Cardinals prospects, tickets and more: What to know about the 2024 Peoria Chiefs baseball season
PEORIA — The Peoria Chiefs open the 2024 Midwest League baseball season on Friday, April 5.
The Chiefs are coming off a 69-63 season, finishing second in the Midwest League's West Division and earning a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming season — including prospects, full roster, coaches, promotions, what's new for 2024 and tickets to the downtown Peoria ballpark.
Which Cardinals prospects are in Peoria?
The Peoria Chiefs begin the season with eight of the top-30 ranked prospects from the parent club St. Louis Cardinals, according to MLB.com. Here is a look at them, in order of ranking:
6. Cooper Hjerpe, left-handed pitcher: The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Peoria ace returns. He is a 2022 first-round pick from Oregon State.
7. Leonardo Bernal, catcher: The 6-foot, 245-pound 20-year-old is an international free agent from Panama.
9. Won-Bin Cho, outfielder: The 6-foot-1, 200-pound oung Korean prospect is a 20-year-old lefty international signee.
20. Brycen Mautz, left-handed pitcher: The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder is a 2022 second-round pick from the University of San Diego.
22. Zach Levenson, outfielder: The 6-foot-2, 211-pound righty is a 2023 fifth-round pick from the University of Miami (Fla.)
29. Josh Baez, outfielder: The 6-foot-3, 200-pound righty is a 2021 second-round pick.
26. Pete Hansen, left-handed pitcher: The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is a 2022 third-round pick from the University of Texas.
30. William Sullivan, first baseman: The 6-foot-4, 216-pound lefty batter is a 2023 13th-round draft pick from Troy.
Who is on the Peoria Chiefs roster in 2024?
The Chiefs begin the 2024 season with 14 returnees from 2023. Below is the full Chiefs 30-man roster on opening day, with uniform number, player's name, prospect ranking in parenthesis if applicable, bats/throws, and how Cardinals acquired him:
PITCHERS
37 Tanner Bradt, R/R, 16th round, 2023 MLB Draft.
52 Benito Garcia, R/R, MiLB Rule 5 Draft.
32 Roy Garcia, R/R, International Free Agent.
29 Pete Hansen (26), R/L, 3rd round, 2022 MLB Draft.
44 Nathanael Heredia, L/L, International Free Agent.
50 Cooper Hjerpe (6), L/L, 1st round, 2022 MLB Draft.
30 Tanner Jacobson, R/R, 10th round, 2022 MLB Draft.
51 Joseph King, R/R 9th round, 2021 MLB Draft.
*70 Austin Love, R/R, 3rd round, 2021 MLB Draft.
25 Brycen Mautz (20), L/L, 2nd round, 2022 MLB Draft.
39 Zane Mills, R/R, 4th round, 2021 MLB Draft.
35 Inohan Paniagua, R/R, International Free Agent.
26 Wilfredo Pereira, R/R, International Free Agent.
19 Hancel Rincon, R/R, International Free Agent.
36 Dionys Rodriguez, L/R, International Free Agent.
**33 Gustavo Rodriguez, R/R, International Free Agent.
37 Cade Winquest, R/R, 8th round, 2022 MLB Draft.
CATCHERS
15 Leonardo Bernal (7), S/R, International Free Agent.
54 Carlos Linarez, R/R, International Free Agent.
7 Luis Rodriguez, R/R, International Free Agent.
28 Graysen Tarlow, R/R, 19th round, 2023 MLB Draft.
INFIELDERS
21 Michael Curialle, R/R, 12th round, 2022 MLB Draft.
49 Anyelo Encarnacion, R/R, International Free Agent.
11 Dakota Harris, R/R, 11th round, 2023 MLB Draft.
3 Brody Moore, R/R, 17th round, 2022 MLB Draft.
18 William Sullivan (30), L/R, 13th round, 2023 MLB Draft.
16 Osvaldo Tovalin, L/R, 10th round, 2021 MLB Draft.
OUTFIELDERS
13 Joshua Baez (29), R/R, 2nd round, 2021 MLB Draft.
5 Won-Bin Cho (9), L/L, International Free Agent.
4 Alex Iadisernia, L/L, 7th round, 2022 MLB Draft.
8 Zach Levenson (22), R/R, 5th round, 2023 MLB Draft.
12 Darlin Moquete, R/R, International Free Agent.
* — 60-day IL. ** — 7-day IL.
