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{{For|the 1940–1952 Interstate League Wilmington Blue Rocks|Wilmington Blue Rocks (1940–1952)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
|name            = Wilmington Blue Rocks
|founded         = 1993
|city            = Wilmington, Delaware
|misc            =
|logo            = WilmingtonBlueRocks.PNG
|uniformlogo     = Bluerockscap.PNG
|class level     = [[High-A]] (2021–present)
|past class level= [[Class A-Advanced]] (1993–2020)
|current league  = [[South Atlantic League]] (2021–present)
|past league     = [[Carolina League]] (1993–2020)
|conference      =
|division        = North Division
|majorleague     = [[Washington Nationals]] (2021–present)
|pastmajorleague ={{Plainlist|
*[[Kansas City Royals]] (2007–2020)
*[[Boston Red Sox]] (2005–2006)
*[[Kansas City Royals]] (1993–2004)
}}
|nickname        = Wilmington Blue Rocks (1993–present)
*
|pastnames       =
|colors          = Light blue, navy, gray, buff, celery, white<br />{{color box|#96c0e6}} {{color box|#002e62}} {{color box|#bbbcbe}} {{color box|#e5b43b}} {{color box|#B7DD79}} {{color box|#ffffff}}
|ballpark        = [[Daniel S. Frawley Stadium]] (1993–present)
|pastparks       =
|leaguenum       = 5
|leaguechamps    = {{hlist|1994|1996|1998|1999|2019}}
|divnum          = 6
|divisionchamps  = {{hlist|1993|1995|2001|2004|2015|2019}}
|owner           = Clark Minker, Main Street Baseball
|gm              = Liz Welch<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.milb.com/wilmington/news/liz-welch-named-next-blue-rocks-general-manager|title=Liz Welch Named Next Blue Rocks’ General Manager|website=Wilmington Blue Rocks|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=February 23, 2023|access-date=April 1, 2023}}</ref>
|manager         = Jake Lowery
|website         = {{URL|https://www.milb.com/wilmington|milb.com/wilmington}}          
}}

The '''Wilmington Blue Rocks''' are a [[Minor League Baseball]] team of the [[South Atlantic League]] and the [[High-A]] affiliate of the [[Washington Nationals]]. They are located in [[Wilmington, Delaware]], and play their home games at [[Daniel S. Frawley Stadium]].

==Franchise history==
[[Image:Frawley.Stadium.JPG|thumb|upright|left|[[Frawley Stadium]]]]
[[File:Rocky Bluewinkle 2009.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Rocky Bluewinkle, mascot of the Wilmington Blue Rocks]]
The Blue Rocks played in the [[Carolina League]], an [[Class A-Advanced|advanced Single-A league]] in minor league baseball, from 1993 to 2020. The name "Blue Rocks" was chosen because of the blue granite found along the [[Brandywine River]] in Wilmington. The Blue Rocks play at [[Judy Johnson]] Field at [[Daniel S. Frawley Stadium]] in Wilmington's growing [[Wilmington Riverfront|Riverfront]] district and was instrumental in bringing commerce and public attention to the once ignored and dilapidated area of the city.

The Blue Rocks played their first season in 1993 when the [[Peninsula Pilots (minor league team)|Peninsula Pilots]] were purchased and relocated to the riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware. Principal owner Frank Boulton and co-owner [[Bud Harrelson]] bought the franchise in 1992, moved the team from [[Hampton, Virginia]], and changed their affiliation from the [[Seattle Mariners]]' farm system to the [[Kansas City Royals]]'.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1992-10-30 |title=Delaware Gets Carolina League Team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-delaware-gets-carolina/162653948/ |access-date=2025-01-09 |work=The Roanoke Times |page=B9 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> When the franchise moved to Wilmington in 1993, the ballpark was known as Legends Stadium, after the sports legends of Delaware. After Frawley, the Wilmington mayor who played a major role in the creation of the team, died while playing a recreational basketball game, the stadium was renamed Daniel S. Frawley Stadium in his honor.

