WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – The 2019 Triple-A champion Sacramento River Cats begin the 2022 season on Tuesday evening at Sutter Health Park against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys.

The River Cats come into the new campaign seeking redemption after a 2021 season that concluded with a disappointing 56-71 record to follow up the previous season’s championship run. The 2020 Minor League Baseball season was completely canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sacramento is the Triple-A affiliate of the 2021 National League West champions, the San Francisco Giants. Therefore, Giants players will be coming in and out of Sacramento on assignment all season long.

One player already set for a Sacramento rehabilitation stint sometime in 2022 is Giants third baseman Evan Longoria, who has an injured right index finger. The veteran infielder had surgery Tuesday, March 29, to repair a ligament in the finger. Longoria’s timeline for a return is currently unclear until he is reevaluated, but you can expect an early season appearance in River Cats’ maroon from the man known to many as “Longo.”

Another player to watch this season is Mauricio Dubón. The 27-year-old shortstop played baseball at Capital Christian High School in Sacramento before being drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2013.

Dubón played in 74 games for San Francisco last season and displayed his versatility by splitting time at four different positions. With the River Cats, Dubón batted .332/.410/.498 with 41 runs scored, 31 RBI, nine steals and eight home runs in 247 at bats.

Sacramento begins a six-game series with Sugar Land on Tuesday night. First pitch against the Space Cowboys is scheduled for 6:35 P.M.