Joliet Slammers

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Joliet Slammers
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
League	Frontier League (2011-present) (West Division)
Location	Joliet, Illinois
Ballpark	DuPage Medical Group Field
Year founded	2010
Nickname(s)	Jailbirds
League championships	2 (2011, 2018)
Division championships	2 (2011, 2016)
Colors	Green, orange, black, white
Mascot	J.L Bird and Spikes
Ownership	Joliet Community Baseball & Entertainment, LLC
Manager	Aaron Nieckula
General Manager	Heather Mills
Media	1340 WJOL, The Herald-News, The Joliet Bugle
Website	jolietslammers.com

The Joliet Slammers are a professional baseball team based in Joliet, Illinois, that play in the independent Frontier League. They play their home games at DuPage Medical Group Field. They replaced the Joliet JackHammers of the Northern League after the franchise was crippled by numerous financial issues. The JackHammers franchise was put up for sale and Steel City Baseball, LLC, bought out all assets, including the front office, the ticketing system, and the lease of the ballpark. The company behind the popular card game Cards Against Humanity announced in December 2017 that they had purchased the naming rights to the stadium, calling it the "Cards Against Humanity Baseball Place", but the company's claim has been disputed by Slammers management.^[1]

The "Slammers" name refers to the famous prisons of Joliet and Will County (Joliet Correctional Center and Stateville Correctional Center) as well as a common baseball term.

On September 18, 2011, the Slammers were named Frontier League champions after defeating the River City Rascals, 6–5 in Joliet, taking the best-of-five Frontier League championship series three games to one.

Following the 2012 season, the Slammers were purchased on October 15, 2012, by Joliet Community Baseball & Entertainment, LLC. The team's name, stadium, league, and overall branding remained the same.

Season-by-season records[]

Single season records[]

Statistics as of the completion of the 2021 season

Offensive[]

• Hits: 135.....Grant DeBruin, 2013
• Doubles: 29.....Grant DeBruin/Carter Bell, 2012/2016
• Triples: 6.....Josh Flores, 2011
• Homeruns: 23.....Justin Garcia, 2018
• RBIs: 77.....Erik Lis, 2011
• Walks: 57.....Russell Moldenhauer, 2014
• Stolen Bases: 35.....Josh Flores, 2011

Pitching[]

• Wins: 13.....Jake Renshaw, 2011
• Strikeouts: 109.....Liam OSullivan, 2016
• Saves: 28.....Ryan Quigley, 2011

Franchise leaders[]

Statistics as of the completion of the 2021 season

Offensive[]

Games played
1. Kyle Manus…248 (2011–2013)
2. Alfredo Rodriguez…192 (2015–2016)
3. Erik Lis...184 (2011–2012)

Hits
1. Kyle Manus...205 (2011-2013)
1. Alfredo Rodriguez...205 (2015–2016)
2. Grant DeBruin...196 (2013–2014)
3. Erik Lis...194 (2011–2012)
3. Brad Netzel...194 (2011–2012)

Doubles
1. Kyle Manus…43 (2011–2013)
2. Grant DeBruin…41 (2013–2014)
3. Brad Netzel…39 (2011–2012)

Triples
1. Josh Flores…6 (2011)
1. Kevin Zinter...6 (2012)
2. Marquis Riley...5 (2013–2014)
2. Mike Garza...5 (2015–2016)

Home Runs
1. Kyle Manus...32 (2011–2013)
2. Erik Lis...28 (2011–2012)
3. Justin Garcia...23 (2018)

RBI
1. Kyle Manus...128 (2011–2013)
2. Erik Lis...122 (2011–2012)
3. Danny Zardon...110 (2017–2018)

Stolen Bases
1. London Lindley...53 (2018–2019)
2. Charlie White...48 (2015–2016)
3. Josh Flores...35. (2011)

Pitching[]

Innings Pitched
1. Liam O’Sullivan...246.1 (2016, 2018)
2. Andrew Busby...155.1 (2013–2014)
3. Jake Renshaw...149.2 (2011–2012)

Strikeouts
1. Liam O’Sullivan...186 (2016, 2018)
2. Scot Hoffman...146 (2017–2019)
3. Chase Doremus...140 (2012–2014)

Wins
1. Liam O’Sullivan...22 (2016, 2018)
2. Jake Renshaw...14 (2011–2012)
2. Scot Hoffman...14 (2017–2019)
3. Kevin McNorton...12 (2014–2017)

Saves
1. Ryan Quigley...28 (2011)
2. Ryan Koziol...23 (2019)
3. Confessor Lara...20 (2016–2017)
3. Trevor Charpie...20 (2020–Present)

Current Roster[]

Notable alumni[]

Several notable players have competed for the Slammers; years in parentheses are seasons when the player was with the team.

• Billy Petrick (2011)
• Jake Sanchez (2012–2013)
• Kaleb Ort (2016–2017)
• Joe Ortiz (2017)
• Dietrich Enns (2020)
• Braxton Davidson (2021)
• Nick Lovullo (2021-present)

Kaleb Ort became the first Joliet Slammers player to make it to the MLB. He made his major league debut on September 13, 2021 as a member of the Boston Red Sox in a game against the Seattle Mariners.

Dietrich Enns had previously played for the Minnesota Twins in the 2017 season. He has moved around the Twins', Padres', and Rays' minor league teams before coming to Joliet due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Enns was picked up by the Tampa Bay Rays after pitching just 18 innings for the Joliet Tully Monsters in the City of Champions Cup, a four-team league hosted by the Joliet Slammers. Enns was called up to the Rays in the 2021 season.

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• League Website
• Team Statistics and Rosters