Amarillo Sod Poodles

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Amarillo Sod Poodles
Founded in 2019
Amarillo, Texas
AmarilloSodPoodlesLogo2019.png AmarilloSodPoodlesCapLogo2019.png
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassDouble-A (2019–present)
LeagueDouble-A Central (2021–present)
DivisionSouth Division
Previous leagues
Texas League (2019–2020)
Major league affiliations
TeamArizona Diamondbacks (2021–present)
Previous teamsSan Diego Padres (2019–2020)
Minor league titles
League titles (1)2019
Division titles (1)2019
First half titles (1)2019
Team data
NameAmarillo Sod Poodles (2019–present)
ColorsTexas blue, Amarillo yellow, Route 66 retro blue, Texas red, white[1]
         
BallparkHodgetown (2019–present)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Elmore Sports Group
General managerTony Ensor[2]
ManagerShawn Roof

The Amarillo Sod Poodles, nicknamed the Soddies, are a Minor League Baseball team of the Double-A Central and the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Amarillo, Texas, and play their home games at Hodgetown in downtown Amarillo.[3] They were previously members of the Texas League in 2019 and 2020.

History[]

On June 21, 2017, David G. Elmore, president of Elmore Sports Group, announced the relocation of the San Antonio Missions Double-A franchise to Amarillo in 2019, with the team set to compete in the Texas League under a new nickname.[4] This move was part of a larger relocation wherein the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Pacific Coast League relocated to San Antonio in 2019, continuing the use of the Missions nickname at the Triple-A level, and the Helena Brewers of the rookie level Pioneer League moved to Colorado Springs.[5]

The organization officially states that team's name was decided in a name-the-team contest.[6] Five finalists were selected: "Boot Scooters," "Bronc Busters," "Jerky," "Long Haulers," and "Sod Poodles."[7] The names received negative feedback from locals over their absurd nature, but the team indicated their intention to adopt an unusual, family-friendly name.[8] Brandiose, a branding firm in San Diego, were asked to create a new identity for the team. Their staff selected the Sod Poodles name after visiting Amarillo and researching its history.[9] The name is in reference to the prevalence of prairie dogs in West Texas.[10] The name was meant to convey the values of sticking together, being family oriented, and self sufficient.[9]

Amarillo's home ballpark was named Hodgetown in honor of Amarillo pharmacist, businessman, philanthropist, and 26th Mayor of Amarillo Jerry Hodge.[11]

As the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres,[12] the Sod Poodles played their first game, a 5–2 loss, on April 4, 2019, against the Corpus Christi Hooks at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi.[13] Their first win came the next evening when they defeated the Hooks, 7–5. The winning run was scored in the top of the seventh inning when Matthew Batten tripled and later scored on a Buddy Reed single.[14] In their inaugural home opener on April 8, the Sod Poodles lost to the Midland RockHounds, 9–4 in 10 innings.[15] The opener was attended by 7,175 people.[16]

In the 2019 Texas League South Series, the Sod Poodles fell behind 2 games to none against the Midland RockHounds, before winning 3 straight games in Midland to advance to the Championship Series against the Tulsa Drillers, who defeated the Arkansas Travelers 3 games to 2.

In the 2019 Championship Series, Amarillo won game 1 by a score of 13-6 at Hodgetown, while falling 18-9 in game 2. As the series shifted to Tulsa, the Drillers took a 2 games to 1 in game 3 with a 2-0 win. The Sod Poodles battled back with a game 4 victory by a score of 3-0. In game 5, the Sod Poodles were down 3-1 in the top of the ninth before Taylor Trammell hit a grand slam to take a lead that the Sod Poodles would never relinquish, en route to a Texas League championship in their inaugural season.

