Midland RockHounds

Midland RockHounds
Founded in 1972
Midland, Texas
Team logoCap insignia
Class-level
Current Double-A
Minor league affiliations
League Texas League
Division South Division
Major league affiliations
Current Oakland Athletics (1999–present)
Previous

California / Anaheim Angels (1985–1998)

Chicago Cubs (1972–1984)
Minor league titles
League titles (6)
  • 1975*
  • 2005
  • 2009
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
Division titles (4)
  • 1975
  • 2005
  • 2009
  • 2010
Second half titles (1)
  • 2016

*Co-champions

Team data
Nickname Midland RockHounds (1999–present)
Previous names

Midland Angels (1985–1998)

Midland Cubs (1972–1984)
Colors blue, gold, & white
              
Mascot Rocky RockHound
P.K. the Coyote[1]
Ballpark Security Bank Ballpark (2002–present)
Previous parks
 Christensen Stadium (1972–2001)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
 Miles Prentice & Bob Richmond
Manager Fran Riordan
General Manager Monty Hoppel

The Midland RockHounds are a minor league baseball team based in Midland, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics major league club. The RockHounds play in Security Bank Ballpark, which opened in 2002 and seats 6,669 fans. The RockHounds have won six Texas League championships: in 1975 (co-champions with the Lafayette Drillers), 2005, 2009, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

History

The RockHounds were previously known as both the Midland Cubs (1972–1984) and Midland Angels (1985–1998). While Midland has been the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland A's since 1999, they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs from 1972 to 1984, and then with the California Angels from 1985 to 1998.[2]

The RockHounds have received numerous awards throughout their history. The Midland franchise under the Angels won the Texas League Organization of the Year in 1990 and 1994 and as the RockHounds in 2002. In 1995, Midland won Double-A Baseball's highest award, the Bob Frietas Award. General Manager Monty Hoppel has been named Executive of the Year with the franchise three times (1991, 1995, and 2002).[3]

In 1995, Midland reached its first-ever playoff appearance as an affiliate of the Angels and their first playoff appearance overall in 20 years. It also became the first season that Midland accumulated more than 200,000 fans in a season, a feat repeated in 1996. The feat surprised many in Minor League Baseball as the Midland-Odessa area only has just over 200,000 residents total. The RockHounds moved into Security Bank Ballpark, part of the Scharbauer Sports Complex on the west side of Midland, in 2002. Since then, the RockHounds have averaged over 250,000 fans every season. Prior to that, their home had been what is now known as Christensen Stadium, in northeast Midland.

The Rockhounds won their first ever Texas League Championship in 2005. They shared the title with the Lafayette Drillers in 1975 as the Cubs. In 2006, they won the second-half championship of the South Division, but they lost to the eventual champion Corpus Christi Hooks in the division playoffs.[4]

In 2007, the RockHounds won the John H. Johnson President's Award, Minor League baseball highest award for a franchise, making them the third Texas League franchise to do so after the El Paso Diablos and the Tulsa Drillers.[5]

In 2009, the RockHounds won their second Texas League pennant, defeating the Northwest Arkansas Naturals three games to one in the Championship Series.[6] In 2010, the RockHounds returned to the Texas League title game, but this time fell to the Naturals.

On the radio

The Midland Rockhounds have always had a play-by-play broadcast that has been available. KCRS (AM) had been the network to carry roughly 95% of the Rockhounds games since they debuted in 1972. Some afternoon games in 2008 didn't air on the radio due to contracts with Rush Limbaugh and others. For the 2009 season Gap Broadcasting announced the Rockhounds would have a new radio home, KFZX, also known as 102.1 Jack FM. For the 2010 season, the Rockhounds once again moved radio homes to KMRK 96.1 FM.[7] In both cases Bob Hards remained the voice of the Rockhounds, a position he has currently heldfor 19 consecutive years.[8] In 2013 the Rockhounds moved their games back to KCRS, though weekday day games would be preempted for talk shows that were already scheduled.

Notable players

Roster

Midland RockHounds roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 21 Ben Bracewell
  • 13 Sam Bragg
  • 17 Trey Cochran-Gill
  • 23 Heath Fillmyer
  • 26 Kyle Finnegan
  • 39 Kyle Friedrichs
  • 43 Kris Hall
  • 32 Evan Manarino
  • 19 Brandon Mann
  • 22 James Naile
  • 14 Jake Sanchez
  • 11 Joel Seddon
  • 33 Cody Stull
  • 55 Lou Trivino
  • 28 Corey Walter

Catchers

  • 45 Andy Paz

Infielders

Outfielders

  •  8 James Harris
  • 15 Tyler Marincov
  •  6 J.P. Sportman
  • 29 Brett Vertigan
  • -- Kenny Wilson

Manager

  • -- Fran Riordan

Coaches


Restricted list

  • 27 Beau Taylor

7-day disabled list
* On Oakland Athletics 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated December 8, 2016
Transactions
→ More MiLB rosters
→ Oakland Athletics minor league players

References

  1. ↑ "Appearances". Midland RockHounds. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  2. ↑ "History of Midland in Minor League Baseball". Midland RockHounds. Minor League Baseball.
  3. ↑ "Awards Follow the RockHounds Franchise". Midland RockHounds. Minor League Baseball.
  4. ↑ "RockHounds Success under the A's". Midland RockHounds. Minor League Baseball.
  5. ↑ Hards, Bob (November 19, 2007). "RockHounds Take Home Top Honor". Midland RockHounds. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  6. ↑ Hards, Bob (September 20, 2009). "RockHounds Hoist 2009 Title". Midland RockHounds. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  7. ↑ LeRoy, Oscar (April 8, 2010). "Rockhounds Notebook". MyWestTexas.com. Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Bob Hards: Director of Broadcasting and Publications". Midland RockHounds. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
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