West Virginia Black Bears

West Virginia Black Bears
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassCollegiate summer (2021–present)
Previous classesClass A Short Season (2015–2020)
LeagueMLB Draft League (2021–present)
Previous leagues
New York–Penn League (2015–2020)
Major league affiliations
TeamUnaffiliated (2021–present)
Previous teamsPittsburgh Pirates (2015–2020)
Minor league titles
League titles (3)
  • 2015
  • 2022
  • 2023
First-half titles (1)
  • 2022
Second-half titles (1)
  • 2023
Team data
ColorsBlack, blue, gold, white
       
BallparkMonongalia County Ballpark (2015–present)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Bob Rich, Jr. (Rich Baseball Operations)
General managerLeighann Sainato
ManagerDavid Carpenter
Websitemlbdraftleague.com/west-virginia

The West Virginia Black Bears are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Granville, West Virginia, and play their home games at Monongalia County Ballpark, which is across the Monongahela River from Morgantown and West Virginia University. From 2015 to 2020, they were a Minor League Baseball team of the New York–Penn League. They were the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates from their inception until MLB's reorganization of the minors after the 2020 season.[1]

In August 2014, it was announced that the Jamestown Jammers would cease operations and move to Morgantown.[2] On October 22, the team announced that they would be named the "Black Bears" following a fan vote, as the American black bear is the state animal of West Virginia.[3] Other finalists included Black Diamonds, Canaries, Coal Kings, Coal Sox, Energy, Moonshiners, Muskets, Wild Ones, and Wonder.[4]

In January 2015, Wyatt Toregas was named as their inaugural manager.[5] The Black Bears won the New York–Penn League wild card in their inaugural season.[6] The team then defeated the Williamsport Crosscutters and the Staten Island Yankees to win the 2015 New York–Penn League Championship.[7] On February 24, 2022, Leighann Sainato was named general manager.[8]

Roster

West Virginia Black Bears roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 41 Coy Angel
  • 67 Kobe Beaudoin
  • 34 Dylan Cheeley
  • 12 Jack Clemente
  • 62 Lance Hartley
  • 18 Storm Hierholzer
  • 66 Hunter Hodges
  • 43 Aric McAtee
  • 99 Victor Quinn
  • 21 Cory Ronan
  • 23 Ryan Sleeper
  • 48 Ethan Sloan
  •  8 Ryan Spalliero
  • 68 Christian Womble

Catchers

  • 19 Josiah Chavez
  •  5 Ryan Grabosch
  • 44 Mauricio Millan
  • 13 Joey Spence

Infielders

  •  9 Beny Bikar Jr.
  • 55 Lucas Ismaili
  • 59 Jack O'Dowd
  •  3 Dariel Osoria
  • 15 Dalton Wentz

Outfielders

  • 87 Brody Black
  •  2 Jarrett Ford
  • 16 Jeff Liquori
  • 27 Ryley Preece
  • 37 Jordan Rogers

Manager

Coaches

  • 24 Antonio Caballero (hitting)
  • 29 Ezequiel Carrera (pitching)
  • 31 Andy Hurtado (fourth)


7-day injured list

~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated June 13, 2024
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • MLB Draft League

Season-by-season record

West Virginia Black Bears (New York–Penn League)
Year Regular season Post-season
Record Win % Finish Record Win % Result MLB
2015 42–34 .553 2nd Pinckney Division 4-1 .800 Won Semifinals vs. Williamsport Crosscutters, 2–1
Won Championship vs. Staten Island Yankees, 2-0		 Pirates
2016 38–38 .500 3rd Pinckney Division — — Did not qualify for playoffs Pirates
2017 40–35 .533 3rd Pinckney Division — — Did not qualify for playoffs Pirates
2018 32–44 .421 5th Pinckney Division — — Did not qualify for playoffs Pirates
2019 40–36 .526 2nd Pinckney Division — — Did not qualify for playoffs Pirates
2020 – – None — — Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic Pirates
Totals 192–182 .513 — 4–1 .800
West Virginia Black Bears (MLB Draft League)
2021 30–19 .612 2nd — — – N/A
2022 48–30 .615 1st 1–0 1.000 Won Championship vs. Williamsport Crosscutters, 1–0 N/A
2023 46–27 .630 1st 1–0 1.000 Won Championship vs. Trenton Thunder, 1–0 N/A
Totals 124–76 .620 — 2–0 1.000

References

  1. ^ "Black Bears retain affiliation with MLB, are founding member of Major League Baseball Draft League". West Virginia Black Bears. Minor League Baseball. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  2. ^ Vingle, Mitch. Morgantown lands NY-Penn League baseball team. Charleston Gazette. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  3. ^ "New NYPL club to be called the Black Bears: Team also decides to identify primarily with state of West Virginia". MiLB.com (Press release). Rich Baseball Operations. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  4. ^ Vote to name new Morgantown team MiLB.com
  5. ^ Biertempfel, Rob (January 15, 2015). "Pirates Notebook: Assignments Finalized". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  6. ^ Heneghan, Kelsie (September 7, 2015). "Bears seal NYPL Wild Card in first season". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  7. ^ Zimm, Tyler (September 15, 2015). "Black Bears Claim NYPL Championship". West Virginia Black Bears. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  8. ^ "Leighann Sainato named General Manager of the West Virginia Black Bears". Minor League Baseball. February 24, 2022.