On March 26, the media got its first look at the 2025 Rochester Red Wings, who would open the season two days later in blustery Buffalo. As snow began to fall on Innovative Field during a brisk workout, the diamond quickly turned white, foreshadowing the cold battles to come. On Media Day, manager Matt LeCroy set the tone with high expectations: “The front office here is great and the community supports us with great fans. They’re like family. I want to win a championship for our team and the fans of Rochester.”
LeCroy chose Andrew Alvarez as his Opening Day starter, and the lefty delivered with five strong innings, departing with a 2–1 lead. But the bullpen faltered in the bottom of the sixth, surrendering four runs as Rochester dropped its opener 6–2 to rival Buffalo—a theme that would resurface throughout the season. The Wings salvaged a series split, but it would take months before consistency arrived.
April 1 brought long-awaited Opening Day at Innovative Field. Greeted by Alvarez at the left-field gate with a gift bag in hand, fans braved freezing temperatures for baseball’s return. Shinnosuke Oggasawara spun six innings of one-run ball for the win, and Rochester’s bats exploded in a 10–1 victory, highlighted by Drew Millas’s three-hit, five-RBI performance. As the Wings sealed the win, the thermometer read in the 20s—but optimism burned warm. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t the only cold thing in Western New York, as Rochester stumbled to a 6–21 April, ending the month in 20th place in the International League standings. The team didn’t win its first series until May 25.
But this review isn’t only about wins and losses. Rochester is a proud minor league city dating back to 1877, and fans continued to cheer loudly, never booing their team. In May, the Wings showed fight, posting a 15–11 record, signaling a turn of momentum.
LeCroy praised his staff on the season’s final day in a conversation with broadcaster Josh Whetzel: “I feel my staff…did a good job. I wished we had more wins, but the players worked hard every single day. Injuries to the pitching staff and call-ups changed the trajectory, but the effort was there every day.” By year’s end, Rochester’s offense had jumped from 18th to 11th in the league in hitting, a major second-half improvement. Much of the credit went to hitting coach Brian Daubach, who LeCroy called “the best hitting coach in this organization,” lauding his tireless work in the cage and video room.
The team’s clear MVP was outfielder Andrew Pinckney. After striking out in nearly half his at-bats in 2024, Pinckney made major strides. LeCroy called him “the most improved player start to finish I’ve ever had.” By August 26, Pinckney had joined club history, becoming the first Red Wing since Don Baylor in 1971 with a 20-homer, 20-stolen base season. He ultimately became Rochester’s first-ever 20/30 player, finishing with 34 steals, 20 homers, and cutting his strikeout rate from 45% to 29%.
The unique split-season format in Triple-A added drama. Jacksonville won the first half, thanks in part to Rochester sweeping rival Lehigh Valley down the stretch. Scranton claimed the second half, but Jacksonville went on to win it all. For Rochester, roster turnover was the constant: 69 different players suited up over the course of the year, and only Trey Lipscomb remained from the Opening Day lineup on the season’s final day. In all, 25 players spent time with both the Nationals and Red Wings.
Among them was prized prospect Daylen Lile, who raced up the ladder with stops at Double-A Harrisburg, Triple-A Rochester, and the big league Nationals within a month. His hot stretch in Rochester lasted just weeks before he returned to Washington, where he finished a breakout rookie season.
Rochester fans always prefer wins, but part of the joy is watching tomorrow’s stars today—and being able to say, “I saw that player when he was in Rochester.” GM Dan Mason and his staff once again delivered a memorable ballpark experience at Innovative Field, making every game more than just a box score.
As the offseason begins, attention shifts to Washington. Newly appointed President of Baseball Operations, Paul Toboni, has vowed to prioritize in-person scouting and strengthen player development systems across the organization. For Nationals fans, affiliates like Rochester will play a key role in shaping the future. One thing is certain: the 2026 season will bring more storylines worth following, and The Nats Report will keep you up to date with all the latest developments.