Columbia Fireflies

The Columbia Fireflies are a Minor League Baseball team based in Columbia, South Carolina. The team plays in the Class A South Atlantic League and is an affiliate of the New York Mets of the National League in Major League Baseball. Its home stadium is Segra Park. The team was previously known as the Savannah Sand Gnats (1995–2015); it relocated from Savannah, Georgia, after the 2015 season. It is the only professional baseball team in Columbia, and the first since the Capital City Bombers moved to Greenville, South Carolina, after the 2004 season.

Columbia Fireflies
Founded in 2016
Columbia, South Carolina
Team logoCap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass A
LeagueSouth Atlantic League (2016–present)
DivisionSouthern Division
Major league affiliations
Team
Team data
Nickname
  • Columbia Fireflies (2016–present)
  • Savannah Sand Gnats (1996–2015)
  • Savannah Cardinals (1984–1995)
ColorsNavy blue, neon yellow, neon green, silver, white
                   
MascotMason The Firefly (2016-present)
BallparkSegra Park (2016–present)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Hardball Capital LLC
ManagerReid Brignac

Team history

Minor league baseball in Columbia dates back to 1982. The Capital City Bombers moved from Columbia, South Carolina, to Greenville, South Carolina, after the 2004 season. The city of Columbia approved plans to build a stadium in 2014, with the goal of attracting a Minor League Baseball team. Spirit Communications, a local telecommunications company, purchased the naming rights for the stadium.[1] In May 2015, the Savannah Sand Gnats of the Class A South Atlantic League, an affiliate of the New York Mets, announced that it would move to Columbia in time for the 2016 season.[2][3]

After receiving over 2,300 submissions in a public contest to name the team, it chose to call itself the "Columbia Fireflies". The name was inspired by the Photinus frontalis in the nearby Congaree National Park which was outlined in an article entitled “Synchronized fireflies putting on show at Congaree National Park” by The State, a local newspaper.[4] Portions of the team's uniforms glow in the dark as a tribute to the team's name.

Columbia earned their first ever victory as the Fireflies on April 9, 2016. In the game, three pitchers (Thomas McIlraith, Alex Palsha, and Johnny Magliozzi) combined to throw a no-hitter in a 9–0 shutout victory over the Charleston RiverDogs. The no-hitter was the Fireflies' third game. In their first ever home game, on April 14, 2016, the Fireflies defeated the Greenville Drive, 4–1, in front of 9,077 people.[5]

Roster
Columbia Fireflies roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 18 Daison Acosta
  • 45 Jose Butto
  • 48 Cole Gordon
  • -- Joel Huertas
  • 27 Bryce Hutchinson
  • 36 Alec Kisena
  • 38 Justin Lasko
  • 26 Jose Moreno
  • 40 Willy Taveras
  • 28 Allan Winans

Catchers

  • -- Nataneal Ramos
  • 15 Hayden Senger
  • 17 Juan Uriarte

Infielders

  • 21 Nick Conti
  •  3 Shervyen Newton
  • 13 Mark Vientos

Outfielders

  • 23 Guillermo Granadillo
  • 12 Gerson Molina

Manager

Coaches


7-day injured list
* On New York Mets 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated January 14, 2020
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • South Atlantic League
 → New York Mets minor league players

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References
  1. Callahan, Carolyn (December 3, 2014). "Bull Street Ball Park to Be Named `Spirit Communications Park`". WIS. Columbia, South Carolina. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  2. White, Neil (May 21, 2015). "It's Official: Savannah Baseball Team Moving to Columbia". The State. Columbia, SC. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  3. Dial, Steven; Santaella, Tony (March 25, 2015). "Savannah Baseball Team Moving to Columbia". WLTX. Columbia, SC. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  4. Ransdell, Aaron (August 4, 2015). "Columbia Fireflies Named as New Baseball Name". The State. Columbia, South Carolina. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  5. Fitzgerald, Kevin (April 15, 2016). "9,077 See Fireflies Win Spirit Communications Park Opener". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
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