Program 6 Issue 8

Program 6 Issue 8

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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GreenJackets Roster..................................

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Ticket Information.......................................

20-21

Driving Through the Baseball World ............

24-25

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 [email protected] .

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 [email protected] 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' 0" 220 R-R 10-02-1999 P - Heribert Garcia

6' 0" 180 L-L 09-30-97 P - Ryan Hennen Cold Springs, MN

Huntersville, NC

Boliver, VZ

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22

16

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6' 3" 230 L-R 01-27-1998 P - John McMillon

6' 2" 205 R-R 07-01-2001 P - Ben Hernandez

6' 3" 175 L-L 06-19-2003 P - Frank Mozzicato

P - Ben Kudrna

6' 3" 175 R-R 01-30-2003 Shawnee Mission, KS

Lufkin, TX

Chicago, IL

Hartford, CT

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19

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6' 3" 220 R-R 10-30-2001 P - Shane Panzini

P - Matt Stil

P - Oscar Rayo

6' 2" 210 L-L 10-26-1997 P - Ben Wereski

6' 3" 190 R-R 07-05-2000

6' 1" 180 L-L 01-13-2002

Spring Lake, NJ

Hartford, CT

Managua, NIC

Decatur, GA

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catchers

38

12

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6' 2" 205 R-R 10-14-1998 C - Felix Familia Santo Domingo, DR

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' 0" 190 S-R 08-21-1999 IF - Dayton Dooney

IF - Guillermo Quintana

IF - Omar Florentino

6' 1" 180 R-R 03-16-2001

5' 9" 170 S-R 10-26-2001

Honolulu, HI

Cartagena, COL

San Juan De La Maguana, DR

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6' 0" 150 R-R 12-15-2003 IF - Daniel Vazquez

IF - Josh Rivera

IF - Enrique Valdez

5' 11" 185 R-R 01-30-1999

6' 0" 185 L-R 05-15-2001 San Pedro de Macoris, DR

Villa Mella, DR

San Juan, PR

outfielders

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15

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5' 10" 190 L-L 10-25-2000 OF - Jean Ramirez

OF - Erick Pena

OF - River Town

OF - Jaswel De Los Santos

6' 3" 205 L-R 02-20-2003 Santo Domingo, D.R.

5' 11" 181

L-R

6' 1" 180 L-R 01-28-2002 Santo Domingo, D.R.

07-08-1999 Zachary, LA

Mao, D.R.

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2022 augusta greenjackets Pitchers: 11 Juan Mateo 14 Jordan Perez 17 Peyton Williams 18 James Acuna 20 Tyler Owens 23 Rolddy Munoz Infielders: 7 Eliezel Stevens 8 Geraldo Quintero 15 Braulio Vasquez 36 Brian Klein 49 Francisco Floyd

Outfielders: 1

25 Alex Segal 26 Miguel Pena 30 Ronaldo Alesandro 32 Rob Griswold 33 AJ Smith-Shawver 40 Estarlin Rodriguez 48 Darling Florentino 54 Luis Vargas 55 Rainiery Rodriguez 56 Sam Strickland Catchers: 28 Adam Zebrowski 46 Victor De Hoyos

Stephen Paolini Kadon Morton

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Connor Blair

19 Brandol Mezquita 24 Brandon Parker

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 [email protected]

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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!

7/22 - Palmetto Place 7/24 - Harvest Hope

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.

Driving Through the Baseball World By John Kocsis Jr.

San Diego, California is a long way away from Columbia, South Carolina. More than a hop, skip and a jump, the journey is 2,354 miles—or roughly a 34-hour drive. Okay. It’s not quite fair to track it as one drive or journey. There were steps to get there. First, it was an eight-hour journey to the Bay Area as a 19-year-old. Two years later, baseball would bring our protagonist back closer to home, in

Pomona—six hours south of the Bay and two hours northeast of San Diego. Then, later that Summer, the pitcher would receive his first taste of the Midwest, packing up his things and heading to Duluth, Minnesota. A journey from one hour North of Tijuana, Mexico to three hours South of Thunder Bay, Canada. After graduating college, our player would once again journey across the country to Evansville, Indiana to play in the Frontier League, his final stop before coming to Columbia. Baseball is a journey. Yes, physically, mentally and socially while playing the sport, players grow up an learn a lot more about the culture of the world outside of their hometown. Locker rooms are packed to the gills with people from every walk of life. But that doesn’t mean that for many players, it isn’t a lengthy journey in real life to get from point a-to-point b. That’s the case for Tim Holdgrafer, a 25-year-old who has experienced it all through the game. He’s played from coast-to-coast, playing a lot of games on the West Coast and while in the Carolina League, making an appearance in Charleston, South Carolina along the Atlantic Ocean. The righty’s grey Jeep Grand Cherokee has pushed through a lot of miles along the way. Sometimes, he has had the time to make a trip out of the journey between stops, but other times, like when the Royals signed him out of Evansville, he’s had to persevere.

“I was supposed to start that Friday night game. My Mom had flown out the

day before for the week, but I ended up getting signed,” Holdgrafer remembers. “I couldn’t pitch anymore, but I stayed for the game that night and then drove to Knoxville. Then Saturday I made it the rest of the way and suited up in Columbia.” He made a trip out from San Diego to Evansville. He drove out with another friend who plays in the Frontier League to make the drive to the Midwest. On the way as the two caravanned, they stopped in Scottsdale, Dalllas and Nashville for the night to experience the night life.

“I’m not just flying across the country. I’m driving and experiencing it.” Holdgrafer tells. One of his goals when travelling across the country the last time he went was to stop at a few small towns and to try to sample restaurants that he’s never tried or heard of. One of those stops came after they played golf right outside of El Paso. “It was about an hour detour off the freeway, and it was unbelievable,” the pitcher tells. “It was cool because we were the only people in there except for a few locals and it felt very including. I got the pulled pork and some brisket and it was absolutely unbelievable.” The name of the restaurant was Hickory Pit Bar-B-Que. It has a small following. The page has less than 1,000 likes on Facebook, but they’ve been a mainstay in the area, serving up BBQ for 60 years. Delving through the comments people leave on social media, most point out that they have been eating at the restaurant for generations! Great food isn’t the only thing that Tim stopped for. He stopped at one of the most famous haunted houses in the country on his journey from coast-to-coast, visiting the Whaley house. “We went to the Whaley House. I had heard the stories, but figured, while we’re here, why not take a night-time tour,” Holdgrafer explains. “I was on-edge the whole time. It was during the night-time, you’re in this three-story house with an attic and you’re touring each room while the guide is showing and explaining all the different rooms that people did stuff, and it was super interesting.” Holdgrafer’s journey with the Fireflies was relatively short. The righty appeared in eight games, spinning a 5.82 ERA in 17 innings before the Royals released him. That doesn’t mean it’s the end of his journey though. The grey Jeep Grand Cherokee will hit the road again, aiming for the next destination with a couple of stops in between. Who said professional ball can’t have its own fair share of fun and games on the side?

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/COLUMBIAFIREFLIES

@COLAFIREFLIES

@COLAFIREFLIES

(803) 726-4487 [email protected]

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