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It’s a new era of minor league baseball in Oklahoma City.
OKC remains the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, but the 2025 season will feature a number of changes.
From a new nickname to a new manager leading the team, this year will have a different feel.
Here are some storylines for the OKC Comets’ upcoming season, which begins on March 28 with a road matchup against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys.
More: Oklahoma City Comets nickname, logos get stamp of approval from Mickey Mantle family
OKC announced its name change in October following one season as the OKC Baseball Club.
The team was called the OKC Dodgers from 2015-23 and is now the Comets in recognition of Oklahoma native Mickey Mantle’s nickname “The Commerce Comet.”
The name also references the city’s growth in the aerospace industry.
“There were a few motivating factors,” Comets president and general manager Michael Byrnes said. “But one, in the past the LA Dodgers were a part of the ownership during the era that we had the Dodgers name.
“There was a transition of ownership in 2021, and that just opened the door for us to reconsider — what was our identity? How do we do something that’s connected to the local community, be something that we control the merch and logos?”
It was an extensive process, but it worked out in the long run.
"Taking some inspiration from Mickey Mantle's 'The Commerce Comet,'" Byrnes said. "We played with that theme for a little bit and turned into what I think is a great brand that's gonna be something that's really gonna engage the youth."
More: Ranking MLB stadiums from 1 to 28*: Baseball's best ballparks for 2025
Scott Hennessey didn’t have to travel far for his new gig.
Hennessey will enter his first year as OKC’s manager after leading Double-A Tulsa the last seven years. He replaces Travis Barbary, who was OKC’s manager from 2019-24 and is now serving in a roving player development role.
Hennessey had a successful run with the Drillers and is the second-winningest manager in Tulsa professional baseball history.
Diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma during the 2023 season, he missed most of that year while receiving chemotherapy treatments but returned that season and is now cancer free.
“It’s a tremendous group talent wise,” Hennessey said. “The guys want to get better, get to the big leagues, be productive big leaguers. That’s gonna be our job is to get them out, get them ready and if the big club needs them, these guys will be ready to go.”
More: MLB power rankings by 2025 World Series odds: Dodgers poised to repeat
One of the main players to watch this year will be Dalton Rushing.
At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, the 24-year-old Rushing played in 37 games with OKC last season and had a .273 batting average and nine home runs.
Primarily a catcher, he’s versatile and is an option at first base and in the outfield.
“First step obviously is get comfortable around these guys, make sure they understand the way that I am as a player, the way that I play, the heart, the desire that I play with,” Rushing said.
“And I think from there it’s easier to make that step and to the big leagues, whenever that time comes. I think for right now though the goal is how well can all of us basically just get ready for that opportunity, and nobody really knows who it’s gonna be or when it’s gonna be, and I think that’s the great thing about this sport. We can all enjoy it together.”
Rushing played for Hennessey in Tulsa, so he’ll have a familiar face in the dugout and knows what it’s like to play for him.
“I think playing for a guy like Henney is very, very good for a team like this,” said Rushing, who was drafted out of Louisville in the second round of the 2022 draft.
“Triple-A, it’s easy to come here and just try to get your work in, but at the end of the day, you’re gonna perform your best when you’re competing and I think he really brings a lot of competition to the table for a team and he wants to win every night.”
More: MLB franchise values: Yankees crack $8 billion as Forbes' list foreshadows upheaval
Byrnes said the season will be filled with theme nights and promotions.
“Whether that be bringing Bluey in to have an appearance this season — that was a major promotion that went through our industry last year — or Harry Potter night or In Our OKC Era, which will be in our first home stand,” Byrnes said.
Recurring promotions like Friday night fireworks and kids running the bases on Sundays will also be back.
Along with that, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark has some additions this year.
Several new video boards have been installed, including in left field, on the first base terrace and on the exterior part of the stadium to communicate with fans and share promotions.
More: Oklahoma City minor league baseball franchise pays homage to Mickey Mantle with rebrand
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who is Dodgers' Triple-A team? What to know about Oklahoma City Comets
Continue reading...
OKC remains the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, but the 2025 season will feature a number of changes.
From a new nickname to a new manager leading the team, this year will have a different feel.
