May 19, 2021
After a disappointing offensive series against Birmingham, Blue Wahoos outfielder Peyton Burdick hoped his perseverance would finally yield results.
It certainly did Tuesday night.
Burdick produced three hits, but none bigger than his game-deciding double in the 10
th inning, giving the Blue Wahoos a 3-2 win against the Rocket City Trash Pandas and the season’s first walk-off celebration at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Burdick began his big night with a first inning, solo home run that was a no-doubter, even into the strong wind blowing in from the bay.
“You go up there every day, you keep working,” said Burdick, after being doused with a water bucket by teammates near second base. “That’s the name of the game in baseball, you gotta keep working. You never know what day is going to be your day.
May 17, 2021
The Blue Wahoos sustained a second hard-luck loss Sunday to end their first homestand of the season.
After holding a 5-4 lead in the ninth, the Birmingham Barons rallied with a pair of runs after loading the bases and held for a 6-5 win before a crowd of 4,102 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The comeback followed the Barons rally in the late innings Saturday to take that game.
The losses, however, were countered by a week where the Blue Wahoos (6-6) returned to their bayfront stadium for the first time in 20-plus months and played six games in sunset settings.
Minors primer: What’s new as MiLB returns in 2021?
FILE - Tulsa Drillers Hueston Morrill waits for his name to be announced at the Double-A baseball team s game against the Frisco RoughRiders in Tulsa, Okla., in this Tuesday, June 30, 2020, file photo. Minor league teams across the country are set to open their seasons Tuesday, May 4, 2021, returning baseball to communities denied the old national pastime during the coronavirus pandemic. (Ian Maule/Tulsa World via AP, File) Ian Maule
FILE - Players stand during the national anthem before the Rosemont Dogs played their baseball home-opener against the Milwaukee Milkmen at Impact Field in Rosemont, Ill., in this Tuesday, July 7, 2020, file photo. Minor league teams across the country are set to open their seasons Tuesday, May 4, 2021, returning baseball to communities denied the old national pastime during the coronavirus pandemic. (John Starks/Daily Herald, via AP, File) John Starks
Minors primer: What’s new as MiLB returns in 2021?
FILE - Tulsa Drillers Hueston Morrill waits for his name to be announced at the Double-A baseball team s game against the Frisco RoughRiders in Tulsa, Okla., in this Tuesday, June 30, 2020, file photo. Minor league teams across the country are set to open their seasons Tuesday, May 4, 2021, returning baseball to communities denied the old national pastime during the coronavirus pandemic. (Ian Maule/Tulsa World via AP, File) Ian Maule
FILE - Players stand during the national anthem before the Rosemont Dogs played their baseball home-opener against the Milwaukee Milkmen at Impact Field in Rosemont, Ill., in this Tuesday, July 7, 2020, file photo. Minor league teams across the country are set to open their seasons Tuesday, May 4, 2021, returning baseball to communities denied the old national pastime during the coronavirus pandemic. (John Starks/Daily Herald, via AP, File) John Starks
Minor league teams across the country are set to open their seasons Tuesday, returning baseball to communities denied the old national pastime during the coronavirus pandemic. Capacities will differ by jurisdiction, but for most, it will be the first opportunity to see pro players in person since the entire 2020 season was canceled.
Of course, much has changed since the last affiliated games were played in 2019. There are fewer teams and leagues and Major League Baseball has introduced plans to use the minors as a testing ground for new rules that could improve pace of play or reduce player injuries.
Much will remain the same. Family-friendly prices, offbeat giveaways and outlandish team branding - more on those Trash Pandas below - remain key pillars of the minor league experience.