Greenville Drive

Greenville Drive
Founded in 1977
Greenville, South Carolina
Team logoCap insignia
Class-level
Current A
Minor league affiliations
League South Atlantic League
Division Southern Division
Major league affiliations
Current Boston Red Sox (2005–present)
Previous
Minor league titles
League titles (4)
  • 1986
  • 1991
  • 1998
  • 2017
Division titles (1) 2017
Team data
Nickname Greenville Drive (2006–present)
Previous names
  • Greenville Bombers (2005)
  • Capital City Bombers (1993–2004)
  • Columbia Mets (1983–1992)
  • Shelby Mets (1981–1982)
  • Shelby Pirates (1979–1980)
  • Shelby Reds (1977–1978)
Ballpark Fluor Field at the West End (2006–present)
Previous parks
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
 Craig Brown
Manager Iggy Suarez
General Manager Eric Jarinko

The Greenville Drive are a Minor League Baseball team based in Greenville, South Carolina. They are a Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and a member of the South Atlantic League. Prior to the 2005 SAL season, the team played in Columbia, South Carolina, was affiliated with the New York Mets from 1981 to 2004, and was known as the Capital City Bombers. Their mascot is a frog named Reedy Rip'it. In 2017, the team defeated the Kannapolis Intimidators 3 games to 1 to win the franchise's first championship since becoming the Greenville Drive in 2006.

History

The Drive began their history in 1977 in Shelby, North Carolina, as the Shelby Reds. In 1983, the team moved to Columbia, which had lacked a minor league team since the departure of the Columbia Reds in 1961. The team was originally known as the Columbia Mets and made their home at Capital City Stadium. In 1993, the team changed its name to the Bombers to honor members of the Doolittle Raiders, who had conducted their initial training in Columbia. The Bombers won the South Atlantic League championship in 1986, 1991, and 1998.

Following the 2004 season, the Bombers changed affiliations and became the affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, who had previously been affiliated with the Augusta GreenJackets, also of the South Atlantic League. On February 11, 2005, Minor League Baseball announced that the Bombers had been granted permission to move to Greenville, where a new park opened in 2006. The Bombers would play in Greenville Municipal Stadium in 2005.

On October 27, 2005, the Bombers announced the team's name would change to the Drive.[1] The name was chosen due to the presence of BMW US Manufacturing and Michelin in the area and, more generally, due to Greenville's rich automotive past.[2] An alternative name was chosen after Shoeless Joe Jackson called the Joes but Major League Baseball vetoed the name due to his role in the Black Sox Scandal in 1919.[3]

In 2008, outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin became the first Drive player to be selected to the annual All-Star Futures Game, which took place on July 13 at Yankee Stadium. Lin hit a two-run home run on the first pitch he saw that helped the World team beat the US Team, 3–0. He finished 2-for-2 and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Former pitcher Clay Buchholz participated in the 2007 edition, a season after playing for the Drive.[4]

Ryan Lavarnway

In 2009, Ryan Lavarnway played for the Drive, hitting 21 home runs and a .540 slugging percentage (both tops for Red Sox minor leaguers) and 87 RBIs in 404 at bats.[5][6]

On May 8, 2012 Greenville made history as three pitchers combined to toss the club's first ever no-hitter. Miguel Pena (six innings), Hunter Cervenka (two) and Tyler Lockwood (one) joined forces to defeat the Rome Braves (Atlanta), 1–0. A solo home run by Keury De La Cruz off David Filak in the sixth inning counted for the only run of the game.[7]

Stadium

Capital City Stadium in downtown Columbia, was the home of the Bombers. The stadium was originally built in 1927, but was completely rebuilt in 1991. Capital City Stadium has a seating capacity for 6,000 spectators, has a grass surface and features the following fence dimensions: (LF) 330 ft., CF 400 ft., RF 320 ft.

The stadium often proved inadequate for baseball due to poor field conditions. Situated in a low-lying area, Capital City Stadium features poor drainage and heavy rains often resulted in a flooded infield.

The Bombers had sought assistance from the City of Columbia in building a new stadium located in the Congaree Vista area of Columbia. Efforts to construct a stadium to be shared with the University of South Carolina's baseball team fell through when the University demanded the Bombers pay $6 million in fees upfront. Following this, Bombers owner Rich Mozingo sought to relocate the team.

Mozingo's efforts paid off when, in 2005, the Bombers relocated to Greenville, South Carolina, (see above). Following the move, the Bombers played their home contests in Greenville Municipal Stadium in Greenville, then moved to Fluor Field at the West End, in the heart of downtown Greenville. The stadium was named "Ballpark of the Year" for the 2006 season by Baseballparks.com, beating out such stadiums as St. Louis's Busch Stadium and Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in State College, Pa.[8]

The stadium shares the dimensions of their parent club's major league park, Fenway Park, and boasts its own "Green Monster" complete with manual scoreboard and "Pesky's Pole" in right field.[9]

Season-by-season records

What follows are records of the Shelby Reds, Shelby Pirates, Columbia Mets, Capital City Bombers, Greenville Bombers, and Greenville Drive for each season.[10]

