With Major League Baseball announcing the start of its season will be delayed because of a work stoppage, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers made sure to let everyone know their 2022 season will start right on time.
The Woodpeckers – the Low Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros – announced the move in a release Wednesday.
“We are excited to announce to our fans that the 2022 Woodpeckers season will start on time with our club opening up in Kannapolis on April 8th and returning home April 12th against the visiting Salem Red Sox,” the team said in a release. “Minor League Spring Training officially started on Monday, February 28th at the Astros Spring Training complex in West Palm Beach, FL.”
Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have been at an impasse trying to get a new collective bargaining agreement completed. When a deal wasn’t reached on Tuesday, MLB announced that at least the first six games of the season have been cancelled. They were set to begin on March 31.
For the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, single game tickets for the first have of the 2022 season will go on sale March 12 in person. They’ll be released for sale online on March 14.
On Tuesday, the Woodpeckers announced their 2022 coaching staff. The team will be managed by Joe Thon, who served as a development coach with the team in 2021.
“I am very excited and fortunate to be back in Fayetteville for another season,” said Thon. “The fans in this city and the atmosphere under the lights at Segra Stadium make it one of the best in Minor League Baseball. Our coaching staff is great and I can’t wait to work with them throughout the season. Go Peckers!”
Joining Thon’s staff will be pitching coach John Kovalik, hitting coach Jose Puentes and development coach Vincent Blue. Erik Braun will serve as the athletic trainer, while Matt Jones will work as the strength coach.
The team also announced a Christian concert will be held after the Faith & Family Night game on May 14, featuring Christian rock band Building 429.
For more information about the Christian Concert or to reserve your group outing, call the Woodpeckers front office at (910) 339-1989 or stop by Segra Stadium between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.