Blowout: Bees, weather sting Isotopes' home opener

Mother Nature was clearly not an Isotopes fan Tuesday.

Opening-day banners fluttered in the grandstands while flags above right field were starched by stiff 32 mph winds pushing them East toward the dust-obscured Sandia Mountains.

Such was the backdrop for Opening Day as the Isotopes hosted Salt Lake for the season’s first home game.

Did the weather have an impact? Sure.

Fly balls were an adventure though none sailed over the fence during the Isotopes’ unsightly 15-1 loss to the Bees. And a crowd announced at 4,398 was undoubtedly smaller than it would have been on a warmer (and calmer) night.

But a little wind — or a lot — was not enough to deter the Bees or a hearty group of Isotopes fans hungry for opening-day baseball. Hundreds lined up early outside in the blustery conditions, waiting for the season’s first pitch and eager to grab the evening’s free swag, Orbit beanies that would come in handy before the game’s final out.

Temperature at first pitch was 51 degrees without accounting for wind chill.

It was the third-coldest home opener in club history.

“Obviously not ideal weather,” said Isotopes GM John Traub, who was celebrating his 22nd opening day in Albuquerque and 38th in Minor League Baseball overall. “But it’s always an exciting day, the culmination of a ton of work done in the offseason and a feeling of renewal. Hope springs eternal with the team, too, and I feel like there’s reason for optimism this year.”

It may not have been evident Tuesday, but one reason for optimism is talent. The Isotopes’ roster features nine of the parent club Colorado Rockies’ top 30 prospects according to MLB.com. Among them are No. 1 prospect Chase Dollander and outfielder Zac Veen, both of whom were excited for Tuesday’s home opener.

Veen appeared in 21 games with Albuquerque last season and felt good about starting the 2025 season with the Rockies’ Triple-A club.

“It’s a really cool spot, so close to the big leagues,” Veen said. “And this is a good time to be here. We have a lot of good players, electric players. I think the fans have a lot to look forward to.”

Albuquerque fans will have to wait until Saturday to see Dollander, who made his Isotopes debut Sunday in Sacramento. Dollander tossed four shutout innings with five strikeouts and he smile when asked about Isotopes Park’s well-deserved reputation as a tough place to pitch.

“Yeah, I’ve heard it’s a hitter’s park,” Dollander said, “with the altitude and you can probably hear the wind through the microphones right now. I’m just going to approach it like pitching anywhere else: Execute my pitches and control what I can control.”

Like Veen, Dollander is looking forward to playing in an environment that is similar in many respects to Coors Field in Denver. He’s also aware the Isotopes led the Pacific Coast League in home attendance last season despite finishing with the PCL’s worst overall record.

“I’m excited about the crowds here,” he said. “I hope they come out in numbers and pack the house.”

Traub also hopes the pieces come together for the ‘Topes in 2025. He’s confident that fans will turn out for the club’s various promotions and the pleasant experience a night at Isotopes Park typically provides. But Traub would like nothing better than to get a little help from aspects he can’t control — like the club’s on-field success and the weather.

People know the weather here is volatile, especially this time of year,” he said. “You just hope the weather’s consistently good once school gets out.”