Beloit Sky Carp

Beloit Sky Carp
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassHigh-A (2021–present)
Previous classesClass A (1982–2020)
LeagueMidwest League (1982–present)
DivisionWest Division
Major league affiliations
TeamMiami Marlins (2021–present)
Previous teamsOakland Athletics (2013–2020)
Minnesota Twins (2005–2012)
Milwaukee Brewers (1982–2004)
Minor league titles
League titles (1)
  • 1995
Division titles (8)
  • 1984
  • 1985
  • 1987
  • 1992
  • 1995
  • 2000
  • 2003
  • 2007
First-half titles (4)
  • 1995
  • 2000
  • 2007
  • 2013
Second-half titles (3)
  • 1992
  • 1995
  • 2003
Wild card berths (1)
  • 2018
Team data
NameBeloit Sky Carp (2022–present)
Previous names
Beloit Snappers (1995–2021)
Beloit Brewers (1982–1994)
ColorsBlue, orange, black, gray, white
         
MascotPoopsie[1]
BallparkABC Supply Stadium (2021–present)
Previous parks
Harry C. Pohlman Field (1982–2021)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Quint Studer[2]
PresidentZach Brockman[3]
ManagerBilly Gardner Jr.
Websitemilb.com/beloit

The Beloit Sky Carp are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are located in Beloit, Wisconsin, and play their home games at ABC Supply Stadium. They previously played at Harry C. Pohlman Field from its opening in 1982 until moving into their current ballpark in August 2021.

Originally known as the Beloit Brewers from 1982 to 1994 and the Beloit Snappers from 1995 to 2021, the team played in the Class A Midwest League from 1982 to 2020. In conjunction with Major League Baseball's reorganization of Minor League Baseball in 2021, Beloit was shifted to the High-A Central, though this was renamed the Midwest League in 2022. The team rebranded as the Sky Carp prior to the 2022 season.

History

[edit]

The Beloit Brewers joined the Midwest League as an expansion franchise in 1982. The club was a Milwaukee Brewers farm team from its inception through 2004. Beloit switched to the Minnesota Twins' farm system for the 2005 season. The organization adopted the Snappers nickname in 1995 after using its parent team's nickname for its first 13 seasons. The Snappers' name derived from the snapping turtle, because Beloit was formerly known as Turtle Village, and there is still a Turtle Creek and a town of Turtle. All of these are named for a turtle-shaped Indian mound on the campus of Beloit College.

After the Brewers and Snappers ended their affiliation, efforts were started to build a new stadium similar to the facilities used by the Rockford RiverHawks or the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. One possible scenario involved construction on a site near Janesville, which could have included renaming the team to reflect a broader Rock County audience.[4] However, no new stadium was built and improvements, including redoing the entire field and repairing the concrete concourse, were made to the existing site. After the 2012 season, the city of Beloit appropriated $100,000 in order to completely redo the outfield. The outfield was raised and leveled with the infield and a new sprinkler system was installed.[5][6]

In September 2018, the team entered into the process of being sold to a new group of investors who planned to build a new ballpark in downtown Beloit.[7] The sale was cancelled in May 2020 amid uncertainty surrounding the Professional Baseball Agreement between Minor and Major League Baseball set to expire after the 2020 season. The group, led by Quint Studer, retained the right to operate the Snappers in 2020 and continued to move forward with plans to build a new stadium.[8] On June 15, 2020, construction began on the new ABC Supply Stadium.[9] The Snappers started the 2021 season at Pohlman Field,[10] and played their first game at ABC Supply Stadium on August 3.[11]

Prior to the 2021 season, the Snappers were organized into the High-A Central.[12] Plans to rebrand the team for the 2021 season, with a new name selected through a "name the team contest" and a new mascot, were postponed until 2022.[13][14][15] In November 2021, the team rebranded as the Beloit Sky Carp, taking their new moniker from a nickname for geese.[16] In 2022, the High-A Central became known as the Midwest League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.[17]

