PLAY BALL! Trash Pandas to open fifth season tonight at Toyota Field

MADISON – It’s go-time for the Rocket City Trash Pandas and Minor League Baseball.

The Trash Pandas launch their fifth season at Toyota Field tonight at 6:35 against the Chattanooga Lookouts. The game kicks off a three-game series in what will be a nine-game homestand for the Trash Pandas to start the season.

“The team came in last Saturday, had a nice welcoming party for ’em, and a meet the team dinner here the other night and the guys are ready to go,’’ Garrett Fahrmann, the club’s general manager, said Thursday during the team’s Media Day.

After taking on Chattanooga, Rocket City will be off Monday before the Knoxville Smokies arrive for a six-game set. The Smokies are moving into new Covenant Health Park this season, part of the reason the Trash Pandas got nine home games to open 2025 as the league granted extra time for club’s to prepare new digs..

Meanwhile, Toyota Field is introducing new food fare and attractions this season.

“We’re excited,’’ Fahrmann said. “The team’s excited, the players are excited, fans are excited.’’

Andy Schatzley begins his fourth season as the team’s manager. The skipper, along with the players, are eager to get the season underway.

“We’re ready. It’s time to stop talking about it and start doing it,’’ he said. “Excited for (pitcher George Klassen) to get a chance to start on opening night. Excited for this group to be able to get in a rhythm and be able to start the process and start the task that they’ve been working for all off season. We’ve got a really good mix on this roster of some guys who have been in the major leagues and some guys who are just coming up.’’

Among the new players are former Auburn Tigers first baseman Sonny DiChiara and the top ranked prospect in the Los Angeles Angels system – former Tennessee Vols All-American second baseman Christian Moore.

DiChiara, a native of Homewood, was the Southeastern Conference Co-Player of the Year with LSU’s Dylan Crews. DiChiara, an All-American at Auburn, began his professional career with the Trash Pandas (2022-2023) and in 2024 was with Salt Lake (Triple-A), Tri-City (Advanced-A) and Inland Empire (Single-A) and has spent extensive time at the Angels complex in Arizona rehabbing injuries.

“I had a great off season,’’ DiChiara said. “I recently bought a house in Auburn so I spent the whole off season going up to the university facility and it’s just been good. It was a good year to be home for the whole time. The past couple offseasons I’ve been away for a little bit, but it was good to be back.’’

DiChiara has been no stranger to the doctor’s scalpel. He’s had brain surgery, Tommy John and ankle surgery and spent three months resting a right labrum issue.

“My goal is obviously to stay healthy, and have fun,’’ he said. “I’ve been putting a little pressure on myself for the past couple years, so having fun is a huge goal. It’s a huge emphasis on what we’re doing out here. I mean this is, in the long run it’s a job, but it’s also a game and I just want to go out here and win and compete and have fun.’’

Moore was drafted No. 8 overall by the Angels in 2024 after helping lead Tennessee to a College World Series championship. He began his professional career with Inland Empire and was promoted to the Trash Pandas in August to finish the 2024 season.

Moore compared his first season transitioning  out of college in ‘’24 to this season and returning to Rocket City.

“Honestly it’s been a lot easier this transition coming back here, being in Alabama,’’ he said. “It’s been awesome. I feel a lot more comfortable. I know where everything is. I don’t have to ask thousands of questions like I did last year.’’

For Trash Pandas tickets, visit www.milb.com/rocket-city/tickets .