Norwich Sea Unicorns

The Norwich Sea Unicorns are a baseball team located in Norwich, Connecticut. From 2010 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL) as the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They play their home games at Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium. They were previously known as the Connecticut Tigers from 2010 to 2019. With Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, Norwich was not selected to continue in affiliated baseball. The team is exploring options to continue in baseball in 2021.

Norwich Sea Unicorns
Founded in 2010
Norwich, Connecticut
Team logo
Minor league affiliations
ClassTBD (from 2021)
Previous classesClass A Short Season (2010–2020)
LeagueTBD (from 2021)
Previous leagues
New York–Penn League (2010–2020)
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsDetroit Tigers (2010–2020)
Minor league titles
Wild card berths (1)
  • 2014
Team data
NameNorwich Sea Unicorns (2020–present)
Previous names
  • Connecticut Tigers (2010–2019)
ColorsNavy, yellow, gold, gray, blue, white[1]
           
BallparkSenator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium (2010–present)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Miles Prentice
General ManagerDave Schermerhorn
ManagerTBD (from 2021)

History
The unveiling of the team's original logo and uniforms at an April 1, 2010, press conference

On January 27, 2010, Oneonta, New York Mayor Dick Miller announced in a press release that the Oneonta Tigers would be leaving the city for Norwich, Connecticut, after the 2009 season. Beginning play in 2010, the Connecticut Tigers played their games in the newly renovated Dodd Stadium, which had been vacated by the Connecticut Defenders of the Eastern League who had left for Richmond, Virginia, to become the Richmond Flying Squirrels simultaneous to the Tigers' arrival.

In 2011, the Connecticut Tigers saw a 23% increase in total attendance and 20% increase in average attendance over 2010 numbers. The 20% increase in average attendance was the fourth largest increase in all of Minor League Baseball.[2]

The Connecticut Tigers name was only expected to be used for the 2010 season with a name-the-team contest expected to be held after the season to decide a permanent name. The team decided to keep the name, however, citing positive feedback from fans owing to the connection to the major league Detroit Tigers, the team's Major League Baseball affiliate. Connecticut held on to the Tigers moniker through the end of the 2019 season. That season, the team renewed its long-term lease with the city of Norwich, and, as a result, announced a change to the team name, which would include the Norwich name and a nickname to be chosen following a fan submission contest.[3][4] The five finalists from the contest were "Norwich Golden Roses", "Norwich Mill Mules", "Norwich Narwals", "Norwich Salty Dogs", and "Norwich Sea Unicorns". Ultimately, the team settled on becoming the Norwich Sea Unicorns.[5]

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before being cancelled on June 30.[6][7] After the cancelled 2020 minor league season, Major League Baseball took direct control of Minor League Baseball and discontinued short-season play. The Sea Unicorns were not selected to continue in affiliated baseball. The team is exploring options to continue in baseball for 2021.[8]

Playoffs
  • 2014: Lost to Tri-City 2–0 in semifinals

Roster
Norwich Sea Unicorns roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 19 Austin Bergner
  • 35 Jack Dellinger
  • 18 Chavez Fernander
  • 51 Marco Jimenez
  • 26 Andrew Magno
  •  1 Keider Montero
  • 14 Jack O'Loughlin
  • 39 Cleiverth Perez
  • 57 Ted Stuka
  • 43 Bryce Tassin
  • 31 Matt Walker

Catchers

  • 50 Eliezer Alfonzo
  • 28 Yoandy Rea

Infielders

  • -- Colby Bortles ‡
  • -- Trei Cruz
  • 29 Jake Holton
  • 56 Jose King
  • 12 Ryan Kreidler
  •  7 Andrew Navigato
  • 10 Nick Quintana
  • 21 Jordan Verdon

Outfielders

  • 59 Kerry Carpenter
  •  9 Eric De La Rosa
  • 17 Kingston Liniak
  • 23 Kona Quiggle

Manager

  • -- Gary Cathcart

Coaches

  • 15 Carlos Bohorquez (pitching)
  • -- Chase Rowe (hitting)


7-day injured list
* On Detroit Tigers 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated July 31, 2020
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • New York–Penn League
 → Detroit Tigers minor league players

See also

References
  1. "New for 2020: Norwich Sea Unicorns". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  2. Reichard, Kevin (September 12, 2011). "Crunching the 2011 Minor League Baseball Attendance Figures". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  3. Konrad, James (March 29, 2019). "City, Tigers Agree to Long-term Lease, Changing Team's Name". Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  4. Putterman, Alex (April 13, 2019). "Seeking 'Hometown Focus,' Connecticut Tigers Solicits Fan Submissions for New Name". Hartford Courant. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  5. Hill, Benjamin (December 5, 2019). "Legends of the Deep: Sea Unicorns Emerge". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  6. "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  7. "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  8. "Norwich Sea Unicorns Looking at Options After Affiliation With Detroit Tigers Ends". NBC Connecticut. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
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