Shelby Reds

YearRecordManager
197760–79Jim Lett
197875–64

Shelby Pirates

YearRecordManager
197956–78Tom Zimmer
198058–80Joe Frisina
198159–83Dan Monzon
198277–63Rich Miller

Columbia Mets

YearRecordManagerPlayoffs
198388–54John TamargoLost in championship series
198482–57Rich Miller
198579–57Bud Harrelson / Rich MillerLost in first round
198690–42Tucker AshfordLeague Champions
198764–75Butch Hobson
198874–63Butch Hobson
198973–67Bill Stein
199083–60Bill Stein
199186–54Tim BlackwellLeague Champions
199279–59Tim Blackwell

Capital City Bombers

YearRecordManagerPlayoffs
199364–77Ron Washington
199459–76Ron Washington
199572–68Howie Freiling
199682–57Howie Freiling
199777–63Doug Mansolino
199890–51Doug DavisLeague Champions
199983–58Dave Engle
200056–81John Stephenson
200162–73Ken Oberkfell
200275–64Tony Tijerina
200373–65Tony Tijerina
200489–47Jack Lind

Greenville Bombers

YearRecordManager
200572–66Chad Epperson

Greenville Drive

SeasonDivisionRecordPct.Division
finish		League
rank		ManagerPlayoffs
2006South67–73.4796th11thLuis Alicea 
2007South58–81.417 14thGabe Kapler 
2008South70–69.504 8thKevin Boles 
2009Southern73–65.529 5thKevin BolesLost in the league finals
2010Southern77–62.554 3rdBilly McMillonLost in the league finals
2011Southern78–62.557 4thBilly McMillon 
2012Southern66–73.4756th9thCarlos Febles 
2013Southern51–87.3707th14thCarlos Febles 
2014Southern60–79.4325th10thDarren Fenster  
2015Southern72–68.5143rd6thDarren Fenster 
2016Southern70–69.5043rd (t)8th (t)Darren Fenster 
2017Southern79–60.5681st1stDarren FensterDefeated Charleston in semifinals, 2–1
Defeated Kannapolis in finals, 3–1
League Champions[11]
2018Southern64–75.4607th12thIggy Suarez 

Source: [12]
Division finish and league rank columns are based on overall regular season records. The South Atlantic League utilizes a split-season, with first-half winners and second-half winners of each division meeting in the playoffs; if the same team wins both halves of the season, the team with the next best overall record is selected.[13]

Roster

Greenville Drive roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 15 Eduard Bazardo
  • 50 Enmanuel De Jesus
  • 31 Jhonathan Diaz
  • 15 Nick Duron
  • 44 Devon Fisher
  • 37 Juan Florentino
  •  7 Rio Gomez
  • -- Jay Groome
  • -- Eddie Jimenez
  • 48 Marcos Lantigua
  • 47 Dominic LoBrutto
  • -- Brendan Nail
  • 10 Durin O'Linger
  • 33 Angel Padron
  • 20 Hildemaro Requena
  • 39 Zach Schellenger
  • 18 Alex Scherff
  • 16 Lukas Young

Catchers

  • -- Eduard Conde
  • 29 Kole Cottam
  • 19 Isaias Lucena
  •  3 Charlie Madden
  • 21 Samuel Miranda

Infielders

  • 17 Garrett Benge
  • 28 Pedro Castellanos
  • 24 Ryan Fitzgerald
  •  4 Everlouis Lozada
  • 30 Tanner Nishioka
  • 12 Frankie Rios †
  • 52 Zach Sterry

Outfielders

  • 23 Mariano Campana
  • 11 Jarren Duran
  • 36 Kevin Suarez
  •  5 Jordan Wren

Manager

Coaches


7-day disabled list
* On Boston Red Sox 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated August 30, 2018
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • South Atlantic League
 → Boston Red Sox minor league players

Notable Greenville alumni

Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

In the second season of the Netflix series House of Cards, Frank Underwood describes an embarrassing episode in his life where he threw out the first pitch at a Greenville Drive game.

References

  1. ↑ Andrews, Mike (October 28, 2005). "Greenville Bombers Change Name". Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  2. ↑ , Sox Prospects Wiki. Retrieved on 2008-06-22
  3. ↑ "Greenville welcomes the Drive". MILB. October 27, 2005. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  4. ↑ http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3668382
  5. ↑ "Ryan Lavarnway Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  6. ↑ Michael Vega (June 17, 2011). "Lavarnway swings into action with Pawtucket". Boston Globe. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  7. ↑ MiLB.com – Rome 0, at Greensville 1 box score
  8. ↑ , GreenvilleDrive.com Westend Park. Retrieved on 2008-06-22.
  9. ↑ , GreenvilleDrive.com 2006 Stadium of the Year Article . Retrieved on 2008-06-22.
  10. ↑ Baseball Reference
  11. ↑ https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=e40d44eb
  12. ↑ "Greenville Drive". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Playoff Procedures". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 30, 2018.

Further reading

  • Rabasco, Nick (September 15, 2017). "Cup of Coffee: Drive capture South Atlantic League title". SoxProspects.com. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
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