We’re getting closer to the first home game of the 2018 season!

The St. Cloud Rox kick off a home-and-home series against the Mankato MoonDogs on Thursday night in Mankato, before returning home on Friday to host the home opener, presented by Coborn’s.

Friday’s home opener will feature post-game fireworks and the first 2,000 fans will receive a magnet schedule as they enter the Rock Pile. World Series Champion and former Minnesota Twins Pitcher Juan Berenguer will be throwing out the first pitch and will be signing autographs and taking pictures with fans throughout the game (get your tickets here).

Let’s preview and take a look at St. Cloud’s first series of the season against Mankato:

Last Matchup 

The series between St. Cloud and Willmar will be the first of the season between the two Minnesota-based teams.

In 2017, the Rox and MoonDogs split the season series with each other, both winning four out of the total eight games.

This series, which begins Thursday and wraps up Friday, will be the final time these two teams will meet in the regular season until June 19 and 20, when they will once again have a home-and-home series.

What to Watch For

One thing to watch out for in this series is the fact that the series will include the Rox returning home for the first time since winning the Northwoods League championship in 2017.

St. Cloud will celebrate with a pre-game ceremony prior to the first pitch against Mankato. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to witness the ceremony on Friday.

Another thing to watch for in the series against the MoonDogs will be the hot start the Rox pitching staff — which was one of the best in the league in 2017 — is off to in the 2018 season. After strong performances by both Carlo Graffeo and Zach Lauzon to kick off the year, St. Cloud looks to continue that trend heading into this series with Mankato.

Series Breakdown 

Thursday, May 31

Game time: 7:05 p.m.
Game location: Franklin Rogers Park, Mankato
Where to Listen: 1390 Granite City Sports
Where to Watch: Northwoods League portal

Friday, June 1

Game time: 7:05 p.m.
Game location: Joe Faber Field, St. Cloud
Where to Listen: 1390 Granite City Sports
Where to Watch: Northwoods League portal

The Rox will play their 7th season of Northwoods League Baseball in 2018. The home opener at Joe Faber Field is scheduled for Friday, June 1 at 7:05 p.m. against the Mankato MoonDogs. The home opener, presented by Coborn’s, will feature post-game fireworks. Season tickets and single game tickets for the 2018 season are currently on sale. For more information regarding this release or to purchase tickets, please contact the Rox front office at (320) 240-9798 or visit www.stcloudrox.com.

The St. Cloud Rox are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.stcloudrox.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rox as your favorite team.