BIG LEAGUE WEEKEND (PART 2) WILL FEATURE
TWO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING GAMES:
COLORADO ROCKIES VS. KANSAS CITY ROYALS
ON SATURDAY-SUNDAY, MARCH 18-19 AT LAS VEGAS BALLPARK®;
INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS ON SALE ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11
The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, announced today in conjunction with the Rockies and Royals Communications Departments, two games for the 2023 Big League Weekend (Part 2) at Las Vegas Ballpark®.
The Colorado Rockies will face the Kansas City Royals on Saturday-Sunday, March 18-19. Game times for the Spring Training series are TBA, due to television.
Big League Weekend (Part 2) individual game tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, January 11 through aviatorslv.com and Las Vegas Ballpark Box Office at noon pacific time.
“We are excited to announce a second Big League Weekend in 2023,” Aviators President/COO Don Logan said. “We welcome the Kansas City Royals for their first visit to Las Vegas for Big League Weekend. The Royals will face the Rockies who will be making their fourth all-time appearance to Las Vegas for a two-game series. Las Vegas Ballpark will once again provide an outstanding atmosphere and environment for Major League Baseball. Fans, both locals and tourists that visit during this event, will have a memorable time.”
Colorado will make their fourth all-time appearance (2000, 2003, 2009) in Las Vegas for Big League Weekend. Philadelphia defeated Colorado, 1-0, on March 31, 2000 before a Cashman Field before a crowd of 6,602. Oakland defeated Colorado, 11-9, on April 1, 2000 before a crowd of 8,456. The Dodgers then defeated the Rockies, 5-3, on March 27, 2003 before a sellout crowd of 9,966. The Rockies last appearance was in 2009 with a two-game series against Seattle at Cashman Field. The Rockies defeated the Mariners twice: 6-3 on April 3 before a crowd of 6,221; 6-5 on April 4 before a crowd of 7,472.
Kansas City will be making their first appearance in Las Vegas for Big League Weekend. The Royals have captured two World Series championships in 1985 against St. Louis (4-games-to-3) and in 2015 against the New York Mets (4-games-to-1).
The Rockies, under manager Bud Black, compiled an overall record of 68-94 (.420) in 2022 in the National League West.
Las Vegan Kris Bryant appeared in 40 games in his first season with the Rockies in 2022. The three-time N.L. All-Star batted .306 (49-for-160) with 12 doubles, five home runs and 14 RBI.
He played seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs (2015-21) and San Francisco (2021). He was the 2016 National League M.V.P. and 2015 N.L. Rookie of the Year. The 2010 Bonanza High School graduate helped lead the Cubs to the 2016 World Series championship. Chicago defeated Cleveland in seven games and won its first World Series since the 1908 season.
Bryant has appeared in the last six Big League Weekends in the Silver State (2014-18, 2020). He belted two home runs (2-for-2, 3 RBI) against Oakland on March 14, 2015 at Cashman Field. In 2018, he appeared in two games against Cleveland and was 2-for-5. In 2020, in the inaugural L.V. Ballpark BLW, he appeared in two games against Cincinnati and was 2-for-5, double, 2 RBI.
The Royals compiled an overall record of 65-97 (.401) in 2022 in the American League Central. Kanas City hired new manager Matt Quatraro on November 7, 2022. He became the 18th skipper in franchise history.
Catcher Salvador Perez, the seven-time American League All-Star, appeared in 114 games for the Royals in 2022 and batted .254 (113-for-445) with 47 extra-base hits (23 doubles, triple, 23 home runs, team-leader) and 76 RBI. Perez has played 11 seasons for Kansas City (2011-22) and was a member of the 2015 World Series championship team.
Shortstop/third baseman Bobby Witt Jr. appeared in 150 games for the Royals in 2022 and batted. 254 (150-for-591) with 57 extra-base hits (31 doubles, six triples (T-4th in A.L.), 20 home runs) and 80 RBI and 30 stolen bases (4th in A.L.) in 37 attempts. He was the team leader in games played, at bats, runs scored (82), hits, doubles, RBI, stolen bases.