Hillsboro Hops

History

As early as 2011, the Yakima Bears, a team of the Northwest League in Yakima, Washington, started exploring options to relocate after a lack of progress on a new ballpark to replace their below-standard Yakima County Stadium and to escape a declining local economy. Following a failed proposal to move to Vancouver, Washington, the team received an offer to move to Hillsboro, Oregon, in June 2012, with plans to start play in 2013. The city and team reached a deal, with city council approval on June 5, and approval by the league and the franchise on June 8. The city signed the agreement with the team on June 26, with approval by Major League Baseball coming in August. Groundbreaking for a new 4,500-seat stadium took place on September 21, and the team's name, Hillsboro Hops, was announced on October 16. The Hops replaced the Triple-A Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League, who relocated to Tucson at the end of the 2010 season. The Portland area went without minor league baseball in 2011 and 2012.

The Hillsboro Hops' first game was played on the road against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes on June 14, 2013, a 3–2 loss. Ryan Gebhardt had the team's first hit and Brian Billigen earned the first RBI. Their first win came on June 17 in the Hillsboro Ballpark home opener against the Eugene Emeralds. The inaugural home opener was attended by a sellout 4,710 fans, who watched Jordan Parr hit the first home run in the Hops' history.

Barley, the team's mascot, was introduced on June 28, 2013. The Hops set the franchise attendance record in 2014, when their games were attended by 138,732 people. They also won their division and the league championship. The team was managed by J. R. House, whose coaching staff included fellow-former major leaguers Doug Drabek and Mark Grace. Hillsboro swept the championship series against the three-time NWL defending champion Vancouver Canadians. The team set another franchise attendance record in 2015 with 143,412 (an average of 3,774 for 38 dates) while winning a second consecutive league title.

The Hops hosted the NWL All-Star Game in 2017.

On August 28, 2019, the Hops clinched a playoff berth for the sixth straight season breaking the Northwest League record previously held by Vancouver at five straight seasons. They faced the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in the divisional round, where they won the series 2–0, and advanced to Northwest League finals for the first time since 2015. In Game 1, Hillsboro entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 3–1 but put up four runs in the inning including a walk-off 3-run home run by Andy Yerzy. The Hops were defeated in Game 2, losing 9–1, but bounced back in Game 3 with a two-run ninth-inning rally to snag the win. The Hops were shut out in Game 4, losing 6–0. Then in Game 5, Hillsboro captured their third NWL title, and their first since 2015, winning the series 3–2.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minor League Baseball season was cancelled. In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Hops were organized into the High-A West along with five other teams previously of the Northwest League. They continued as the High-A affiliate of the Diamondbacks.

In January 2023, it was announced that Veronica Gajownik had been hired to manage the Hops, which made her the first woman to manage a minor league Class High-A baseball team, and the first openly LGBTQ manager in minor or major league baseball history.

The team competes as the "Sonadores de Hillsboro" as part of minor league baseball's "Copa de Diversion" program.

Season-by-season records

Northwest League (2013–present)

• The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ballpark

The Hops play their home games at Hillsboro Ballpark.

Radio

Rich Burk was signed as the team's radio announcer on KPOJ (620 AM).

Roster

Branding

The team name is a reference to the plant used in beer brewing (Oregon is the second-largest hop-producing US state by volume), The team's logo includes a hop cone wearing a baseball hat, evergreen trees, and Mount Hood. Team colors are green, navy blue, and light blue. The Hops' mascot is Barley, who is green with a blue baseball cap.

Sponsorships

In March 2013, the team announced a three-year deal with BridgePort Brewing Company to be the official beer of the Hops. Advantis Credit Union, Les Schwab Tires, Nike, Tuality Healthcare, and The Oregonian were the founding sponsors.