Former players

[edit]

The 2003 team included two sons of former major league players. Prince Fielder, the son of former American League home run champion Cecil Fielder and Tony Gwynn Jr., son of Tony Gwynn. Future major leaguer Danny Valencia played for the 2007 team. Another noted major leaguer, Jim Morris of The Rookie fame played for the Beloit Brewers when he came out of college in the 1980s. Other former Snappers players who moved on to major league ball include Greg Vaughn, Geoff Jenkins, Jeff D'Amico, Ron Belliard, and Yovani Gallardo. Minnesota Twins players that have come through include Matt Garza and Kevin Slowey.

Roster

[edit]
Beloit Sky Carp roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

Catchers

  • 25 Sam Praytor

Infielders

Outfielders

  • 29 Mark Coley II
  •  2 Brett Roberts
  •  4 Colby Shade

Manager

  • 24 Billy Gardner

Coaches

  • 40 Jason Erickson (pitching)
  •  1 Angel Espada (defensive)
  • 33 Mike Marjama (hitting)

60-day injured list

  • 20 Cristian Charle
  •    Jorge Mercedes
  • 25 Jared Poland
  • 40 Franklin Sanchez (full season)

7-day injured list
* On Miami Marlins 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated September 15, 2024
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Midwest League
 → Miami Marlins minor league players

Season-by-season record

[edit]
Season-by-season record
Year Regular season[18] Postseason[19]
Record Win % League Division GB Record Win % Result
1982 71–68 .511 6th 2nd 13.5 — — —
1983 66–71 .482 9th 3rd 8.5 — — —
1984 86–53 .619 2nd 1st — 0–2 .000 Lost semifinals vs. Springfield Cardinals, 2–0
1985 79–57 .581 2nd 1st — 1–2 .333 Lost semifinals vs. Peoria Chiefs, 2–1
1986 70–69 .504 6th 2nd 7.5 — — —
1987 76–64 .543 3rd 1st — 1–2 .333 Lost semifinals vs. Kenosha Twins, 2–1
1988 66–74 .471 8th 3rd 18 — — —
1989 62–72 .463 10th 6th 24 — — —
1990 72–63 .533 7th 3rd 5.5 — — —
1991 70–67 .511 6th 3rd 6.5 — — —
1992 77–58 .570 4th 1st — 4–4 .500 Won semifinals vs. Appleton Foxes, 2–1
Lost MWL Championship vs. Cedar Rapids Reds, 3–2
1993 60–74 .448 10th 7th 19 — — —
1994 76–64 .543 3rd 2nd 13.5 — — —
1995 88–51 .633 1st 1st — 7–1 .875 Won quarterfinals vs. Rockford Cubbies, 2–0
Won semifinals vs. Quad Cities River Bandits, 2–1
Won MWL Championship vs. Michigan Battle Cats, 3–0
1996 88–51 .633 1st 1st — 1–2 .333 Lost quarterfinals vs. Rockford Cubbies, 2–1
1997 60–73 .451 11th 5th 13 — — —
1998 64–75 .460 12th 5th 9 — — —
1999 59–80 .424 14th 5th 20 — — —
2000 71–64 .526 t-5th 3rd 5.5 4–5 .444 Won quarterfinals vs. Clinton LumberKings, 2–1
Won semifinals vs. Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 2–1
Lost MWL Championship vs. Michigan Battle Cats, 3–0
2001 67–71 .486 7th 4th 21 0–2 .000 Lost quarterfinals vs. Kane County Cougars, 2–0
2002 57–82 .410 12th 7th 28.5 — — —
2003 71–65 .551 2nd 2nd 3.5 4–4 .500 Won quarterfinals vs. Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 2–0
Won semifinals vs. Clinton LumberKings, 2–1
Lost MWL Championship vs. Lansing Lugnuts, 3–0
2004 72–68 .514 t-7th 5th 11.5 — — —
2005 69–71 .493 8th 4th 7.5 1–2 .333 Lost quarterfinals vs. Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 2–1
2006 74–64 .536 6th 4th 4.5 2–3 .400 Won quarterfinals vs. Peoria Chiefs, 2–1
Lost semifinals vs. Kane County Cougars, 2–0
2007 79–61 .564 2nd 1st — 6–3 .667 Won quarterfinals vs. Quad Cities River Bandits, 2–0
Won semifinals vs. Clinton LumberKings, 2–0
Lost MWL Championship vs. West Michigan Whitecaps, 3–2
2008 71–67 .514 8th 5th 7.5 — — —
2009 57–83 .407 13th 14th 25.0 — — —
2010 71–65 .522 7th 4th 11.0 — — —
2011 69–69 .500 8th 3rd 12.5 — — —
2012 77–63 .550 4th 2nd 1.5 1–2 .333 Lost quarterfinals vs. Clinton LumberKings, 2–1
2013 77–62 .554 5th 3rd 11.5 2–2 .500 Won quarterfinals vs. Clinton LumberKings, 2–0
Lost semifinals vs. Quad Cities River Bandits, 2–0
2014 55–84 .396 16th 8th 35.5 — — —
2015 55–84 .396 14th 6th 33.5 — — —
2016 65–77 .458 15th 8th 26.5 — — —
2017 65–73 .471 11th 5th 14.0 — — —
2018 69–69 .500 — 5th 11.0 — — —
2019 54–84 .391 — 7th 26.5 — — —
2021 55–65 .458 — 4th 14.0 — — —
2022 62-67 .481 — 4th 8.0 — — —
2023 56–75 .427 — 5th 25.5 — — —
Totals 2,630–2,599 .503 — — — 34–36 .486 1 MWL Championship

