Richmond Flying Squirrels

The Richmond Flying Squirrels are a Minor League Baseball team based in Richmond, Virginia. The team, which is a part of the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club, and plays at The Diamond. The Flying Squirrels have been affiliated with the Giants since 2010, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the Giants organization among teams not owned by the Giants.[1] The Squirrels were previously known as the Connecticut Defenders.

Richmond Flying Squirrels
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassDouble-A (1995–present)
LeagueEastern League (1995–2020, 2022–present)
DivisionSouthwest Division
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
TeamSan Francisco Giants (2003–present)
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (1)
  • 2002
Division titles (3)
  • 2002, 2009, 2014
First-half titles (1)
  • 2022
Second-half titles (1)
  • 2023
Team data
Name
  • Richmond Flying Squirrels (2010–present)
Previous names
  • Connecticut Defenders (2006–2009)
  • Norwich Navigators (1995–2005)
ColorsRed, black, gray, white
       
MascotsNutzy and Nutasha
BallparkThe Diamond (2010–present)
Previous parks
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Lou DiBella
General managerTodd Parnell
ManagerDennis Pelfrey

The Flying Squirrels mark affiliated baseball's return to Richmond after a one-year absence prompted by the relocation of the former Triple-A International League's Richmond Braves to Lawrenceville, Georgia in 2009, where they are now called the Gwinnett Stripers.

History

On September 23, 2009, it was announced that the Connecticut Defenders would leave Norwich for their current home at The Diamond in Richmond, Virginia, where they will continue seeking proposals for a new ballpark in the Richmond metropolitan area. The team name was changed to the "Flying Squirrels".[2]

The name the Richmond Flying Squirrels was chosen through a Richmond Times-Dispatch readers' "name-the-team-contest," which ended on October 15, 2009.[2] The name was submitted by Brad Mead of Prince George, Virginia. Other finalists were the Rock Hoppers, Hambones, Rhinos, Flatheads, and Hush Puppies. (The name Hambones was later ruled out of the contest after the city's uproar and the NAACP finding that "the Hambones" could be seen as a derogatory term directed towards the African-American community.)

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Flying Squirrels were organized into the Double-A Northeast.[3] In 2022, the Double-A Northeast became known as the Eastern League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.[4]

The new Flying Squirrels logo was unveiled on December 1, 2009.[5] It is a black, red, and grey flying squirrel with a patch in the shape of an "R" (for Richmond) on top of an acorn over its heart. The logo was designed by San Diego-based sports branding firm Brandiose. It was named the logo of the year by Ballpark Digest in 2010[6] and the best minor-league logo by Baseball America in 2015.[7]

Season records

Playoffs
  • 1997 season: Lost to Portland, 3–2, in first round
  • 1999 season: Defeated Trenton 3–2, in first round; lost to Harrisburg 3–2, in championship round.
  • 2001 season: Lost to New Britain, 3–1, in first round
  • 2002 season: Defeated New Haven, 3–0, in first round; defeated Harrisburg 3–2 to win Eastern League title.
  • 2009 season: Defeated New Britain, 3–1, in first round; lost to Akron 3–1, in championship round.
  • 2014 season: Defeated Akron, 3–1, in first round; lost to Binghamton 3–0, in championship round.
  • 2022 season: Lost to Erie SeaWolves 2–0 in first round
  • 2023 season: Lost to Erie SeaWolves 2–0 in first round

Roster
Richmond Flying Squirrels roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

Catchers

  •  8 Robert Emery
  • 28 Brandon Martorano
  •  9 Andy Thomas

Infielders

  •  6 Carter Aldrete
  • 19 Hayden Cantrelle
  •  5 Jimmy Glowenke
  • 10 Marco Luciano *
  • 16 Shane Matheny
  • -- Sean Roby
  • 41 Brady Whalen
  • 40 Simon Whiteman
  • 41 Logan Wyatt

Outfielders

  •  7 Vaun Brown
  •  1 Wade Meckler
  • 28 Ismael Munguia
  • 18 Carter Williams

Manager

  • 12 Dennis Pelfrey

Coaches

  • 21 Cory Elasik (hitting)
  • 17 Lipso Nava (fundamentals)
  • 58 Paul Oseguera (pitching)

60-day injured list

7-day injured list
* On San Francisco Giants 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated June 19, 2023
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Eastern League
 → San Francisco Giants minor league players

References

Notes

  1. "San Francisco Giants Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  2. O'connor, John (October 15, 2009). "Flying Squirrels picked as new baseball team name". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, VA: Media General Communications Holdings. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  3. Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  4. "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  5. "Flying Squirrels unveil logos". Richmond Times-Dispatch. December 1, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  6. "Logo of the Year: Richmond Flying Squirrels". BallparkDigest.com. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  7. "Flying Squirrels No. 1 minor league logo according to Baseball America". Richmond.com. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  8. "2019 Richmond Flying Squirrels". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved April 12, 2020.

Sources

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