Chris Holman welcomes back Zac Clark, General Manager, Lansing Lugnuts, Lansing, MI, in the video interview included in this article.

Update: Nuts trounce Spartans in record-setting Crosstown Showdown, 18-0.

Watch Zac and Chris discuss the upcoming 2024 season for Minor League Baseball's Lansing Lugnuts in the YouTube video shared below:

They had several topics to cover including:
Crosstown Showdown vs Michigan State University (April 3)
Capital Clash – Michigan State University vs Western Michigan University (April 17)
Opening Night vs Great Lakes Loons (LAD) (April 9)
Season preview – Promotions (LAFCU Fireworks, Coors Light Thristy Thursday, Star Wars, Bluey, etc.)
Amped up food and beverage offerings (Intentional Wok, Locos Tacos, Gravity Smokehouse)
Special events – Spring Beer Fest, GLIAC Championship, Olive Burger Fest, Grand River Country Club…. Concerts??)

Here's additional information about the upcoming season:

LANSING, Mich. – The records kept falling throughout the night: Most home runs in a game, four. Most hits, 15. Most runs, 18. Largest margin of victory, 18.

In the 16th Crosstown Showdown, presented by Delta Dental, the Lansing Lugnuts rewrote the annual exhibition’s record book with an 18-0 seven-inning steamrolling of the Michigan State Spartans on Wednesday night at Jackson® Field™.

The Lugnuts scored in each of the first five innings, including a Joshwan Wright three-run homer in a four-run 2nd, a Henry Bolte three-run home run followed by a Will Simpson solo shot in a five-run 4th, and a Simpson grand slam in a seven-run 5th.

First baseman Simpson, the first player to homer twice in a Showdown, finished the night 3-for-5 with a record-setting seven RBIs. Center fielder Bolte drove in five runs himself, while Simpson, shortstop Colby Halter and second baseman Joshwan Wright each scored three runs. Halter, the leadoff hitter, reached base in all five plate appearances on two singles, two walks and an HBP. Wright, the ninth-place hitter, reached base in all four of his plate appearances with two singles and two walks.

Meanwhile, Michigan State’s offense managed only two base runners – a Christian Williams second-inning double and a Ryan McKay fifth-inning single – against Grant Judkins (four innings), Hunter Breault (two innings) and Yehizon Sanchez (one inning).

The Nuts now look ahead to Midwest League Opening Day on Friday, April 5, at Dayton, opening their 28th Midwest League season with a three-game series at Day Air Ballpark.

The 2024 Lansing Lugnuts home opener arrives at 6:05 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, the start of a six-game homestand against the Great Lakes Loons. Tickets are on sale at the Jackson® Field™ box office, available for purchase at (517) 485-4500 or online at milb.com/lansing.

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Lugnuts announce 2024 roster, led by prospects Bolte and Simpson

LANSING, Mich. – No April fooling here: The Lansing Lugnuts’ 2024 Opening Day roster will feature an offense anchored by five-tool talent Henry Bolte, the Oakland Athletics’ second-round selection in the 2022 draft, and slugging first baseman Will Simpson, the Lugnuts announced today.

The roster, steered by second-year manager Craig Conklin, also includes 17 players with prior Lansing experience as well as players representing 10 states, Puerto Rico, and five additional countries: Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panama and Venezuela.

MLB Pipeline ranks Bolte (pronounced “BOWL-tee”) as the A’s No. 2 outfield prospect and No. 12 overall prospect. He was selected 56th overall in 2022 from Palo Alto High School, where he led all California high schoolers with 13 home runs. Bolte spent the 2023 season with Single-A Stockton, where he slashed .257/.356/.421 in 112 games, collecting 17 doubles, five triples, 14 home runs and 32 stolen bases.

The 20-year-old Bolte will be part of a Lansing outfield brimming with power potential, comprising returners Danny Bautista, Jr.; Brayan Buelvas; Jonny Butler; and T.J. Schofield-Sam and newcomer Cameron Masterman, who played 43 games last season with Double-A Midland.

The Lugnuts’ 2024 infield is led by Simpson, the A’s No. 2 first base prospect and No. 30 prospect, who impressed with a .319/.367/.543 line in his pro debut after he was drafted in the 15th round from Washington. Newcomer Dereck Salom, moving up from Single-A Stockton, joins returners Euribiel Ángeles, Colby Halter and Joshwan Wright to fill out the rest of the infield.

The Nuts’ catching duties will be handled by the returning C.J. Rodriguez and Carlos Amaya alongside newcomer José Mujica, moving up from Stockton.

The trio will work with an experienced Lugnuts staff, thanks to returning starting pitchers Jacob Watters, Mitch Myers, Jake Garland, Jose Dicochea and James González in addition to returning relievers Hunter Breault, Jack Owen and Yehizon Sanchez.