On December 9, 2020, the Arizona Diamondbacks extended an invitation to the Sod Poodles to become their Double-A affiliate as a part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues.[17] In a further change, they were organized into the Double-A Central.[18]

Roster[]

Amarillo Sod Poodles roster
  • v
  • t
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 22 Jeff Bain
  • 45 Luis Frías *
  • 16 Tommy Henry
  • 17 Kenny Hernandez
  • 14 Tyler Holton
  • 24 Drey Jameson
  • -- Bryce Jarvis Injury icon 2.svg
  • 41 Joe Jones
  • 23 Tyler Jones
  • -- Levi Kelly ~
  • 26 Mack Lemieux
  • 32 Justin Lewis
  • 21 Ryne Nelson
  • 10 Blake Rogers
  • 33 Mitchell Stumpo
  • 38 Blake Workman

Catchers

  • 28 Jonah Girand
  • 29 Lyle Lin
  • -- Renae Martinez Injury icon 2.svg
  • 27 Dominic Miroglio

Infielders

  • 13 Osvaldo Abreu
  •  9 Jancarlos Cintron
  •  7 Buddy Kennedy
  •  2 Geraldo Perdomo *

Outfielders

  • 31 Dominic Canzone
  •  8 Dominic Fletcher
  • 11 Stone Garrett
  •  5 Alek Thomas

Manager

  •  4 Shawn Roof

Coaches


Injury icon 2.svg 7-day injured list
* On Arizona Diamondbacks 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
± Taxi squad
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated December 14, 2021
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Double-A Central
 → Arizona Diamondbacks minor league players

Minor league affiliations[]

Main article: List of Arizona Diamondbacks minor league affiliates
Level Team League Location Manager
Triple-A Reno Aces Triple-A West Reno, Nevada Blake Lalli
Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles Double-A Central Amarillo, Texas Shawn Roof
High-A Hillsboro Hops High-A West Hillsboro, Oregon Vince Harrison
Low-A Visalia Rawhide Low-A West Visalia, California Javier Colina
Rookie AZL D-backs Arizona League Scottsdale, Arizona Rolando Arnedo
DSL D-backs 1 Dominican Summer League Boca Chica, Santo Domingo Jaime Del Valle
DSL D-backs 2 Ronald Ramirez

References[]

  1. ^ "The Sod Poodles Dig Their Way Into Amarillo". MiLB.com.
  2. ^ "Opening Date for New Amarillo Ballpark: April 8". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  3. ^ Clark, Douglas (February 1, 2018). "Stepping up to the plate: Officials break ground on downtown ballpark project". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  4. ^ Reichard, Kevin (June 21, 2017). "Elmore Sports Group: Three Franchise Shifts in 2019". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "San Antonio to join PCL beginning in 2019". Pacific Coast League. June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  6. ^ Lahnert, Lance (February 1, 2018). "Residents to pick new Elmore Sports Group team name in April, MLB affiliation to be announced in fall". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  7. ^ "Finalists Unveiled for Amarillo Texas League Team Name". Ballpark Digest. May 30, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  8. ^ Alewel, Madison (May 30, 2018). "Baseball team names strike out with Amarillo community". News Channel 10. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  9. ^ a b "How the Amarillo Sod Poodles got their logo & mascot | Inside San Diego Sports". Fox Sports San Diego. 18 April 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ Hill, Benjamin (November 13, 2018). "Sod Poodles burrow into Texas Panhandle". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  11. ^ "Amarillo Sod Poodles Name Downtown Ballpark "Hodgetown"". Amarillo Sod Poodles. Minor League Baseball. January 17, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  12. ^ "Padres, Amarillo Agree to Affiliation". Ballpark Digest. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  13. ^ "Sod Poodles Drop Historic Season Opener". Amarillo Sod Poodles. Minor League Baseball. April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  14. ^ "Sod Poodles Secure First Win in Team History". Amarillo Sod Poodles. Minor League Baseball. April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  15. ^ "Sod Poodles Fall To RockHounds In Inaugural Home Opener". Amarillo Sod Poodles. Minor League Baseball. April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  16. ^ "RockHounds vs. Sod Poodles Box Score - 04/08/19". Minor League Baseball. April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  17. ^ Reichard, Kevin (December 9, 2020). "D-Backs Unveil 2021 Affiliates; AA to Amarillo". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  18. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.

External links[]

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