LAKEWOOD – Now in their 17th year, the Lakewood BlueClaws are growing, adding new teammates and new entertainment and food options for patrons, officials said.
The team, a minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, is headquartered out of First Energy Park in Lakewood.
The opening game of the season kicked off on April 13. They were up against the Greensboro Grasshoppers, which are affiliated with the Miami Marlins.
Ultimately, the local team lost 2-0, but the crowd had a good time, the team spokesman said. The fans really do get into the game here.
It was a good crowd, about 6,870 people. A few different factors went into making it the biggest opening night since 2009. The most important factor was the weather. As spring has finally been breaking through the winter weather, people wanted to get out and enjoy the sun. Additionally, a lot of people were off on Good Friday, so the Thursday game was a popular destination.
New Players
The team is strong as ever, officials reported. They are expecting big things from two new prospects.
One is Mickey Moniak, an 18-year-old centerfielder from California who was the first overall pick. He was batting .302.
Another is Sixto Sanchez, also 18, who is a pitcher from the Dominican Republic. He has been featured on many baseball websites as a player to watch.
New Food
Several new food options are being added to the stadium this season.
The new Dugout Bar is open along the third base concourse and will feature a variety of beer, including craft, domestic and premium drafts. There is also a variety of white and red wine selections.
The Grand Slam Grill is now open, serving traditional ballpark fare as well as newer favorites such as hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken drummettes, mac & cheese bites, ice cream and Italian ice.
Three food trucks have taken up semi-permanent residence at the stadium. The Empanada Guy, Fork in the Road and Jake’s Crab Shack will be set up on the concourse of every home game.
New Entertainment
When the players aren’t on the field, other entertainment will be available. The TD Bank Summer Concert Series will share dates with eight Saturday home games, beginning May 27. The doors open two hours before the game for the concert.
The stadium will still have fireworks shows after Friday shows, as well as games on May 28, July 3 and Sept. 3. The 14 fireworks shows will also have themes for the first time this year. They include Musicals, Billy Joel, 90s Disney, Star Wars and more.
Tickets and Scheduling
One thing that hasn’t changed is the price of tickets. They are still $13 for adults and $10 for juniors and seniors. To see the BlueClaws schedule, visit milb.com/schedule/index.jsp?sid=t427.
