Short stop Carlos Correa, the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year for the Houston Astros, was one of the stars of last year’s Corpus Christi Hooks team. New players will be announced early this month after spring training ends. Courtesy photo
The first 1,000 fans who come to the Corpus Christi Hooks’ home opener April 7 will receive a free T-shirt, sponsored by Mike Shaw Automotive. The Thursday night game also represents Thirsty Thursday, a season-long promotion that offers discounted prices for beer and soda from Stripes Convenience Stores.
A game of tradition and ceremony, the first of the season lineup between the Hooks and the Tulsa Drillers will begin with the starting nine players throwing out the first pitch.
“It’s called a memorial first pitch to honor those who have passed away during offseason,” said Matt Rogers, director of communications for the AA minor league team. He added that it includes more than just players. “It honors anyone involved in the game of baseball. Any season ticket holder who passed away, anyone who is a fan of baseball, we honor their memories. It’s our way of showing they are missed at the ballpark.”
First pitch begins with the starting pitcher throwing to the catcher, who then throws to third base. From there, the ball is thrown to short stop, second base, first base, right field, center field and left field. The left fielder throws the ceremonial first pitch into the ship channel.
The pitch along the chain of players will be bittersweet for this year’s team. Hooks first baseman Walter Young, who played on the Hooks team that won the 2006 Texas League Championship, died last year.
Another highlight of any ballgame for those who arrive early is the singing of the “National Anthem.” For Rockport-Fulton night on April 7, the 90-member Rockport-Fulton High School choir will perform.
Whoever ends up on the team this year will run out onto a new field. Players won’t be announced until spring training ends early this month. When they get to Whataburger Field, they will find a completely new surface designed to enhance playability.
“It certainly promotes fair hops and bounces,” Rogers said. “And it enables us to stay away from adverse drainage issues we’ve had on the warning track that led to delayed games.”
The club also replaced 2,843 of its 5,000 seats, including all of the most used seating in the ballpark, meaning those in the lower seating bowl.
“The field looks spectacular,” Rogers said. He also praised the setting, which includes a view of the Harbor Bridge and the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. “It’s an absolutely gorgeous environment. It’s an outstanding ballpark to come watch a game.”
While the players may all be new this year, one person returning is manager Rodney Linares, who took the team to 89 wins in 2015.
“That was the highest in minor league ball,” Rogers said.
The team made it into the championships but were eliminated by Midland in the South Division playoffs.
While fans anticipate the season, complete with hot dogs, lemonade and renditions of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” the club anticipates the fans.
“People in Corpus Christi are passionate about baseball,” Rogers said. “The best thing about baseball in Corpus Christi is the support you see from the high school level all the way up to the Astros.”
Since the Hooks is a feeder team for the Astros, that hometown support comes in handy. The Astros, by the way, open their season on the road April 4 against the New York Yankees.
For information on tickets to any of the 70 upcoming Hooks home games, check out the website at cchooks.com. The site includes a full list of all upcoming promotions, including fireworks on Friday nights, military jersey giveaways and post-game concerts.
