Energy City Cactus Rats 2025 Preview

They are the new/old kids in town.

Gone are the Edmonton Prospects and, in their place, the Energy City Cactus Rats will begin play during the 2025 Western Canadian Baseball League season.

Ballpark Building Blocks

As the concrete walls and steel beams rise out of the dirt in Spruce Grove, a new ballpark is finally starting to take shape.

The forging of a new identity for a Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) franchise that will celebrate its 20th year of existence in 2025 is also underway.

With a moving in date set for June of next year, the multi-million dollar stadium project has moved well beyond photorealistic renderings and that much closer to becoming a reality.

Prospects in the Park

It’s been a long four years since the Edmonton Prospects had a place to call “home.”

The Western Canadian Baseball League team has faced plenty of challenges in building the new Myshak Metro Ballpark.

Owner Pat Cassidy says construction is ongoing, but several challenges could affect opening day, meaning a backup plan is being looked at in Sherwood Park.

Hawkish Move

The gloves are off.

And we’re not talking about the ones that catch baseballs.

With the recent announcement that the Edmonton Riverhawks will join the West Coast League (WCL) in 2021, that summer collegiate circuit has staked a claim in the heart of Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) territory with its 15th franchise.

It’s a move that has raised eyebrows and, in some circles, ire.

Fielder’s Choice

The lights will stay on at RE/MAX Field in Edmonton. It just remains to be seen who will play under them.

After a couple of years of speculation, rumours and proposals, Baseball Edmonton Inc. has announced it has been granted a 10-year lease to operate the ballpark.

After that announcement, the Edmonton Prospects announced they would be moving to Spruce Grove for the 2022 season.

But what does this all mean for the Western Canadian Baseball League in the capital?

Diamond in the Rough

More than a century of baseball in Edmonton’s historic river valley could be lost to the wrecking ball as the area faces a major redevelopment.

At the team’s annual gala fundraising dinner on Feb. 24th, Edmonton Prospects owner Pat Cassidy sounded the alarm about the future of ReMax Field, which is home to the Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) club.

“This is an extremely important year, a critical year, for the ballpark because this is the year the City (of Edmonton) is going to determine its long-term fate,” Cassidy told those in attendance.