Here are some storylines for the OKC Comets’ upcoming season, which begins on March 28 with a road matchup against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys.
More: Oklahoma City Comets nickname, logos get stamp of approval from Mickey Mantle family
You must be registered for see images
New season, new name
OKC announced its name change in October following one season as the OKC Baseball Club.
The team was called the OKC Dodgers from 2015-23 and is now the Comets in recognition of Oklahoma native Mickey Mantle’s nickname “The Commerce Comet.”
The name also references the city’s growth in the aerospace industry.
“There were a few motivating factors,” Comets president and general manager Michael Byrnes said. “But one, in the past the LA Dodgers were a part of the ownership during the era that we had the Dodgers name.
“There was a transition of ownership in 2021, and that just opened the door for us to reconsider — what was our identity? How do we do something that’s connected to the local community, be something that we control the merch and logos?”
It was an extensive process, but it worked out in the long run.
"Taking some inspiration from Mickey Mantle's 'The Commerce Comet,'" Byrnes said. "We played with that theme for a little bit and turned into what I think is a great brand that's gonna be something that's really gonna engage the youth."
More: Ranking MLB stadiums from 1 to 28*: Baseball's best ballparks for 2025
You must be registered for see images
Scott Hennessey takes over as manager
Scott Hennessey didn’t have to travel far for his new gig.
Hennessey will enter his first year as OKC’s manager after leading Double-A Tulsa the last seven years. He replaces Travis Barbary, who was OKC’s manager from 2019-24 and is now serving in a roving player development role.
Hennessey had a successful run with the Drillers and is the second-winningest manager in Tulsa professional baseball history.
Diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma during the 2023 season, he missed most of that year while receiving chemotherapy treatments but returned that season and is now cancer free.
“It’s a tremendous group talent wise,” Hennessey said. “The guys want to get better, get to the big leagues, be productive big leaguers. That’s gonna be our job is to get them out, get them ready and if the big club needs them, these guys will be ready to go.”
More: MLB power rankings by 2025 World Series odds: Dodgers poised to repeat
You must be registered for see images
Dalton Rushing looks to build on strong year
One of the main players to watch this year will be Dalton Rushing.
At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, the 24-year-old Rushing played in 37 games with OKC last season and had a .273 batting average and nine home runs.
Primarily a catcher, he’s versatile and is an option at first base and in the outfield.
“First step obviously is get comfortable around these guys, make sure they understand the way that I am as a player, the way that I play, the heart, the desire that I play with,” Rushing said.
“And I think from there it’s easier to make that step and to the big leagues, whenever that time comes. I think for right now though the goal is how well can all of us basically just get ready for that opportunity, and nobody really knows who it’s gonna be or when it’s gonna be, and I think that’s the great thing about this sport. We can all enjoy it together.”
Rushing played for Hennessey in Tulsa, so he’ll have a familiar face in the dugout and knows what it’s like to play for him.
“I think playing for a guy like Henney is very, very good for a team like this,” said Rushing, who was drafted out of Louisville in the second round of the 2022 draft.
“Triple-A, it’s easy to come here and just try to get your work in, but at the end of the day, you’re gonna perform your best when you’re competing and I think he really brings a lot of competition to the table for a team and he wants to win every night.”
More: MLB franchise values: Yankees crack $8 billion as Forbes' list foreshadows upheaval
Theme nights, promotions
Byrnes said the season will be filled with theme nights and promotions.
“Whether that be bringing Bluey in to have an appearance this season — that was a major promotion that went through our industry last year — or Harry Potter night or In Our OKC Era, which will be in our first home stand,” Byrnes said.
Recurring promotions like Friday night fireworks and kids running the bases on Sundays will also be back.
Along with that, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark has some additions this year.
Several new video boards have been installed, including in left field, on the first base terrace and on the exterior part of the stadium to communicate with fans and share promotions.
More: Oklahoma City minor league baseball franchise pays homage to Mickey Mantle with rebrand
Comets at a glance
- Season opener: at Sugar Land, 7:05 p.m. Thursday
- Home opener: vs. El Paso, 7:05 p.m. Tuesday
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who is Dodgers' Triple-A team? What to know about Oklahoma City Comets
Continue reading...