Notable alumni

[edit]

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Non-HOF and current players

[edit]
Prince Fielder (2002–03) was selected as the Midwest League's MVP and Prospect of the Year in 2003.[20]
Ben Revere (2008) was selected as the Midwest League's MVP and Prospect of the Year.[20]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beloit Snappers.
  1. ^ "Mascot". Beloit Sky Carp. Minor League Baseball.
  2. ^ "Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer part of new future for Beloit Snappers". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "Brockman new Beloit Sky Carp president". Ballpark Digest. March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "Beloit Snappers". Archived from the original on August 1, 2008. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
  5. ^ Zinck, Shaun (December 8, 2012). "Pohlman Field's Makeover Done". Beloit Daily News. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  6. ^ Zinck, Shaun (October 3, 2013). "Pohlman Field Work Nears Completion". Beloit Daily News. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  7. ^ Reichard, Kevin (September 4, 2018). "MOU Signed for Snappers Sale; Downtown Beloit Ballpark Planned". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  8. ^ Reichard, Kevin (May 13, 2020). "Snappers Sale Scratched; Beloit Ballpark Construction Will Go On". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  9. ^ Reichard, Kevin (June 15, 2020). "New Beloit ballpark construction begins". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  10. ^ Reichard, Kevin (April 13, 2021). "Snappers to start season at Pohlman Field". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  11. ^ Gavan, Hillary (August 3, 2021). "Fans cheer on Snappers at inaugural night of new ABC Supply Stadium". Beloit Daily News. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  12. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  13. ^ Reichard, Kevin (September 4, 2020). "Goodbye, Snappers; Beloit to sport new moniker in 2021". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  14. ^ Reichard, Kevin (September 11, 2020). "From dairy to relish trays: Five finalists for Beloit team name". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  15. ^ "Letter From Quint - Snappers Announce 2021 Farewell Season and 2022 Rebrand". Beloit Sky Carp. Minor League Baseball. February 18, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  16. ^ "'Beloit Sky Carp' new name of Beloit baseball team". MyStateline.com. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  17. ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  18. ^ "Beloit, Wisconsin Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  19. ^ "Midwest League Seasons". MWLGuide.com. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  20. ^ a b "Midwest League Award Winners". Midwest League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
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