
La Habana, CU
Vienna, VA
Kansas City, MO
infielders
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6
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6' 1" 170 R-R 10-09-2001 IF - Yeudi Advincola San Cristobal, DR
IF - Guillermo Quintana
IF - Lizandro Rodriguez
6' 1" 180 R-R 03-16-2001
5' 11" 180 S-R 11-16-2002
Cartagena, COL
Santiago, DR
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6' 0" 150 R-R 12-15-2003 IF - Daniel Vazquez
IF - Caydan Wallace
6' 1" 205 R-R 08-07-2001
Villa Mella, DR
Little Rock, AR
outfielders
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OF - Javier Vaz
5' 10" 190 L-L 10-25-2000 OF - Jean Ramirez
OF - Gavin Cross
OF - David Hollie
5' 9" 151
L-R
6' 3" 210 L-L 02-13-2001
6' 2" 205 R-R 10-25-1999 Santo Domingo, D.R.
09-22-2000 Huntsville, AL.
Bristol, TN
Mao, D.R.
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2022 salem red sox
Pitchers: 37
Infielders: 12
Angel Acevedo
Andy Atwood
24 Dylan Burns 18 Adisyn Coffey 29 Hunter Dollander 15 Rigo Fernandez 9 Haylen Green 35 Liam Jenkins 39 Jared Kelley 28 Tyson Messer 32 Noah Owen 30 Bowen Plagge 16 Jonah Scolaro 27 Kohl Simas 11 Tristan Stivors 14 Jesus Valles 20 Frander Veras
25 DJ Gladney 10 Wes Kath 31
Samil Polanco Wilber Sanchez Jordan Sprinkle Wilfred Veras
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Outfielders: 21
Benyamin
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James Beard Jacob Burke Logan Glass
Catchers: 17
Colby Smelley Nick Thornquist
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Victor Torres
CLICK FOR ROSTER DETAILS
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fireflies tickets
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KIDS ZONE
BOWTIE BAR
Individual Game Tickets
$5/seat
$10/seat
$8/seat (Quantities of 4 or 6)
$14/seat
$10/seat
$16/seat
$11/seat
$56/box (4 seats)
$12/seat
$60/table (4 seats)
Group Tickets
COLa
Attendees of groups of 20 or more in the Palmetto Picnic Pavilion, Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union All-Star or Reserved seating will take home a souvenir Fireflies group hat.
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Full Season Tickets
$3,300/table
$735/seat*
$2,995/table
$630/seat
$1,050/seat*
$540/seat
$540/seat*
$330/seat
*Multi-year commitment required
Half Season (33 Games) Half Season Tickets
$330/seat
$299/seat
7 th Inning All-Star Seating Stretch Plans 7 Game Plans $77/seat 14 Game Plans $154/seat 21 Game Plans $220/seat
click for more information
Individual Tickets
Groups Tickets
Season Tickets
Interested in Group Outings or Memberships? Call 803-726-4487 ext 2 or email sales@columbiafireflies.com
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Upcoming Community Organizations of the Game Please stop by their kiosks during the game and learn more about these important local organizations! 8/23 - The ALS Assocaition of SC 8/26 - Midlands Fatherhood Coalition 8/27 - Keep the Midlands Beautiful 8/28 - Suzuki Academy of Columbia
The Fireflies strive to give back to the community in which we all live. If you are interested in being a Community Organization of the Game, please contact Halle Wade at 803-888-3007.
Introducing the 2022 Draft Class By John Kocsis Jr.
