Norwich Sea Unicorns

The Norwich Sea Unicorns are a baseball team located in Norwich, Connecticut. From 2010 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL) as the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They play their home games at Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium. They were previously known as the Connecticut Tigers from 2010 to 2019. With Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, Norwich was not selected to continue in affiliated baseball. Starting with the 2021 season, Norwich plays in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.

Norwich Sea Unicorns
Information
LeagueFCBL (2021–present)
LocationNorwich, Connecticut (2010–present)
BallparkSenator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium (2010–present)
Year founded2010
League championshipsFCBL: 2023
Former name(s)Connecticut Tigers (2010–2019)
Former league(s)New York–Penn League (2010–2020)
ColorsNavy, yellow, gold, gray, blue, white[1]
           
OwnershipMiles Prentice
ManagerKevin Murphy
General ManagerLee Walter Jr.
Websitegoseaunicorns.com

History
The unveiling of the team's original logo and uniforms at an April 1, 2010, press conference

On January 27, 2010, Oneonta, New York Mayor Dick Miller announced in a press release that the Oneonta Tigers would be leaving the city for Norwich, Connecticut, after the 2009 season. Beginning play in 2010, the Connecticut Tigers played their games in the newly renovated Dodd Stadium, which had been vacated by the Connecticut Defenders of the Eastern League who had left for Richmond, Virginia, to become the Richmond Flying Squirrels simultaneous to the Tigers' arrival.

In 2011, the Connecticut Tigers saw a 23% increase in total attendance and a 20% increase in average attendance over 2010 numbers. The 20% increase in average attendance was the fourth largest increase in all of Minor League Baseball.[2]

The Connecticut Tigers name was only expected to be used for the 2010 season with a name-the-team contest expected to be held after the season to decide a permanent name. The team decided to keep the name, however, citing positive feedback from fans owing to the connection to the major league Detroit Tigers, the team's Major League Baseball affiliate. Connecticut held on to the Tigers moniker through the end of the 2019 season. That season, the team renewed its long-term lease with the city of Norwich, and, as a result, announced a change to the team name, which would include the Norwich name and a nickname to be chosen following a fan submission contest.[3][4] The five finalists from the contest were "Norwich Golden Roses", "Norwich Mill Mules", "Norwich Narwals", "Norwich Salty Dogs", and "Norwich Sea Unicorns". Ultimately, the team settled on becoming the Norwich Sea Unicorns.[5]

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before being cancelled on June 30.[6][7] After the cancelled 2020 minor league season, Major League Baseball took direct control of Minor League Baseball and discontinued short-season play. The Sea Unicorns were not selected to continue in affiliated baseball. The team joined the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL), a collegiate summer league in New England, for 2021.[8][9]

Playoffs

Roster
Norwich Sea Unicorns roster
Active roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 44 Ryan Ahern
  • -- Bryan Albee
  •  7 Kalib Clark
  •  3 Gary Costello
  • -- Connor Davey
  • 23 Spencer Fox
  •  4 Tommy Hughes
  • -- Eddie Kafton
  • 19 Brad Lombardi
  • 22 Peter Phillips
  • -- Randy Reyes
  • -- Jayvien Sandridge
  • -- Payton Sutman
  • -- Cameron Varney
  • —- Vincenzo Camera



  

Catchers

  •  9 Colton Bender
  • 12 David Driscoll
  •  8 Thomas Keefe
  • -- Matt Malcolm

Infielders

  • -- Ian Battipaglia
  •  2 Noah Budzik
  • -- John Chacho
  • -- Kaelen Culpepper
  • -- Tremayne Cobb
  • -- Kyan Lodice
  • -- Anthony Porrino
  • -- Dean Slavin
  •  5 Gianni Zarrilli

Outfielders

  • 24 Andy Martin
  • 20 Bobby McBride
  • -- John Mesagno
  • -- Korey Morton
  • -- Michael Torniero
  • 14 Tyler Wells
  • -- Hunter Yaworski
  • -- Jared Zimbardo
  

Manager

  • 21 Devin Belenski

Coaches

  •  6 Christian Lalomia (assistant)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

 updated May 26, 2021

See also

References
  1. "New for 2020: Norwich Sea Unicorns". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  2. Reichard, Kevin (September 12, 2011). "Crunching the 2011 Minor League Baseball Attendance Figures". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  3. Konrad, James (March 29, 2019). "City, Tigers Agree to Long-term Lease, Changing Team's Name". The Bulletin. Norwich, Connecticut. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  4. Putterman, Alex (April 13, 2019). "Seeking 'Hometown Focus,' Connecticut Tigers Solicits Fan Submissions for New Name". Hartford Courant. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  5. Hill, Benjamin (December 5, 2019). "Legends of the Deep: Sea Unicorns Emerge". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  6. "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  7. "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  8. "Norwich Sea Unicorns Looking at Options After Affiliation With Detroit Tigers Ends". NBC Connecticut. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  9. "Sea Unicorns join Futures League". The Bulletin. Norwich, Connecticut. April 27, 2021.
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