OKC baseball team launches as OKC Comets for 2025 Season, unveiling new mascots and stadium upgrades
This story originally ran on VeloCityOKC.com.
The Oklahoma City Minor League Baseball team is approaching its 27th year at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. However, the team will enter the 2025 season under a complete rebranding. With deep connections to the history of Oklahoma City, the team will now be recognized as the Oklahoma City Comets.
At a recent media conference led by President and General Manager Michael Byrnes and Director of Communications and Broadcasting Alex Freedman, the two executives shared exciting news as the team progresses toward the breach of the 2025 season.
Both Byrnes and Freedman began with a deep dive into the recent rebranding of the baseball club’s identity, sharing that results far exceeded expectations in terms of the public’s perception. "We're looking forward to finally taking the field as the Comets, especially for the first time,” Freedman said.
After several focus group sessions, community feedback led the Comets executive team to focus on three key takeaways: the Dodgers affiliation, professionalism and connection to Oklahoma native Mickey Mantle. The flying ball logo similar to the Dodgers was a way to maintain the connection as a Dodgers affiliate in a new, refreshed light. Professionalism was sought after through community ties to both the Thunder and OKC being a major league city. A deep-rooted connection to city and state baseball greats was important—which was specifically conveyed through the iconic Mickey Mantle, also known as the “Commerce Comet.”
From the initial brainstorm, the complete vision of the Comets was brought to life with an energy that attracts both the young and the old within the region. The space imagery mixed with the history of Mickey Mantle connects the two audiences within one brand identity.
“There's a generation of fans that remember watching Mickey Mantle play that are going to be connected to the new brand, while the youthfulness is going to help engage new fans,” Byrnes said.
In attendance was Danny Mantle, son of Mickey Mantle, who expressed great gratitude to the OKC Comets on behalf of the entire Mantle family.
“Oklahoma City has always been so good to the Mantle family, and we really appreciate everything this city has done for my dad,” Mantle said.
Looking back on his father’s career, Mantle shared the amazing memories he still holds close, such as when Mickey hit two back-to-back home runs. “For me, that was a big thrill,” Mantle said.
Mantle shared how thankful he was to be connected to the ball club, and he knew his dad would be proud to be a part of the new OKC Comets. In remarks, Byrnes shared, “We feel like this allows such an interesting way to continue the legacy of Mickey and the Mantle family.”
With several projects ongoing within the facility, Byrnes emphasized exactly how much activity is currently happening at the ballpark to ensure the OKC Comets first successful year under their new identity.
Moonshot, the OKC Comets mascot, is one of the most exciting new additions to the ballpark experience. The inspiration behind Moonshot comes from the idea of a home run hit that is truly out of this world. The mascot’s name pays homage to former Dodgers player Wally Moon, whose signature home runs helped coin the phrase “Moonshot.”
Moonshot will be a consistent presence throughout the summer, along with the future introduction of two fellow mascots. One mascot will be Moonshot’s sidekick, while another, more mysterious character will make fewer appearances. As the season unfolds, the OKC Comets executive team is excited to build their stories and share more details.
From a merchandise perspective, an exciting development is on the horizon. A spaceman figure referred to as “Moonman” has quickly resonated with fans. In March, the community will receive the chance to help officially name this spaceman during Fan Fest and across the OKC Comets’ social media platforms.
One of the unique aspects of the Comets’ branding evolution is the shift from relying solely on letters and words to incorporating more visual elements. This new imagery, including Moonman, provides the marketing team with fresh opportunities to enhance brand identity and engage with fans in new ways.
The OKC Comets have also unveiled a new 20-by-20-foot mural created by local artist Kid Lennon. Located near the Johnny Bench entrance of the ballpark, this artwork brings the new branding to life in a bold and dynamic way. In addition to the mural, Kid Lennon also designed imagery for the ballpark suites.
Upgrades will also include the installation of new digital boards, enhancing the fan experience across multiple locations. With a significant investment from the team’s ownership group, Diamond Baseball Holdings, these improvements will modernize technology throughout the stadium.
The left-field video board will be replaced with a new 10-by-185-foot board. The new board will feature enhanced clarity, color and vibrancy. A nearly 40-foot, new scoreboard along the first baseline will also be installed, allowing for expanded baseball statistics, such as pitch velocity and exit velocity off the bat. Outside the ballpark, three digital boards—above the ticket office, at the Johnny Bench entrance, and at the Warren Spahn entrance—will also be refreshed with updated technology.
With 75 games on the schedule this summer, the OKC Comets executive team will deliver a robust promotional lineup filled with exciting theme nights and fan-favorite events. One major initiative is the return of Kids Club in March, which offers unique experiences designed specifically for kids.
From a food and beverage perspective, the team has introduced Comets Ale, created in partnership with Coop Ale Works. Other exciting additions include a redesigned grab-and-go station with new kiosk checkout technology, a brand-new Philly cheesesteak cart and Moon Rocks—a space-themed dessert in the form of iced donut holes.
As for on the field, Byrnes announced the exciting arrival of new team manager Scott Hennessy, who joined the OKC Comets after seven successful seasons with the Tulsa Drillers. Hennessey is the second-most-winning manager in Driller's history, a franchise dating back to 1905. His impressive resume includes six winning seasons, four playoff appearances and a championship with Tulsa. Beyond his success on the field, Hennessey brings deep ties to the Dodgers organization, having been involved in player development, scouting and other roles since 2007.
More on-field coaching staff will be announced in the coming weeks, with six new staff members joining in various support roles. Five of them have been promoted from within the Dodgers organization, further strengthening the connection to the franchise.
Two notable prospects projected to start the season in Oklahoma City are Catcher Dalton Rushing and Infielder Alex Freeland.
The OKC Comets will officially open the season on the road in Sugar Land on March 28, with a home opener at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on April 1.
