News Release
September 12, 2022
Author: Adrian Gonzalez
TERRE HAUTE, Ind.- Now that the 2022 REX season is over we would like to thank all our fans and sponsors that came to every game to support our team and our city. Although the season may not have ended the way we would have wanted it to, we are still incredibly proud of the bounce back season that the team had. They played hard down the stretch, going 4-2 in August, with three of the wins coming at home, where the REX won five of their last six games.
To clear up some confusion towards the end of the season, the REX were just half a game shy of making the playoffs. It came down to the last two nights of the season where the REX were in a battle with the Pistol Shrimp to see who would hold the better record in the second half of the summer behind Danville. Per playoff rules for the Prospect League, the league plays a split season with first and second-half winners. The first-half winner hosts the second-half winner in the divisional championship game that is single elimination. If a team wins both halves (Danville held the best record in the first & second half) the team from the same division with the next-best second half record qualifies for the playoffs.
The Pistol Shrimp held the tiebreaker over the REX after a controversial finish in Terre Haute at Bob Warn Field on July 11th that saw the REX win on a walk-off from Brandon Boxer, only for it to be overturned because the game was under protest due to player lineup infractions against the REX. At one point in late July, the REX were awarded the win back in an appeal to the league committee, only for it to be overturned once again to the Pistol Shrimp just before the last week of the season was approaching. This put the REX behind the Shrimp by only one game, and with the season winding down the REX needed to win the season out in a 3-game series vs Danville. They also needed the Pistol Shrimp to lose out the rest of their two games for them to have the next-best second half record to qualify for a playoff spot. Your REX did just that by beating the league's best team 3 games in a row and winning out, but unfortunately the Shrimp won out as well which put them ahead of the REX for a qualifying playoff spot.
Although the REX didn’t make the playoffs, their season was quite impressive. The team led the Prospect League in team batting average, slugging percentage, RBI’s and home runs. They finished the season with a 37-23 record which put them at 2nd in overall best record in the Wabash River Division. They really loved playing in front of the REX faithful as they were 22-8 at Bob Warn Field. The REX also won the first ever “King of the Wabash Rivalry Series Presented by Ruoff Mortgage”, winning the season series against the Lafayette Aviators 4-3.
First year coach Matt Chavarria found himself and his team struggling early in the season's first half but turned it around quickly after the team started clicking in key areas on the field to get himself 37 wins in his first season. Coach Chavarria wrapped up the season by stating, “First I want to say thank you to the REX organization and Mr. Bruce Rosselli for believing in me enough to lead the REX in another Prospect League Summer. To the fans, without the fans we are just playing a game but with having the fans we have it creates a more spiritual connection to the game because it's a direct correlation to winning ball games, by drawing in more fans it correlates to having success & winning. It's a motivation that players look for, the more people you can play in front of as a player it's realistic to what our dream is as baseball players to make it to the major leagues. We won 37 games this summer, we missed the playoffs by half a game, which falls back to me as a manager. I was the one who made that mistake for us, but I tip my hat off to all the guys for not letting that put them down. You know they kept battling and grinding throughout the summer. I want to say thank you to all the guys, I hope they all read this and thank them for coming out all summer and playing hard and being productive but most importantly just being good people.”
He credits his coaching staff on a great season by saying, “Coach Harden did a great job early in the process in recruiting and taking time during his high school season to recruit for the REX, I give a huge thanks to him for keeping me in line and all the work he does behind the scenes does not go unnoticed. To Pastor Shan & our wonderful trainer Shannon who kept us super flexible this year with all the yoga sessions this season, and the host families that's another big thank you, like I tell all the players over the summer we would not be able to do all this without the host families. Me being a former player I will never forget my host families and all they’ve done for me, especially my host family this year, the Bradley’s. Having that host family is such a luxury and a blessing, that it helps everyone out and it's an experience that players never forget in their lives. I thank everyone who was involved in the process of another great summer in Terre Haute!”
Coach Chavarria also spoke on his future with the REX by commenting, “Hopefully down the road I get another opportunity to come back and run it back with the REX because I have a pretty salty taste in my mouth about what happened and the way it happened. I feel like we were the best team all summer and had the best players. There’s a lot of what ifs but I do truly believe if I don’t mess that game up, I see us making a deep playoff run. But once again thank you to all Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley, everyone in the REX organization from all the interns to the very top for an unforgettable summer!”
General Manager/Partner Bruce Rosselli wrapped-up the season by saying, “I was very pleased with our team in the way they played each night. This talented team fought hard and had the ability to win another championship for the REX, but it wasn’t meant to be.
As many fans would say to me, this team is a fun bunch to watch play baseball. I’d like to thank the many die-hard fans who come out each night to support our team, and very much appreciate our sponsors, especially those who partner with us year after year to keep REX Nation alive. In 30 home games, we saw thousands of smiling fans walk through our gates from around the state & the country to catch a ball game. Even though next season is so far away, it’ll be here before we know it. The REX organization and staff look forward to another great year of baseball in 2023. Go REX!”
Don’t forget it’s never too early to start thinking about next season! Becoming a season ticket holder is a great way to ensure you will have your favorite seat for each REX game! Want to give your employees a great time? Become a sponsor and rent out one of our REX decks where your employees can catch all the action and see your company logo on the video board and behind the outfield wall! If you’re looking to add some excitement to your summer, then you should be a host family for a REX player for 2023! Host families get free tickets to all REX games and get to have their picture taken on the field with their player.
We would once again like to thank the best fans of the Prospect League for another great season and your overwhelming support. Come see us again next year at Bob Warn Field as we look to capture our third Prospect League Championship!
Great season ! Appreciated the enthusiasm of players and coaches! Always enjoy visiting with the fans ! See you next season !