Princeton Devil Rays
Encyclopedia
The Princeton Rays are a minor league baseball
team in Princeton, West Virginia
, USA
. They are an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League
and have been an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays
since September 27, 1996. The Princeton franchise began play in the Appalachian League in 1988 and was previously affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1988-89), was a co-op team known as the Princeton Patriots (1990), and then was affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds (1991-96) before joining forces with Tampa Bay. The Princeton Rays play their home games at H.P. Hunnicutt Field, which originally opened in 1988 (and was completely rebuilt in 2000 on the same site) and seats 1,950 fans. The team plays an annual 68-game schedule that traditionally extends from mid-June through the end of August. Through the completion of the 2008 season, the franchise has seen 49 former players move on to play regular season major league baseball that at one time wore the Princeton uniform. This list of players includes big names such as Brandon Backe
, Rocco Baldelli
, Carl Crawford
, Jonny Gomes
, Josh Hamilton, Seth McClung
, Pokey Reese
, and Jared Sandberg
. NFL quarterback Doug Johnson (1997 P-Rays) and current NBA referee David Guthrie (1995 Princeton Reds) also played professional baseball for Princeton teams. The team is operated on a not-for-profit basis.
Previously known as the Princeton Devil Rays, the P-Rays announced on December 2, 2008 that they would update their name, logo, colors, and uniforms as their parent club had done the previous year. http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3746871
On December 12, 2008, the Rays announced that former Rays player Jared Sandberg
would serve as the Princeton Rays' manager in 2009. He will be joined by pitching coach Marty DeMerritt, hitting coach Rafael DeLeon, and infield coach Dan DeMent. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081215&content_id=487181&vkey=news_t455&fext=.jsp&sid=t455
On December 16, 2009, the Rays announced that Michael Johns would make his professional managerial debut by heading up the 2010 coaching staff. Johns, a resident of Orange Park, FL, played for two years with the Colorado Rockies
organization, then served two years on the coaching staff of Tampa Bay's short-A affiliate, the Hudson Valley Renegades
.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team in Princeton, West Virginia
Princeton, West Virginia
Princeton is a city in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 111,586. It is the county seat of Mercer County...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They are an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
and have been an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
since September 27, 1996. The Princeton franchise began play in the Appalachian League in 1988 and was previously affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1988-89), was a co-op team known as the Princeton Patriots (1990), and then was affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds (1991-96) before joining forces with Tampa Bay. The Princeton Rays play their home games at H.P. Hunnicutt Field, which originally opened in 1988 (and was completely rebuilt in 2000 on the same site) and seats 1,950 fans. The team plays an annual 68-game schedule that traditionally extends from mid-June through the end of August. Through the completion of the 2008 season, the franchise has seen 49 former players move on to play regular season major league baseball that at one time wore the Princeton uniform. This list of players includes big names such as Brandon Backe
Brandon Backe
Brandon Allen Backe is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He joined the Houston Astros in , after two seasons with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays....
, Rocco Baldelli
Rocco Baldelli
Rocco Dan Baldelli is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter. Because of his excellent size and speed, and in reference to his hometown, he was nicknamed, "The Woonsocket Rocket," early in his professional career...
, Carl Crawford
Carl Crawford
Carl Demonte Crawford is an American professional baseball outfielder who plays for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws left-handed...
, Jonny Gomes
Jonny Gomes
Jonathan Johnson "Jonny" Gomes is an American professional baseball outfielder.-Early years:...
, Josh Hamilton, Seth McClung
Seth McClung
Michael Seth McClung , nicknamed Big Red, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. In his career, he has pitched as a starting pitcher and as a relief pitcher....
, Pokey Reese
Pokey Reese
Calvin "Pokey" Reese, Jr. , is an American retired professional baseball infielder. Reese is a two-time National League Gold Glove Award winner and played with the Cincinnati Reds , Pittsburgh Pirates , and Boston Red Sox...
, and Jared Sandberg
Jared Sandberg
Jared Lawrence Sandberg is a former American Major League Baseball third baseman for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The nephew of former Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg, he is currently the manager of the Class-A level Hudson Valley Renegades in the Rays organization.Sandberg was born in...
. NFL quarterback Doug Johnson (1997 P-Rays) and current NBA referee David Guthrie (1995 Princeton Reds) also played professional baseball for Princeton teams. The team is operated on a not-for-profit basis.
Previously known as the Princeton Devil Rays, the P-Rays announced on December 2, 2008 that they would update their name, logo, colors, and uniforms as their parent club had done the previous year. http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3746871
On December 12, 2008, the Rays announced that former Rays player Jared Sandberg
Jared Sandberg
Jared Lawrence Sandberg is a former American Major League Baseball third baseman for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The nephew of former Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg, he is currently the manager of the Class-A level Hudson Valley Renegades in the Rays organization.Sandberg was born in...
would serve as the Princeton Rays' manager in 2009. He will be joined by pitching coach Marty DeMerritt, hitting coach Rafael DeLeon, and infield coach Dan DeMent. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081215&content_id=487181&vkey=news_t455&fext=.jsp&sid=t455
On December 16, 2009, the Rays announced that Michael Johns would make his professional managerial debut by heading up the 2010 coaching staff. Johns, a resident of Orange Park, FL, played for two years with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
organization, then served two years on the coaching staff of Tampa Bay's short-A affiliate, the Hudson Valley Renegades
Hudson Valley Renegades
The Hudson Valley Renegades are a minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League, a Class A Short Season league. The Renegades play at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY....
.