Wikipedia

Hillsboro Hops

The Hillsboro Hops are a Minor League Baseball team in the northwest United States, located in Hillsboro, Oregon, a city in the Portland metropolitan area. The Hops are members of the Northwest League as an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They play their home games at Ron Tonkin Field, which opened in 2013.

Hillsboro Hops
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassHigh-A (2021–present)
Previous classesClass A Short Season (2013–2020)
LeagueNorthwest League (2022–present)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
TeamArizona Diamondbacks
(2013–present)
Minor league titles
League titles (3)
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2019
Division titles (3)
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2019
Team data
NameHillsboro Hops (2013–present)
ColorsNavy blue, green, light blue, white
       
MascotBarley
BallparkRon Tonkin Field (2013–present)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Short Season, LLC
General managerK.L. Wombacher
ManagerJavier Colina

History edit

As early as 2011, the Yakima Bears, a team of the Northwest League in Yakima, Washington, started exploring options to relocate after a lack of progress on a new ballpark to replace their below-standard Yakima County Stadium and to escape a declining local economy.[1] Following a failed proposal to move to Vancouver, Washington, the team received an offer to move to Hillsboro, Oregon, in June 2012, with plans to start play in 2013.[2] The city and team reached a deal, with city council approval on June 5,[3] and approval by the league and the franchise on June 8.[4] The city signed the agreement with the team on June 26,[5][6] with approval by Major League Baseball coming in August.[7] Groundbreaking for a new 4,500-seat stadium took place on September 21,[8] and the team's name, Hillsboro Hops, was announced on October 16.[9] The Hops replaced the Triple-A Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League, who relocated to Tucson at the end of the 2010 season.[2] The Portland area went without minor league baseball in 2011 and 2012.

The Hillsboro Hops' first game was played on the road against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes on June 14, 2013, a 3–2 loss.[10] Ryan Gebhardt had the team's first hit and Brian Billigen earned the first RBI.[10] Their first win came on June 17 in the Hillsboro Ballpark home opener against the Eugene Emeralds.[11] The inaugural home opener was attended by a sellout 4,710 fans, who watched Jordan Parr hit the first home run in the Hops' history.[11][12]

Barley, the team's mascot, was introduced on June 28, 2013.[13] The Hops set the franchise attendance record in 2014, when their games were attended by 138,732 people.[14] They also won their division and the league championship.[15] The team was managed by J. R. House, whose coaching staff included fellow-former major leaguers Doug Drabek and Mark Grace. Hillsboro swept the championship series against the three-time NWL defending champion Vancouver Canadians. The team set another franchise attendance record in 2015 with 143,412 (an average of 3,774 for 38 dates) while winning a second consecutive league title.[16][17]

The Hops hosted the NWL All-Star Game in 2017.[18]

On August 28, 2019, the Hops clinched a playoff berth for the sixth straight season breaking the Northwest League record previously held by Vancouver at five straight seasons.[19] They faced the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in the divisional round, were they won the series 2–0, and advanced to Northwest League finals for the first time since 2015.[20] In Game 1, Hillsboro entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 3–1 but put up four runs in the inning including a walk-off 3-run home run by Andy Yerzy. The Hops were defeated in Game 2, losing 9–1, but bounced back in Game 3 with a two-run ninth-inning rally to snag the win. The Hops were shut out in Game 4, losing 6–0. Then in Game 5, Hillsboro captured their third NWL title, and their first since 2015, winning the series 3–2.[21]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minor League Baseball season was cancelled. In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Hops were organized into the High-A West along with five other teams previously of the Northwest League.[22] They continued as the High-A affiliate of the Diamondbacks.[22] In 2022, the High-A West became known as the Northwest League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.[23]

In January 2023, it was announced that Veronica Gajownik had been hired to manage the Hops, which made her the first woman to manage a minor league Class High-A baseball team,[24] and the first openly LGBTQ manager in minor or major league baseball history.[25]

The team competes as the "Sonadores de Hillsboro" as part of minor league baseball's "Copa de Diversion" program.[26]

