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Oakland Ballers

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Oakland Ballers
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassIndependent
LeaguePioneer League
Team data
NameOakland B's
ColorsGreen, gold, gray
     
BallparkRaimondi Field (4,000)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Oakland Ballers Baseball Club, Inc.
(Paul Freedman & Bryan Carmel, founders)
ManagerAaron Miles
A muddy field
Raimondi Park at the beginning of the remodeling effort for the Ballers to play, pictured in late March 2024
Baseball players on the diamond
The Ballers in their inaugural home game, June 4, 2024
Whitmore pitching toward the camera
Kelsie Whitmore pitching in the Ballers' first season.

The Oakland Ballers, nicknamed the Oakland B's, are an independent baseball team that started play in the Pioneer League in 2024.

History

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The team was created following the approval of the Oakland Athletics' relocation to Las Vegas by MLB team owners. The non-profit Oakland 68s raised more than $2 million to establish the team[1] and was inspired by the success of Oakland Roots SC soccer team.[2] The press release for the team's announcement included a pledge for fan ownership based around a 2024 crowdfunding campaign.[2] Don Wakamatsu was appointed as the team's first-ever executive vice president of baseball operations.[3] The first player signed to the team was Dondrei Hubbard, announced on December 10, 2023.[4]

They are located in Oakland, California, and initially planned to play their home games at Laney College,[5] with an expansion of the park's facilities to hold upwards of 2,500 fans.[1][6] A proposed game at the Oakland Coliseum was blocked by the Oakland Athletics.[7] In February 2024 it was announced that they would instead play their home games at Raimondi Field in West Oakland, with a capacity of 4,000 fans.[8]

On April 10, 2024, Kelsie Whitmore signed with the Oakland Ballers.[9] She became the first woman to play for the Pioneer League when playing for the Ballers later that year. On June 6, 2024, playing for the Ballers, she became the first female player to start a Pioneer League game. In that game she struck out one batter.[10]

On July 21, 2024, the Ballers fired manager Micah Franklin and named Aaron Miles interim manager.[11]

Roster

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Oakland Ballers roster
Active (25-man) roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 17 Reed Butz
  • 38 Derrick Cherry
  • 32 Christian Cosby
  • 28 Jake Dahle
  • 22 Chandler David
  • 26 Abraham De Leon
  • 19 Aaron Eden
  • 40 Brody Eglite
  • 31 Justin Kleinsorge
  • 16 Carson Lambert
  • 33 Braydon Nelson
  • 25 Elijah Pleasants
  • 35 Conner Richardson
  • 29 Jacob Riordan
  • 14 Zach St. Pierre
  •  9 Kelsie Whitmore


Utility players

  • 15 JP Gates
  

Catchers

  • 27 Coleton Horner
  • 30 Tyler Lozano

Infielders

  •  5 Brad Burckel
  • 10 Myles Jefferson
  • 23 Noah Martinez
  •  4 John Pyle
  •  3 Jaylen Smith

Outfielders

  • 21 Austin Davis
  •  7 Trevor Halsema
  •  1 Payton Harden
  • 20 Dondrei Hubbard
  • 24 Ian Jenkins
  

Manager

Coaches

  • -- Dee Brown (bullpen)
  • -- Jim Dedrick (pitching)
  • -- Aaron Miles (infield/3rd base)
  • -- J. T. Snow (bench/1st base)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

[12] Roster updated June 29, 2024
 Transactions

References

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  1. ^ a b Passan, Jeff (November 28, 2023). "Oakland-area fans start Ballers, an independent baseball team". ESPN. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Oakland's New Baseball Team, The Oakland B's Launch". Oakland Ballers. November 28, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  3. ^ McCauley, Janie. "Oakland is getting a new minor league team – the Oakland B’s," The Associated Press (AP), Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Burke, Jason (December 10, 2023). "Oakland B's Announce First Player Signing". Inside The Athletics on FanNation. MSN.com. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  5. ^ "Oakland baseball will not die! City announces expansion team in Pioneer Baseball League". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  6. ^ "Oakland is getting a new minor league team — the Oakland B's". CBS.
  7. ^ "Oakland A's blocked plans for B's to play game at Coliseum". Oakland. NBC. January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  8. ^ "Ballers to play at West Oakland's historic Raimondi Field, make $1.6M in upgrades". SFGate. February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  9. ^ "Oakland Ballers sign team's first female player". April 10, 2024.
  10. ^ Lockard, Melissa. "Kelsie Whitmore first woman to start Pioneer League game" – via NYTimes.com.
  11. ^ "Oakland Ballers fire Micah Franklin, first manager in franchise history". mercurynews.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  12. ^ "2024 Oakland Ballers Roster". Oakland Ballers.

Further reading

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