Tribe affiliate ready for long-awaited season

EASTLAKE >> First-year manager Greg DiCenzo and the Lake County Captains are eager to start the new season while being part of momentous developments in the history of minor-league baseball.

The Captains will be in Michigan on May 4 to open the 2021 campaign against the Lansing Lugnuts. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

They’ll take the field 10 months after the 2020 season in the minor leagues was canceled because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“Not getting to play (in 2020) was a huge disappointment for all of us,” said DiCenzo, who joined the Indians’ player development staff in January 2020 after 12 seasons as head baseball coach at Division I Holy Cross in his home state of Massachusetts.

“When a challenge like that is placed in front of you, when you get knocked down, you need to buckle up and keep punching,” DiCenzo added. “I know I’m anxious to get up off the mat and start punching.”

DiCenzo said the 29 players on this Lake County roster share his heightened anticipation for a return to competition after last season’s cancellation.

“We all have a renewed appreciation for this great game after that experience,” DiCenzo said. “We’re all super-excited to see the scoreboard turned on and know the numbers going up there really matter.

“I know I can hardly wait to see these guys get back on the field and compete at a high level,” he added.

The Captains return this season one rung higher on the developmental ladder as a result of the wholesale restructuring of the minor leagues engineered by Major League Baseball.

Formerly a full-season Class A affiliate playing in the Midwest League (2010-19) and South Atlantic League (2003-09), Lake County now is part of the 12-team High-A Central.

The Captains and the 11 other franchises coming over from the Midwest League to the High-A Central will play 120-game schedules as opposed to the usual 140 games. That is due to the late start of the regular season necessitated by minor-league spring training being pushed back until big-league teams broke camp on March 30.

Minor-league baseball’s new way of doing business

extends to scheduling. With a goal of reducing travel, teams will now play sixgame series. Homestands and road trips will last either six games or 12 games.

“Our guys are certainly aware of everything that’s been happening,” DiCenzo said. “They are very appreciative of getting this opportunity and are ready to be pushed and challenged harder than they’ve ever been pushed or challenged.”

Right-hander Hunter Gaddis, the Indians’ fifthround pick in the 2019 draft out of Georgia State, will get the start for the Captains in the season opener at Lansing.

He’ll be joined in the lineup by catcher Bryan Lavastida, first baseman Joe Naranja, second baseman Raynel Delgado, shortstop Brayan Rocchio, third baseman Jose Tena, left fielder Austen Wade, center fielder Will Brennan, right fielder George Valera and designated hitter Daniel Schneemann.

DiCenzo said minorleague players, managers, coaches and support staffers all have been thoroughly briefed on protocols enacted to prevent interruptions of this season by the novel coronavirus.

“The protocols are ingrained in our DNA by now,” DiCenzo said. “Adhering to them will be a team effort. It only takes one person to not be a great teammate and jeopardize all that’s been put in place to get us back to playing games.”

After the six scheduled games in Lansing, the Captains will be back in Eastlake on May 11 for the home opener against the Fort Wayne (Ind.) TinCaps. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.