Opening Day Baseball, Game Notes & Lineup
Here we are, finally to opening day and looking forward to a fantastic 2015 season with the Peoria Chiefs…If the weather cooperates. The tarp has gone on and off the field all day and there is a chance of showers throughout the evening.
If we play, we get our first look at RHP Jack Flaherty, drafted by the Cardinals in the first round last June. Flaherty is the 26th 1st rounder out of the regular June draft in Chiefs history. This marks the second year in a row the Chiefs have received a Cardinals first round pick after having Rob Kaminsky last season. When including s the now defunct January draft and June supplemental draft plus the Supplemental First rounders in the current format, the tally is 38. Including the supplemental picks, the Chiefs have had a first rounder in each of the last five seasons and a first round pick from every year dating back to 2006 has come through Peoria.
When he takes the mound tonight, Flaherty will become the fifth youngest Opening Day Starter in Chiefs history. Rick Ankiel beat Kane County on Opening Day 1998 at the age of 18 years, 265 days. Hall of Famer Greg Maddux beat Springfield in 1985 at the age of 18 years, 363 days, with 12 strikeouts over eight shutout innings. Amaury Telemaco was 19 years, 79 days when he lost on Opening Day 1993 and Ryan Acosta was 19 years, 152 days when he took a no-decision in 2008. Flaherty takes the mound tonight at the age of 19 years, 176 days.
Here’s a look at the lineup backing Flaherty tonight with a great graphic by our designer Allison Rhoades
Also here are today’s GameNotes. And as always there are many ways to follow along in-game both via social media and with audio. On twitter we will post in-game updates at @PeoChiefsGame and other fun stuff on our regular @PeoriaChiefs account. Post-game look for video highlights on both of those accounts and they will also post to our YouTube page and website.
In game you can listen to the broadcast in a variety of ways, all listed on our ListenLive page which includes links to download apps, or listen on a regular computer, both a PC and a Mac.
Thanks for reading and please interact with us all season, looking forward to a fun 2015!!
