TRENTON, N.J. (WBZ NewsRadio) — It's the beginning of a new era for the Red Sox Triple-A Affiliate. The Worcester Red Sox, nicknamed the WooSox, will play their first game against the Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday night.
Fans will need to wait for the WooSox home opener on May 11 to attend a game at the brand-new Polar Park in downtown Worcester.
The teams were supposed to play in Buffalo, but the Bisons' home field is being renovated by the Toronto Blue Jays, who can't play in Canada this season due to the pandemic. So, the WooSox historic first game will be played in Trenton, New Jersey, at 7:00 PM.
The team's Senior Vice President Bill Wanless called the team "a really exciting team with some young prospects and some proven veterans."
The WooSox were previously based in Pawtucket, R.I. and called the PawSox, until the team moved to a new home at Polar Park in a deal with Worcester. The newly-constructed ballpark project cost $159 million to build and is the most expensive minor-league ballpark ever built, according to the Worcester Business Journal.
"I think people are just going to love the place," said Wanless. "It's a handsome ballpark, it's unique, it's cozy, there's just going to be a festive atmosphere and some great baseball," he said. Polar Park will be able to open at 25% capacity for the home opener.
A Red Sox Triple-A team hasn't played since September 2, 2019, after the 2020 season was unexpectedly canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tanner Houck will be the WooSox's starting pitcher Tuesday night.
WBZ's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports:
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