ONEONTA _ Wade Gaynor signed his first professional contract around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and two hours later he took part in the Oneonta Tigers' first workout of the season at Damaschke Field.
Things are happening quickly for the Detroit Tigers' third-round selection.
The third baseman drafted out of Western Kentucky said he's ready to get things rolling and get on the field.
"It was great," said Gaynor, who hit .371 and was fifth in the nation with 25 homers as a junior for the Hilltoppers this spring. "It's been a dream of mine since I was tiny. It's great to get that over with and now I'm ready to go play."
As Gaynor and other wide-eyed Oneonta Tigers prepare for their first season in professional ball, they'll join the new ownership of the Tigers in their first season running the team.
A group headed by New York City attorney E. Miles Prentice III purchased the team last year from Sam Nader and Sid Levine. The sale became final Dec. 5.
General manager Andrew Weber, who worked with Nader last season, will run the organization this season.
The new ownership has made several changes, including upgrading the concession and souvenir areas, creating a picnic area along the right-field line and eliminating free nights. Weber said the franchise is also planning to sell beer for the first time in team history, though its liquor licence is still pending approval from New York state.
Nader and Levine, who owned the team since its inception in 1966, will be honored on opening night with "Sam and Sid Night."
The festivities are scheduled to begin at about 6:30 p.m. Friday at Damaschke Field. Former O-Tigers coach Bill Monbouquette, Minor League Baseball president Pat O'Connor and New York-Penn League president Ben Hayes will be in attendance. Weber said Prentice and other members of the ownership group will also be on hand.
Weber said the team will also read several comments throughout the game from people involved with professional baseball who have been associated with Nader and Levine over the years. A full list of those who sent in comments wasn't completed, but Weber noted that one was from former New York Yankee first baseman Don Mattingly.
"I think it's important on so many different levels," Weber said of Friday's ceremony. "First and foremost in that not only does the community need to recognize what they've had and the types of individuals that Sam and Sid are, but minor league baseball needs to as well.
"I didn't know Sam prior to last summer, but I consider the nine months working along side Sam to be an absolute privilege," he continued. "Although this is essentially the beginning of my baseball career, I can tell you however long it may be, I'll definitely remember working with him and the type of individual he is. And, even in the short amount of time I worked with him, the lessons that I learned from him."
Following the ceremony, the Tigers open against Stedler Division rival Tri-City. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
"It's kind of hectic right now," said first-year Oneonta manager Howard Bushong. "But by the time Friday gets here, we'll settle in and things will be ordered and everything will be here. We'll have our players and we'll do the best job we possibly can."
Bushong, who previously managed professionally in the Arizona League with the Padres in 2000 and with the Gulf Coast League Tigers from 2001-2003, has a few days to get acclimated with his team. Several players from this year's amateur draft haven't arrived yet. Of the 30-man roster released by the team Tuesday, 15 were acquired through this year's draft. The highest draft pick on the team is Gaynor.
Gaynor said he played in Elmira two summers ago in the New York Collegiate Baseball League.
"This is what I expected," Gaynor said. "It seems like a nice town. I haven't really been around, but I look forward to playing here."
Outfielder Jamie Johnson (seventh round out of Oklahoma) and catcher John Murrian (ninth round out of Winthrop University) are also on the roster.
"Detroit is a top-notch organization from top to bottom," Weber said. "They heavily take care of their minor-league teams. This looks to be a very good team and based on where these guys have played and the numbers that they've put up, I'm excited. I think it looks great."
Following Friday, Oneonta travels to Troy to play Tri-City, before returning home at 6:05 p.m. Sunday to finish the three-game series with the ValleyCats.
The Tigers then head on the road for six games at Lowell and Vermont from June 22-27.
PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE: With the elimination of free nights this year, the Tigers have created several promotional nights.
Two of the most noteworthy ones are July 6 and July 8, when Oneonta will again honor Nader and Levine with bobbleheads. Nader's bobblehead will be given to the first 1,000 fans on July 6 and Levine's to the first 1,000 fans on July 8.
Oneonta's second home game, this Sunday against Tri-City, will be magnet schedule night. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive the schedule. Also that night, any fan who has a ticket from the Hall of Fame Classic in Cooperstown will receive general admission tickets for $3.
"It's things that have worked in other minor-league markets," Weber said. "We haven't done everything the same. We've tried to put our spin on it with things that are geared toward Oneonta and the surrounding areas. As with any major change, I think there's going to be a little of an adjustment period, but I think it'll definitely show that there's other ways to have fun at the ballpark without having to have it be free. ... That's on my shoulders and my staff's shoulders to make sure people are having fun."
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P.J. Harmer can be reached at pharmer@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 229.