Newcomers include 20-year-old 6-foot-7 southpaw Eduardo Rivera; Wander Guante, who twice was named a 2023 California League Pitcher of the Week; Luis Carrasco; Dylan Hall; Garrett Irvin; Colton Johnson; Grant Judkins and Blaze Pontes. Irvin and Pontes starred alongside Carrasco in the Stockton Ports’ 2023 bullpen; both Johnson and Judkins are returning from missing all of 2023 due to injury; and Hall was signed after spending last season at the upper levels of the Mets’ organization.

The 2024 Lugnuts first take the field on Wednesday, April 3, against Michigan State University in the 16th Crosstown Showdown. The first 1,000 fans will receive a commemorative Spartan Green Lugnuts Jersey, presented by Delta Dental. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m.  Single game tickets are on sale at the Jackson® Field™ box office, available for purchase at (517) 485-4500 or online at milb.com/lansing.

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LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts, the High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, officially announce the 2024 Promo Schedule for their 28th Minor League season, opening with a jersey giveaway and featuring three bobblehead giveaways, 13 specialty jerseys and 16 LAFCU Fireworks nights.

Single game tickets are now on sale at the Jackson® Field™ box office, available for purchase at (517) 485-4500 or online at milb.com/lansing.

The Nuts first take the field against the Michigan State Spartans on Wednesday, April 3, in the 16th Crosstown Showdown. The first 1,000 fans will receive a commemorative Spartan Green Lugnuts Jersey, presented by Delta Dental.

The home opener follows on Tuesday, April 9, with a 2024 schedule giveaway, opening a six-game homestand against the Great Lakes Loons with the first Dog Days of Summer (April 10, dogs welcome to the ballpark), the first Coors Light Thirsty Thursday (April 11, $3 domestic, $5 craft drafts), and White Claws and Paws (April 13, drink specials with dogs welcome).

Once the season is underway, Lugnuts fans will enjoy regular daily specials:

• Every Tuesday except for April 9 and July 2 is Tacos and Tallboys: two tacos for $5 plus $5 tallboys as the Lugnuts play as the Lansing Locos for Copa de la Diversión; the Nuts will also play as the Locos on Cinco de Mayo;
• Every Wednesday is a Dog Days of Summer, with dogs welcome;
• Every Thursday is a Coors Light Thirsty Thursday, with $3 16-oz. domestic drafts and $5 craft drafts;
• Every Friday and Saturday beginning May 17 and running through August 17 will feature a postgame LAFCU Fireworks Spectacular; 
• Every Sunday is a Capital City Market Kids Day, with inflatables, face-painting, and Kids Run the Bases followed by ice cream and music with Big Lug at Capital City Market following the game.

The Lugnuts will additionally hold postgame LAFCU Fireworks on July 2, July 3 and August 31.

Grand Slam School Days return to Jackson® Field™ on May 1, May 15, May 17 (featuring Zooperstars and LAFCU Fireworks) and May 29, with Teacher Appreciation Night on May 3 and Kids Night on May 18.

June is filled with huge nights: Pride Night on June 11, Peanuts Night/Youth Sports Night with a bobblehead giveaway on June 14, Star Wars Night on June 15, ‘90s Night on June 27, Pink Out the Park on June 28, and Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond on June 29.

In July, the Lugnuts celebrate the Page Fence Giants and host Vintage Baseball on July 2, with more Vintage Baseball and an Independence Day celebrationon July 3. The Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is inducted during the July 19-20 weekend with a bobblehead giveaway on July 20, followed by an appearance from Bluey on July 21.

In August, the Nuts throw a Locos Fiesta with a bobblehead giveaway on August 3, play as the Lansing Olive Burgers during a Lansing Facts Takeover on August 15, celebrate Super Hero Night on August 16, welcome in a mascot guest list on Big Lug’s Birthday on August 18, and give back on Fan Appreciation Night on August 31.

September only holds one regular season home game, Sensory Friendly Day on September 1, before the Lugnuts wrap up the regular season schedule on the road.

Throughout the season, the Lugnuts will be wearing special themed uniforms. Look for these unis on Peanuts Night, Star Wars Night, Marvel Defenders of the Diamond, Pink Out the Park, Page Fence Giants, the 3rd of July and Margaritaville, with more to be announced.

For further information, follow the Nuts on social media via @lansinglugnuts, visit milb.com/lansing or call (517) 485-4500.

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About the Lansing Lugnuts
The High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, the Lansing Lugnuts have won over 1,800 games and two league championships, hosted four All-Star Games, and produced 182 Major Leaguers in 27 seasons. Over 8,000,000 fans have attended Lugnuts games, including nearly 300,000 this season. For more information, call (517) 485-4500.

Lansing Lugnuts Baseball
Jackson® Field™ - 505 E. Michigan Ave. Lansing, MI 48912
Phone: 517.485.4500 Fax: 517.485.4518 - tparsons@Lansinglugnuts.com

Photo credit: Natasha Daniels / Lansing Lugnuts / LAFCU