Season-by-season records edit

Northwest League (2013–present) edit

Season PDC Division Finish Wins Losses Win% Post-season Manager Attendance
Hillsboro Hops
2013 ARI South 3rd 34 42 .447 — Audo Vicente 135,167
2014 ARI South 1st 48 28 .632 Defeated Boise in division series 2–1
Defeated Vancouver in championship series 2–1 		J. R. House 138,732
2015 ARI South 1st 45 31 .592 Defeated Salem-Keizer in division series 2–1
Defeated Tri-City in championship series 2–1 		Shelley Duncan 143,412
2016 ARI South 2nd 42 33 .560 Lost to Eugene in division series 2–1 Shelley Duncan 131,851
2017 ARI South 1st 41 35 .539 Lost to Eugene in division series 2–0 Shawn Roof 128,416
2018 ARI South 1st 51 25 .671 Lost to Eugene in division series 2–0 Shawn Roof 130,286
2019 ARI South 1st 48 28 .632 Defeated Salem-Keizer in division series 2–0
Defeated Tri-City in championship series 3–2 		Javier Colina 133,605
2021 ARI West 4th 52 60 .464 — Vince Harrison 110,384
2022 ARI N/A 4th 60 70 .462 — Vince Harrison 150,792
  • The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Division winner League champions

Ballpark edit

 
Ron Tonkin Field scoreboard

The Hops play their home games at Ron Tonkin Field. [27]

Radio edit

Rich Burk was signed as the team's radio announcer on KPOJ (620 AM).[28]

Roster edit

Hillsboro Hops roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 12 Zach Barnes
  • 29 Billy Corcoran
  • 30 Yilber Diaz
  • 20 Spencer Giesting
  • 45 Gunnar Groen
  • 31 Dillon Larsen
  •  9 Yu-Min Lin
  • 24 Will Mabrey
  • 10 Carlos Meza
  • 15 Junior Mieses
  •  7 Peniel Otano
  • 25 Dylan Ray
  • 41 Eli Saul
  • 17 Avery Short
  • 23 Listher Sosa

Catchers

  •  8 J.J. D'Orazio
  • 27 Gavin Logan
  • 28 Shane Muntz

Infielders

  • 39 Julio Carrion
  • 37 Sheng-Ping Chen
  •  4 Joshua Day  
  • 38 Jonathan Guzman
  • 11 Gary Mattis
  • 43 Ivan Melendez
  • 14 Channy Ortiz
  •  5 Jesus Valdez

Outfielders

  • 35 Kevin Graham

Manager

  • -- Javier Colina

Coaches

  • 18 Gabriel Hernandez pitching
  • -- Mark Reed (coach)
  • 33 Ty Wright (hitting)

60-day injured list

  • -- Jhosmer Alvarez
  • -- Diomede Sierra

  7-day injured list
* On Arizona Diamondbacks 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated January 28, 2024
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Northwest League
 → Arizona Diamondbacks minor league players

Branding edit

The team name is a reference to the plant used in beer brewing (Oregon is the second-largest hop-producing US state by volume),[29] as well as to various baseball terms such as the short hop, bad hop, and crow hop.[9] No previous professional or collegiate sports team has ever been called the "Hops".[30] The team's logo includes a hop cone wearing a baseball hat, evergreen trees, and Mount Hood.[31] Team colors are green, navy blue, and light blue.[29] The Hops' mascot is Barley, who is green with a blue baseball cap.[13] (Barley is another plant used in beer brewing.) The team's branding and logo was named by Ballpark Digest as the best in Minor League Baseball for 2013.[32]

Sponsorships edit

In March 2013, the team announced a three-year deal with BridgePort Brewing Company to be the official beer of the Hops.[33][34]Advantis Credit Union, Les Schwab Tires, Nike, Tuality Healthcare, and The Oregonian were the founding sponsors.[35]

Minor league affiliations edit

Main article: List of Arizona Diamondbacks minor league affiliates
Level Team League Location Manager
Triple-A Reno Aces Triple-A West Reno, Nevada Blake Lalli
Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles Double-A Central Amarillo, Texas Shawn Roof
High-A Hillsboro Hops High-A West Hillsboro, Oregon Vince Harrison
Low-A Visalia Rawhide Low-A West Visalia, California Javier Colina
Rookie AZL D-backs Arizona League Scottsdale, Arizona Rolando Arnedo
DSL D-backs 1 Dominican Summer League Boca Chica, Santo Domingo Jaime Del Valle
DSL D-backs 2 Ronald Ramirez

