The El Paso Chihuahuas gear up for the final homestand and series of a season that has been a struggle on the field but, as usual, a success in the stands, when they take on the Oklahoma City Comets, a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate, to end the season.
They enter the six-game stretch ranked third in the 10-team Pacific Coast League in attendance at 6,496 fans per game, while their 58-86 record is the worst in the league by six games. In the second half they are 23-46, 21 games behind East leader Oklahoma City.
This series should see Oklahoma City celebrate on the Southwest University Park field, as the Comets are four games ahead of Sugar Land and, as such, have a magic number of three.
Giveaways highlight final series
The series against Oklahoma City begins Tuesday, Sept. 15, with one of the bigger promotions of the year, a giveaway of 1,500 specialty 915 Chihuahua jerseys. Season ticket holders have early entry and will claim most of the jerseys before the gates open to the general public an hour before the 5:35 p.m. start. This is part of the 915 Day celebration, which marks both the date and the city's area code.
The team is having a Chico Hat Dance bobblehead giveaway for the first 1,500 fans on Friday, Sept. 18.
The rest of the promotions are day baseball on Wednesday, UTEP night on Friday that will feature a giveaway of 1,500 UTEP T-shirts, fireworks on Bootmaker's Night on Saturday and kids run the bases on Sunday that will wrap up the season.
Miguel Andújar finishing rehab stint with El Paso
San Diego Padres designated hitter Miguel Andújar is finishing a rehab stint with the El Paso Chihuahuas as he makes his way back from a fractured wrist. He went on the injured list on July 20 and made his return with the El Paso Chihuahuas on Sept. 8, at Tacoma. He went 2-for-12 in his first three appearances, sat out Friday, then was 3-for-4 with two doubles Saturday.
An exact return date isn't finalized but he seems likely to be back in San Diego before the Chihuahuas start their series with Oklahoma. He is hitting .259 with San Diego.
Chihuahuas name first assistant GM
One of the Chihuahuas longest-tenured employees just got a promotion, as Nick Seckerson has been named the first assistant general manager of the club, where he will serve under general manager and president Brad Taylor. Seckerson will retain his title as vice president of ticket sales and service for both the Chihuahuas and El Paso Locomotive FC.
Seckerson was hired in 2013 as an account executive, almost a year before the Chihuahuas played their first game.
“It is so gratifying to have someone like Nick, who has been here since June 2013, a week out of college, grow with us to become our first assistant general manager,” Taylor said. “Nick has earned his way up through positions such as account executive, manager, director, and vice president. Nick not only embraces our culture and work ethic; he helped create them. We are thrilled to have Nick take on this well-earned and enhanced leadership role with the Chihuahuas.”
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Final Chihuahuas homestand features jersey giveaway, fireworks
