It’s unlikely that anyone named Augustus, Tiberius, or Claudius will see action on the diamond at AdventHealth Stadium this summer, but to be sure, the Rome Emperors will take the field for 66 home games this year. Rome baseball fans hope the Emperors will stake a quick claim as rulers of the South Atlantic League.
Formerly known as the Rome Braves, the Atlanta Braves High-A affiliate, the Emperors are currently the longest continuing affiliate of the Braves. The club moved to Rome from Macon in 2003 and are two-time South Atlantic League champions, claiming titles in 2003 and 2016.
One of the fun challenges of being a fan of minor league baseball is the opportunity to guess who will become the next major league superstar. Rome baseball fans have been fortunate to witness the likes of Brian McCann, Jeff Francouer, Mike Soroka, Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, and last year’s runaway Most Valuable Player Ronald Acuna Jr. Will the next superstar be someone like Ignacio “Nacho” Alvarez Jr. who had a .284 batting average with 24 doubles, seven home runs and 66 RBI in Rome last year?
Along with the name change, fans will notice changes at the ballpark. At the very front of the stadium, the former souvenir shop has been replaced by a season-ticket holder’s lounge. The gift shop has been moved into the area that formerly housed the restaurant. The bar section of the former restaurant is still in place, but the restaurant itself is no longer part of the venue. A new children’s play area on the hill just beyond the right field wall has been added.
While not likely to be noticeable from the grandstands, Floyd County Manager Jamie McCord says close to $4 million in physical improvements to AdventHealth Stadium are underway. Temporary locker rooms for the Emperors and visiting teams have been completed in time for this season, while permanent renovation work takes place this summer. The changes also include designated staff space for women as well as female umpires. Improvements to the hitting tunnel and pitching cages are also underway. A major upgrade for the playing surface will occur following the 2024 season.
Minor League Baseball underwent a major restructuring prior to the 2021 season when Rome was advanced from a Low-A affiliate.
Diamond Baseball Holdings owns the team, which it acquired from the Atlanta Braves organization prior to the 2022 season. David Lane is the General Manager, and Cody Gabella will be the on-field skipper for the 2024 season.
Lane came to Rome in the fall of 2022. A native of Spartanburg, S.C., Lane has served several minor league franchises across the South Atlantic region but joined the staff at Rome from a position at Samford University in Birmingham.
Gabella comes to Rome after serving as the on-field manager for the Augusta GreenJackets a year ago. The rest of the coaching staff includes Mike Steed as pitching coach, Danny Santiesteban as hitting coach and the venerable Bobby Moore is back as an assistant coach. Austin Smith is the athletic trainer, and Julian Rip is the strength coach.
The name change occurred shortly after the 2023 season ended when the club opted to follow a trend among minor league clubs to differentiate themselves from their major league partners. More than 5,000 suggestions for the new name were received by the owners who settled on Emperors which has an obvious tie to Rome.
The Emperor penguin mascot caught some folks by surprise but has steadily grown on the Rome fan base. In a press release between seasons, Lane reminded fans that there are “no Bengals in Cincinnati, or Grizzlies in Memphis,” referring to the football and basketball teams in those cities.
The Emperors are planning a plethora of promotions during the 2024 season. This year, there will be a fireworks display following every Friday home game. AdventHealth will sponsor Sunday Fun Day games, where kids not only get in FREE but also eat FREE! Following the games, kids will be allowed to run the bases at AdventHealth Stadium. Double Dog Wednesday will allow fans to bring their pups to the park and enjoy specials on hot dogs. Something special is planned for EVERY home game!
Gavin Booker will be the Voice of the Emperors. Booker played baseball at Berry College in Rome, where he received a degree. All of the Emperors’ home games will be broadcast live on MiLB.TV as well as the Bally Sports App. Audio-only broadcast will be available on the GoEmperors.com website.
