For the first time since 2001, there will be a new major league parent team for the Dust Devils as they open the 2015 season with Newstalk 870.

During the off-season, the team signed a new player development contract (PDC) with the San Diego Padres, who will now send their rookies and draft picks here to play in the Northwest A league. Previously, the club was affiliated with the Colorado Rockies.

The Padres were eager to get to Tri-Cities, as they knew of the great weather, support for baseball in the community, and they wanted to play on a natural grass surface.  For the last few seasons they've been sharing a very nice stadium with the University of Oregon (who recently brought back baseball) but the Padres were not overjoyed about the field turf instead of grass.

San Diego is no stranger to our area,  dating back as far as the early 1970's San Diego has had Class A farm teams in both Tri-Cities and Walla Walla.

The Dust Devils will open on the road, with a five game trip to Boise to take on their former parent club, the Colorado Rockies.  Previously, Boise was home to the Cubs, who now are in Eugene as part of the three-way stadium and city swap during the off-season.

The Devils will open at home Tuesday 23rd at GESA Stadium.  Get your tickets by calling 544-8787 or online at dustdevilsbaseball.com.   And be sure to catch all the games on Newstalk 870, and streaming at newstalk870.am!

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