The Blue Rocks were Kansas City farm team from their inception, except for the 2005 and 2006 seasons when the team was affiliated with the [[Boston Red Sox]]. In 2020, with the re-organization of the [[minor leagues]], the Blue Rocks became an affiliate of the [[Washington Nationals]].<ref>{{cite web |date=December 9, 2020 |title=Washington Nationals Extend Affiliation Invitation To Blue Rocks |url=https://www.milb.com/wilmington/news/washington-nationals-extend-affiliation-invitation-to-blue-rocks |accessdate=August 17, 2021 |website=MiLB.com}}</ref>

In 2005, the Blue Rocks were featured in ''[[SportsCenter]]'''s [[50 States in 50 Days]]. [[Matt Winer]] reported from a set in left field where ''SportsCenter'' did stories on the many mascots of the Blue Rocks. The Aug 19 game featuring ''SportsCenter'' drew the Blue Rocks' largest crowd in team history.

The Blue Rocks played host to the 2014 California/Carolina League All Star Game, having previously hosted the game last 12 years earlier in 2002. The California League All Stars ousted the Carolina League All Stars 3-2. Kyle Waldrop of the [[Bakersfield Blaze]] took home the game's MVP award.

On July 15, 2019, Jonathan Bowlan pitched the second no-hitter in franchise history against the [[Carolina Mudcats]]. He struck out nine batters, walking none on 97 pitches.

The Blue Rocks won the 2019 Mills Cup Championship for the first time since 1999, closing a five-game series with the [[Fayetteville Woodpeckers]] with a 2-0 victory on September 14, 2019.

In December 2020, the Blue Rocks were officially invited to become an affiliate of the [[Washington Nationals]], joining the Nationals' minor league system beginning with the [[2021 Washington Nationals season|2021 season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://curlyw.mlblogs.com/nationals-extend-invitations-to-minor-league-affiliates-2f62edab82d6|agency=Curly W Live|title=Nationals extend invitations to Minor League affiliates|date=December 9, 2020|access-date=December 9, 2020}}</ref> In further conjunction with [[Major League Baseball]]'s restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Blue Rocks were organized into the [[High-A East]].<ref name="JMayo2-12-2021">{{cite web |last=Mayo |first=Jonathan |date=February 12, 2021 |title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure |access-date=February 12, 2021 |website=MLB.com}}</ref> In 2022, the High-A East became known as the South Atlantic League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.<ref name="SALrename">{{cite web |date=March 16, 2022 |title=Historical League Names to Return in 2022 |url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022 |access-date=March 16, 2022 |website=MiLB.com}}</ref>

==Roster==
[[File:Bluerocksalt.PNG|thumb|upright|The Wilmington Blue Rocks' alternate logo]]
{{Wilmington Blue Rocks roster}}

==Playoffs==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Season!!Semifinals!!Finals
|-
|1993 ||W, 2–0, [[Frederick Keys|Frederick]] ||L, 3–1, [[Winston-Salem Spirits|Winston-Salem]]
|-
|1994 ||- ||W, 3–0, [[Winston-Salem Spirits|Winston-Salem]]
|-
|1995 ||W, 2–0, [[Prince William Cannons|Prince William]] ||L, 3–0, [[Kinston Indians|Kinston]]
|-
|1996 ||- ||W, 3–1, [[Kinston Indians|Kinston]]
|-
|1997 ||- ||- 
|-
|1998 ||- ||W, 3–1, [[Winston-Salem Warthogs|Winston-Salem]] 
|-
|1999 ||- ||T, 2–2, [[Myrtle Beach Pelicans|Myrtle Beach]] 
|-
|2000 ||- ||- 
|-
|2001 ||W, 2–1, [[Frederick Keys|Frederick]] ||L, 3–2, [[Salem Avalanche|Salem]]
|-
|2002 ||L, 2–1, [[Lynchburg Hillcats|Lynchburg]] ||- 
|-
|2003 ||L, 2–0, [[Lynchburg Hillcats|Lynchburg]] ||-
|-
|2004 ||W, 2–1, [[Potomac Cannons|Potomac]] ||L, 3–2, [[Kinston Indians|Kinston]] 
|-
|2005 ||- ||-
|-
|2006 ||L, 2–1, [[Frederick Keys|Frederick]] ||-
|-
|2007 ||L, 2–0, [[Frederick Keys|Frederick]] ||-
|-
|2008 ||L, 3–0, [[Potomac Nationals|Potomac]] ||-
|-
|2009 ||L, 3–2, [[Lynchburg Hillcats|Lynchburg]] ||-
|-
|2010 ||- ||- 
|-
|2011 ||- ||- 
|-
|2012 ||L, 2–1, [[Lynchburg Hillcats|Lynchburg]] ||-
|-
|2013 ||- ||- 
|-
|2014 ||- ||- 
|-
|2015 ||W, 2–0 [[Lynchburg Hillcats|Lynchburg]] ||L, 3–0, [[Myrtle Beach Pelicans|Myrtle Beach]]
|-
|2016 ||- ||- 
|-
|2017 ||- ||-
|-
|2018 ||- ||- 
|-
|2019 ||W, 3–2 [[Salem Red Sox|Salem]] ||W, 3–2, [[Fayetteville Woodpeckers|Fayetteville]]
|}

