We have our first official event of 2016’s spring-training season on the schedule, as the San Diego Padres will travel to Southwest University Park to take on their Triple-A affiliate, the El Paso Chihuahuas, on Thursday, March 31.
“We look forward to welcoming the Padres to Southwest University Park and providing an opportunity for our incredible fans to experience the excitement of hosting a Major League team in El Paso,” said MountainStar Sports President Alan Ledford. “The Padres have been very supportive of everything we’ve done here in El Paso, and we certainly appreciate all they’ve done.”
“It’s an honor for the Chihuahuas to host the Padres and Major League Baseball in a town as fervent in their support as is El Paso,” said Brad Taylor, El Paso Chihuahuas general manger.
This will mark the first meeting between the two teams and the first for the San Diego Padres versus a Minor League affiliate since playing the Lake Elsinore Storm (High A; California League) on April 2, 2010. The exhibition will be the first visit to El Paso by a Major League team since the Arizona Diamondbacks played a split-squad contest at Cohen Stadium on March 27, 2003.
“Southwest University Park is one of the best venues in Minor League Baseball, and we know the fans in El Paso create an unforgettable game environment here,” said Padres President and CEO Mike Dee. “The players and coaches who have played here in the past are looking forward to returning, and those who have not are looking forward to experiencing it firsthand, as we make our first trip to El Paso.”
Twelve (12) Chihuahuas players have made their Major League debut for the San Diego Padres since El Paso’s inaugural campaign in 2014, including six in 2015 (Chris Rearick, Cory Mazzoni, Austin Hedges, Alex Dickerson, Colin Rea and Travis Jankowski). Since the start of the 2014 season, 48 different players have suited up for the Chihuahuas and a Major League team, as well as inaugural Chihuahuas’ manager Pat Murphy, now San Diego’s interim manager.
Tickets for the 2016 exhibition game are only available initially to current 2016 Season Seat and Paw-tial Plan Holders.
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