MLB Draft League Spotlight: Trenton Thunder
January 5, 2021
TEAM: Trenton Thunder
LOCATION: Trenton, NJ
VENUE: Arm & Hammer Park
A long-standing Double-A franchise, the Trenton Thunder has entertained 10.1 million fans to date, averaging more than 5,000 per game in 2019 and was the New York Yankees affiliate from 2003 until becoming an founding member of the MLB Draft League. The 2019 Eastern League championship was the team’s fourth in its history and, since 1994, 387 players and coaches have donned a Thunder and major league uniform in their careers.
"We are thrilled to share with our fans and sponsor partners the exciting news that your Trenton Thunder will be a founding member of the new MLB Draft League for the 2021 season and continue to bring family fun to ARM & HAMMER Park," Thunder GM/COO Jeff Hurley said.
The Thunder’s history started in Glen Falls, NY, in 1980 as an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. It also was affiliated with the Detroit Tigers (1986-1994) and Boston Red Sox (1995-2002) before switching to the Yankees (2003-2020). The franchise moved from Great Falls to London, ON, in 1989 before settling in its current home in 1994.
"We are dedicated to delivering our Power of Fun brand to our fans as the Thunder Entertainment Experience they have enjoyed for the last 27 years, featuring the antics of our beloved mascot Boomer having a blast in the crowd,” Hurley said. “Fans will continue to enjoy our World Famous Bat Dogs retrieving bats, with Dash making his debut this summer. The new MLB Draft League will showcase the best prospects in baseball eligible for the MLB draft. Thunder fans will get to know these players as they begin their path as future stars of Major League Baseball."
Trenton’s bat dogs are indeed world famous, having been featured on E:60 and international news. It began with Chase in 2000 and has been passed down through the family. Chase delighted fans until 2013, even getting the call to Yankee Stadium at one point. His son, Derby, joined his side in 2008 and remained through the 2017 season. He was joined by his own son, Rookie, in 2014. Rookie is still working today and will be joined by the latest in a proud lineage in Dash, who is currently in training.
Community is a key focus for minor league clubs and the Thunder has been a staple in Trenton. Through its Grand Slam We Care Foundation, $7.5 million worth of goods, services and monetary donations have been donated through a variety of community programs. The Thunder also created the F.I.E.L.D. (Focused Initiative for Enhanced Learning and Development) in 2016, with the mission to help renovate and revitalize little league fields in the local area.