Tucson Saguaros

History

Announced in November 2015 as an expansion franchise, Tucson began play in the 2016 season. The club calls Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium home with the exception of Sunday games - scheduled for Warren Ballpark in Bisbee, Arizona.

2016: Inaugural season and a Pecos League championship

The team began signing players for its first season in winter preparing for opening of its training camp in May.

2016 Saguaros manager J.D. Droddy was featured in the 2014 Fox Sports 1 six-episode reality TV show "The Pecos League" as the manager of the Trinidad Triggers. He spent twenty years in the United States Air Force, flying 44 combat missions in the Vietnam War. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1989, he practiced law in Portland, Oregon, but "hated every minute of practicing law." Afterward, he became a college professor, wrote plays, and became a self-taught composer, writing a ballet called the "Lady of White Sands." Before managing the Trinidad Triggers, he was a host for Pecos League players.

The Saguaros opened their inaugural season 6-0, sweeping the Santa Fe Fuego in a 4-game series. In a high-scoring 22-12 victory on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 against the White Sands Pupfish in Alamogordo, New Mexico, the Saguaros had 29 hits and four home runs, one of which was hit by the starting pitcher, Carlos Diaz.

On July 4, 2016, the Saguaros broke the all-time Pecos League record by drawing 8,720 fans to their contest against Roswell, an 8-4 Invaders win.

On August 11, 2016, the Saguaros became the 2016 Pecos League Champions by defeating the Trinidad Triggers 2 games to 0 in a 5-4 victory. Entering the bottom of the 9th inning, the Trinidad Triggers were leading 4-1. Catcher Jesse Baker scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning when Christian Schneider threw a wild pitch to pinch hitter Thomas McKenna.

2017

Kirby Campbell was announced as the new manager on October 12, 2016, while the previous manager, J.D. Droddy, remained on the Saguaros as the Director of Player Procurement. Campbell, a 2014 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, began the 2016 season as the starting first baseman of the Great Bend Boom and became Great Bend's manager midway through the season.

Quick facts

First Game: vs Santa Fe Fuego, 11-4 win (5/19/2016)First Hit: Burnell Dailey, (5/19/2016)First Home Run: Adam Urbania, (5/19/2016)First Winning Pitcher: David Contreras (5/19/2016)First Save: Daniel Hurtado (5/21/2016)

Pecos League Pitcher of the Year

2016 - Steven Borkowski

Pecos League All-Star

Adam Urbania (2016)

David Robles (2016)

Jesse Baker (2016)

Michael Morris (2016)

Ryan Retz (2016)

Steven Borkowski (2016)

Batting

Games: Burnell Dailey, 65 (2016), Thomas McKenna, 65 (2016), Ryan Retz, 65 (2016)

Batting Average: Jimmy Heck, .426 (2016)

On-base Percentage: Michael Rampone, .428 (2016)

Slugging Percentage: Michael Rampone, .550 (2016)

At Bats: Ryan Retz, 281 (2016)

Runs: Ryan Retz, 73 (2016)

Doubles: Ryan Retz, 19 (2016)

Triples: Ryan Retz, 7 (2016)

Home Runs: Ryan Retz, 12 (2016)

RBI: Ryan Retz, 64 (2016)

Walks: Michael Morris, 47 (2016)

Strikeouts: Burnell Dailey, 64 (2016)

Stolen Bases: Ryan Retz, 42 (2016)

Singles: Michael Morris, 98 (2016)

Pitching

Earned Run Average: Daniel Hurtado, 1.38 (2016)

Won-Loss Percentage: Steven Borkowski, 1.000 (2016)

WHIP: Tyler Herr, .550 (2016)

Games: David Robles, 29 (2016)

Saves: Daniel Hurtado, 7 (2016), David Robles, 7 (2016)

Innings: Steven Borkowski, 79.1 (2016)

Strikeouts: Steven Borkowski, 92 (2016)

Complete Games: Randy Keen, 2 (2016)

Walks Allowed: Steven Borkowski, 46 (2016)

Hits Allowed: Cameron Cox, 79 (2016)

Wins: Steven Borkowski, 10 (2016)

Losses: Aaron Smith, 3 (2016), Brian Luebcke, 3 (2016)

Earned Runs Allowed: Cameron Cox, 43 (2016)

Fielding

Putouts: Ryan Retz, 506 (2016)

Assists: Michael Morris, 167 (2016)

Fielding Average by an Infielder: Jesse Baker, .995 (2016)

Fielding Average by an Outfielder: Burnell Dailey, .963 (2016)