After a tumultuous offseason headlined by a change in ownership, the focus finally returns back to the field of play for the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball’s Gastonia franchise.
Honey Hunters no more, the Gastonia Baseball Club begins a new era Thursday when it hosts the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in its 2024 season opener. It is the first of a six-game home stand to start the new ALPB season, the team’s first under the ownership of Zawyer Sports and Entertainment.
While there will be plenty of fresh, new initiatives for the club and patrons entering CaroMont Health Park, there remains a high bar of expectations.
ROUGH END TO 2023 CAMPAIGN:Gastonia Honey Hunters baseball falls in pursuit of Atlantic League title
NEW BEGINNINGS:Are you ready for some baseball? Gastonia team owners talk about a fresh start
Gastonia finished a game shy of claiming its first ALPB title, falling to the Lancaster Barnstormers in a winner-take-all Game 5 of the 2023 league championship series. No team on the circuit has won more games than Gastonia the past two seasons, claiming 167 victories and two Southern Division titles during the span.
Despite new ownership, two of those responsible for such success — manager and former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Mauro “Goose” Gozzo and general manager Brady Salisbury — were retained to put together a competitive on-field product.
Top returning players
- Bryan Blanton, pitcher: Spent 57 games with Gastonia last season, finishing with a 3-2 pitching record, a 4.43 ERA, 78 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched. He also had eight saves.
- Brett Daniels, pitcher: A University of North Carolina baseball standout, he returns to Gastonia after going 7-1 last season with a 2.18 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 53 ⅔ innings pitched.
- Eric De La Rosa, outfielder: Though only in Gastonia for 61 games, he hit .237 with 11 home runs, 40 RBIs and 38 runs scored.
- Trent Fennell, pitcher: A Barton College product, he was 2-3 last season for Gastonia with a 3.71 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched.
- Pedro Gonzalez, outfielder: Hit .240 last season with 10 home runs, 10 RBIs and 26 runs scored.
- Jake Hoover, infielder: Was acquired by Gastonia midway through the 2023 campaign. In 45 games, he hit .243 with three home runs, 14 RBIs and 18 runs scored.
- Jack Reinheimer, infielder: He finished last season hitting .310 with 11 home runs, 29 RBIs, 62 runs scored and 30 stolen bases. Reinheimer’s 85 steals in a Gastonia uniform are most in club history.
Key acquisitions
- Zac Lowther, pitcher: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2017 MLB Draft, he spent two seasons with the club (2021, 2022), pitching 35 innings during the stint.
- Pat Mazeika, catcher: The 30-year-old catcher made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the New York Mets in 2021.
- Matt McDermott, infielder: Spent last season in the Frontier League with the New York Boulders, where he hit .312 with seven home runs, 39 RBIs and 51 runs scored.
- Dean Miller, outfielder: Played the last two seasons with the Glacier (Montana) Range Riders of the Pioneer League, during which he hit .336 with 30 home runs, 155 RBIs, 44 stolen bases and 152 runs scored.
- Nate Peden, pitcher: This will be Peden’s fourth stop in the Atlantic League, previously playing for Lexington, Kentucky, Charleston and Spire City the last three seasons.
- Jacob Robson, outfielder: Spent last season with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association, where he hit .250 with 10 home runs, 31 RBIs and scored 52 runs.
Take me out to the ballgame
Daily promotions
- Tuesdays: Trivia Night
- Thursdays: Thirsty Thursdays
- Saturdays: Fireworks following the game
- Sundays: Bark in the Park; kids run the bases
Other promotions on deck
- April 25: Opening night
- April 26: Grey Out Night
- May 14-19: “What If?” Night No. 1; the Gastonia Ball Club is utilizing “what if?” nights to gauge fan interest in potential team names. First up is the “Gastronauts,” a nickname which was unveiled earlier this week. There will be eight different names rolled out through the 2024 campaign.
- May 18: Retro Night
- May 24-27: Veterans Appreciation Nights
- June 4-9: “What If?” Night No. 2
- June 7-8: 90s Night
- June 20: Wizard Night
- June 27: Margaritaville
- July 5-7: Independence Day weekend
- July 16-17: Christmas in July
- July 26-28: “What If? Night No. 3
- Aug-2-4: “What If?” Night No. 4
- Aug. 16-18: “What If?” Night No. 5
- Aug. 17: Cancer Awareness Night
- Aug. 23-25: “What If?” Night No. 6
- Aug. 24: Beer Fest
- Aug. 28: Barbecue Night
- Aug. 30-Sept. 1: “What If?” Night No. 7
- Aug. 31: Family and Faith Night
- Sept. 2: Hot Dog Day/Team postgame autographs
- Sept. 12: School Day (First pitch at 10 a.m.)
- Sept. 13-14: “What If?” Night No. 8
- Sept. 14: Fan Appreciation Night
Want tickets?
Single-game tickets are available online at the Gastonia Baseball Club website or at the team box office at 800 W. Franklin St. in Gastonia. Tickets start at $10 apiece.
