Salt Lake Bees Christen New Ballpark With High-Scoring Win
Apr 9, 2025, 10:47 AM
The Salt Lake Bees open The Ballpark at America First Square with a 13-10 win over the Reno Aces on Tuesday, April 8. (Brian Preece)
(Brian Preece)
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – Salt Lake Bees baseball is officially back, and The Ballpark at America First Square took center-stage in a 13-10 win over the Reno Aces. The spring weather cooperated with a picture-perfect Opening Night for 8,000 fans filling the new ballpark.
Baseball lovers turned out in droves on Opening Day, receiving the royal treatment at a new ball field that marries the distinct feeling of baseball nostalgia with modern amenities and conveniences. Beyond the massive video board and concessions innovations, fans can walk the concourse and bathe in the ambiance of baseball, keeping the real world at bay for a few hours.
The Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, played the first game at their new home on Tuesday, April 8. Franchise owner Gail Miller and various community and professional baseball decision-makers were on hand for the festivities, including a pregame military flyover.
Home opener W for the Bees! pic.twitter.com/p0Dbym0Tqy
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) April 9, 2025
Shaun Anderson took the mound, throwing the first pitch, while Gustavo Campero laced a single to center field for the first hit in ballpark history, after rehabbing Angels star Zach Neto drew the park’s first base on balls. Two batters later, with Salt Lake already leading 1-0, J.D. Davis sent the sellout crowd into a lather with a grand slam onto the concourse in right-centerfield.
Salt Lake posted an eight-run first, putting the Aces in a hole they would never recover from.
FIRST HOME RUN AT THE NEW BALLPARK IS A GRAND SLAM FROM J.D. DAVIS pic.twitter.com/JsUKv3uOCg
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) April 9, 2025
Just like that, the Bees settled into their new home.
Neto and No. 30 Angels prospect Niko Kavadas also homered, with the former clipping the gigantic video board beyond the left field fence on a titanic solo blast.
Kavadas ended the evening 2-for-4 at the plate with five RBI out of the cleanup spot. In the five hole, Davis added three hits to go with his first-inning grand salami.
Military flyover highlights Opening Night in new ballpark
Every sports fan should experience the pomp and circumstance of opening a new stadium. Last night, the ballpark was buzzing as the Bees and Aces took the field for the first time.
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Following player introductions and a stirring rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, a military flyover delighted the home fans, giving off an air of importance for the moment.
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Salt Lake continues a six-game homestand against the visiting Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks) in South Jordan, Utah, on Wednesday, April 9. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m.
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Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
