Joliet Slammers

Last updated
Joliet Slammers
Joliet Slammers logo.svg JolietSlammerscap.PNG
LogoCap insignia
Information
League Frontier League
Location Joliet, Illinois
Ballpark Slammers Stadium
Founded2011
Nickname(s)Jailbirds
League championships2 (2011, 2018)
Division championships2 (2011, 2016)
Playoff berths
3
2011
2016
2018
ColorsGreen, orange, white, black
    
MascotSpikes & J.L Bird
Ownership Mike Veeck
Bill Murray
Night Train Veeck
General manager Night Train Veeck
Manager Mike Pinto
Media1340 WJOL
The Herald-News
The Joliet Bugle
HomeTeam Network
Website jolietslammers.com

The Joliet Slammers are a professional baseball team based in Joliet, Illinois. The Slammers compete in the Frontier League (FL) as a member of the West Division in the Midwest Conference. [1] The team plays their home games at the Duly Health and Care Field, and is owned by Mike Veeck, Bill Murray and the Night Train Veeck company. [2] The Slammers are not affiliated with any Major League Baseball teams and are outside of the Minor League Baseball system.

Contents

The Slammers were founded in 2010, and began play in the 2011 season. The team was founded following the departure of the Joliet JackHammers, who were based in Joliet from 2002 to 2010. The Slammers captured their first Frontier League championship in their inaugural season, beating the River City Rascals 3 games to 1. [3] The team name refers to the famous prisons of Joliet and Will County (Joliet Correctional Center and Stateville Correctional Center) as well as a common baseball term. The Slammers are one of the three Frontier League teams located in the Chicago metropolitan area, along with the Windy City ThunderBolts and Schaumburg Boomers.

History

The Joliet Slammers were founded in 2011. They replaced the Joliet JackHammers of the Northern League after the franchise was crippled by numerous financial issues. The JackHammers franchise was put up for sale and Steel City Baseball, LLC, bought out all assets, including the front office, the ticketing system, and the lease of the ballpark. The company behind the popular card game Cards Against Humanity announced in December 2017 that they had purchased the naming rights to the stadium, calling it the "Cards Against Humanity Baseball Place", but the company's claim has been disputed by Slammers management.

On September 18, 2011, the Slammers were named Frontier League champions after defeating the River City Rascals, 6–5 in Joliet, taking the best-of-five Frontier League championship series three games to one. Following the 2012 season, the Slammers were purchased on October 15, 2012, by Joliet Community Baseball & Entertainment, LLC. The team's name, stadium, league, and overall branding remained the same.

In January 2024 the team announced new ownership, headed by Mike Veeck, Bill Murray as well as Night Train Veeck. Murray and Veeck were part-owners of the St. Paul Saints until 2023, when, following the team's shift into affiliated ball, that team was sold to a new ownership group. [4] [5]

Season-by-season records

Joliet Slammers
SeasonRecordWin %FinishManagerPlayoffs
201156–40.5831stBart ZellerWon Division Series vs. Lake Erie Crushers, 3–0
Won Frontier League Championship vs. River City Rascals, 3–1
201237–58.3896thBart ZellerDid not qualify
201338–57.4006thMike BreymanDid not qualify
201440–56.4176thJeff IsomDid not qualify
201542–54.4385thJeff IsomDid not qualify
201651–45.5311stJeff IsomLost Division Series vs. Evansville Otters, 3–1
201742–54.4385thJeff IsomDid not qualify
201854–42.5632ndJeff IsomWon Division Series vs. River City Rascals, 3–2
Won Frontier League Championship vs. Washington Wild Things, 3–2
201940–56.4174thJeff IsomDid not qualify
202021-5.8071st Billy Petrick Won City of Champions Cup (Non-Frontier League)
202139–56.4174thAaron NieckulaDid not qualify
2022 49–47.5104th Daniel Schlereth Did not qualify
2023 46–50.4795th Daniel Schlereth Did not qualify
2024 38–58.3968thMike PintoDid not qualify
2025 43–52.4535thMike PintoDid not qualify
Totals590–680.48213–8 Playoff record
3 playoff appearances, 2 Division series wins, 2 Frontier League championships

Single season records

Statistics as of the completion of the 2024 season

Offensive

StatisticRecordPlayerYear
Hits135Grant DeBruin2014
Doubles29Grant DeBruin/Carter Bell2014/2016
Triples6Josh Flores2011
Home Runs27Matt Warkentin2023
RBIs83Matt Warkentin2024
Walks57Russell Moldenhauer2014
Stolen Bases35Josh Flores2011

Pitching

StatisticRecordPlayerYear
Wins13Jake Renshaw2011
Strikeouts131Cole Cook2023
Saves28Ryan Quigley2011

