ROBINS READY: Red Springs Introduces Its 2025 Roster with Heart, Hustle and a Few Surprises
Media Day highlights from a team full of character and characters
By Chase Murphy | Summer Intern
Red Springs, NC – May 11, 2025
It’s been decades since professional baseball called Red Springs home — but judging by Saturday’s Media Day, you’d think it never left.
The Red Robins, set to open their inaugural Tobacco State League season in just a few weeks, hosted fans and community leaders for a couple hours at Robbins Park. And for a reporter still getting used to this press badge (hi, I’m Chase), it felt more like a reunion than a rollout.
There were smiles. There were hot dogs from Dairy Ranch. There were about six kids wearing makeshift “WIZARD OF 0’S” shirts. And there was a team — a real one — wearing bright red jerseys, standing shoulder to shoulder like they’ve known each other since Dixie Youth ball.
“I like this group,” manager Elijah Crabtree said. “They’re tough, they’re grounded, and most of them know how to tie their cleats correctly. We’ll take that.”
Here are a few of the names you’ll want to remember:
Dan “Grayson” McSwain (SP, Charlotte)
The Opening Day starter and the Robins' first pick in the closed-door draft held in Sanford a few weeks back. Quiet, grounded, gets ground balls like it’s a hobby. One fellow pitcher teammate said, “He throws a pitch and the infielders just know.”
Josh “The Mayor” Fleisher (SS, Huntersville)
Veteran shortstop. Gold glove instincts. Local fans already trust him more than the actual mayor (just kidding, Mr. Henderson).
Danny Abell (3B, Winston-Salem)
Sleeper pick of the draft — great work ethic, sneaky pop. Rumor has it he hit one out of the batting cage during warmups.
Cory Wing (1B, Durham)
Contact machine. Eyes like a hawk. Might not hit 20 home runs, but might lead the league in singles that make grown men weep.
Ken “Wee Davy” Rogers (RF, Winston-Salem)
The nickname doesn’t make sense (we're still fishing for the story behind it). The speed absolutely does. A human blur who might steal second before the pitcher blinks.
Luke Restivo (SP, Raleigh)
The professor of the rotation. Cool, calm, and could probably teach a masterclass in pickoff moves.
Mario Sanchez (2B, Raleigh)
Mild-mannered magician in the middle infield. Makes routine plays look routine — and somehow, that’s become rare.
Shane Hangen (C, Beaufort)
Sparkplug catcher with sneaky power. Took a foul tip to the shoulder last week and asked if he could play third instead. (He was told no, Coach Crabtree tells me.)
Juan “Wizard of 0’s” Hartman (Closer, Carolina Beach)
No one’s quite sure how he does it — but he gets outs. And then disappears into the dugout like a ghost.
Jake Ryker (RP, Red Springs)
Local boy made good. Didn’t think he’d get the call. Did. Then threw two scoreless innings in an intrasquad game. The dugout lost it.
Eddie Locklear (LF, Red Springs)
He’s 19. He’s the grandson of team owner Kyle Locklear. He’s got hustle, heart, and definitely didn’t make the team just because of family ties (wink).
There are more names, more stories and definitely more chaos to come — but these are highlights from your 2025 Red Springs roster. They’ll open the season on the road against Lumberton (May 23-25), and then return for their home debut against the Whiteville Tobs on Monday, May 26 in front of what’s expected to be a standing-room-only crowd at Robbins Stadium.
Bring your glove. Bring your neighbor. Red Springs is back.
Chase Murphy is a rising senior at UNC Pembroke and a summer intern with The Robesonian. He can be reached at cmurphy@robesonian.com or found loitering near the press box with a chicken biscuit.