Sioux Falls Canaries hit new playing field with big vision, growing crowds

This paid piece is sponsored by the Sioux Falls Canaries.

Mike Meyer’s connection to the Sioux Falls Canaries goes back to 2007, his first year as pitching coach. He would go on to spend the next eight seasons in that position. After a few years elsewhere, he returned in 2017, this time as manager of the team.

There have been a lot of changes over that time for this American Association independent professional baseball franchise as well as for the league overall. Meyer, a former minor league pitcher in the St. Louis system whose first experience in Sioux Falls came as a member of the St. Paul Saints, can vouch for that.

It’s likely this Arizona native has spent more hours in the dugout at The Birdcage than anyone ever to wear a Canaries uniform. When he says he’s optimistic about the direction of the franchise, he can do so with a high level of clarity.

“We’re all on the same page trying to build something special here,” Meyer said. “We want the fans to know this is a family environment where you should want to watch a game. We’re also trying to get the word out that this is a place where you should want to come and play. You’re going to get the opportunity to get better because we’re going to give you all the resources you need.”

It would be easy to look at the Canaries’ struggles to this point in the young season as an indication that things are not where the manager would like them to be. While that would be accurate in one sense, it would be a short-term assessment of a long-term big-picture project.

To begin with, the 100-game season remains a friend to the 2022 Canaries. There is still time to get things moving in the right direction. There is also the talent, though early-season injuries have slowed them down some, to make winning baseball a consistent part of the entertainment package.

“We’ve been banged-up – we haven’t had a full lineup or full pitching staff yet this year,” Meyer said. “Those things happen, but usually they happen in the middle of the season or toward the end. For us, it’s happening early. We’re just trying to survive the first few weeks until we get all our guys back. Overall, I really like the core group of guys on this team.”

When Brian Slipka and Anthony Albanese bought the team in March 2021, Meyer was the manager. More than a year later, he is still the manager. It’s more evidence there is a mutual purpose.

The Canaries got a spectacular new scoreboard last year. This year, they got a new field that eventually will sell prospective players on the advantages of spending a summer in Sioux Falls playing pro ball. Some change is very good, in other words. And some things you want to keep.

“It was a little nerve-wracking at the beginning because they didn’t hire me – I was here when they bought the organization,” Meyer said. “But over last season, with some really bright spots and also some low spots where we had to battle our way through some adversity, the message has been the same: They believe I’m the guy for the job. It makes me hungry to prove them right.”

The Canaries have several interesting story lines that promise to continue to be part of the narrative for 2022. Some are familiar to fans of the team and some are brand-new.

Jabari Henry is a 31-year-old who serves as the Canaries’ hitting coach and also its designated hitter. He hit 21 home runs last year to lead the team and has hit as many as 29 in a season in Sioux Falls.

“Jabari is fantastic – he’s one of our home run hitters, but he’s also a tremendous clubhouse guy,” Meyer said. “He understands pro ball, and he understands the struggles that can be involved. He’s that veteran presence that you really like to have. We have a bond that starts with wanting to build something here.”

Perhaps the most prominent addition to the roster has been Osvaldo Martinez, a 34-year-old former big-leaguer with Florida who has settled down the shortstop position both in the field and at the plate.

“He’s a tremendous player, and he plays hard every day,” Meyer said. “He runs, he hits for average, he hits for some power, and he’s very slick at shortstop. It’s pretty obvious he loves playing the game. He’s one of those guys who is going to be able to get things going for us.”

Center fielder Kona Quiggle has gotten off to a strong start for the Canaries and is also new to the team. At the end of May, he was hitting .358 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.

The roster includes Gavin LaValley, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound third baseman who is batting over .300, as well as leadoff hitter Wyatt Ulrich, a Minnesota native who was the American Association rookie of the year in 2021. It also has 6-foot-4, 225-pound first baseman Trey Michalczewski, a former seventh round pick of the Chicago White Sox who has played as high as Class AAA.

“We’ve got a lot of big pieces in our lineup,” Meyer said. “And we have a lot of big power arms in our bullpen. There’s a lot of fun stuff to see at The Birdcage.”

Creating a new tradition with competitive baseball remains a work in progress with “progress” being the key word. The new playing field, a conspicuous improvement for the fans attending games, also is making an impression with the players.

“We have guys out here working out and taking batting practice on their own at 2 o’clock in the afternoon,” Meyer said. “They do it because they like being out here, and it’s a nice surface. It might seem like a little thing, but it’s something we can sell to players that we couldn’t in the past. We have a nice facility where they’re going to enjoy putting the work in.”

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