2024 Peoria Chiefs coaching staff
The Cardinals sent manager Patrick Anderson back to Peoria for his third straight season at the helm of the High-A team. Only Steve Roadcap (Cubs, 1992-94), Casey Kopitzke (Cubs, 2010-12), Joe Kruzel (Cardinals, 2014-16) and now Patrick Anderson (Cardinals, 2022-present), have managed the Chiefs in three consecutive seasons during the 42-year history of the Peoria franchise.
Here is a look at his coaching staff:
Pitching coach: Former San Diego Padres pitcher Edwin Moreno returns for a third season.
Hitting coach: Newcomer Elvis Rodriguez comes in from the Houston Astros organization.
Fourth coach: Will Peterson has the same role he had last season at Triple-A Memphis.
Trainer: Paden Eveland, the reigning Midwest League Trainer of the Year, returns for a third straight season.
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Campbell Quirk joins the Chiefs after spending the last two seasons in that role at Low-A Palm Beach.
Greatest Peoria Chiefs: The Journal Star picks the top 50 Peoria Chiefs baseball players of all time
The Cardinals pipeline
Here is a look at the St. Louis Cardinals minor-league organization, and where the Peoria Chiefs fit:
● Springfield Cardinals (Double-A)
● Peoria Chiefs (High Class A)
● Palm Beach Cardinals (Low Class A)
● Florida Complex League Cardinals (Rookie)
● Dominican Summer League Cardinals (Rookie)
2024 Peoria Chiefs baseball schedule
The Chiefs play a 132-game Midwest League schedule that begins April 5 and runs through Sept. 8. It's mostly set up in six-game series. Mondays are a universal day off for all teams in the league. Series run Tuesday-Sunday between the same two teams in the same ballpark. The Chiefs will play a six-game home series, then a six-game road series, and rotate like that throughout the summer.
Below are some highlights from the 2024 schedule. For the complete Peoria Chiefs schedule, check the team calendar on its web page.
Opening day: The Chiefs open the 2024 season Friday, April 5, with three games at Wisconsin, the first of which is at 6:40 p.m. Friday, followed by 1:10 p.m. starts Saturday and Sunday.
Home opener: The Chiefs play their first home game at 6:05 p.m. Tuesday, April 9 against Beloit at Dozer Park.
First pitch: Chiefs home games start at 6:35 p.m. on weeknights; 7:05 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; 2:05 p.m. on Sundays. Education Day games are 11:05 a.m., and night games before a day game move up to 6:05 p.m. There are exceptions for special events like fireworks and other themed nights, so always check the team's schedule on its site.
Rivalry series: The baby Cards-Cubs series will be 18 games, with a six-game homestand at Dozer on June 11-16, a three-game stand at Dozer on July 4-6, then three games at South Bend on July 1-3 and six at South Bend on July 23-28.
Playoff format: The winners from the two divisions in both halves of the season — based on the best winning percentage — will fill the league's four playoff spots. If the same team wins both halves, then the team with the next-best winning percentage in the second half will advance. The division round will be a best-of-3 series, followed by a best-of-3 championship series.
Peoria Chiefs promotional nights in 2024
The Peoria Chiefs will stage 17 giveaways, 21 fireworks shows and 31 themed nights during their 66-game home schedule in 2024. Here is a look at each of those promotions, followed by the weekly promotions from the team:
Taylor Swift Raffle Ticket: All fans at June 29 game will be entered automatically into a drawing to win two tickets to Taylor Swift's Nov. 2 concert at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Bobbleheads: Homer is distributed on June 15. Former Chiefs speed burner Victor Scott II on July 19 and former Chiefs hitter Ivan Herrera on Aug. 2.
Fireworks: The Chiefs will host South Bend in a 6:05 p.m. game at Dozer Park on July 4. Fans can stay and catch a view of the Peoria's annual downtown fireworks show.
Theme nights: Armed Forces Night (May 18), Splash Day (June 26), Hero Night (Aug. 3), BeerFest and Irish Night (Aug. 9), Prince and Princess Night (Aug. 24) and Fan Appreciation Night (Sept. 7).
