Opponent Preview: Greenville Drive
Opening Day 2019 is here, and with that brings the start of a new blog series to The Power Line, opponent previews. Before the first game of the Power’s first series against each of their 13 South Atlantic League opponents, we’ll drop a preview here on just exactly who the Power will be taking on that day. First up, it’s the Greenville Drive on Opening Night!
Who are the Greenville Drive?
The Greenville Drive begins its 43rd season of existence (14th as the Drive) in 2019, and 15th as an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox (2005-present). Just two years removed from winning the franchise’s first title as the Drive in 2017, Greenville has since been dealt a tough hand as the Red Sox continue to deplete their farm system in search of yet another illustrious MLB crown.
However, the Drive has still seen some incredible MLB stars sail through Downtown Greenville, including current Red Sox Rafael Devers, Andrew Benintendi, Mookie Betts and Matt Barnes, just to name a few. Overall, 80 former Drive players have traversed their way to the show, with plenty more to come as Boston retools itself for another title run.
Greenville plays its home games at Fluor Field, a ballpark nestled in the West End of Greenville that features a replica Green Monster and apartment buildings overlooking the field in left, along with a massive scoreboard protruding over some trees in right. The Drive has called Fluor Field its home since 2006.
The 2019 Greenville Drive
The West Virginia Power has not seen the Greenville Drive since the opening series of the 2018 season, when the two squads split a four-game set at Appalachian Power Park that included a snow-out and a doubleheader sweep. So naturally, the Drive roster looks a little different than the last time the Power laid their eyes on them.
Headlining the 25-man slate for Greenville is Boston’s 2018 first-round selection, Triston Casas, an infielder taken as the 26th overall pick out of high school who swept aside an opportunity to play for the University of Miami in order to turn pro. He leads a five-man group of top Red Sox prospects beginning the year in South Carolina, including Alex Scherff (#21), who gets the Opening Night nod for Greenville.
The Drive’s roster has 11 members that have spent time in Greenville over the past two season. One name especially will stand out to Power fans, Kervin Suarez, as he lit up on Opening Night 2018 from the leadoff spot (3–4, 2 RBI), when the Drive bulldozed West Virginia, 8–1.
One additional member will don the red and white this series for Greenville, as current Red Sox Dustin Pedroia begins a rehab assignment tonight. Pedroia, who is rehabbing from a left knee injury that limited him to just three games last season, is slated to play in at least three of the four games this weekend. Interestingly enough, Pedroia has never donned a Greenville uniform, as his lone year in the SAL was with Augusta in their final year as the Red Sox’ Low-A affiliate.
Series History
West Virginia and Greenville have laced it up exactly 73 times since 2005, with the Power holding a slight edge 40–33. However, the teams have scarcely seen each other over the past two seasons, competing in just eight games (one four-game series each year), with both sets resulting in splits.
The series will be revitalized this year, though, as the Power and Drive are set to clash 12 times in 2019, with eight of them coming at Fluor Field. West Virginia makes its final trip to Greenville May 17–20, while the Drive treks to Charleston from June 6–9. These 12 head-to-head match-ups will be the most between the two clubs in a single season, provided we play all of them.
The Power owns a 16–18 career mark in Greenville, while they’ve been much more dominant at home, boasting a 24–15 record.
Game Times and Broadcast Information
Game Schedule:
Thursday , April 4— 7:05 PM
Friday, April 5 — 7:05 PM
Saturday, April 6 — 7:05 PM
Sunday, April 7— 3:05 PM
Broadcast Information:
Listen to The Jock WJYP and WMON 1300 and 1340 AM locally in Charleston, or catch the game nationwide on our website or on the TuneIn Radio App by searching “West Virginia Power Baseball Network”. The game is also available via the MiLB First Pitch App. Pregame coverage begins 20 minutes before first pitch every night, with David Kahn bringing you all the action.
Time to #PowerUp!
