After a year away, minor league baseball is scheduled to return to Salt Lake City this season.
The Salt Lake Bees have circled April 8 at the date for their 2021 season opener. The Triple-A affiliate of the Anaheim Angels are expected to host the El Paso Chihuahuas at Smith’s Ballpark in the first of a proposed 142-game slate, the team announced Thursday.
The Bees will play 70 games at home and 70 on the road. To minimize travel, the Bees will play 23 series of six games apiece against each opponent, with an off-day every Wednesday. They will play one additional four-game home series against the Sacramento River Cats.
In all, Salt Lake is scheduled to play 12 home games in April, 17 in May, 13 in June, 10 in July, 12 in August and six in September. A team spokesperson said the Bees hope to allow fans to attend home games.
“We are working with local and state health departments, as well as Major League Baseball, to identify a plan that allows for fan attendance at the ballpark this season while ensuring the health and safety of players, staff and guests,” the spokesperson said. “We will have more information as we get closer to the home opener in April.”
With the reshuffling and contraction of the minor leagues last year, when play was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bees will find themselves facing many of the same opponents but in a new league. In addition to the Bees, the new West Division also includes the Las Vegas Aviators, Reno Aces, Tacoma Rainiers and the River Cats.
The Bees will also play every team from the East Division at least once. That includes former Pacific Coast League foes the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Round Rock Express and El Paso. The Oklahoma City Dodgers, who have been a staple in the Bees’ previous schedules will host the Bees July 1-6 and play at Smith’s Ballpark on Sept. 9-14. The Bees will also have a new opponent in the Sugarland (Texas) Skeeters. They will host the Bees’ first six-game road series April 22-27.
The home finale will be the last game of the Dodgers series and the season finale is slated for Sept. 21 at Reno.
The team has not released details on game times or ticket sales but said that information will be forthcoming.