==Players of note==
More than 200 Blue Rocks have gone on to the [[Major League Baseball|major leagues]], including [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Stars]] [[Carlos Beltrán]], [[Lance Carter (baseball)|Lance Carter]], [[Johnny Damon]], Jacoby Ellsbury, [[Zack Greinke]], [[Jon Lieber]], [[Jed Lowrie]], [[José Rosado]], and [[Mike Sweeney]]. Other former Blue Rock players of note include:

[[File:Mike Moustakas 2009.jpg|upright|thumb|right|[[Mike Moustakas]] during his tenure with the Wilmington Blue Rocks in {{Baseball year|2009}}]]
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Jeremy Affeldt]]
*
*[[Clay Buchholz]]
*[[David DeJesus]]
*[[Danny Duffy]]
*[[Chad Durbin]]
*[[Mark Ellis (baseball)|Mark Ellis]]
*
*[[Sal Fasano]]
*[[Raúl González (baseball)|Raúl González]]
*
*[[Whit Merrifield]]
*[[Eric Hosmer]]
*[[Sean Manaea]]
*[[Mike Moustakas]]
*[[Jake Odorizzi]]
*[[Salvador Perez]]
*[[Aníbal Sánchez]]
*[[Brady Singer]]
*
*[[Michael Tucker (baseball)|Michael Tucker]]
{{Div col end}}

===Retired numbers===
*18 [[Johnny Damon]]
*33 [[Mike Sweeney]]
*36 [[Robin Roberts (baseball)|Robin Roberts]], played for the earlier Blue Rocks team <ref>{{cite web |last=Janus |first=Matt |date=May 6, 2010 |title=Legendary Former Blue Rock Robin Roberts Passes Away |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-9844624 |accessdate=2025-01-09 |website=MiLB.com}}</ref>
*42 [[Jackie Robinson]] (retired throughout baseball)

==Mascots==
The Blue Rocks have three mascots. Rocky Bluewinkle is a blue moose, who frequently roams around the stadiums during games. Mr. Celery is a stalk of celery who comes out and dances to "[[Song 2]]" by Blur whenever Wilmington scores a run.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hill |first=Benjamin |date=September 1, 2017 |title=How Mr. Celery became a Wilmington Blue Rocks legend |url=https://www.milb.com/news/how-mr-celery-became-a-wilmington-blue-rocks-legend-251686270 |accessdate=August 17, 2021 |website=MiLB.com}}</ref> Rubble is a giant blue rock who mainly appears on merchandise.[[File:PXL 20220723 234422126.MP.jpg|alt=Mr. Celery runs along the first base line, arms aloft, clutching a stalk of celery.|thumb|Mr. Celery runs along the first base line, arms aloft, clutching a stalk of celery.]]
==See also==
* [[Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame]]
* [[Wilmington Quicksteps]]
* [[Wilmington Park]]
* [[List of professional sports teams in Delaware]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Wilmington Blue Rocks}}
* {{Official website|http://www.bluerocks.com/}}

{{South Atlantic League}}
{{Washington Nationals}}
{{Philadelphia Sports}}
{{Delaware sports}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Baseball teams established in 1993]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Delaware]]
[[Category:Sports in Wilmington, Delaware]]
[[Category:Professional baseball teams in Delaware]]
[[Category:Wilmington Riverfront]]
[[Category:Washington Nationals minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Kansas City Royals minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Boston Red Sox minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Carolina League teams]]
[[Category:Sports in the Delaware Valley]]
[[Category:High-A East teams]]
[[Category:South Atlantic League teams]]