The replacement for the Down East Wood Ducks began play at Grainger Stadium last night. The new team is the Down East Bird Dawgs, and they are part of the Frontier League. The Frontier League is an independent league that is one of the partner leagues to MLB. I've explained it to friends and family as a league for players who went undrafted out of college or former minor leaguers who had been released that aren't quite ready to hang it up. I have spent the offseason following transactions in the league and picking up cards of guys who have signed with teams that come into Kinston, and also guys who signed here.
Axel Andueza was one of the early signings by the Bird Dawgs. He was the first guy's cards that I picked up, and was the first guy that signed for us last night.
The Bird Dawgs played an exhibition game against Lenoir Community College following a torrential downpour and a lightning delay. The game ended after the 8th in a 5-5 tie.
I was able to find cards of several Bird Dawgs over the last few months. I think it is going to be fun to get all of these different team set cards signed as the season goes on. I begged the assistant GM of the team to get a team set for the Bird Dawgs this year. I doubt my say has anything to do with it, but I'm going to try.
Finally, one of the nicest players I've ever met signed for us last night, Brandon Fields. He stood and chatted with us for a while after the game. I'm really excited to see how this season goes and whether or not any of the guys get picked up by affiliated clubs.
In all, we got the following autographs: Axel Andueza x 4, Tyler Blaum x 4, Brandon Fields x 10, Cameron Masterman x 4, Yassel Pino x 8 and Emmanuel Tapia x 5 (35 tktal autographs).
Also, I took another picture of Chris by our graphing spot, 8 years after I took one of him at the first Wood Ducks exhibition game. What a difference 8 years makes...
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Our little Pork chop all grown up 😭
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