Some changes to the Trenton Thunder for 2018 season
Close your eyes for a moment … take a few deep breaths … SERIOUSLY. DO IT.
OK … eyes closed … a few deep breaths … picture freshly cut green grass … now inhale that smell … and CRACK! hear the singular sound of a baseball hitting a bat … Nice, right? And it’s almost here. Heck, we’re mere days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. Wednesday, to be exact. Short of a redbreasted robin pooping on your head, there is no surer sign spring is right around the (hot) corner.
Of course, for us Greater Trenton folk, baseball means Trenton Thunder. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Double-A team, and with it, a few new items to discuss. Starting with …
Russell Wilson: As in, the Seattle Seahawks all-world quarterback. He’s on the Thunder roster this year. Yep. His rights, owned by the Texas Rangers, were traded to the New York Yankees and he’ll be popping in for a little spring training action down in Florida.
Now, granted, it’s unlikely (read: not happening) Wilson will actually be manning the keystone for the Thunder — he last played minor league ball in 2011 — but …. maybe?
“It would be great if it would happen,” said Thunder GM Jeff Hurley. “You never know. But I completely understand why the Yankees went out and got him. To have a winner like that hanging around camp, talking to the younger guys. It’s great.”
OK. So Russ probably won’t be in Trenton. But you know who will?
Rookie. As in, bat dog Rookie, son of Derby, grandson of Chase.
This winter, the Thunder and the community suffered a loss when Derby, 9, died after a short bout of cancer.
“It was a tough moment within the organization. He was gone too soon,” Hurley told me. “He was such a big part of the Thunder family, such a big part of the local community.”
Hurley explained they found the cancer soon after the 2017 season ended, but thought it would be treatable and Derby would be back on the field for the 2018 season. But shortly after the new year, Derby took a turn for the worse and he passed away rather suddenly.
So Rookie — who’s been sharing duties with his dad — will be the sole Thunder bat dog this year.
The other big change to the Thunder this year will occur on eight home Friday games, starting May 18. Your beloved Trenton Thunder will no longer exist. They will be the … Trenton Pork Roll.
For real.
That will be their name, and they will be sporting a full-on pork roll uniform, complete with jerseys and caps.
“A couple of us were thinking about what we could do for the 25th season to change things up,” Hurley said. “We’re definitely not the first team to bring food to the party, and so we’re really surprised at all the attention we’re getting. All we did was take New Jersey delicacy and made it our name.”
By the way, yes, Trenton Pork Roll shirts and hats are already available for order on the Thunder’s website. I’m placing my order as we speak.
Spring is in the air. Wake me in a few weeks.