Columbia Fireflies

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Columbia Fireflies
Founded in 2016
Columbia, South Carolina
Col Fireflies.png Fireflies cap.png
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassLow-A (2021–present)
Previous classesClass A (2016–2020)
LeagueLow-A East (2021–present)
DivisionSouth Division
Previous leagues
South Atlantic League (2016–2020)
Major league affiliations
TeamKansas City Royals (2021–present)
Previous teamsNew York Mets (2016–2020)
Team data
Name
  • Columbia Fireflies (2016–present)
  • Savannah Sand Gnats (1996–2015)
  • Savannah Cardinals (1984–1995)
ColorsNavy blue, neon yellow, neon green, silver, white
       
MascotMason The Firefly (2016–present)
BallparkSegra Park (2016–present)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Hardball Capital LLC
ManagerBrooks Conrad

The Columbia Fireflies are a Minor League Baseball team based in Columbia, South Carolina, and are the Low-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball. Their home stadium is Segra Park. The team was previously known as the Savannah Sand Gnats (1995–2015); they relocated from Savannah, Georgia, after the 2015 season. They are the only professional baseball team in Columbia, and the first since the Capital City Bombers moved to Greenville, South Carolina, after the 2004 season.

History[]

Minor league baseball in Columbia dates back to 1982. The Capital City Bombers moved from Columbia, South Carolina, to Greenville, South Carolina, after the 2004 season. The city of Columbia approved plans to build a stadium in 2014, with the goal of attracting a Minor League Baseball team. Spirit Communications, a local telecommunications company, purchased the naming rights for the stadium.[1] In May 2015, the Savannah Sand Gnats of the Class A South Atlantic League, an affiliate of the New York Mets, announced that it would move to Columbia in time for the 2016 season.[2][3]

After receiving over 2,300 submissions in a public contest to name the team, it chose to call itself the "Columbia Fireflies". The name was inspired by the Photinus frontalis in the nearby Congaree National Park which was outlined in an article entitled “Synchronized fireflies putting on show at Congaree National Park” by The State, a local newspaper.[4] Portions of the team's uniforms glow in the dark as a tribute to the team's name.

Columbia earned its first ever victory as the Fireflies on April 9, 2016. In the game, three pitchers (Thomas McIlraith, Alex Palsha, and Johnny Magliozzi) combined to throw a no-hitter in a 9–0 shutout victory over the Charleston RiverDogs. The no-hitter was the Fireflies' third game. In their first ever home game, on April 14, 2016, the Fireflies defeated the Greenville Drive, 4–1, in front of 9,077 people.[5]

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's reconfiguration of the minors in 2021, the Mets discontinued their affiliation with Columbia.[6] On December 9, 2020, Major League Baseball announced that the Fireflies' new parent club would be the Kansas City Royals beginning with the 2021 season and beyond.[7] They were organized into the Low-A East as the Royals' Low-A classification affiliate.[8]

Roster[]

Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 45 Adrian Alcantara
  • -- Elliott Anderson Injury icon 2.svg
  • 27 Ismael Aquino
  • -- Luis Barroso Injury icon 2.svg
  • 29 A. J. Block
  • 25 Delvin Capellan
  • 22 Christian Cosby
  • 18 Luis De Avila
  • 34 Ben Hernandez
  • -- Eduardo Herrera Injury icon 2.svg
  • 36 Rylan Kaufman
  • -- Brandon Marklund Injury icon 2.svg
  • 16 Emilio Marquez
  • 33 Cruz Noriega
  • 39 Anderson Paulino
  • 19 Walter Pennington
  • -- Jeffry Reynoso Injury icon 2.svg
  • 44 Patrick Smith
  • 32 Matt Stil
  • 35 Nathan Webb
  • 28 Marlin Willis

Catchers

  • 21 Kale Emshoff
  • 24 Felix Familia
  •  6 Omar Hernandez

Infielders

  •  8 Maikel Garcia
  •  1 Herard Gonzalez
  • 11 Rubendy Jaquez
  • 13 Brady McConnell
  •  9 Jake Means
  •  7 Matthew Schmidt
  •  2 Tyler Tolbert

Outfielders

  • 12 Tucker Bradley
  • -- Gary Camarillo Injury icon 2.svg
  • 23 Darryl Collins
  •  4 Diego Hernandez
  • 15 Juan Carlos Negret


Manager

Coaches

  •  3 Jesus Azuaje (hitting)
  • 17 Glenn Hubbard (bench)
  • 40 Carlos Martinez (pitching)


Injury icon 2.svg 7-day injured list
* On Kansas City Royals 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
± Taxi squad
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated May 11, 2021
Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Low-A East
Kansas City Royals minor league players

References[]

  1. ^ Callahan, Carolyn (December 3, 2014). "Bull Street Ball Park to Be Named `Spirit Communications Park`". WIS. Columbia, South Carolina. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  2. ^ White, Neil (May 21, 2015). "It's Official: Savannah Baseball Team Moving to Columbia". The State. Columbia, SC. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  3. ^ Dial, Steven; Santaella, Tony (March 25, 2015). "Savannah Baseball Team Moving to Columbia". WLTX. Columbia, SC. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  4. ^ Ransdell, Aaron (August 4, 2015). "Columbia Fireflies Named as New Baseball Name". The State. Columbia, South Carolina. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  5. ^ Fitzgerald, Kevin (April 15, 2016). "9,077 See Fireflies Win Spirit Communications Park Opener". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  6. ^ Cooper, J.J. (November 10, 2020). "Binghamton, Brooklyn Survive As Mets Announce Affiliates". Baseball America. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  7. ^ "Columbia Fireflies invited to become Kansas City Royals affiliate". ABC Columbia. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
  8. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.

External links[]

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