Notable alumni

• Sergio Alcántara, infielder
• Corbin Carroll, outfielder
• Jhoan Durán, pitcher
• Jake McCarthy, outfielder
• Geraldo Perdomo, infielder
• Dansby Swanson, infielder
• Daulton Varsho, outfielder and catcher

Minor league affiliations

Main article: List of Arizona Diamondbacks minor league affiliates

References

References

1. Courtney, Ross. (May 27, 2011). "Bad news, Bears: Team takes one step closer to relocation". [[Yakima Herald-Republic]].
2. Theen, Andrew. (June 6, 2012). "Hillsboro sets stage for baseball's return to the Portland metro area". [[The Oregonian]].
3. Stevens, Suzanne. (June 6, 2012). "Hillsboro OKs baseball deal with Yakima Bears". [[Portland Business Journal]].
4. Ho, Sally. (June 19, 2012). "Yakima Bears agree to Hillsboro's terms for baseball deal". [[The Oregonian]].
5. Ho, Sally. (June 27, 2012). "Hillsboro's baseball deal is approved". [[The Oregonian]].
6. Manning, Rob. (June 27, 2012). "Hillsboro Approves Deal To Bring Baseball To City". Oregon Public Broadcasting.
7. Theen, Andrew. (August 21, 2012). "Hillsboro and Yakima Bears clear final hurdle for baseball relocation". The Oregonian.
8. Giegerich, Andy. (September 21, 2012). "Hillsboro breaks stadium ground, name comes next". Portland Business Journal.
9. Giegerich, Andy. (October 16, 2012). "Hillsboro has the Hops: Baseball team name honors agricultural roots". Portland Business Journal.
10. Smith, Jeff. (June 14, 2013). "Hillsboro Hops: Even in defeat, history made as Portland area's new team opens season". The Oregonian.
11. Smith, Jeff. (June 18, 2013). "Hillsboro Hops: After home-opening party, Hops ready for 'Tony Gwynn Opening Day'". The Oregonian.
12. Canzano, John. (June 17, 2013). "Canzano: Baseball's triumphant return with Hillsboro Hops comes with big-time lessons". The Oregonian.
13. Alger, Tyson. (June 28, 2013). "Hillsboro Hops: Meet "Barley", Hillsboro's new mascot (photos)". The Oregonian.
14. (September 1, 2014). "Hillsboro Hops win 48th game in regular season finale, best in short-season baseball". The Oregonian.
15. (September 7, 2014). "Hillsboro Hops clinch Northwest League championship". The Oregonian.
16. "Northwest League: Attendance 2015". Minor League Baseball.
17. (September 10, 2015). "In Year 3, Hillsboro Hops continue to grow on and off the field". The Oregonian/OregonLive.
18. (8 September 2016). "Hillsboro Hops want to 'show off,' awarded 2017 Northwest/Pioneer League all-star game".
19. "Hillsboro Clinches Playoffs for Sixth Straight Year!".
20. "2019 Northwest League Playoffs {{!}} MiLB.com Events {{!}} The Official Site of Minor League Baseball".
21. (2019-09-11). "Hillsboro Hops take home the 2019 NWL Championship".
22. Mayo, Jonathan. (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues".
23. (March 16, 2022). "Historical League Names to Return in 2022".
24. (January 21, 2023). "Diamondbacks affiliate Hillsboro names woman as manager".
25. Schultz, Ken. (February 2, 2023). "Ronnie Gajownik becomes the first out LGBTQ manager in MiLB".
26. "Copa | Hillsboro".
27. "Decade-Long Naming Rights Deal Comes to an End".
28. (March 29, 2024). "The home of the Hillsboro Hops has been renamed".
29. Smith, Jeff. (March 11, 2013). "Rich Burk named radio broadcaster of Hillsboro Hops baseball". The Oregonian.
30. Redden, Jim. (October 16, 2012). "Baseball team now Hillsboro Hops". The Portland Tribune.
31. Theen, Andrew. (October 16, 2012). "Hillsboro Hops release name via social media, drawing both praise and disappointment (with poll)". The Oregonian.
32. Theen, Andrew. (October 16, 2012). "Hops to the future: Hillsboro Hops baseball era begins". The Oregonian.
33. (September 17, 2013). "2013 Logo/Branding of the Year: Hillsboro Hops". Ballpark Digest.
34. Theen, Andrew. (March 6, 2013). "BridgePort named official beer of the Hillsboro Hops, will create special beer for the ballpark". The Oregonian.
35. Stevens, Suzanne. (March 6, 2013). "Hillsboro Hops sign BridgePort Brewing as official beer". Portland Business Journal.
36. Goldfield, Robert. (June 6, 2013). "Credit union 'Hops' to it". Portland Business Journal.