Energy City Cactus Rats

Last updated

Energy City Cactus Rats
Information
League Western Canadian Baseball League
Location Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada
Ballpark Myshak Metro Ballpark (2025)
Founded 2005
Former name(s)
  • Edmonton Prospects (2008–2024)
  • St. Albert Prospects (2006–2007)
  • Edmonton Big River Prospects (2005)
Former ballparks
  • RE/MAX Field (2005, 2012–2020)
  • John Fry Park (2009–2011)
  • Legion Memorial Ball Park (2006–2007)
Coloursblue, gray, neon yellow, brown, black and white
OwnershipGold Sports and Entertainment Corp.
Website prospectsbaseballclub.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Energy City Cactus Rats are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada. They play in the Western Canadian Baseball League. The team was founded in 2005 as the Edmonton Big River Prospects but moved to the Edmonton suburb of St. Albert after only one year of use of Telus Field with the Edmonton Cracker-Cats of the Northern League. [1] [2] They took a leave of absence for the 2008 season before returning in 2009 as the Edmonton Prospects. [3] [4]

Contents

Prior to the 2012 season they played at John Fry Park on the south side of Edmonton. In 2012 the Prospects began playing at Telus Field, [5] which was renamed RE/MAX Field in 2017 after Prospects' management put together a proposal with RE/MAX Real Estate for naming rights. The Prospects continued to play at RE/MAX Field from 2012 through 2019. The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [6]

The Prospects played the 2021 and 2022 seasons with Centennial Park in Sherwood Park as their home base. [7] In 2023, they decided to take a summer off as construction on Myshak Metro Ballpark in Spruce Grove continued, [8] and they plan to move there when it opens. [9] [10]

Because of construction delays on the new ballpark, the team did not play in 2023 [11] and returned to Sherwood Park for 2024. [12]

In March 2025, the Edmonton Prospects were renamed the Energy City Cactus Rats, and the team expects the Myshak Metro Ballpark to be ready for the 2025 season. [13]

See also

References

  1. "WMBL Adds Two New Teams!" (Press release). Western Major Baseball League. 2 February 2005. Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  2. Jones, Terry (15 June 2005). "Cat's out of the bag". Edmonton Sun . Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2012 via Canoe.ca.
  3. Swane, Brian (6 August 2008). "Prospects find a home at John Fry Park" . Edmonton Examiner. Sun Media. ProQuest   2168087836 . Retrieved 19 July 2012 via ProQuest.
  4. Frankson, Ryan (26 August 2008). "Dukes welcome back Prospects" . Sherwood Park News. Sun Media. ProQuest   2168595472 . Retrieved 19 July 2012 via ProQuest.
  5. Tait, Cam (1 June 2012). "Edmonton Prospects excited about move to Telus Field". Edmonton Journal . Postmedia Network. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  6. "Regina Red Sox scrub 2021 season due to COVID-19". CKOM . 25 March 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  7. Reichard, Kevin (21 February 2022). "New for 2023: Myshak Metro Ballpark". Ballpark Digest. August Publications.
  8. Nunes, Len. "Edmonton Prospects Announce 2022 Schedule: Delay Spruce Grove Ballpark Opening to 2023". Edmonton Prospects Baseball Club. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  9. "2021 RoadShow". Edmonton Prospects Baseball Club. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  10. Antoneshyn, Alex (10 November 2021). "'2022 is just not possible': Edmonton Prospects' new ball field delayed". CTV News .
  11. Swensrude, Stephanie (8 November 2022). "No 2023 season for Edmonton Prospects". Global News . Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  12. "Edmonton Prospects Back on the Field for 2024!". Edmonton Prospects Baseball Club. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  13. "Energy City Cactus Rats Join League" (Press release). Western Major Baseball League. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2025.