Worcester Red Sox

In February 2015, a group of New England business leaders, led by Larry Lucchino, purchased the Pawtucket Red Sox, a Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox since 1973.{{cite press release |url=https://www.milb.com/pawtucket/news/group-of-new-england-business-leaders-purchases-pawtucket-red-sox/c-110149688 |title=Group of New England Business Leaders Purchases Pawtucket Red Sox |website=MiLB.com |date=February 23, 2015 |access-date=December 1, 2019}} By mid-April, ownership was exploring moving the team from Pawtucket to Providence, Rhode Island.{{cite news |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150415/NEWS/150419547/-1/breaking_ajax |title=PawSox owners want state lease, 30 years of property tax abatements for Providence stadium |first=Kate |last=Bramson |website=The Providence Journal |date=April 15, 2019 |access-date=December 1, 2019}} In September, Governor of Rhode Island Gina Raimondo stated that the land in Providence being considered for a stadium, "was not suitable and there were too many obstacles that remained."{{cite news|first=Kate|last=Bramson|title=PawSox riverfront site is off; no word about alternative Providence site|date=September 20, 2015|website=The Providence Journal |url=http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150919/NEWS/150929927/-1/breaking_ajax|access-date=2015-09-20}} During 2016, a feasibility study was conducted on potential renovations of the team's Pawtucket ballpark, McCoy Stadium; and from mid-2017 to mid-2018, building a new ballpark in Pawtucket was explored.{{cite news |url=http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20170516/pawsox-city-reveal-stadium-financing-framework|title=PawSox, city reveal stadium financing framework |newspaper=Providence Journal |date=May 16, 2017 |first=Kate |last=Bramson |access-date=May 16, 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20180817/pawsox-plan-move-to-worcester-team-says-ri-house-is-to-blame|title=PawSox Plan to Move to Worcester; Team Says R.I. House is to Blame|last=Anderson|first=Patrick|date=August 17, 2018|newspaper=The Providence Journal|access-date=August 20, 2018}}

{{further|Pawtucket Red Sox#Sale and Rhode Island stadium plans (2015–2018)}}

A financing arrangement for partial public-funding of new stadium in Pawtucket was rejected by team ownership, who announced on August 17, 2018, that the team would relocate to a new stadium in Worcester, Massachusetts, in April 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2018/08/17/pawsox-owners-prepare-move-team-worcester/ku4CVdjYluqzRaOlYQcHmK/story.html|title=It's Official: PawSox to Move to Worcester|last=Chesto|first=Jon|date=August 17, 2018|newspaper=The Boston Globe|access-date=August 17, 2018}} While it was initially reported that team would be named the Worcester Red Sox, the club announced a "name-that-team" competition in November 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2018/11/05/red-sox-are-taking-suggestions-for-renaming-pawsox/xio2hN357Dz7xP3NfM1ADM/story.html |last=McLoone |first=Dan |date=November 6, 2018 |title=Red Sox are taking suggestions for renaming the PawSox |work=The Boston Globe}} The team name was officially announced on November 25, 2019,{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2019/11/24/worcester-red-sox-to-unveil-new-name-and-logo |title=Worcester Red Sox to unveil new name and logo |agency=AP |website=Boston.com |date=November 24, 2019 |access-date=November 24, 2019}} and confirmed to be the Worcester Red Sox with "WooSox" as the nickname.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/11/25/worcester-red-sox-announce-new-logo-and-woosox-nickname/ |title=Worcester Red Sox announce new logo and 'WooSox' nickname |first=Jason |last=Mastrodonato |website=Boston Herald |url-access=limited |date=November 25, 2019 |access-date=November 25, 2019}}

Like Providence, Worcester fielded a short-lived major league ballclub in the early 1880s, the Worcester Worcesters, who competed in the National League.{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/W/FR_WOR.htm |title=Worcester NL Team (1880-1882) |website=Retrosheet |access-date=June 17, 2021}}

File:Woofster, mascot of the Worcester Red Sox.jpg

The team's first mascot, Smiley Ball, was introduced in Worcester on October 2, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegram.com/picture-gallery/news/2020/10/02/photos-woosox-unveil-new-mascot-smiley-ball/42716939/|title=Photos: WooSox unveil new mascot Smiley Ball |work=Telegram & Gazette |date=October 2, 2020 |access-date=January 17, 2024}} A dog mascot, Woofster, was introduced in Worcester on August 26, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/worcesterredsox/2021/08/on-national-dog-day-woosox-introduce-woofster-as-new-companion-mascot-for-smiley-ball.html|title=On National Dog Day, WooSox introduce Woofster as new companion mascot for Smiley Ball |work=MassLive |date=August 26, 2021 |access-date=January 20, 2024}} Roberto the Rocket was also introduced in Worcester on May 19, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/woosoxfan/status/1527458894452346892|title=Welcome, Roberto!|work=Twitter|date=May 19, 2022|access-date=January 20, 2024}} The red heart mascot, Clara the Heart of the Commonwealth, was unveiled on May 21, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegram.com/story/sports/mlb/woosox/2024/05/22/woosox-mascot-clara-introduced/73802098007/|title=Meet Clara|work=Telegram & Gazette |date=May 22, 2024 |access-date=November 15, 2024}}

