courtesy of Amanda Williams and Katie Dannemiller from the Greensboro Grasshoppers and gsohoppers.com:
Greensboro, Marlins Re-Up Through 2012
Florida Marlins Extend Minor League Partnership with Grasshoppers
GREENSBORO Â The Greensboro Grasshoppers and the two-time World Series
Champion Florida Marlins have extended their Player Development Contract
through the end of the 2012 baseball season, team officials announced today.
The Florida Marlins are very excited to continue our partnership with the
Greensboro Grasshoppers through the 2012 season, said Marlins Vice
President of Player Development and Scouting, Jim Fleming. The support our
players receive from the great fans of Greensboro as well as the care
provided by Donald Moore and his staff make Greensboro as good of a place to
call home as you will find anywhere in minor league baseball. Greensboro is
truly a premier franchise, and we are proud to have it as a player
development partner.
Greensboro has been the Single-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins since the
2003 season when the team was still known as the Bats; the Marlins are the
only parent team the Grasshoppers have ever known. Since moving to NewBridge
Bank Park in 2005 and changing their name, the Grasshoppers have seen over
200 Florida Marlins prospects suit up.
The Grasshoppers fan base has had the opportunity to see some good young
talent during their stop in Greensboro on the way to the Marlins. Last
season’s National League Rookie of the Year, Chris Coghlan and leading
candidate for this season’s Rookie of the Year, Gaby Sanchez both spent time
playing in NewBridge Bank Park. Other current Marlins players who have
excited Grasshopper fans include Chris Volstad, Sean West, Logan Morrison
and Mike Stanton.
³Our partnership with the Florida Marlins has been a tremendous success for
the Greensboro community, said Greensboro President and General Manager
Donald Moore. We have a great relationship with the Marlins and our fans
have been treated to some very special young talent. We are excited to be
able to extend our contract for two more years and we look forward putting
some of the Marlins’ best prospects in Grasshoppers’ uniforms for years to
come.
The Grasshoppers have eight home games remaining in 2010 season, having
welcomed 337,126 fans thus far. Please visit www.gsohoppers.com for ticket
and Hoppin’ Fun information.