Hagerstown Suns
Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, based in Hagerstown.
The Hagerstown Suns were a minor league club based in Hagerstown, Maryland, that competed in the South Atlantic League. From 2007 through 2020, they served as the Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Their home field was Municipal Stadium, a venue that first opened in 1930 and could hold 4,600 spectators. The team’s mascot was Woolie, a giant woolly bear caterpillar.
The franchise’s modern era began after the previous Double-A Hagerstown Suns moved to Bowie, Maryland, to become the Bowie Baysox. To keep baseball in Hagerstown, Winston Blenckstone relocated his Myrtle Beach Hurricanes—a Class A South Atlantic League team—to the city following the 1992 season, renaming them the Suns.
The 1993 squad was competitive. Mike Coolbaugh led the offense with 16 home runs, while D.J. Boston hit .315 with 13 homers and 93 RBIs, earning league MVP honors. Outfielders Rickey Cradle and Jose Herrera also contributed; Herrera batted .317 in 95 games, and Cradle hit 13 home runs. On the mound, Brad Cornett posted a 2.40 ERA over 172.1 innings, and Silva went 12–4 with a 2.52 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 142.2 innings.
In 1994, the Suns reached the playoffs for the first time since 1991. Former first-round pick Shannon Stewart hit .324 with four homers and 25 RBIs in an injury-shortened season. Tom Evans returned from the previous year, batting .273 with 13 homers and 48 RBIs in 95 games. Power came from Lorenzo Delacruz (19 homers) and Ryan Jones (18 homers, team-leading 72 RBIs). Edwin Hurtado went 11–2 with a 2.95 ERA in 33 appearances (16 starts). The bullpen featured Steve Sinclair (nine wins, 105 innings, one start) and closer Dave Sinnes, who tied for the league lead with 37 saves.
The 1995 team was led by veteran Jeff Ladd, who hit 19 homers in 95 games before a promotion to Double-A Knoxville—his final professional season. Bobby Llanos added 17 homers and a team-high 63 RBIs. Catcher Julio Mosquera hit .291 in 108 games. Brian Smith went 9–1 with 21 saves and 101 strikeouts in 104 relief innings. Doug Meiners was the top starter, going 8–4 with a 2.99 ERA in 18 starts, and Tom Davey went 4–1 with a 3.38 ERA in eight starts.
The 1996 season marked the Suns’ first losing campaign in the SAL. First baseman Mike Whitlock, age 19, led the team with 20 homers and 91 RBIs while batting .252 and drawing a franchise-record 108 walks—though he never reached the maj
- League
- South Atlantic League
- Affiliate
- Washington Nationals (2007–2020)
- Home Field
- Municipal Stadium (opened 1930, capacity 4,600)
- Mascot
- Woolie (giant woolly bear caterpillar)
- Previous Affiliates
- Toronto Blue Jays (1993–2000), San Francisco Giants (2001–2004)
Lore & Background
The Hagerstown Suns originated when Winston Blenckstone relocated his Myrtle Beach Hurricanes franchise to Hagerstown after the 1992 season, renaming them the Suns. This followed the move of the previous Double-A Hagerstown franchise to Bowie as the Bowie Baysox. The team quickly found success, with D.J. Boston earning South Atlantic League MVP honors in 1993 after hitting .315 with 13 home runs and 93 RBI. The Suns reached the playoffs in 1994 for the first time since 1991, led by Shannon Stewart and closer Dave Sinnes, who tied for the league lead with 37 saves.
Notable players included future major leaguers Vernon Wells and César Izturis, who played for the Suns in 1998. That season, pitcher John Sneed set a franchise record with 16 wins and 200 strikeouts. The team also experienced a bizarre bench-clearing brawl in July 2000 against the Columbus Red Stixx, which led to a forfeit victory for the Suns after Columbus could not field a full team. The Suns switched their parent club to the San Francisco Giants in 2001, and pitcher Boof Bonser tied the Suns' record for wins with 16, earning South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year honors.
Reader's Guide
The Hagerstown Suns represent a significant chapter in Minor League Baseball, serving as a developmental affiliate for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, and Washington Nationals over their history. The team produced several future major league players, including Shannon Stewart, Vernon Wells, César Izturis, and Reed Johnson. The Suns' tenure in the South Atlantic League was marked by competitive seasons, including playoff appearances in 1994, 1998, and 1999. The 1998 team, which featured Wells and Izturis, won the first-half division title and had the best record in the Northern Division. The franchise also saw individual achievements such as D.J. Boston and Luis Lopez winning league MVP awards, and John Sneed setting a franchise record for wins in a season. The team's home, Municipal Stadium, opened in 1930 and seated 4,600 fans, with Woolie the woolly bear caterpillar as mascot. The Suns' legacy includes both on-field success and memorable incidents, such as the 2000 forfeit game after a bench-clearing brawl.
Did You Know?
- The Hagerstown Suns were originally the Myrtle Beach Hurricanes before being relocated to Hagerstown after the 1992 season.
- Pitcher John Sneed set a franchise record with 16 wins in 1998, while also striking out 200 batters.
- In July 2000, a bench-clearing brawl against the Columbus Red Stixx led to a forfeit victory for the Suns.
- The team mascot was Woolie, a giant woolly bear caterpillar.
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