Storm Chasers' roster coming together

Mike Moustakas in action last season
(Photo: Omaha Storm Chasers)

Mark Nasser hosted the annual Omaha Storm Chasers’ Preview Show yesterday on KOIL-1180 AM. He spoke with Dayton Moore, Mike Jirschele, Martie Cordaro, Alex Gordon, Tim Collins and J.J. Picollo about the upcoming season and the minor league farm system.

The Royals announced that several players were assigned to minor league camp, including pitchers Louis Coleman, Luis Mendoza and Zack Miner; and infielders Lance Zawadzki and Irving Falu. All but Miner will probably begin the season with Omaha. Miner is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Right-handed pitcher Vin Mazzaro, who is expected to be the number five starter for Kansas City, was optioned to Omaha because the Royals won’t need a fifth starter until April 16.

Signage goes up at Werner Park

When you make the turn off Highway 370, you can see the new video board peeking out of Werner Park as well as the new “Werner Park” signage that was just installed this morning. The signage is 66 feet wide, 5 1/2 feet tall and it weighs 1,800 pounds.

“Today is another milestone day in the history of Werner Park,” said Rob Crain, assistant general manager of the Storm Chasers. “It is exciting to see all the wonderful finishing touches come to life.”

Everywhere you look in the stadium, you see evidences of those finishing touches.

The video board is in place. The bullpens are being finished. Decals have been fastened to the cupholders in the seats. And the address has been affixed to the front of the stadium: 12356 Ballpark Way.

What will Omaha fans see when Hosmer comes to town?

Photo: Courtesy of the Kansas City Royals

In 2010, baseball fans in Omaha had a chance to see several highly rated prospects in Kansas City's system, including Kila Ka'aihue and Mike Moustakas. This coming season, they should get a chance to see first baseman Eric Hosmer at some point.

Hosmer is now the Royals' highest rated prospect according to Baseball America. He's proving why this spring. In 19 games, he is hitting .474 with a .542 OBP. Even so, he'll start the season in either Double-A NW Arkansas or Omaha. Given the numbers he put up in NW Arkansas last season, fans in Omaha should expect to see him sooner rather than later.

NW Arkansas general manager Eric Edelstein and Naturals' radio broadcaster Steven Davis took the time to answer some questions to give fans in Omaha an idea about what they'll see when Hosmer puts on the Storm Chaser uniform. First, here's a look at Hosmer's minor league numbers so far:

Jesse Cuevas spends one final day at Rosenblatt Stadium

Cuevas speaks to the crowd at Rosenblatt Stadium after
the final Omaha Royals' game there on September 2, 2010.

The Omaha Storm Chasers sent out the following press release today about former Rosenblatt Stadium groundskeeper Jesse Cuevas:

*****

Cuevas Spends Last Day at Rosenblatt, Honored at Werner Park

Longtime groundskeeper will see his name adorned on a single-game suite at the new ballpark

PAPILLION, NE – Jesse Cuevas, one of the most well-known baseball figures in Omaha, spent his last day at Rosenblatt Stadium Wednesday, ending a 41-year run as an employee at the ballpark. To honor Cuevas, the Omaha Storm Chasers have announced that one of their new suites at Werner Park will bear the longtime groundskeeper’s name.

Several thousand get a sneak peek at Werner Park

The work at Werner Park is estimated to be 90-95% complete

An estimated crowd of 3,000 people braved 30 degree temperatures to take advantage of the Werner Park Sneak Peak from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Saturday.

Storm Chaser fans went out in groups of 25 on 20-minute tours of the park. They had a chance to see the video board going up, to visit the various suites, to hear about the nuances of the park and to ask questions.

Everything might be new, but the Storm Chasers plan to keep strong ties to the past.

"The Road to Omaha" sculpture removed from Rosenblatt

"The Road to Omaha" sculpture as it appeared on
December 17, 2010 -- the day the Storm Chasers moved
from Rosenblatt Stadium to Werner Park

It seems as if "The Road to Omaha" sculpture has been perched outside Rosenblatt Stadium for decades, but in reality, it was placed there in 1999.

Yesterday it was moved from Rosenblatt and taken to a "secret storage facility." It will be restored and installed at TD Ameritrade Park in time for the 2011 College World Series.

The sculpture has served as a gathering place for baseball fans as well as a back backdrop for many photos over the years.

The Omaha World Herald was on site as the sculpture was taken from Rosenblatt. Here is the video they shot:

Q & A with radio broadcaster Brett Pollock

(Photo: Dave Schofield/Lakewood Blueclaws)

The Omaha Storm Chasers and NRG Media announced recently that they extended their broadcast agreement, which means KOIL-AM 1180 will broadcast all 144 games this season. KMMQ-AM 1020 will air all 24 Friday and Sunday home games in Spanish.

Mark Nasser, the Storm Chasers director of broadcasting, also announced recently that Brett Pollock will join him in the radio broadcast booth for all 72 home games this season. Pollock has broadcast games in the past for the El Paso Diablos (1998-2003), Lakewood BlueClaws (2004) and Huntsville Stars (2005-09). He took last year off.

Before last season started, Nasser and his former broadcast partner Kevin McNabb, graciously agreed to a Q & A interview as part of a “getting to know you” series for OmahaBaseball360. Yesterday Pollock was just as gracious with his time. Hope you enjoy the interview.

Q & A with Luke Hochevar during Royals Caravan stop

Hochevar signs autographs at the Royals Caravan

During the Royals Caravan stop at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center last week, Luke Hochevar met with members of the media. Here is the Q & A from that session:

There have been a few changes since the season ended. Zack Greinke is gone. Gil Meche retired and it sounds like they are looking at you as the Opening Day starter. What are your thoughts about that?

When you lose one or two bona fide aces – with Gil retiring and Zack getting traded, you know, it creates room for young guys to come up and to have a young squad. With that, having the opportunity to pitch in that spot – it really excites me. If that’s the case, I’m willing to take the ball, really, any day they tell me to take the ball. I’m excited about it.

Thousands show up for Werner Park open house

Storm Chasers' broadcaster Mark Nasser
poses with Vortex at the open house

More than 5,000 anxious fans showed up yesterday for the open house at Werner Park, even though temperatures were in the mid-20s and the wind was quite stiff at times.

“Today we were overwhelmed by the number of people who came,” said Rob Crain, assistant general manager of the Omaha Storm Chasers. “It was great support by the community and how excited they are to see Storm Chaser baseball at Werner Park. We’re excited – it’s just 83 more days until we open the season and open Werner Park for real.”

Fans munched on free hotdogs, posed for pictures with Vortex and Stormy (the new team mascots) and browsed the newly opened souvenir shop. They also had a chance to take a quick tour of the ballpark, learning about its nuances while taking refuge in one of the temperature controlled suites that will be available during the season.