References edit

  1. ^ Courtney, Ross (May 27, 2011). "Bad news, Bears: Team takes one step closer to relocation". Yakima Herald-Republic. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2012. Alt URL
  2. ^ a b Theen, Andrew (June 6, 2012). "Hillsboro sets stage for baseball's return to the Portland metro area". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  3. ^ Stevens, Suzanne (June 6, 2012). "Hillsboro OKs baseball deal with Yakima Bears". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  4. ^ Ho, Sally (June 19, 2012). "Yakima Bears agree to Hillsboro's terms for baseball deal". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  5. ^ Ho, Sally (June 27, 2012). "Hillsboro's baseball deal is approved". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  6. ^ Manning, Rob (June 27, 2012). "Hillsboro Approves Deal To Bring Baseball To City". News. Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  7. ^ Theen, Andrew (August 21, 2012). "Hillsboro and Yakima Bears clear final hurdle for baseball relocation". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  8. ^ Giegerich, Andy (September 21, 2012). "Hillsboro breaks stadium ground, name comes next". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  9. ^ a b Giegerich, Andy (October 16, 2012). "Hillsboro has the Hops: Baseball team name honors agricultural roots". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  10. ^ a b Smith, Jeff (June 14, 2013). "Hillsboro Hops: Even in defeat, history made as Portland area's new team opens season". The Oregonian. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  11. ^ a b Smith, Jeff (June 18, 2013). "Hillsboro Hops: After home-opening party, Hops ready for 'Tony Gwynn Opening Day'". The Oregonian. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  12. ^ Canzano, John (June 17, 2013). "Canzano: Baseball's triumphant return with Hillsboro Hops comes with big-time lessons". The Oregonian. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  13. ^ a b Alger, Tyson (June 28, 2013). "Hillsboro Hops: Meet "Barley", Hillsboro's new mascot (photos)". The Oregonian. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  14. ^ Nemec, Andrew (September 1, 2014). "Hillsboro Hops win 48th game in regular season finale, best in short-season baseball". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  15. ^ Nemec, Andrew (September 7, 2014). "Hillsboro Hops clinch Northwest League championship". The Oregonian. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  16. ^ "Northwest League: Attendance 2015". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball.
  17. ^ Tokito, Mike (September 10, 2015). "In Year 3, Hillsboro Hops continue to grow on and off the field". The Oregonian/OregonLive. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Hillsboro Hops want to 'show off,' awarded 2017 Northwest/Pioneer League all-star game". 8 September 2016.
  19. ^ "Hillsboro Clinches Playoffs for Sixth Straight Year!". MiLB.com. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
  20. ^ "2019 Northwest League Playoffs | MiLB.com Events | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
  21. ^ "Hillsboro Hops take home the 2019 NWL Championship". NBC Sports Northwest. 2019-09-11. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
  22. ^ a b Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  23. ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  24. ^ "Diamondbacks affiliate Hillsboro names woman as manager". Laredo Morning Times. January 21, 2023.
  25. ^ Schultz, Ken (February 2, 2023). "Ronnie Gajownik becomes the first out LGBTQ manager in MiLB". Outsports.
  26. ^ "Copa | Hillsboro".
  27. ^ "Visit Ron Tonkin Field home of the Hillsboro Hops". MLB.com.
  28. ^ Smith, Jeff (March 11, 2013). "Rich Burk named radio broadcaster of Hillsboro Hops baseball". The Oregonian. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  29. ^ a b Theen, Andrew (October 16, 2012). "Hops to the future: Hillsboro Hops baseball era begins". The Oregonian. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  30. ^ Redden, Jim (October 16, 2012). "Baseball team now Hillsboro Hops". The Portland Tribune. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  31. ^ Theen, Andrew (October 16, 2012). "Hillsboro Hops release name via social media, drawing both praise and disappointment (with poll)". The Oregonian. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  32. ^ "2013 Logo/Branding of the Year: Hillsboro Hops". Ballpark Digest. September 17, 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  33. ^ Theen, Andrew (March 6, 2013). "BridgePort named official beer of the Hillsboro Hops, will create special beer for the ballpark". The Oregonian. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  34. ^ Stevens, Suzanne (March 6, 2013). "Hillsboro Hops sign BridgePort Brewing as official beer". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  35. ^ Goldfield, Robert (June 6, 2013). "Credit union 'Hops' to it". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved 7 June 2013.

External links edit

Preceded by Northwest League franchise
2013–present 		Succeeded by
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