Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer
The crack of a baseball bat will once again echo through CHS Field, spurring rowdy crowds to their feet in a wave of cheers. The St. Paul Saints 2024 season kicks off with home games against the Columbus Clippers March 29-31. The first 2,000 fans through the gate on Friday and Saturday receive a free Saints hoodie. Friday’s game will feature fireworks and Sunday’s an egg scavenger hunt.
The Saints were purchased early in the 2023 season by Diamond Baseball Holdings, which owns 16 other minor league teams, and this year fans will notice a few changes that were made at CHS Field to improve the game viewing experience. New videoboards have replaced the static scoreboard in the right field and the electronic scoreboard on the third base side. They will provide real time statistics such as pitch type, spin rate, launch angle and exit velocity, and also show where pitches are in relation to the strike zone. To ensure fan safety, the protective netting in the foul territory has been upgraded and extended to the end of the seating bowl down the right and left field lines.
Key players to watch this season include pitchers David Festa, Matt Canterino and Simeon Woods Richardson, catcher Jair Camargo, infielders Brooks Lee, Austin Martin and Yunior Severino, and outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. The lineup may also occasionally include major leaguers rehabbing from injuries. Toby Gardenhire returns for his fourth season as Saints manager and is joined by returning bench and pitching coaches Tyler Smarslok and Peter Larson. Last year, Gardenhire led the team to the best record in the West Division, going 84-64. Despite not making the playoffs, the Saints had the third best record in the International League and the best winning percentage of Gardenhire’s managerial career. At one game, the team had 14 grand slams, tying the modern era minor league record set in 2005. Overall, Gardenhire is 225-202 in his three seasons as manager. As a player, he played seven seasons in the Minnesota Twins’ Minor League system.
This season’s home game opponents in April are Iowa, April 9-14; Rochester, April 23-28; and Louisville, April 30-May 5. Each game will have its own zany promotion. On April 9, several bars in Lowertown will host a pre-game block party event featuring a 2 p.m. happy hour. Special Olympics Minnesota Night is April 25. A portion of proceeds will support Special Olympics Minnesota and Special Olympic athletes can play ball on the field before the game. April 28 is a Peanuts (cartoon) celebration featuring Peanuts jersey giveaways. Other home game promotions throughout the season include Military Appreciation Night, Dog Day, Star Wars, Shred Sesh in Sk8 Paul, Pride Night, Juneteenth celebration, Pickleball Night and Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond. The Saints will also give away shirts, bobbleheads and other prizes on various dates.
While each home game has its own special promotion, days of the week also have their own themes. Tuesdays highlight travel and Wednesdays have activities that teach about Minnesota. Thirsty Thursdays feature $2 beers and two-for-one Bud Light seltzers. Post-game fireworks are back on Fridays, complete with music and light shows. Firework Super shows are presented June 8, July 3 and 4 and
September 21. On Saturdays, visitors are encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts, and on Sundays, families can let their kids run the bases and get player autographs.
The 8,000-seat CHS Field saw an average of 6,679 fans at each game last season, a slight increase from 2022. For tickets or more information, visit milb.com/st-paul.
The Saints ball pig this year was not named as of press time but, as always, it will proudly wear a satchel loaded with baseballs and water for the home plate umpire beginning at the home opener. Although, since the Saints transitioned from a minor league team to a Triple-A affiliate in 2022, their season is 50% longer and therefore the little piggy won’t be so little by July and a new piglet will take over at that time. It will be named at a later date. Last year’s two pigs were Mud Grant and Squealon Musk. For more information, visit milb.com/st-paul.
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