Franchise leaders

Statistics as of the completion of the 2024 season

Offensive

Games played
1. Tyler Depreta-Johnson...257 (2021–2023)
2. Kyle Maunas...248 (2011–2013)
3. Lane Baremore…219 (2021–2023)

Hits
1. Liam McArthur…216 (2023–present)
2. Alfredo Rodriguez…205 (2015–2016)
2. Kyle Maunas…205 (2011–2013)
3. Lane Baremore…204 (2021–2023)

Doubles
1. Brylie Ware...43 (2021–2022)
1. Kyle Manus…43 (2011–2013)
2. Grant DeBruin…41 (2013–2014)
3. Matt Warkentin…40 (2023–2024)

Triples
1. Matt McGarry…9 (2022–2023)
2. Josh Flores…6 (2011)
2. Scott Holzwasser…6 (2021–2023)
3. Ridge Hoopii-Haslam...5 (2017–2019)

Home Runs
1. Matt Warkentin…51 (2023–2024)
2. Kyle Manus...32 (2011–2013)
3. Erik Lis...28 (2011–2012)

RBI
1. Matt Warkentin…147 (2023–2024)
2. Kyle Manus...128 (2011–2013)
3. Erik Lis...122 (2011–2012)

Stolen Bases
1. London Lindley...53 (2018–2019)
1. Ridge Hoopii-Haslam...53 (2017–2019)
2. Charlie White...48 (2015–2016)
3. Travis Bolin...41 (2017–2019)

Pitching

Innings Pitched
1. Cam Aufderheide...323.2 (2021–2023)
2. Cole Cook…254.1 (2022–2023)
3. Liam O’Sullivan...244.2 (2016, 2018)

Strikeouts
1. Cole Cook… 240 (2022–2023)
1. Cam Aufderheide…240 (2021–2023)
2. Shane Bryant...187 (2015–2018)
3. Liam O’Sullivan...186 (2016, 2018)

Wins
1. Cole Cook...23 (2022–2023)
2. Liam O’Sullivan...22 (2016, 2018)
3. Scot Hoffman...14 (2017–2019)
3. Jake Renshaw...14 (2011–2012)

Saves
1. Ryan Quigley...28 (2011)
2. Ryan Koziol...23 (2019)
3. Confesor Lara...20 (2016–2017)

Current roster

Active rosterCoaches/Other

Pitchers

  • -- CJ Blowers
  • -- Chase Hopewell
  • -- Gunnar Kines
  • -- Kyle Klingenbeck
  • -- Aidan McEvoy
  • -- Tony Oreb
  • -- Bryan Peña
  • -- Jordan Powell
  • -- Alex Vera
  • 19 Zac Westcott
  • -- Kyle White



 

Catchers

  • -- Craig Corliss

Infielders

  • -- Ian Battipaglia
  • -- Braylin Marine
  • -- John McGuire
  • -- Jamey Smart
  • -- Paul Toetz
  • -- Zach Weaver
  • -- Danny Wuestenfeld

Outfielders

  • -- Blake Berry
  • -- Nick Iannantone
  • 28 Liam McArthur
 

Manager

  •  3 Mike Pinto

Coaches

  •  5 Ron Biga (bench)
  • -- Tyler Martin (pitching)

Injury icon 2.svg Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

 updated April 28, 2025
Transactions

Notable alumni

Several notable players have competed for the Slammers; years in parentheses are seasons when the player was with the team.

Kaleb Ort became the first Joliet Slammers player to make it to the MLB. He made his major league debut on September 13, 2021 as a member of the Boston Red Sox in a game against the Seattle Mariners.

Dietrich Enns had previously played for the Minnesota Twins in the 2017 season. He has moved around the Twins', Padres', and Rays' minor league teams before coming to Joliet due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Enns was picked up by the Tampa Bay Rays after pitching just 18 innings for the Joliet Tully Monsters in the City of Champions Cup, a four-team league hosted by the Joliet Slammers. Enns was called up to the Rays in the 2021 season.

References

  1. "Frontier League - standings". Pointstreak Sports Technologies. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  2. "Slammers Stadium – Joliet Slammers Pro Baseball". jolietslammers.com. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  3. Okon, Bob (December 22, 2017). "Joliet won't have a Cards Against Humanity Stadium". The Herald-News . Joliet, Illinois. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22.
  4. "The Veecks and Bill Murray are Coming to Joliet!". Joliet Slammers. March 20, 2024.
  5. Neveau, James (January 8, 2024). "Bill Murray, Mike Veeck complete purchase of Joliet Slammers baseball team". NBC Chicago . Retrieved June 21, 2024.