Tulsa Drillers Set To Open Season Against San Antonio

The Tulsa Drillers will open season on Thursday night at ONEOK field against the San Antonio Missions. The game will start a new era in Tulsa professional baseball, as the Drillers take the field as an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time.

The Dodgers top two prospects, Julio Urias and Corey Seager, will open the season in Tulsa.

Urias is a left-handed heat thrower, and at just 18 years old he has touched 98 mph on the radar gun. He also has a nasty curveball.

Seager plays shortstop and is the Drillers' No.1 prospect. At just 20 years old, he made a lasting impression in big league camp this year, so his at-bats and overall performance should keep Drillers fans on their feet. "What doesn't he do? I mean, he fields, he throws, he runs, he hits, and hits with power. He's a talented kid, and he's 20 years old. I think he's the best prospect, or best position player prospect in this league," Drillers manager Razor Shines elaborated.

As far as playing in the big league, Seager says you just have to wait until you're called up. "I have not talked about a timeline with them yet; it's just up in the air, go out and play, and they'll let you know when you're ready. That's how I'm going about it." 

Before the game, there will be an opening night parade starting at 6:00 p.m. and wrapping about 20 minutes before the 7:05 game start. Fans will be allowed to line up along the Greenwood Avenue and Archer Street. The parade will start at OETA, across from OSU-Tulsa, and end at the Oil Derrick Entrance of ONEOK field.

The parade will feature the Tulsa Fire Department, the Shriners, Young Marines, U.S. Army Anti-Tank unit, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa Central Band, Carver Middle School Dance Squad, art cars, local little league teams, and Hornsby.

Also, Dodgers great Ron Cey will be in attendance to throw out the first pitch and sign autographs. Other pre-game festivities include a special introduction by Hornsby with help from the Union Band.

FYI 

The game is the first of a six-game homestand that will run through Tuesday, April 14. The Drillers host San Antonio for three games, April 9-11. Then, the Corpus Christi Hooks will be in town for the second half of the six-game stretch, April 12-14.

Starting times for all three games vs. San Antonio are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The first pitch for the April 12 game against Corpus Christi is scheduled for 2:05 p.m., while the April 13 game is set to start at 7:05 p.m.

Side Note

Opening night will be the first Thirsty Thursday of the year, so all twelve ounce servings of Miller Lite and Coors Lite draught beers (for all persons of the legal drinking age) and 16 ounce servings of Pepsi products will be on sale for just $1.00 each.