Baseball is back in Brockton. Here's what to know about the Knockouts' upcoming season
The New England Knockouts, the newest member of the Frontier League, a professional partner league of Major League Baseball, is set to kick off their inaugural season at Brockton's Campanelli Stadium in less than one month.
On Friday, May 10, The Knockouts will have officially brought professional baseball back to Brockton with an inaugural home game against the Ottawa Titans.
It will be the first time fans can catch a professional baseball game in Brockton since the Brockton Rox discontinued participation in the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball League in 2011, according to Brian Kahn, who owns both teams.
Campanelli Stadium will become a dual-host to both the amateur Rox and the professional Knockouts, offering fans an 80-game schedule throughout the spring and summer. With 48 of those games coming from the Knockouts, fans will have plenty of opportunities to catch a pro game without having to make the trek to Fenway Park.
Here's everything you need to know about the Knockouts' upcoming season.
Where can I purchase tickets?
Tickets are available to purchase online at any time, as well as in-person at the Campanelli Stadium box office.
How much do tickets cost?
Tickets will be in the range of $8 to $13, said Nick Desrosiers, vice president and general manager of the club. However, the team will offer discounts for seniors, students, military personnel, and first responders.
Season tickets start at $264 for the outfield, $396 for the upper infield, and $540 for the lower infield. Half season and quarter season tickets are also available for purchase online.
Opening night
The Knockouts' opening game is scheduled at Campanelli Stadium against the Ottawa Titans on Friday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m., with a firework show after the game.
The team’s full game schedule can be found on the Knockouts’ website.
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Who is on the team?
The Knockouts consists of 29 players from across the continental U.S. — including the states of Ohio, Connecticut, South Carolina, Illinois, New York, Michigan, New Jersey, Florida, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Georgia, California, and of course, Massachusetts. Five players are from as far away as the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Venezuela.
This year, two new pitchers and one new outfielder have signed contracts with the Knockouts.
Charles “Chuck” Kelley, a 24-year-old pitcher from Pennsylvania, originally played for La Salle University where he threw for a 4.97 earned run average (ERA), which is the average runs allowed by a pitcher per nine games, with 31 strikeouts.
Brad VanAsdlen, a 26-year-old originally from Illinois, played three seasons with another Frontier League team, the Joliet Slammers, where he threw for a 5.68 ERA with 90 strikeouts. “The 6-4, 225-pounder possesses a curveball that has flashed the eyes of many in the Frontier League,” Brett Chaves, the team's director of media relations, said of VanAsdlen.
Sam Freedman, a 26-year-old outfielder originally from Pennsylvania, will join the Knockouts after playing five years in the NCAA for Binghampton University, Flagler College, and Mansfield University. After collegiate baseball, Freedman played one season with the Santa Rosa Scuba Divers, a professional team in the PECOS League, where he produced a .439 batting average and one home run.
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What can fans expect at Campanelli Stadium?
According to the Knockouts Promotions and Fan Experience Coordinator Katie McMahon, fans will get to experience a different promotional theme, broken down by days of the week, every time the team plays.
“We are extremely excited with how the promotional themes came out,” said McMahon. “We’re one step closer to giving fans one of the best entertainment experiences on the south shore,” she said.
Here are the promotional themes announced this month:
Triple Play Tuesday ($3 outfield reserve tickets, hot dogs, and sodas)
We Care Wednesday (Free tickets for active, veteran, and senior military members)
Thirsty Thursday ($2 popcorn and soft drink combo)
Firework Friday (after the conclusion of every Friday home game)
Surprise Saturday (giveaways, celebrity appearances, surprise theme nights)
Sunday Family Funday (kids run the bases and meet players after the game)
Who are the coaches?
First-year Manager Jerod Edmondson will lead this year’s coaching staff, according to a press release. Edmondson previously served as the head coach of Saint Anselm College from 2020-2023 where his team set a program record for home runs (57) that had not been broken since 2001.
Edmondson’s brother Chris Edmondson, who was drafted into the MLB by the St. Louis Cardinals, will serve as the team’s hitting coach. After stints with the Rockland Boulders and Atlanta Braves, he became an assistant at UMass Lowell.
Dan Sausville, who played at the University of North Haven and for the Quebec Capitales, will serve as the team’s primary pitching coach.
Chuck Hernandez, a veteran pitching coach for several MLB organizations that include the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves, will serve as New England’s pitching consultant.
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Food and drink
According to Chris Costich, an account executive with the Knockouts, fans can expect typical game day foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, and fries. Alcoholic beverages will also be available for purchase.
Parking
Spectators can park at Brockton High School and at the Campanelli Stadium lot located in front of Gate B.
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: What to know about the New England Knockouts' upcoming season
