Trash Pandas to kickoff 2025 season next week in Madison

MADISON – The fifth season of the Rocket City Trash Pandas will start and finish at Toyota Field as the newest action for the “Boys of Summer” will began Friday, April 4 against the Chattanooga Lookouts and conclude after a 69-game home slate again against the Lookouts on Sunday, Sept. 14.

The best part of the outstanding family-friendly day or night at the ballpark is the fact tickets start at just $8 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased online at tpix.com. Fans can also buy tickets in person during regular business hours at the Wicks Family Foundation Box Office at Toyota Field or by calling 256-325-1403, option 1. Season tickets are also up for grabs.

Fireworks will light up the Rocket City sky following all Friday home games including opening weekend Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5, plus seven additional Saturday nights. The SAIC Pa- triotic Series returns with three shows including Armed Forces Day on May 9, Space Night Aug. 1 and Independence Eve Celebration on July 3.

Weekly promotions return in 2025 including Ladies Night Tuesdays, Tito’s Dog Day Wednesdays and Friday Night Fireworks. The Trash Pandas will take you back in time with Throwback Thursdays featuring $3 domestic beers. Sundays will now include player autograph signings and Kids Run the Bases, presented by Listerhill Credit Union. The promotional calendar will feature a record number of dates, including promotional giveaways at the Pepsi Gates and special meet-and-greet opportunities during games. Toyota Field will welcome special guests throughout the season. Each appearance will feature the guest participating in a pre-game on-field ceremony and meet-and-greet session on the Bill Penney Toyota Concourse during the game.

One of the highlight nights of the summer will be Thursday, Aug. 28 when the Trash Pandas will host Huntsville Stars Throwback Night. The special evening will welcome the appearance of former baseball superstar Jose Canseco and his twin brother, Ozzie, both of whom starred at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville for the Huntsville Stars. The Trash Pandas will take Toyota Field back 40 years with the appearance of Jose, the most famous minor league player to come through Huntsville. He played 17 seasons in the Major Leagues slugging 462 homers with a lifetime batting average of .266. He played in just 58 games of the Stars’ inaugural 1985 season but had 25 homers hitting .318.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to return to the Trash Pandas and be a part of the best-run affiliate in Minor League Baseball,” said Andy Schatzley, returning for his fourth season as manager of the Trash Pandas. “It’s a privilege to be a part of the Angels and this affiliate, and to be able to do it with this staff really excites me. I’m ready to get to work.”

The remainder of the coaching staff includes some familiar faces in pitching coach Michael Wuertz (fifth season with the Trash Pandas) and strength and conditioning coach David Robertson (third season.)

Southern League veteran Chris Harris has joined Josh Caray in the broadcast booth of the Trash Pandas. He’s a two-time winner of the Southern League Broadcaster of the Year, and along with Caray, can be heard on the home of the Trash Pandas Talk radio WZZN 97.7-HD 2. All home games can be seen on WAAYTV (Channel 31)-N The Grio.

The Trash Pandas will partner with its Major League franchise the Los Angeles Angels for Trash Panda For-A-Day Program where one young fan, elementary or middle school student, will get to experience what it’s like to be a Trash Panda player where the student will spend an entire day with the team. The program is held once a month.

The team will host seven specialty jersey fundraisers, four donation drives and additional community outreach nights to benefit local non-profit organizations.

Throwback Thursdays and Sunday Autographs make their debuts as part of weekly promotions. Tuesday- Ladies Night, Wednesday- Tito Dog Days, Throwback Thursdays, Fridays and select Saturdays- Postgame Fireworks, Sunday- Pregame Autographs and Postgame Kids Run the Bases.

Toyota Field has already warmed up for the season as 35 amateur teams, both baseball and softball, have raced around the diamond this year. College and high school games have used the field preceding the start of the pros stepping onto the manicured playing surface. Alabama, Auburn, Army, UNA and UAH have all presented a squad in action already this year.

A complete finding of everything Trash Pandas and Toyota Field is available at www.trashpandasbaseball.com.

Now, if we can just have Mother Nature cooperate with everything at Toyota Field, we’ll hear the call, Play Ball!