Local stadiums getting MLB upgrades
Not all ballpark improvements are eye-catching, or even noticeable.
“I gotta modernize an elevator,” Kyle Torster, the City of Aberdeen’s Director of Public Works said last month regarding Ripken Stadium, home of the IronBirds.
Yet, such improvements are needed to keep aging ballparks functioning. And in the case of some specific renovations, they’re required so minor league teams retain their affiliation with Major League Baseball.
MLB dictated in 2021 that each of its minor league clubs play in stadiums that meet certain standards for players. Last year, the state of Maryland set aside public money for that purpose, authorizing the Maryland Stadium Authority to issue up to $200 million.
Maryland’s three Orioles-affiliated minor league teams — the High-A IronBirds, Double-A Bowie Baysox and Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds — recently sent letters to the stadium authority requesting some of those funds. Each of those teams play in ballparks that are between 20 and 30 years old, and though the parks have many needs, the fund’s top priority is to meet MLB’s new requirements so the clubs remain affiliated.
MLB is requiring each club to have “modernized facility standards better suited for professional athletes,” per a news release.
Minor league rosters and staffs have grown in size in recent decades and so clubhouses, for example, are now required to be larger. There are also now more women in pro baseball, serving as coaches and umpires, and ballparks will need to have more than just men’s bathrooms on the service level — which used to be the case in some instances.
MLB cut the number of minor league teams from 160 to 120 in 2020, eliminating affiliations with teams in places such as Frederick and Hagerstown. It has now decreed that each remaining team play in a ballpark up to the new standards by 2025.
“Major League Baseball has reorganized their minor league system,” Michael Frenz,
Houston wide receiver Nathaniel Dell
Nicknamed “Tank,” the 5-10, 165-pound Dell punched above his weight class by recording 108 catches for 1,399 yards and a nation-leading 17 touchdowns in 2022. The third-team All-America selection by the Associated Press is a projected late Day 2 pick but could rise with a standout showing in Mobile.
Florida offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence
With Ben Powers expected to receive plenty of attention in free agency, the Ravens could be looking for a new starter at left guard. The 6-5, 347-pound Torrence is considered the top guard prospect in the draft and a likely first-round pick after a standout season against Southeastern Conference competition.
Maryland offensive lineman Jaelyn Duncan
The 6-6, 320-pound Duncan has earned some first-round buzz and could continue to rise from his spot at No. 56 on The Athletic’s consensus big board, which complies rankings from several analysts. After playing three seasons at left tackle for the Terps, the former St. Frances standout could kick inside to guard early in his NFL career.
Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Steen
After four seasons at Vanderbilt, including 33 consecutive starts, the 6-5, 315-pound Steen transferred to Alabama and immediately took over at left tackle, where he earned second-team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches. He ranks No. 94 on The Athletic’s consensus big board, putting him in range for the Ravens in the third round of the draft.
Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson
The 6-foot, 214-pound Stevenson was
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Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Alabama Saturday, 1:30 p.m. TV: NFL Network
recently projected to land in the first round by the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, which could make him an option for the Ravens at No. 22. He recorded 115 tackles, 24 pass deflections and three interceptions in 46 career games with Georgia and Miami and was named third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference in 2022.
Stanford cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly
The 6-1, 188-pound Kelly is a potential second-round pick, which could keep him out of the Ravens’ range unless they trade up. The son of former NFL corner Brian Kelly has started each of his four seasons at Stanford, earning second-team All-Pac 12 honors as a junior in 2021.
Maryland cornerback Jakorian Bennett
The 5-11, 195-pound Bennett will return to his hometown of Mobile to compete against some of the best NFL prospects in the country, continuing his journey from overlooked recruit to Big Ten standout. The former junior college star has recorded the most pass breakups (27) of any player in the Power Five since the start of the 2021 season.
Georgia Tech defensive lineman Keion White
The 6-5, 286-pound White made a surprise appearance in ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft, coming in at No. 19. After moving from the tight end position to defensive end at Old Dominion and earning second-team All-Conference USA honors, he transferred to Georgia Tech and enjoyed a breakout redshirt senior season, recording 7 ½ sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
Notre Dame defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey
The 6-5, 265-pound Foskey is another potential first-round selection after a standout career at Notre Dame, but there are questions about how he’ll measure up in one-on-one drills. Since becoming a fulltime starter in 2021, he’s recorded 26 ½ tackles for loss, 22 sacks and seven forced fumbles.
Northwestern defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore
The 6-2, 280-pound Adebawore, a projected Day 2 pick, was perhaps the lone bright spot on defense for a Northwestern team that finished 1-11, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors from the media. According to Pro Football Focus, his 27 run stops this past season ranked third among all Big Ten edge rushers.
Bowling Green defensive lineman Karl Brooks
The 6-4, 300-pound Brooks’ college career culminated with a career-high 10 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in 2022. The projected Day 2 pick earned first-team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award given to the nation’s top defensive end.
Wisconsin defensive tackle Keeanu Benton
The 6-4, 315-pound Benton recorded a career-high 4 ½ sacks and 10 tackles for loss as a senior to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches. He’s ranked the No. 72 overall prospect by PFF.
Auburn edge rusher Derick Hall
Although a bit undersized for his position, the 6-3, 256-pound Hall ranks No. 65 on The Athletic’s consensus big board after recording 19 ½ sacks, 28 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles in three seasons as a starter. As a senior, he was named first-team All-SEC by the league’s coaches, as well as the team’s Defensive Player of the Year.