File:Polar Park 3.jpg]]

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Red Sox were organized into the 20-team Triple-A East.{{cite web|last=Mayo|first=Jonathan|title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure|website=Major League Baseball|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2021}} Billy McMillon, who had previously managed the Pawtucket Red Sox, was named Worcester's first manager.{{cite press release |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/red-sox-announce-personnel-moves-in-player-development-and-minor-league-staffs |title=Red Sox announce personnel moves in player development and Minor League field staffs |website=MLB.com |publisher=Boston Red Sox |date=January 29, 2021 |accessdate=February 14, 2021}} The team's first games were originally planned for April;{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/worcester/news/woosox-2021-schedule |title=2021 Worcester Red Sox schedule is here! |website=MiLB.com |date=February 18, 2021 |accessdate=February 20, 2021}} however, the start of the Triple-A season was delayed into May.{{cite web|last=Harrigan|first=Thomas|title=Triple-A Start Delayed; Alternate Sites to Return|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/start-of-2021-triple-a-season-delayed|website=Major League Baseball|date=March 2, 2021|access-date=April 4, 2021}} The team released its debut roster on May 3,{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2021/05/03/worcester-red-sox-roster-players |title=Here are the players assigned to the Worcester Red Sox for the start of the season |website=The Boston Globe |via=Boston.com |date=May 3, 2021 |accessdate=May 3, 2021}} and opened the season on May 4 with a loss against the Buffalo Bisons in a game played in Trenton, New Jersey.{{cite news |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/worcester-red-sox-inaugural-game-may-4-2021/36334829# |title=Worcester Red Sox play first game in team history; fall to Buffalo in Trenton |first=Russ |last=Reed |website=WCVB-TV |date=May 5, 2021 |accessdate=May 5, 2021}}

The team played select games as "Los Wepas de Worcester" when participating in the Copa de la Diversión, a Minor League Baseball celebration of Hispanic and Latino heritage.{{cite news |url=https://www.masslive.com/worcesterredsox/2021/04/worcester-red-sox-to-become-los-wepas-de-worcester-for-seven-games-as-part-of-milbs-copa-de-la-diversion.html |title=Worcester Red Sox to become 'Los Wepas de Worcester' for seven games as part of MiLB's 'Copa de la Diversión' |first=Matt |last=Vautour |website=MassLive.com |url-access=limited |date=April 19, 2021 |accessdate=May 5, 2021}} In December 2021, team was named winners of the Copa de la Diversión series, and were awarded the "Fun Cup".{{cite news |url=https://www.milb.com/news/worcester-red-sox-win-copa-de-la-diversion |title=Wepa! WooSox win Copa de la Diversión |first=Kelsie |last=Heneghan |website=MiLB.com |date=December 7, 2021 |accessdate=December 13, 2021}}

In 2022, the Triple-A East became known as the International League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022|title=Historical League Names to Return in 2022|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 16, 2022}} The 2022 WooSox used the most players by any Red Sox Triple-A team, 75, surpassing the prior record of 70 held by the Pawtucket Red Sox of 1995 and 2006.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/15/sports/which-free-agents-would-be-good-fits-red-sox-this-offseason/ |title=Sunday Baseball Notes |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=October 15, 2022 |accessdate=October 15, 2022}}

In November 2023, principal owner Larry Luchino stated he was actively looking to sell the team, explaining that at age 78 he wanted to "move on to blissful retirement."{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/10/sports/larry-lucchino-worcester-red-sox/ |title=Larry Lucchino says 'it's time to sell' the Worcester Red Sox |first=Michael |last=Silverman |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=November 10, 2023 |accessdate=November 10, 2023}} Later that month, the team was purchased by Diamond Baseball Holdings, who also own the Red Sox's Double-A and Single-A franchises, the Portland Sea Dogs and Salem Red Sox.

"Finish" represents the team's final position in its division at the end of regular-season play.

Note: In 2021, each Triple-A team played a 10-game extension to the season, branded as the "Final Stretch";{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/minor-league-postseason-tournament-triple-a-final-stretch |title=Triple-A teams to play in postseason tourney |first=Sam |last=Dykstra |website=MLB.com |date=July 15, 2021 |accessdate=September 21, 2021}} Worcester went 66–52 per their original schedule, then 8–2 during the Final Stretch, for a final record of 74–54.