Education Day: Dozer Park also will host four morning games as part of an Education Day series: April 10 and 24, May 14, 16).
Re-branded nickname: The Chiefs will play a weekend series this summer as the Peoria Distillers, a popular re-brand promotion. They will also have an alternate Hispanic team identity, calling themselves the Perros Bomberos de Peoria — or Fire Dogs. Colors include hot pink, representing charisma, and neon green, representing hope. They are available now at the Chiefs online store.
The Peoria Chiefs also have five season-long specialty days at Dozer Park, one for each day of the week:
Tuesdays: $2 tacos and $4 tallboys. Silver Slugger Tuesday: Fans 55-older get free ticket by signing up for the program.
Bang for your Buck Wednesdays: $2 popcorn, nachos and ice cream.
Thursdays: 12-ounce drafts and soda for $2; craft beers $4; hot dogs $2.
Four for Forty Fridays: Four tickets for $40. Happy Hour: $2 beers through the first inning.
Sundays Funday: $5 tickets for kids, courtesy OSF Children's Hospital. Kids can play catch on the field, run the bases after the game, and collect autographs from players.
Peoria Chiefs tickets 2024
The Chiefs ballpark, team shop and box office are at Dozer Park, 730 SW Jefferson Ave. in Peoria. Individual game tickets are $18 for dugout section seats; $15 for field section seats; $13 for reserved section seats; $10 for lawn seats.
You can purchase tickets online or by phone at (309) 680-4006. The box office is open 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday.
The box office will be closed daily for lunch between 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information, you can visit the team website or contact general manager Jason Mott at jasonm@chiefsnet.com.
How to watch or listen to Peoria Chiefs
Peoria Chiefs games are streamed live on MiLB.TV. You can also listen to Chiefs play-by-play broadcaster Cody Schindler's live call of the game via a listen link on the team website.
What's new at Dozer Park?
Major League Baseball mandated updates and consistent standards for ballparks across the minor-league system in a proposal that first surfaced late in 2020.
The Chiefs are part of that subsequent agreement, and last season upgraded the lights at Dozer Park, putting in an LED system that includes multiple colors and flashing capabilities. They also built a women's locker room, in part to serve the growing presence of female umpires.
This just-completed off-season included more renovations, some of which fans won't see.
Ballpark upgrades: Peoria Chiefs facing MLB mandate that will require millions in renovations to Dozer Park
Chiefs GM Jason Mott said the team built new kitchens and dining areas for both home and visiting teams, expanded the laundry facilities and created a new video/meeting room. Dozer also got new padding down the right field and left field lines to cover up the concrete walkways.
Next up, Mott says, is an extension of protective netting. The support poles for the netting system need to be manufactured. The new nets, once installed, will extend down the foul lines to the outfield corners. They will also have the ability to lower portions of the netting during breaks so staff can entertain fans with giveaway items that get tossed into the grandstand.
History of Peoria Chiefs baseball
Team: Peoria Chiefs
League: Midwest League
2024 parent club: High-A farm club of St. Louis Cardinals.
Home field: Dozer Park. Opened in 2002 in downtown Peoria.
The league: The Chiefs are in the Midwest League, reduced from 16 teams in 2019 to 12 today.It operates at baseball's high-A level. The 132-game schedule ends on Sept. 11. The Eastern Division includes the Dayton (Reds), Fort Wayne (Padres), Great Lakes (Midland, Mich., Dodgers), Lake County (Eastlake, Ohio, Guardians), Lansing (A's) and West Michigan (Comstock Park, Mich., Tigers). The Western Division includes the Peoria (Cardinals), Beloit (Marlins), Cedar Rapids (Twins), Quad Cities (Royals), South Bend (Cubs), Wisconsin (Brewers).
Past affiliates: St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, California Angels.
Franchise longevity: 42 seasons
Famous former Chiefs: Greg Maddux, Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Mark Grace, Rafael Palmeiro were among more than 200 Chiefs players who went on to reach the majors. Every player to reach MLB after playing in Peoria is honored on home-plate shaped wood plaques along the hallway that leads to the field at Dozer Park.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: What to know about the Peoria Chiefs baseball season in 2024
