More Than a Season: Why 2025 Worked in Rumble Town

2025 in Rumble Town was special. Not just in the standings, not just on the field—but in the way everything came together. Let’s start with the baseball.

Witnessing Perfection

I got to see a perfect game with my own eyes.

Rumble Ponies broadcaster (and good friend) Matt Levine said it best: Some people go their entire lives without ever witnessing a perfect game at any level. We got to see one firsthand.

Jonah Tong was the guy on the mound, and yes—Jonah Tong is very good at baseball. I could rattle off stats, accolades, and future projections all day. He eventually got the call-up and pitched at Citi Field. A moment he earned.

But when I talk about Jonah, baseball is honestly the second thing that comes to mind.

What stands out most is his character. I’ve had a handful of conversations with Jonah, and he’s one of the kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever met around the game. A true stand-up guy. If baseball ended tomorrow, I’d have zero concerns about his future. His demeanor, work ethic, and heart will carry him wherever he goes.

We were lucky to witness greatness—but even luckier to be around a great human.

Winning at Every Level

Beyond the perfect game, 2025 checked every box:

• Top prospects making the jump to the MLB

• A regular-season win record

• An Eastern League Championship

It was one of those rare seasons where everything aligned.

Where the Magic Happens: Game Presentation

Behind the scenes, our focus stayed consistent all year: elevate the fan experience.

One of the biggest jumps we made was with the video board.

Yes—memes.

As serious as we all take our jobs, at the core of game presentation is being a little silly. We leaned into that. Noise meters, clean professional graphics, and memes pulled straight from the same internet fans are doomscrolling every day. Instantly recognizable. Perfectly timed. Directly tied to what was happening on the field or in the stands.

It became an emotional mirror for the ballpark—playful, timely, and fun.

It also gave our technical director and control room staff freedom to play within the structure of their work, and the results were unreal. I couldn’t be prouder of the creativity and effort that went into that screen every single night.

Consistency Wins Championships (Even Off the Field)

Minor League Baseball success isn’t just about wins. It’s tickets, partnerships, food and beverage, merch—factors that fluctuate with weather and performance.

What doesn’t fluctuate is effort.

We emphasized treating every game like it mattered. Because when the big games come, nothing feels new. I hammered this home leading up to the biggest date on our calendar: July 4th.

Not because of the baseball (even though it was great), but because of the fireworks—objectively the best I’ve ever seen. Starting in April, everything we did built toward that night.

We nailed it.

Then we reset. Because the season wasn’t over. We worked toward the playoffs—and the crew executed at the same high level when the lights were brightest. The result? A championship.

The names in the press box won’t be etched on the trophy. Fans may never know who was behind the screen or the cues. But they’ll remember how the ballpark felt.

That’s the job.
And in 2025, the Rumble Ponies crew crushed it.