It’s that time of year again in Class-A baseball. Teams go through massive face lifts and the old, familiar faces you’ve been cheering for the whole season have been pulled up to the next level as they continue their journey towards Major League Baseball. The Fireflies have already begun their annual metamorphosis, as they have welcomed five members of the 2022 draft class to South Carolina’s capital while in pursuit of their first franchise post-season
of their first franchise post-season berth. We’ll help you get to know the new recruits, first saying what the scouts said and then documenting how they’ve performed in the Carolina League so far. Gavin Cross – First Round, Virginia Tech Widely heralded as a top-10 talent in this year’s draft, Kansas City opted to draft a college position player in the first round for the first time since they picked Hunter Dozier 8th overall in the 2013 draft class. Coming out of the Tennessee high school ranks, Cross has improved his plate discipline each year since becoming a Hokie in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Most draft reports listed Cross as a plus-power bat with above average contact ability, while stating that he’ll best fit in a corner outfield role at the next level. The outfielder has breezed through Carolina League pitching so far, earning 11 hits in his first 10 games in the neon and navy. Cross has displayed a ton of power early, mashing four homers, two doubles and a triple around three singles. The lefty has 11 strikeouts and 11 RBI, and has been able to draw five free passes, slashing .282/.378/.692 through one home and one road series in full-season baseball. In the field, Cross has made a few fantastic diving plays to take extra bases away from hitters. We haven’t seen him try to stretch out his arm yet though. Cayden Wallace – Second Round, Arkansas Wallace has been hailed as one of the top power hitters in the 2022 draft class. MLB.com suggested that he was a first-round talent, so when he fell into the Royals’ lap in the second round, it was an easy decision to pick up the third baseman. Down the stretch at Arkansas, Wallace hit six homers in his last nine games. He has a compact swing that carries quickly through the zone. Some scouts view him as a five-tool player, who runs well and has an incredible arm at third base. Like Cross, Wallace has become an every day player for the Fireflies, slotting himself in the middle of the lineup as the team has revamped their order. In nine games in Columbia, he has hit one round-tripper, but has really showcased a knack for getting on-base early in his professional career. Wallace has 10 hits in nine contests and has drawn five walks already in a Fireflies uniform. The righty is slashing .286/.390/.457 and hit a triple and a double this last week vs Kannapolis after having only one extra-base hit in his first series. He has hit well at the plate, but Wallace has also locked down the hot corner, showcasing a strong arm and the best range of a Fireflies third baseman since Jake Means
manned the hot corner for the Fireflies in May of 2021.
Ben Sears – 14th Round, Houston Sears is a big-bodied right-handed reliever picked up by the Royals on the final day of the draft. The University of Houston product is 6’5” and has a knack for pounding the strike zone. He utilizes a sinker-slider combination that translates more as a power pitcher than someone who will be a big innings eater, and in 2022, Sears transitioned to a full-time
role in the bullpen that showcased what his stuff could do when he unleashes it. His sinker is in the mid-90s and he pairs it with a slider that Baseball America labeled “The best breaking ball in the AAC in 2022.” His strikeout rate in college was a little low, falling short of 20 percent, but he also only walked three percent of hitters his senior year in a Cougar uniform, so Sears looks to be a pitcher who thrives off of forcing soft contact. If punchout rate was a concern, you had us fooled through Sears’ first two outings in the Carolina League. The righty has fanned five of the 19 batters he has faced and is holding hitters to a .222 clip. The walk rate is still low, as Sears hasn’t issued a walk in five innings yet. He’s allowed two runs so far, but appears to be a reliever that the Fireflies can use in high-leverage situations down the stretch. Javier Vaz – 15th Round, Vanderbilt Vaz drew top marks for his work in the outfield for Vanderbilt after transferring to one of the nation’s top Division I programs out of LSU Eunice. Some fans may be familiar with the top-ranked JuCo in the country the last few years, because the Royals drafted LSU Eunice and Dallas Baptist product River Town late in last year’s draft. Town made his presence known in Columbia, providing consistent contact throughout the season before earning the call-up to Quad Cities. Vaz walks a lot, in fact 75 times in 77 games in his first two collegiate seasons. He also doesn’t strike out much at all, only getting punched out 21 times in those same 77 games. Vaz has continued to be a super utility player, playing second base, left field and right field in 10 games for the Fireflies. He bounced out to a super exciting start to the year, hitting a ground rule double and a home run in his first two games, but has slowed down at the plate since then. One thing has been certain, Vaz is a plus-runner, looking comparable to Jean Ramirez on the base paths. He also has a cannon in the outfield, and nearly got an outfield assist in the 10th inning of August 7’s contest vs the RiverDogs. Look for Vaz to slot into the line-up three or four times a week at different positions and potentially become a late-inning pinch runner or defensive substitution to close out this season. Cooper McKeehan – 16th Round, Brigham Young University Something clicked for Cooper McKeehan this last summer while he was in the Cape Cod League. In 2022, the southpaw posted his best career numbers in nearly every statistical category, striking out 42% of the batters he’s faced, maintaining a 1.57 ERA and keeping walks beneath the 15% of batters faced threshold. He only utilizes two pitches, but has been a one-inning pitcher his entire collegiate career, so there hadn’t been a need to develop an additional off speed pitch for the lefty. The BYU product has now spun two appearances for the Fireflies, tossing 23 total pitches, allowing one base runner in each appearance and keeping any runs off the board. In a limited time, he has held opponents to a .143 average and has looked good on the rubber. We’ll see if that can continue and if the Royals will start using him more than for one inning a week as they get more familiar with how he pitches and what type of shape he is in after being off from college ball for a month or so prior to the draft.
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