PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland Sea Dogs are getting ready for the 2024 season, which is scheduled to begin at Hadlock Field on Friday at 6 p.m.
However, Mainers are playing close attention to the April storm expected to bring snow and power outage threats over the next few days. So, first pitch at Hadlock is still up in the air, but President and General Manager Geoff Iacuessa said the team is preparing like the game is still on.
He said they'll come evaluate the field conditions on Friday and check out the forecast for the rest of the weekend.
The Sea Dogs are scheduled to host the Hartford Yard Goats for at three-game homestand concluding Sunday afternoon.
When the season does begin, the Sea Dogs will have the top three Red Sox prospects on the roster in Portland; Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kyle Teel, who are also among the top 40 prospects in all of professional baseball.
Teel, who played a few games in Portland at the end of last season, said he's excited baseball is back. After jumping right from college ball at Virginia to the professional level last summer, Teel said he had a lot of down time this offseason before reporting to spring training, which was new for him.
Despite the cold weather, Teel said he and his teammates "will bring the heat" whenever they get to take the field and play in front of the passionate fans in Portland.
"It was awesome," Teel said. "The fans brought the energy, the games were a ton of fun."
The catcher is the No. 3 prospect in the Red Sox organization, after being selected as the No. 14 overall pick in last year's Major League Baseball draft. He had 10 hits in nine games in Portland last season.
"I've been looking forward to being here for a while, and it's finally time," Teel added.
The 22-year-old also said he can't wait to play with and learn from the other top prospects on the roster.
Outfielder Roman Anthony, Boston's second overall prospect, said it will be exciting and motivating to play with a group of talented players who all have the same goal of playing for the Red Sox in the near future.
"It makes it something to look forward to, when you have a group of guys that are all trying to win at this level, and get used to winning... [so] when the time comes, it's not anything new. So, hopefully we can move together and win together at every different level," he added.
In his first full season as a profession, Anthony, who is just 19, climbed the ranks and played for three Red Sox affiliates, including the Sea Dogs, when he played 10 games.
That time in Portland, Anthony said, was the first time he was able to experience that 'big league' feel as Hadlock Field was packed with passionate Red Sox fans.
Other young players to watch for in Portland this season include No. 7 prospect Wikelman Gonzalez, who was named to the Red Sox 40-man roster last year.
Last year's Most Valuable Player and No. 8 prospect Nick Yorke is back in Portland this year along with fellow infielder No. 21 ranked prospect Blaze Jordan.
Jordan said Wednesday that every Opening Day is special regardless of what team or level he's playing at, but this year will be "extra special" given all the talent in the clubhouse.
The first and third baseman said his biggest focus this year is to stay healthy and focus on his body, and will look to impact the game both on offense and defense.
If Opening Day, or opening weekend at Hadlock does get postponed, the Sea Dogs will be back in Portland on April 16.
The team will give away "Golden Slugger" bobbleheads to honor the beloved mascot after he was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame last summer.