{{main|Polar Park (baseball park)}}

A new ballpark was constructed for the team, opening for the 2021 Triple-A season. The cost (including land acquisition) was $159 million, with over half of the amount paid by the City of Worcester.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/22/sports/brand-new-polar-park-is-ready-go-will-it-be-good-deal-worcester/ |title=Brand-new Polar Park is ready to go, but will it be a good deal for Worcester? |first=Michael |last=Silverman |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=April 22, 2021 |accessdate=May 11, 2021}} With a capacity of approximately 10,000 spectators, it was named Polar Park through a sponsorship and naming rights agreement with Polar Beverages, which is headquartered in Worcester. The first Triple-A game was played at the ballpark on May 11, 2021, with Worcester hosting the Syracuse Mets.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/11/sports/worcesters-polar-park-debuts-today-with-woosox-home-opener/ |title=Photos: Polar Park, Worcester's sparkling new $159-million ballpark, is officially open |first=Katie |last=McInerney |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=May 11, 2021 |accessdate=May 11, 2021}}

{{Worcester Red Sox roster}}

On December 4, 2019, the team announced that uniform number 6 would be permanently retired, in honor of the six Worcester Fire Department firefighters who perished exactly twenty years prior, in the line of duty while fighting the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. fire.{{Cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/worcester/2019/11/we-cant-forget-worcester-red-sox-retire-no-6-will-reserve-seats-to-honor-memory-of-citys-fallen-firefighters.html|title='We can't forget': Worcester Red Sox retire No. 6, will reserve seats to honor memory of city's fallen firefighters|last=Bonner|first=Michael|date=2019-11-13|website=masslive|language=en|access-date=2019-11-15}}

In March 2020, WORC-FM (an affiliate of Nash Icon) was named as the team's flagship radio station.{{cite news |url=https://thisweekinworcester.com/nash-icon-98-9-to-carry-all-worcester-red-sox-games-in-2021/ |title=Nash Icon 98.9 to Carry all Worcester Red Sox Games in 2021 |first=Patrick |last=Sargent |website=This Week in Worcester |date=March 9, 2020 |access-date=November 13, 2020}} The broadcasters as of 2022 are Tyler Murray, Jim Cain, Mike Antonellis, and Cooper Boardman.{{cite web | last=McCalvy | first=Adam | title=Josh Maurer joins Brewers' radio team | website=MLB.com | date=2022-02-03 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/josh-maurer-joins-brewers-radio-team | access-date=2025-02-15}} It was later announced that radio coverage would be split between WORC-FM and WWFX.{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/how-to-watch-listen-to-worcester-red-sox-games-2021-season/ar-BB1glMi5 |title=How To Watch, Listen To Worcester Red Sox Games: 2021 Season |first=Neal |last=McNamara |website=Patch |via=MSN.com |date=May 4, 2021 |accessdate=May 13, 2021}} Select games are televised on NESN+.{{cite web |url=https://nesn.com/nesnplus-schedule/2021/5/20/ |title=NESN+ Schedule |website=NESN |date=May 20, 2021 |accessdate=May 19, 2021}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/worcester/2019/11/we-cant-forget-worcester-red-sox-retire-no-6-will-reserve-seats-to-honor-memory-of-citys-fallen-firefighters.html |title='We can't forget': Worcester Red Sox retire No. 6, will reserve seats to honor memory of city's fallen firefighters |last=Bonner |first=Michael |website=masslive.com |date=November 12, 2019 |access-date=December 1, 2019}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/opening-day-with-the-worcester-red-sox |title=Woo fans bid Sox hello |first=Sam |last=Dykstra |website=MiLB.com |date=May 11, 2021 |accessdate=May 13, 2021}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/worcester/team/why-woosox |title=Why WooSox? |publisher=Worcester Red Sox |website=MiLB.com |date=2019 |access-date=December 1, 2019}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/worcester/news/polar-parking-plan |title='Polar Park-ing Plan' provides more than 7,300 spaces; fans likely to use 2,500 at full capacity |website=MiLB.com |publisher=Worcester Red Sox |date=May 3, 2021 |access-date=May 5, 2021}}

• {{official website|https://www.milb.com/worcester}}

{{S-start}}

{{Succession box|

before=Pawtucket Red Sox |

title=Boston Red Sox
Triple-A affiliate|

after=current|

years=2021–present

}}

{{S-end}}

{{Boston Red Sox}}

{{Diamond Baseball Holdings}}

{{International League}}

{{Massachusetts Sports}}

{{Worcester, Massachusetts}}

Category:2021 establishments in Massachusetts

Category:Baseball teams established in 2021

Red Sox

Category:Boston Red Sox minor league affiliates

Category:International League teams

Category:Professional baseball teams in Massachusetts

Category:Triple-A East teams